UUCGT  Flash 
June 4, 2020
Vol. 14, Issue 641
 
In This Issue
Minister's Musings
Sunday Service
RE Children & Youth
Job Opportunity!
Writing Workshops!
UUCGT Calendar
Social Justice
Online Giving
Bulletin Board
End Note
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Congregational
Mission
Statement

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We are a Congregation creating a better world by nurturing the heart and expanding the mind.

We provide a safe, caring community where all can freely explore diverse religious thought. 

We work for justice and equality with the power of compassion and compassionate power.

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In Faith and Hope... UUA Organizing Strategy Team

Nearly 5,000 Unitarian Universalists and people of faith and conscience joined a prayer vigil on Tuesday evening.

Many in our UUA faith community clearly want to respond in this moment. So let's come together in movement building and solidarity, knowing some of us have been doing this work for decades, others are coming in new, and all who want to work for justice and liberation are welcome. Let's #DefundPolice , #DefendBlackLife , and challenge status quo culture everywhere including in our own institutions, organizations, and congregations.

We're so grateful to the speakers and musicians who created this space of lamentation, celebration, and direction.
Our deepest gratitudes to Melanie DeMore, vocal activist,  and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Director of Worship & Music at First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, MI for their gifts of music.  After watching the prayer vigil, we invite you to Act, Learn, & Give: 

ACT LEARN
  • Watch M4BL National Call to Action Webinar on Strategic Demand to Defund the Police
  • Side with Love & Love Resists Political Education Series --  Featuring Everette Thompson, Dr. Charlene Sinclair & others, beginning June 10th. Register now!
GIVE
  • Donate to keep protesters out of jail. Find your local bail fund through the National Bail Fund Network here
  • Take up a congregational collection and/or redistribute your resources by giving to local frontline groups working to build grassroots movements
  • Your time and use your influence to recruit others. Invite a friend to join a webinar with you, have hard conversations about policing with your family, organize your neighborhood for action!
Act, Learn & Give: Do this work with others - following leadership, in partnership - and recruit people from your congregation, community, friends, & family.  We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes. (Ella Baker)

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From the UU inSpirit Book & Gift Shop

We are heartbroken and outraged by the police brutality and state violence happening to Black people in our country. 

We are highlighting powerful and necessary resources for activists and allies and we'd specifically like to point to resources for white people as they educate themselves to be actively antiracist. We also encourage you to advocate, donate, and vote.

Sunday Service - Join us on Zoom
June 7 - 10:30 AM - "What Brings Us Joy?" 
Amanda Mangiardi, Andi Kramer, Mary Van Valin, Betsy Hammerberg, Barbara Young, coordinators
Stories from our congregation sharing what brings us joy now during the pandemic. We all need moments of joy in our lives.

Start signing in at 10:00 AM
Please Note: Password is now required
Type in password, enter 'waiting room' and then  the service

By Phone: 1-646-876-9923
Meeting ID:  810 8280 8095
Look for Order of Service on Friday

If you are unable to join us on Sunday, recordings of Sunday Services are available by request - contact office@uucgt.org

Connecting on Zoom information is available at  www.uucgt.org  or

Religious Education - Children  & Youth 
9:45 AM Sunday Morning RE on Zoom

Last Sunday a small group gathered to learn about the Hindu festival of Ganga Dussehra. 

This coming Sunday we will learn about the Dragon Boat Festival, which originated in China but is now celebrated across east Asia. It is not an explicitly religious festival but it will be fun to learn about!

 
For check-in on Sunday, please bring a favorite book (or one that you have enjoyed recently). 
 
Note:  Zoom meeting link for Sunday Morning RE will be sent to families in a separate email. If you have a child who would like to attend the RE gathering and you did not receive the link, please contact Betsy Hammberberg at  dre@uucgt.org
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Nature is all around us at UUCGT!

Now this is just a friendly way of enjoying some of the things we might see as we follow the lovely path around the UUCGT building. I am not an expert and there are many members of our congregation who could give us a much better guide. But this is a beginning and is open for discussion and correction. 

One thing is clear: enjoy the walk around, see things you may not have noticed before, and then come back in a few weeks, or a month, and see the changes. This guide follows the numbers as you walk. Please leave the numbers where they are, but pick up any trash you might find. Thanks!

- Emmy Lou Cholak


Thank you to everyone who has contributed to building and beautifying UUCGT's nature pathways! The paths are waiting for you to explore them!


Open Job Opportunity
UUCGT Office Administrator

See website,  www.uucgt.org  for job description.  Submit cover letter, resume and 3 references to  office@uucgt.org  before June 10. 

Susan Sherman, our current Office Administrator is retiring at the end of June. We are seeking a friendly, efficient, experienced individual with exceptional communication and organizational skills and the ability to work closely with the Minister, Staff, Board and Committee members - 32 hours/week, $17/ hour with health insurance benefits and paid vacation.

Position requires minimum 5 years administrative experience, proficiency in Microsoft Office; includes database and file management, church  communications and scheduling, WordPress website maintenance, create weekly newsletter and more. Candidate must be comfortable working in a small office environment, or remotely as necessary.

~ A Way to Write ~
2 New Writing Workshop Sessions Offered!
 
A Way to Write is an online creative writing workshop led by RE teacher Alison Ernst using the Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA) method based on Pat Schneider's book Writing Alone & With Others (Oxford University Press 2003).

These workshops provide a safe and supportive space for both new and seasoned writers to practice their art and generate new work. Creative writing is an art form available to everyone. A writer is someone who writes, and every writer has a unique voice.

