Our Theme for April: Salvation
Service at 10:30 am Sundays in the Miller Sanctuary
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Community Sharing in April: Minister's Discretionary Fund
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Our Community Sharing partner this month is the Minister's Discretionary Fund. The Minister uses this discretionary fund to pay for groceries, gasoline, utility bills, rent, and other emergencies inn the lives of our members. As there is not a line item in the budget to fill this critical need, our contributions are the only source available. Please be generous and help our church members during times of financial need.
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The Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum regularly meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall.
All are welcome to attend.
The humanist forum this week will consider the complex matter of our emotions. A couple of TED speakers will discuss where emotions come from, and how they affect our actions, how the brain makes emotions, and how we might be able to control the process.
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Youth Group
Burn! Youth Group-
Youth age 14-18 are invited to join us in Room 4 on Sundays from noon to 1:00 pm each week for an inclusive and kick-butt-awesome good time.
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Coffee Hour
Sunday's Coffee Hour happens after church every week and is provided by volunteers from the Women's Circle on the first Sunday, CUUPS on the second Sunday, Humanist Forum on the third Sunday, Men's Group on the fourth Sunday and if there is a fifth Sunday, it is All Church. Any donations of food, snacks or cash are welcome.
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From the Minister
People Get Ready
I have always loved me some Curtis Mayfield. He asks good questions that are still relevant for today...
what's going on?
Followed by a great answer,
People get ready, there's a change a'comin'.
When I think about how I am owned by the mission of our church (to Love, Grow and Serve) I get fired up about the idea that we are the love church. Our Universalist forebears gave us this beautiful heritage that tells us that LOVE WINS. And we are agents in real time history that make it so.
So here we are, with the Love train a comin'-- it's already left the station...a new Board of Trustees. New adventures await, and I am ready and willing to companion our leaders in them! We may not have a map, but we have rails that will guide us--
Love Will Guide Us. Get on board! I do hope you will attend and save the date for a Town Hall Meeting hosted by the Board on April 22nd in the sanctuary at noon.
In love, growth, and service,
Rev. Allison
Rev. Allison Farnum
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Music Notes
Musical Calendar
Sunday, April 15:
Peter Golbitz and the Band cover Curtis Mayfield's soul hit,
People Get Ready
, and the Choir sings the beloved UU chant,
Circle Round for Freedom
.
Sunday, April 22:
Join us in celebrating Earth Day as our Classical Quartet plays Vivaldi's Spring and the Choir harmonizes
This Pretty Planet
. You won't want to miss Peter Golbitz' offertory.
Sunday, April 29:
Haris Blackwood covers Nancy Griffith's
Trouble in the Fields
, and the Choir and Band team up for the rousing gospel song,
The Storm is Passing Over
.
The next
Music Committee
meeting is TBA.
The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:45-8:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9-10 am in the Sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Please email me in advance so that a music folder can be prepared for you. Come join us in singing!
The UUCFM Band
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:00-6:45 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9:00-10:00a in the Sanctuary. If you would like to play your instrument during a Sunday service, please email me to coordinate the details. Come join us in making music together!
Amy Laursen
d
irectorofmusic@uucfm.org
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Religious Education News
This coming Sunday, Mystery Friends will be exchanging their second letters! Please make sure you've got your letter written in time to drop it off in your mailbox before or after service - your secret pen pals are counting on you!
We are searching for folk who would like to be trained to become youth advisers for a junior high youth group (ages 10-13) called Ignite which would meet monthly on Sundays after service from 12-1 pm. We require that you have been attending UUCFM for at least 6 months and are a member of the congregation. Background checks through the church will be required, even if you've had a background check elsewhere before. The training is simple and fun and the work you will be doing as a youth adviser is so incredibly fulfilling. Please email me if you are interested in learning more!
Jenn Blosser, DRE
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Special Events
Wizard Camp
Sign up for Wizard Camp! This year's summer camp will start on June 11th and finish Friday, June 15th with a banquet in Hobart Hall. You can register here:
uucfmwizardcamp.webs.com
We are also seeking volunteers!
Whether it's
teaching a class, assisting with those who teach, or any of the prep work, we need you!
Future wizards and soothsayers can partake in a Sorting Hat Ceremony, become Quiddich players, make cloaks and wands, send out Wishes for the World, take classes on Incantations, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Muggle Studies, and more! Alchemy, potions, and divination await them at the School of Wizardry Summer Camp,
June 11 through June 15th from 9:00 am -4:00 pm.
(with optional before and after care). Prices range from $175-200. Also, there will be a feast on Friday at 6:00 pm as a culmination of our week of wizardry!
