UUCGT FLASH NEWSLETTER

Rev. Beth Marshall will serve UUCGT as a half-time Minister from March 22 through July 21. Rev. Beth will be here for ten days each month, including two Sundays, serving full time while she is here. Her tentative schedule is as follows:

March 22 - 31

April 19 - 28

May 10 - 19

June 14 - 23

July 12 - 21

Please join with us in extending a very warm UUCGT welcome

to Rev. Beth!

Stewardship Moment

A big Thank You! to all who have turned in your 2019-2010 pledges!

Together, We are Building Momentum!

Hello, I'm Karl Keinath. I'm a member of the Stewardship Team and also the current UUCGT Treasurer. I'd like to speak to you about geese.

When you see geese flying along in a "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

Just like the geese, when we, the UUCGT Congregation, work together, we can go farther and more easily than when we work individually.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone - and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are.

When a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group. Two and a half years ago, my wife Lauren went into the hospital for minor surgery. The plan was to go in on Monday and come home on Tuesday or Wednesday. Unfortunately, she had major complications requiring four more surgeries, 37 days in the ICU, two months in the hospital, and four months recuperation at home. The love and support we received from this congregation was overwhelming! Rabbi Chava came to the hospital and to our home several times and stayed in touch by phone throughout the ordeal. Linda Fletcher is a retired Army nurse. She sat with me through the five surgeries. She sat in on conferences with the doctors and helped me understand what they were telling me. Linda came to the hospital or called to check in every single day for two months. And the rest of the congregational care team - Joanie Jackson, Pat Light, Judith Briggs, Sandra McDonald, Mary Ann Force, and I'm sure I have left out some others - called to offer support, checked on what we needed, and brought food to keep us nourished and lap robes to keep us warm. After recovering, Lauren rejoined the formation. She has helped with Religious Education and the Tuesday community lunches, cooked several donated dinners, and even flown point for the Landscape Committee.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs - whether with people or with geese flying north. We have been blessed here at UUCGT to have people willing to fly point for us. We have been without professional leadership for the past eight months. The Sunday Services Committee has provided outstanding Sunday programing for us. The Congregational Care Committee has been nurturing those of us who have fallen out of formation. The Board has been working to secure professional leadership. Rev. Beth Marshall will begin serving us on a half-time basis later this month. We hope to have a full-time interim minister beginning in August.

We are in the midst of our Annual Pledge Campaign. The good news is that we have $125,000 in pledges so far. That is about half of what we will need next year to balance the budget. The bad news is that's the easy half. Several months ago, the Board held three meetings to determine the future of UUCGT. WE decided that WE wanted to move forward and hire an interim minister. Now WE have to pay for an interim minister, and that means that we are all going to have to dig a little deeper to come up with the money. If you haven't turned in your pledge, please pledge generously. If you have turned in your pledge, please consider increasing your pledge. WE are going to need it.

For those who haven't yet had the opportunity to offer your support of UUCGT with your pledge, please click on 2019-2020 Pledge Form here . Complete form and mail to UUCGT, or drop it off at the UU office, attention Accounting.

Thank you,

Karl Keinath & UUCGT Stewardship Team members

Dave Halsted, Penny Ort, Rick Walter, Jan Zerbel

UUCGT Bulletin Board

BEACON Editor needed for April Issue and beyond: If you enjoy newsletter design and editing, contact the office to volunteer!

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 two Sundays both before and after the service. Volunteer positions are available for those who wish to act as evening or overnight hosts, or serve breakfast in the morning. We also need clean up volunteers for Sunday 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 [email protected] .

Save the Date - Saturday, April 27!

Contra Dancing / Live Music & Instructor!

7:00 - 10:00pm

Absolutely no dancing experience is necessary! $10.00/person, children 16 years or younger are FREE, light snacks available. LIMITED to the FIRST 60 people who sign up. Everyone is welcome. RSVP to UU Office, 231-947-3117. For further information contact Hal Gurian or 410-340-7323

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Local Community Needs

Request Form

Celebrate the "Green"!

Join the Congregation on Sunday, March 17

for a Potluck Lunch to celebrate the close of the

2019-2020 Pledge Drive!

Bring a place setting & a dish to pass

All are Welcome!

UUCGT Stewardship Team

After the Federal Shutdown last month, the longest in history, Federal workers who were required to work without pay, received their back pay.

But, Federal contractors who also were required to work, have not been paid. If you believe in our UU principles, compassion and respect for all, please contact your Members of Congress and insist the contractors be paid.

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http://www.uujustice.org

Emmy Lou Cholak, Co-Chair UU Social Justice

UUCGT Calendar of Events

** Contact [email protected] to schedule your meetings and events

UUCGT Calendar - Click Here