UUCGT  Flash 
February 21, 2019
Vol. 13, Issue 574
 
In This Issue
Reflection
Sunday Service
Temporary UU Minister
Bulletin Board
Stewardship Message
Social Justice
UUCGT Mission Statement
UUCGT Covenant Survey
Calendar of Events
End Note
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Congregational Vision


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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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UUCGT
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Reflection....

"Love is the vital essence that pervades and permeates,
from the center to the circumference,
the graduating circles of all thought and action.

Love is the talisman of human weal and woe -
the open sesame to every soul."

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Women's civil rights activist, 1860 speech

love grow serve 
Sunday Service 
Sunday, February 24 - Kat Norman, coordinator
10:30 AM:   "Plant Your Love and Let It Grow"

Join us for an exploration of hope and change through the lens of Helen Ward's story, The Tin Forest . Come discover the origins of change in the seeds planted by imagination. Witness the clarity of commitment and purpose that can sprout from a state of blessed unrest. And, discern the potential to heal our world waiting within the synergy of covenantal love and transformational human communities who dare to act upon their imagination.

Children and Youth Programs
PreK-5th grade and Youth (5th-8th grade) programs are available, as well as  Nursery c hild care for  infants through age 4.


New Temporary Minister at UUCGT

The UUCGT Board is pleased to announce that we have engaged UU Minister,  Reverend Beth Marshall, to serve UUCGT as a half-time Minister starting in late March and running through July. 

Rev Beth lives in Oberlin, Ohio and will be here for ten days each month, including two Sundays, serving full time while she is here. As previously announced, the Board is working on getting a full time Interim Minister starting in August and Rev Beth will fill the gap until then. Following is a biography furnished by Rev Beth:



"As a life-long Unitarian Universalist, I can trace my path to ministry back to growing up in a small, lay-led fellowship. At the time, I believed that ministers were the prerogative of other faith communities. While ministry, as a vocation, showed up on aptitude tests in high school and college, I dismissed it as an anomaly because our fellowship did not have a minister. Years later, as a member of a UU church with multiple ministers, I began to explore what ministry might mean by teaching religious education, working on various committees, fundraising and serving as a worship associate....


UUCGT Bulletin Board 


UUCGT Financial Summary  as of January 31, 2019 - click here

Seeking new BEACON Editor:  Stan Cain has been the editor of the monthly Beacon newsletter for the past 8 years and he is now ready to step away from this volunteer position. Thank you, Stan! for all that you have contributed in keeping our community informed and involved during these many years. Do you love to write, edit and design?  Contact the office at 947-3117 if volunteering as editor of the Beacon sounds like a good fit for you! Send BEACON articles to office@uucgt.org by February 25.

Safe Harbor Volunteer Sign-ups continue this week:  UUCGT is providing the volunteers for the Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter during the week from Saturday evening, March 16 through Saturday morning, March 23. There will be a sign up table in the Gathering Space for the next four Sundays both before and after the service. Volunteer positions are available for those who wish to furnish, prepare and serve dinner, act as evening or overnight hosts, or serve breakfast in the morning. We also need clean up volunteers for Sunday and Saturday morning. Please come and sign up to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness.  
For more information contact Mike or Sandra McDonald at 231-935-3759 or m_mcdonald@charter.net .

Donated Dinner - Winter Splendor, Snowshoe & Chili Supper: Two openings are available for  Saturday, March 2, hosted by Judith Briggs & Bill McKinley.  Lots of snow fun! & good food (complete dinner and 2 chilies)! 
Call Judith 228-4655 soon!

Congregants who signed up for a "Donated Dinner":  Please mail your donation check to the UU office, or drop it off on Sunday. Be sure to specify  "Donated Dinner"  on the memo line of your check.

Save the Date!
Contra Dancing/Live Music & Instructor!  Saturday, March 23, 7:00-10:00 pm -  Absolutely no dancing experience necessary! Just a Fun Time at UUCGT!  $10.00 a person, children 16 years or younger are FREE, l ight snacks will be available.  LIMITED  to the FIRST 60 people who sign up. Non-UU members are welcome. RSVP to  UU Office,   231-947-3117.
For further information contact Hal Gurian or 410-340-7323
 
Do you love to cook, knit or crochet on these wintry days?  
UU Congregational Care Team is seeking donations of prepared meals for our freezer to offer to people who are recovering from illness, surgery, etc. Simply divide meals/soups into two servings, date, and label ingredients.
Knitted or crocheted shawls for those in care are also needed.  
Reimbursement is available. Questions? p lease contact  Joanie Jackson

SukukoJi Buddhist Community Meditation Retreat: Saturday, March 2, 9:00-4:00pm, UUCGT sanctuary. Beginners are welcome and simple lunch is provided. Suggested donation is $40.00*.  More information here

Year-end Giving Statements will be available soon. Your patience has been appreciated.  Karl Keinath, Board Treasurer & Finance Committee

UUCGT Website is under construction - please bear with us as updates are in process.  Thank you!

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Local Community Needs

Important Financial Message to the Congregation
 
A big Thank You!  to all who have helped UUCGT continue
Building Momentum by turning in your pledge!


Dear UUCGT Members and Friends,
 
We kicked off the 2019-2020 Pledge Drive on Sunday, February 10, and it will wrap up on March 10. At that point the Board will know how much money we have available to hire an Interim Minister. The UUA has informed us that to attract a quality candidate, we need to offer a compensation package in the range of $100,000 for salary and housing, insurances, retirement, and professional expense.
 