Be sure to register soon! Once a certain number of campers is reached, registration will be closed. Feel free to Contact Us on our web page with any questions you might have! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
- email Krista at
kriserta@gmail.com
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#metoo
Thursday, April 12th, at 1:00 pm our congregation will be hosting a Sacred Circle for female-identified folk who wish to share #metoo stories. If the collective wisdom of the group wishes, after sharing stories and listening, we may perhaps make plans for how to move forward and keep the momentum of the #timesup and #metoo movements alive in our congregation and in the larger community. Please know this is a welcoming space for trans and non-binary folks who have experienced the world at one time or in the present as a woman.
The gathering will be held in our Sanctuary, a symbol that we will be creating Sacred Space for deepening and sharing together.
Also know that our congregation can make space for #hetoo conversations for male-identified members who wish to organize. Contact Rev. Allison if interested.
Please RSVP to uuchurch@UUCFM.org so we can plan for set up and refreshments. Another evening time will be set up if there is interest. Keep on moving forward!
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Parenting in the Village: Redirecting Children's Behavior: Registration Deadline April 15th!
Are you tired of yelling, nagging, bribing and threatening your child or grandchild? Do you want more cooperation, fun, and effective communication going on in your household?
Course taught by RDCB trained instructor Rachel Roberts, with Redirecting Children’s Behavior book by Kathryn Kvols and workbook included.
Kathryn Kvols is the founder of the International Network for Children and Families and author of the book and transformational parenting course “Redirecting Children’s Behavior.” She has been a regular mom, a single mom, a step mom, and now a grandparent. She has been in your shoes and knows how defeated it can feel to be a parent. She knows what it is like to hear your toddler scream because she doesn’t have the RED sip cup, watching with frustration as your children fight, and waiting to hear the door open late at night notifying you that your teen has come home safely. She knows how parents long to have respectful, responsible, and cooperative children. Parents want more peaceful, loving, and joyful families. There is hope! These principles work from tot to teen. Kathryn has been teaching her life changing principles to thousands parents for over 30 years and in 19 countries. She has watched parents go from chaos to calm.
Become a more calm, confident parent or grandparent!
“I have had hundreds of parents ask me, ‘Why didn’t I get a manual on how to discipline my child when I brought her home from the hospital? It seems that with everything I buy of importance, I get not only a manual but also tech support.’ Well here it is: the first discipline manual for parents: Redirecting Children’s Behavior!”
Our course not only stops the misbehavior, but in addition we will teach you how to give your children essential life skills that your child will use as an adult.
In this course you will learn how to:
- Eliminate power struggles over bedtime, eating, cleaning their room, etc.
- Eliminate homework hassles.
- Teach your children how to love doing chores.
- How to be an approachable parent.
- Minimize sibling bickering and/or fighting.
- Become less reactive and being more proactive – minimizing nagging, yelling, bribing, and threats.
- Set clear limits and stick to them.
- Teach children how to listen.
- Minimize household stress.
- Teach children self control.
- How to maintain closeness rather than distance through discipline.
- Create lines of open, honest, and trusting communication.
- Get you and your partner on the same parenting page.
Registration required by April 15th. $250 per couple. $150 for one person.
uuchurch@uucfm.org
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Dream Work Group
Five consecutive Sundays after Church, April 29 - May 27
12:15 - 2:15 pm. Room 3
Debra Leigh, M.A., Facilitator
Come discover the wisdom of your dreams. Learn to interpret your own dream symbols and translate your own dream language. Participate in the safety and support of a caring group.
Participants learn tips and techniques to remember and record their dreams. This dream work group follows Jeremy Taylor’s “Projective dream work” theory and techniques and leaves room to explore other ideas.
Debra began keeping a dream journal in the 1970’s while in graduate school in psychology and working in a Jungian environment. She worked directly with Jeremy Taylor to become a certified dreamwork
facilitator and has studied with various noted dream book authors primarily on the West Coast. A K-12 teacher and professional dancer/choreographer, she also taught Dance and Psychology at the college level for many years. She has facilitated dream work groups in California and Oregon.
To reserve a place for this or a future group, contact Debra at (831)
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Book Group
The book group will be reading
No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are
by Jack Kornfield. The group welcomes anyone who is interested in the book and will meet in the Library (next to the office) on Wednesdays from 1:00-2:30 pm.
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Women's Circle
The Women's Circle had a good turnout on Monday, April 9th, and will resume again on October 8th in Hobart Hall at noon. It will be a potluck, followed by a discussion.
