August 2019
The Communicator
Volume 36 Issue 8
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This Sunday!
Join us this Sunday,
August 4th in Hobart Hall at 10:30 AM for our Annual
Blessing of the Animals Service
. All well-behaved pets are welcome. If you have a shy or aggressive pet, a photo may be brought in and placed on our altar. This is our weekly Sunday service- there will be no other service in the Sanctuary on August 4th at 10:30 AM.
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Your Community Sharing donations this week will go to
PAWS Animal Shelter in North Fort Myers.
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The
Humanist Forum
meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall. This week we may meet in Room 7. All are welcome to attend. Join us as we engage in a new topic each week.
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Sunday's
Social Hour
happens after the service every week. It is volunteer run- by the Women's Circle on the first Sunday, Humanist Forum on the second, CUUPs on the third, Men's Group on the fourth, and if there is a fifth Sunday, it is All Church. Any donations of food, snacks or cash are welcome.
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The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:00 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Come join us in singing!
The UUCFM Band
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 5:45-6:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 9:10 in the Sanctuary. Do you play an instrument? Are you interested in playing with the UUCFM band for worship? If so, please schedule an audition time with me by email.
Come join us in making music together!
Suellen Kipp, Director of Music
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Would You Like to Become a Member of UUCFM?
If you are interested in becoming a new member, please pick up a Membership Kit on Sunday mornings in the Narthex or in the office during the week. Thanks!
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Did you know your purchases can help us? AmazonSmile donates to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers when you do your online shopping by following this special link to Amazon:
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Office Closed Next Week
The UUCFM Office will be closed next week due to Staff Vacation. If you need a key, please come to the office today or tomorrow to check one out.
There will be no Weekly E-News published next week. Please hold your articles until the following week. Thanks!
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Public Health Alert - Florida Water Summit 2
August 5th 5:30 PM at Broadway Palm. You can get tickets at their facebook page,
Calusa Waterkeeper
.
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2019 GRACE Project Work-Study Trip
November 3 - 9, 2019 $750 Land only
Assist in the Reproductive Health Workshops with women and youth (Spanish
not essential)
Support the workshops with public school teachers, in collaboration with the
Guatemala Ministry of Education and with community leaders,
Visit the Casa Aurora Women’s Shelter in San Lucas Tolimán,
Deliver menstrual management Kits and Fertility Bracelets,
Travel in safe, private vans,
Private room with bath,
Enjoy the Breakfast or dinner provided daily,
Shop in La Antigua and Panajachel.
Safe land Transportation, breakfast, and hotel rooms are included.
Volunteer pays own airfares from USA to Guatemala City.
To save your space, please send $100 deposit on the Donate button, through PayPal, on
Muchísimas gracias.
The Guatemala Rural Adult and Children’s Education (GRACE) Project represents the Social Justice Outreach Ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers. All workshops are non-sectarian and free of charge to participants.
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Special Request from the South Fort Myers Food Pantry
A few months ago we made a special donation to the South Fort Myers Food Pantry through our Community Sharing Program. This was for food purchase and general operations, utilities, gas, and repairs.
In addition to food and overhead they rely heavily on equipment to complete their mission, "to feed the needy of South Fort Myers". They have had a large used box truck for ten years which has recently been causing them problems; for example, the brakes gave out while returning from picking up food at Harry Chapin. They have not been able to find a "good" used truck that fits their needs. Hence, they are looking at bids for a new truck Their goal is to get a truck ordered by October.
The board has voted to set aside $30.000 towards the purchase of the new truck. They are asking all coalition members and friends to consider donating funds toward this purchase in addition to your continued support of the pantry through volunteerism, food drives and financial support. They need to raise an additional $45,000 to reach their goal. Please spread the word and know that any amount to help them reach their goal will be appreciated.
Donations may be sent to: South Fort Myers Food Pantry Coalition, Inc.
8260 CypressLake Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919.
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Our Homestead Witness Crew!
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Covenant of UU Pagans
We will be having a Lughnasa celebration on Saturday, August 3rd at 7 in the evening in Hobart Hall and the Screen Porch.
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Come explore the simple and satisfying practices of
Mindfulness Meditation.
You don’t need experience with meditation, nor do you have to be a Buddhist. Please bring intention to quiet the mind and 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. Contact Gary Robbins at 302-540-5899.
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The UUCFM Book Club
meets Wednesdays from 1-2:30 PM in the Library of our Administration Building.