We also need $110,000 for other workers - Administrator, Bookkeeper, Accountant, Music Director, Contract Musicians, Religious Education Director and Teachers, and Nursery Child Care Staff. 
 
We need $50,000 for operational expenses such as cleaning services, snow plowing, insurance, printing, postage, utilities, and supplies. We need $15,000 for dues to the UUA and the MidAmerica Region. That gives us total expenses of $275,000.
 
We have four sources of income: If donations ($15,000), fund raising (2,000), and building use fees ($8,000) hold steady, we will need $250,000 in pledge income to balance our budget. If we do not reach our goal, the Board will be forced to offer a smaller compensation package which will limit our ability to recruit a strong Interim Minister.
 
Last year, the 2018-19 pledge total was $216,000. We need an additional $34,000 of pledges this year. Please pledge generously so we can continue BUILDING MOMENTUM and reach our goals.
 
UUCGT Stewardship Team
     Dave Halsted,  Karl Keinath,  Penny Ort,  Rick Walter,  Jan Zerbel

Save the Date ~ Sunday, March 17
"Celebrate the Green" Potluck Lunch
Everyone is Welcome!



UUCGT Social Justice Action Team Meeting
Sunday, February 24 @ 11:45am - library
Emmy Lou Cholak, Co-Chair

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ACLU Advocate Training regarding Racism in Criminal Legal System
Monday, February 25, 6:00pm
Conflict Resolution Services, 2240 S. Airport Road, TC

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Interested in Immigration Justice?
Check out Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON)
a local non-profit organization @  http://www.jfonmi.org/home
Local JFON representative will speak at UUCGT
Tuesday, February 26 - 11:30am



UUCGT MISSION STATEMENT
 
PLEASE - We need your thoughts, input and decision about a new Mission Statement for our UUCGT community. This will be voted upon and adopted at our Annual Meeting in June.  Guidelines/suggestions from UUA about Mission Statements:
 
- A MISSION states who we are, what we value and why we exist.
It is what the congregation wants to mean to the community and for what it wishes to be known.
 
- Use active, not passive verbs.  A MISSION must be the guide in everyday life of the congregation - our task, our charge
 
- Aim for 2 - 12 words!! Helps with instant recall.
 
A committee of past UUCGT presidents volunteered to develop suggestions for your consideration. Here are 3:
 
1) A welcoming community extending hope and compassion
 
2) Seeking meaning together
 
3) Building community...Nurturing our souls...Serving the world
 
Circle the number of the Mission Statement above that you prefer, or
 
4)    My suggestion is.....

Submit your preference to: Dusty Culton , Jane Watts or Mary Van Valin


UUCGT COVENANT REVISITED
 
We were asked by the participants at last October's Visioning Session to r evisit the covenant , with the possibility of making it more concise. We have listed some samples below, and would very much like your feedback on which you find the most acceptable and why.
Please make suggestions to change wording, to insert or delete parts. Or, suggest a whole new one! This is the work of the whole congregation, so we would love to hear from you soon. The plan is for a final version to be voted on at the Annual Meeting in June. 
Thank you!  Dusty Culton, Jane Watts and Mary VanValin

  (1)  Respecting diverse points of view, we assume good intentions, communicate directly, listen willingly, and forgive easily.
 
  (2)  Broad  and inclusive values unite us, the Seven Principles guide us, and loving action defines us.
 
  (3)  COVENANT
An agreement of Right Relations - United in values as expressed in our UU Seven  Principles, we or (I) covenant to:
     *  Welcome all who gather here                                   
     *  Create a loving, diverse community
     *  Treat others with kindness, empathy and respect

  (4)  We grow awareness, we cultivate kindness.

  (5)  Ours is a religious home of love, action, and challenge.

  (6)  We covenant to live the seven principles in all of our interactions.

  (7)  We embrace diversity of thought with kindness.

A longer version:
  (8)  Living by our Universal Unitarian Principles:
      We Covenant to:
 
W elcome all who come here and we assume good intentions.
E ncourage all voices to speak.
L isten willingly to understand.
C ommunicate honestly with kindness.
O penly encourage diversity.
M ake service, volunteer, financial and acceptance commitments.
E spouse to act with compassion.
 
A poetic version:
  (9)  Kindness is our North Star; Listening, our flowing stream; Gentleness, the moon-lit night; and Forgiveness, the morning light.

Please respond by email to: Dusty CultonJane Watts, Mary Van Valin

UUCGT Calendar of Events

** Contact  office@uucgt.org  to schedule all meetings and events






- SokukoJi Buddhist Meditation: Tuesday, February 26, 6:30-8:30pm, 
     meditation room (former small classroom)

 



End Note...

We are bound up together
with the sacred and the natural world,
interconnected in ways that are sometimes too small to see.

But yet, when we can pause long enough,
when we can get ourselves outdoors into nature
and feel the warm sun,
the cool breeze, 
see the snowflake or the flower petal,
smell the earthiness of the soil or the trees,

We can remember with a sense of gratitude that we exist -
because they exist.
- Rev. Susan Hendershot

"The World is not something to look at, 
it is something to be in."
    ~ Mark Rudman

  

UUCGT office hours
Mon day - Thursday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Closed Friday

(231) 947-3117       office@uucgt.org         www.uucgt.org