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Mindfulness Meditation
Join us on Monday evenings to explore the very simple and satisfying practices of mindfulness and meditation. You don’t need experience with meditation, nor do you have to be a Buddhist. Do please bring an intention to quiet the mind and the body in a supportive group of UU members and friends with a similar intention - people who want to carry mindfulness into their daily lives. We meet Mondays from 6:30-8:00p in the Sanctuary. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Robbins at
pachamamaelder@gmail.com
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Optimal Living Group
The Optimal Living Group is open to all and does not require attending every session. We meet in the Sanctuary on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 4:00-5:30 pm. We discuss how to live optimally, including practical ways to cope with life's challenges and issues. Helping others and developing maturity in ourselves is part of our quest. We explore many paths and techniques for enriching our lives and making a difference for others. For more information, fill out a blue card found in the pews or email Neil Yesu:
dbny79@aol.com
.
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UUCFM Athletics Club
The UUCFM Athletics Club is dedicated to preserving and practicing a variety of historical martial arts for entertainment and fitness purposes. We meet at various times (determined by interest) most often at 12:00 pm after the service on Sunday to practice archery and tomahawk/axe throwing. Other activities and times can be found on our facebook page of the same name. All are welcome to join us.
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UUCFM Gaming Group
The UUCFM Game Group is the club for you. We do our best to meet in Room 7 on Sundays after church from 1:00-4:00 pm. Those of us with children can't always make it so please check the Facebook group page (UUCFM Gaming Group) to see if games are scheduled.
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Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays at 1:45p in Room 1. All are welcome to join us.
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Community Wednesday
Community Wednesday is held in Hobart Hall. All are invited. Bring friends and neighbors, too. Join us each Wednesday for a delicious meal prepared by Chef Joy for a small donation. After the fellowship and fine fare from 6:00- 6:45p, join your favorite programming event, committee meeting, or social activity. Child care is provided until 8:30p.
Community Wednesday Activities for April:
4:00-5:30
Optimal Living Group (1st & 3rd Wed)
6:00-6:45
Community Meal
6:00-6:45
Band Rehearsal in Sanctuary
6:45-8:00
Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary
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Matt Stark
We are sad to announce that member Matt Stark passed away April 9th in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Terri's address in Minnesota is: 444 Penn Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55405
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Joe Sexton
On April 19th Joe Sexton will have spinal surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. He will be recuperating at:
St. Mary’s Hospital
1216 2
nd
St SW
Rochester MN 55902
Cards or flowers will certainly lift his spirits.
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Be Smart! Be Prepared! Be Safe!
As hurricane season approaches we need to begin preparing. Having a plan gives us time to purchase necessary items, prepare your home, check insurance coverage, and collect important documents. Please access the Emergency Operations Center at:
www.leeeoc.com
A wealth of information is available on their website.
This public safety message is brought to you by your Pastoral Care Network.
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LIFE Update
Congratulations to all for a successful 2018 Nehemiah Action. 750 people gathered together to proclaim that Lee County will not allow our children to pay the price for our inaction. Instead, we secured a commitment from Police Chief Diggs to stop arresting children for minor mistakes. But, when we went to speak to our county commissioners we were met with their silence.
Well, we host a Nehemiah Action to elicit a response and a response did occur. Commissioner Hamman scheduled a meeting with LIFE leadership and while the meeting did not cause him to change his mind- he was able to listen to our concerns and insistence that a children's service council will help to solve the problems.
A positive response is that Commissioner Mann kept his word and introduced the Children's Service Council to the county commission. They will vote on whether or not to allow it on the ballot next week.
So, since the commissioners were not at the action- we will bring the action to them. On Tuesday April 17th we will gather at 8:45 AM outside the courthouse. We will enter the courtroom for the meeting and hearing at 9:30 where we will have speakers share their stories and relevant data. We are asking all those who are available to attend- we only have power because we have organized people.
Aside from that movement forward- we are preparing for a Celebration unlike any other. Please see details below about our 2018 Celebration as we close our year with a bang. As always- contact the LIFE office with questions, comments, or concerns.
LIFE for justice. Justice for life.
LIFE Celebration
On Tuesday, May First at 6:30pm we will gather to celebrate the year's accomplishments and to wrap-up our investment drive. The new location is New Image Tabernacle at
81 Pondella Road
.
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry
The response for food donations has been consistently good over the last year. The need is still there and UUCFM has been a strong supporter of the pantry. I have not been able to post the pantry newsletter but there is one at the Social Justice table listing the number of people fed by the pantry for the last year. Easter is early this year which means many people will be heading north earlier too. Consequently, many people will lose seasonal jobs and the need for food donations and volunteers will be just as great as it is now. Keep that in mind. Remember to bring at least one can each week and consider volunteering during the summer months. Questions? Email Fran Rose:
francrose@centurylink.net
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers.