Each 3-week workshop meets once a week for one hour via Zoom
Sign up for ONE of the following sessions:

     Mondays: June 8, 15, 22: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
     Tuesdays: June 9, 16, 23: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
  • There is no charge for UUCGT members
  • Friends and associates of UUCGT are welcome to attend with a $30 fee for a 3-week session - sliding scale is available
Interested?  Email Alison at awa2write@gmail.com indicating which session you want to attend (Monday or Tuesday) as well as your phone number and whether or not you are a UU member.

UUCGT Calendar -  Stay Up to Date!
  
Schedule a personal visit with Rev. Cathy via Zoom or phone - contact her by text or email:  231-301-3177;  revharrington@mac.com

Sunday Services, meetings and classes are  hosted on Zoom  until further notice.  Need help with Zoom? Click on Zoom links below.


Thursday, June 4 - 10:00 AM - noon
Landscape & Facilities Teams - UUCGT Spring Clean-Up!

Thursday, June 4 - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Zoom Office Hours with Rev. Cathy

Thursday, June 4 - 1:00 PM
Congregational Care Team -  Join Zoom Meeting:
Password: 850893 (required)
By Phone: 1-646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 883 9522 2769

Friday, June 5 - 2:00 PM
Rehearsal - Sunday Service
Password: 436607 (required)
Meeting ID: 821 1841 3461

Friday, June 5 - 8:00 PM
Vespers Service - Quiet, Connection, Community
** Sign in early for social time @ 7:30 PM
    Look for Zoom meeting link on Friday

Sunday, June 7 - 9:00 AM
Budget Review Q & A - Bring your questions!
By Phone: 1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 842 9512 1045

Sunday, June 7 - 9:45 AM
Religious Education for Children 
Contact Betsy Hammerberg for Zoom link,  dre@uucgt.org

Sunday, June 7 - 10:30 AM ~ Start signing in at 10:00!
Sunday Service - "What Brings Us Joy?"
Password: 167208 (required)
By Phone: +1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 810 8280 8095

Sunday, June 7 - 12 noon - 2:00 PM
Landscape & Facilities Teams - UUCGT Spring Clean-Up

Monday, June 8 - 10:00 AM
Staying Home - Staying Fit!  Everyone is welcome!
Every Tuesday - 10:30 AM
Volunteer Community Lunch @ Friends Church - Contact  Mary Kiner

Tuesday, June 9 - 2:30 PM
Sunday Services Coordinators Meeting

Wednesday, June 10 - 10:00 AM
Stretch & Strengthen Class -  Stay Fit at Home!
Wednesday, June 10 - 12:00 noon - 1:30 PM
Zoom Office Hours with Rev. Cathy (link in Tuesday's Ministry Message)

Wednesday, June 10 - 5:30 PM
Wednesday Happy Hour @ UUCGT - Picnic Outside!  B ring your own folding chair, food & drinks!   All are welcome & we will practice safe social distancing!  C ontact  Mike & Sandra McDonald  with questions.

Thursday, June 11 - 10:00 AM - Noon - U UCGT Spring Clean-Up

Thursday, June 11 - 12:00 noon - 1:30 PM
Zoom Office Hours with Rev. Cathy (link in Tuesday's Ministry Message)



Support Black Lives Matter 
T-Shirts to Order Now!

To order your T-shirt, email office@uucgt.org by Thursday, June 11
(Order placed on Friday, June 12)

T-shirt color: black
Front: Black Lives Matter
Back:  #ICan'tBreathe
Sizes available (standard unisex t-shirt): S, M, L XL, XXL

Cost: $20 per shirt, plus $2 shipping - $22 each

$8 of every shirt purchased will support Black Lives Matter - Detroit chapter

In your email, please indicate size(s) and number of shirts. Send a check for your order to UUCGT by June 11. You will be notified when T-shirts arrive and a date will be set for distributing them at the UUCGT building. 


 
There have been too many, although even one is too many,
Black Americans killed by police. 
If you agree, please review these links and act.
 
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If you are able, make phone calls through the ACLU
 

Social Justice Action
Emmy Lou Cholak,  sjatcmi@gmail.com

Online Giving
Check out informative video and links!
Thank you for your generous contributions of support
Questions? Email Glennda Corning at  bookie@uucgt.org

UUCGT Bulletin Board
Visit our website at  www.uucgt.org

Links to JUNE BEACON:  Part 1 &  Part 2

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SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITY: I would like to offer a small ZOOM discussion group using the book, "GROWING YOURSELF UP" by Jenny Brown. The sub-title is "How to bring your best to all of life's relationships".  I am suggesting reading it together, then meeting on ZOOM to discuss it.  This very well-written book is based on the theory developed by psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Murray Bowen. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Mary Anne Rivers at  maryanne.riversfriese@gmail.com , or 267-5058.

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Face masks are available in the front entryway & donations support the Ministerial Search Committee. Thanks to UUCGT Peacemakers Needleworker s & Friends for making these great masks!

Stay informed, be safe, save lives
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Soul Matters Monthly Packets & Sunday Service recordings
Available by request - Contact  office@uucgt.org
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End Note...
 
 Living our values in our everyday lives requires
courage, compassion and love.
   
UUCGT office will be closed until further notice
Please email office@uucgt.org with any questions/concerns

Contact Rev. Cathy at revharrington@mac.com
Stay up to date on Facebook & UUCGT website