All are welcome to join in facilitated discussion and group bonding.
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Wednesday Connection Circle
Lilibeth Grimes will be facilitating a once monthly Wednesay evening circle called
Principles of Joy
. The goal for this connection circle is to serve as a bridge between UUCFM and the broader community. This is open each month to all member, family, and friends. Please email Lilibeth by the Monday before each circle to let her know you will be there that month. We'll meet the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM. Here is the schedule:
September 11:
Third Principle: Acceptance of One Another and Encouragement to
Spiritual Growth
in our Congregations
October 9:
Fourth Principle: A Free and Responsible Search for
Truth
and Meaning
November 13:
Fifth
Principle: The Right of
Conscience
and the Use of the Democratic Process within our Congregations and in Society at Large
December 11:
Sixth
Principle: The Goal of World
Community
with Peace, Liberty, and Justice for All
January 8:
Seventh Principle: Respect for the Interdependent Web of all
Existence
of Which we are a Part.
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Women's Circle
Join the Women’s Circle for Lunch at
Perkins, 14801 Tamiami Trail on the Southeast corner of Route 41 and Ben C Pratt on Tuesday, August 27th at 1:00 PM.
If you need a ride, please let me know when you RSVP.
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UUCFM-Caloosahatchee Mindfulness
UUCFM and Caloosahatchee Mindfulness invite participants to join our weekly meditation book group. The group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 AM at UUCFM in Room 3. This is a continuing group with a new home.
Our first meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 7th. We will be reading:
Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wise
r by Lewis Richmond.
"Everything changes. For Zen Buddhist priest and meditation teacher Lewis Richmond, this fundamental Buddhist tenet is the basis for a new inner road map that emerges in the later years, charting an understanding that can bring new possibilities and a wealth of appreciation and gratitude for the life journey itself."
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Pachamama Alliance of SWFL
This is your chance to participate in a World Cafe!
Our Game Changer Gathering will be the second Thursday evening in August—the 8th—and it promises to be an entirely new kind of experience for those of us who are passionate about creating a more environmentally sustainable community. Just imagine having the unique opportunity to connect with many other game changers in a new way--a way that will reflect your priorities for addressing the most critical environmental issues we face in Lee County.
PASWFL and the Lee County Democratic Environmental Caucus are partnering to bring this special highly interactive program to us, and it promises to be an enlightening experience for every one. We’ll be gathering at UUCFM 6:30 to 8:30 PM on Thursday, August 8th, and we hope to see you there! For questions, email Gary Robbins:
uuchurch@uucfm.org
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10th Annual Florida Unitarian Universalist Women’s Retreat
April 3-5, 2020
DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center
A Weekend Gathering of UU Women
• Friday evening we will get to know one another and create community
• Saturday one-hour workshops offer choices
• Sunday we share a UU Service bringing it all together
DaySpring Conference Center is conveniently located off I-75 just north of Sarasota on Florida’s West Coast. The beautiful campus nestled under ancient oaks and located on a cove of the Manatee River offers a serene setting for our annual retreat. Take a look.
http://Dayspring.dioswfl.org
.
$220 per person covers expenses for a semi-private room and meals. 8 women share a cozy cottage with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, a screened porch and common area. A limited number of single rooms are available at $292 each.
A non-refundable deposit of $15 for a semi-private room or $25 for a private room will reserve your place. Final payment is due January 15, 2020. Scholarships are available.
Come join us for an enriching and memorable weekend.
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Congratulations to
Gini Gottman, UUCFM July Volunteer of the Month! Gini grew up in Alabama where she went to college before attending law school at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. She has been a prosecutor in Ohio and Arkansas, but is not currently practicing (“I am just
not interested in taking another bar exam.”)
She has been married to Andy for 17 years and has a 14-year-old named Ghost Jay. Gini has been a UU for about 13 years, and at UUCFM for almost four years. She teaches Faith Formation classes most Sundays, and is a member of the Chalice Faith Formation Committee. She assists at the Intention Table, where she has met some of her favorite UUs. She was a
volunteer at Wizard Camp. She describes herself as “a mediocre LIFE Team Leader”, and says she “once got tapped to pinch-hit a sermon where the scheduled speaker was ill.” The congregation remembers it as an excellent try.