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Do you have something to offer, trade, or sell? Are you looking for something? Free ad space here for personal items only. Will run ad for 4 weeks. Email
uuchurch@uucfm.org
2012 Bayliner 170 Bow Rider Boat & 90hp Mercury 4 stroke
- $14995.
I have a
4 drawer file cabinet
that needs a good home. It measures 53h x 42w x 19d and is beige/tan in color. It was in our garage during hurricane Irma, so it was in a few inches of standing water for several days and has a bit of rust at the base, but otherwise is in perfect working order. I can send photos if anyone is interested in it. We could probably deliver it with our horse trailer if someone could help with the loading and unloading.
Recorder:
Enjoy the beautiful sound of this wooden tenor recorder: Rottenburgh Nr. 449 in rosewood. New ones cost $900-$1200. This one is yours for only $399, or better yet, donate $100 to UUCFM and you can have it for only $299 cash. See Frances Pake. Call
330.329.1129
, or email her at
fpake@juno.com
.
Items for sale
:
•Indoor/outdoor wicker-look, glass-topped dining table w/ 4 chairs, 49“ diameter. Dark brown. $50 OBO.
•Two outdoor mesh chairs, light brown. $10 OBO.
•Entertainment center, 8 shelves, 6 drawers, dark brown $40 OBO.
Pictures upon request.
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If you are a UUCFM Community Sharing Partner, a regular Facility User, or have UU related news to share, you are welcome to submit announcements for publication in our Greater Community section of the newsletter. Please send announcements in by Wednesday for publication in the Thursday E-news.
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Lee OFA Indivisible Invites You
Maintaining a FREE & UNBIASED Press
"Stop the Presses: Are Journalists Still Relevant"
April 12th at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers
Panel at 7 pm.. Come at 6:30 for time to socialize.
Lee County OFA lndivisible invites you to bring your questions and concerns about this important and timely issue to be addressed by these knowledgeable journalists, Dr. Robert Hilliard, a Purple Heart recipient and World War ll Army veteran who witnessed the results of Fascism firsthand. His and a friend's actions saved the lives of thousands of Holocaust survivors. He has worked professionally in radio, television, theater and journalism. Many of his 35 books and 20+ plays deal with political and social issues; Roger Williams, a Florida resident since 1994 who has written for the News-Press and currently writes for the Florida Weekly. He is an award winning journalist who won the Jon A. Roosenraad Award for defense of the first amendment. The panel will be moderated by Barb Griffith author of the "Swamp Report" and a recent anicle "A Crammar Lesson on the 2nd Amendment".
Please join us to show your interest and support for this pressing issue and
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2018 GRACE Project Work-Study Trip
La Antigua and Lago Atitlán, Panajachel, Guatemala.
April 29 to May 9, 2018
11 days for $1,250
Women’s Health Workshops in Univ. of San Carlos Medical School, Belén Teachers’ College for Indigenous Women, Mixco High School, and in Santiago Atitlán.
Deliver and teach about Days For Girls menstrual
management Kits and the Fertility Bracelets,
Land transportation in private vans,
Breakfast provided daily,
Shopping in La Antigua and Panajachel.
Transportation includes: travel to and from airport, hotels,
academic and workshop sites in private vehicles and boats.
Airfares from USA to Guatemala City and El Petén are not included.
$150 additional fee for single room.
To save your space, please send $100 deposit in a check, by March 15 2018, to: The GRACE Project,
UUCFM, 13411 Shire Lane, Ft. Myers, FL 33912
Dec. 1 – 9, 2018 GRACE will go to El Petén and Tikal and deliver workshops for
Maya womens’ cooperatives and the Guatemalan Ministry of Education.
9 days for $1,000. Reservations being accepted now! Limited to 8 participants.
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April 20 Shirley Fox
April 27 Jeff Letts
April 27 Nancy Letts
April 28 Mickey Kellam
April 30 Audrey Brown
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Newsletter Editor: Jill Carville
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Board of Trustees
President
Matt Hoffman 239-222-4836 mwaters106@yahoo.com
President Elect
Secretary
Alison Carville 239-634-0487 alisoncarville@gmail.com
Treasurer
VP Finance
VP Programming
Cathy Snow 239-896-3693 cmsnow23@gmail.com
VP Ministerial Services
Lesley Peterson 239-839-4434 unicorn@cyberstreet.com
VP Operations
Mary Alice Pierce 239-267-4429 piercemaryalice@gmail.com
Member at Large
Don Ehat 239-947-8143 don.ehat@gmail.com
Staff
Minister
Director of Music
Director of RE
Office Manager
Building Supervisor
Nursery Supervisor
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