When asked what she would like UUCFM to be in the future, Gini replied, “I would like our congregation to be a force for justice in our town. I would like other groups like Planned Parenthood, the NAACP, and the Quality Life Center to be able to call us whenever they need people mobilized for marches, letter-writing campaigns or volunteer service. I would like our mayor, City Council, and County Commissioners to know about us, to be happy when we come out in support of them, and be nervous when we come out in opposition.”
Gini, we appreciate your volunteer service to this congregation. Thank you from us all!
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My UU Story
Jay-Jay: Dog Bless Me
Hey! Jay-Jay here. I was just 11 months old for my first Blessing of the Animals in 2018. I sure got lots of attention. I did bark as much as that black and white dude. Also, because I’m so handsome, lots of puppy people sat on the floor and played with me.
My formal American Kennel Club name is Seaside’s Jay-Jay Jump for Joy & Jim. Seaside is the name of my breeder’s place in Hudson, FL, where I was born on Aug. 25, 2017. Jay-Jay is “J” for Mommy-Joy and “J” for Daddy-Jim.
I came to my forever home when I was nine weeks old and just an 11-pound Samoyed. Friends of My People wanted to meet me so I was given a Puppy Shower. Boy, did I get a lot of loot to play with and treats to eat!
I became a calendar boy in 2018. Me and some of my clan were pictured for January on the Seaside calendar. I got the month of August all to myself for the 2019 calendar.
On my first Happy Birthday I had a party with some of the people who came to my Puppy Shower. We ate hot dogs and hamburgers—yum! We all watched a video showing highlights of my first year. Mommy-Joy calls me a “Wild Thing”, so that song is the theme music for the video. She adapted the words of the song especially for me.
At first, my people would not give me table food. I reminded them that thousands of years ago some wolves came to the cave people’s camp fire to get tasty cooked food. These wolves became hunting partners and then pets. They finally evolved into today’s dogs. So, when I come to the dinner table it’s like coming to the camp fire. It is in my DNA! Please note: We dogs do not “beg” at the table. We “lobby” by putting on the “cute” or “I love you” routine.
That Holley person at my first Blessing of the Animals said we dogs will also be a blessing to the people. That’s heavy! Guess I can use my deep bark to warn of intruders. I can take my people for walks, sleep with them, and play with them. And, love them!
Grrrr! This August I’ll be getting knee surgery because my knee cap is sliding out of place. All you pets out there, please tell your people to “Dog Bless Me”!
by Joy F. Sokeitous
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As Rev. Carlos prepares to head to Fort Myers, he would like to find a home for Stripe, his 14 1/2 year male (neutered) tabby. He has had him since 2005 so the Rev. is an excellent character reference.
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Stripe is an independent athletic cat who exhibits a strong attachment to people. He can sometimes be observed regressing into kitten-hood particularly when stroking his head as his mother might have. He is also known to allow the rubbing of his fleecy golden belly.
He is a good mouser. He has long resigned his membership to the Audubon Society and wears a bell around his neck to remind him of his friendly brand of bird-o-philia. Call the church at 239-561-2700 if you can give Stripe a home.
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Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai group meets Sundays at 2:00 PM in Room Number 1. Contact Mary Tracy Sigman for info
uuchurch@uucfm.org
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Aug 1
Jennifer Grant
Aug 2
Barbara Boynton
Aug 2
Dan Laliberte
Aug 3
Ian Ireland
Aug 3
Carla Webb
Aug 4
Margot White
Aug 5
Susan Schmitt
Aug 6
John Simmons
Aug 9
Hilary Matheson
Aug 12
Peg Lancioni
Aug 12
Carole Latino
Aug 13
Shirley Blumenfeld
Aug 14
Paula Copestick
Aug 21
Suzanne Fast
Aug 22
Marge Gonzalez
Aug 24
Patricia Vivier-Naidl
Aug 25
John Swank
Aug 28
Kathy Ford
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Board of Trustees
President
Theresa Bahre
President Elect
Lesley Peterson
Secretary
Alison Carville
Treasurer
Eddie Grimes
VP Finance
Alanis Garcia
VP Programming
Karen J. Brown
VP Ministerial Services
Vacant
VP Operations
Dorothy Van Howe
Member at Large
Vacant
Staff
Senior Interim Minister
Director of Music
Suellen Kipp
Director of RE
Jenn Blosser
Office Manager
Jill Carville
Building Supervisor
Mickey Kellam
Nursery Supervisor
Liza Kellam
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