UUCGT  Flash 
May 19, 2016
Vol. 10, Issue 430
 
In This Issue
Reflection
Sunday Service
Children and Youth
A Note from our Board President
Nominations for Board & LDC
What's Going on at UUCGT?
FYI
Smile
Congregational Vision
UU Logo
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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Reflection:  

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"
        ~ Robin Williams
  
Dear friends,

Today is a beautiful, blue-sky day here at the UU Congregation.  It fills the heart with hope and the eyes with beauty.  I hope you will be able to take some time to appreciate the gift and bounty of nature this week.  

This month as we explore ecology in our services, I have stopped to think a great deal about the congregation's ecology.  Ecology is defined as "the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings."  A congregation has an ecology as well - a system of how we relate to one another and to our physical surroundings.  

Thanks to one and all who helped with our Spring clean up, making the physical surroundings feel shiny and fresh, and thanks to each and every one of us who has been working to ensure that our interpersonal ecology is healthy and robust.  I especially wish to thank our Board of Trustees for guiding us over the past months to a place of new beginnings.
  
Just a reminder:  there will be a VERY BRIEF meeting of the Program Council immediately after the service this Sunday, 30 minutes max.  If you have not already, please RSVP for yourself and/or your committee as soon as possible. 

We begin again in love, friends - 
Rabbi Chava 

Sunday Service 
Sunday, May 22
10:30 AM Service:  "We Are One"  -  Member-led service (one service)
Increasingly, we recognize that being one with nature is essential to a healthy upbringing, a healthy life and a healthy planet.  Join us as we celebrate 100 years of the National Parks Service!  Conservation will be at the forefront in this exploration of our beloved wild spaces.
     
This Sunday for Children and Youth
10:30 a.m. 
Children (preK-5th grade) and Youth (6th-12th grade, 12-18yrs) are invited to join their families in the service through the Story Wisdom.  Following Story Wisdom, Children (preK-5th grade) will follow their teachers to the large classroom space.  Youth (6th-12th grade, 12-18yrs) will join their teacher in the Office.  Following the service, parents of Children (preK-5th grade) should make their way to the classroom/program wing of the building to sign their child(ren) out of programming.
  
This Month for Children... May brings with it the theme of Ecology.  We will celebrate the people who "mom" us, including Mother Earth on Mother's Day.  Other stories this month will include "Henry Builds a Cabin" by D.B. Johnson and the "Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle.  The last Sunday of the month will feature our Activity Centers.

This Month for Youth... This month our youth will continue to consider the ways they can be involved in justice-seeking in our world.
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 * Please note that youth middle school-high school will remain in the sanctuary this week for the duration of the service.
 
A Note from our Board President

This is a reminder to all Members and Friends that the Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee will be hosting a question and answer session regarding next year's budget this Sunday, May 22 at 9:15 a.m.  We will present our proposed budget and answer questions.

With our anticipated shortfall, we expect there to be many questions and want to address as many as possible prior to our Annual Meeting which is scheduled for June 5th.  We hope to see you this Sunday.
 
Please find the proposed 2016-17 budget HERE .
         
Respectfully submitted,
Karl Love
       
UUCGT Leadership Development Team presents this Slate of Candidates for the Board of Trustees, Fiscal Year 2016-2017, t o be voted on at the Annual Meeting on June 5, 2016:
  
One Year Term:
Loraine Anderson
Phyllis Jessup
Karl Love

Two year Term:
Gretchen Kronk
Don Pyne
Kay Sturgeon

Three Year Term:  
Linda Fletcher
     
Ann Swaney, Chair
Leadership Development Committee

What's Going On At UUCGT?
 
 FLASH CALENDAR

 Link to the UUCGT WEBSITE CALENDAR HERE  
Weekly activities are listed in the Order of Service and the Beacon  
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Please note:  The summer season is soon upon us and beginning Friday, May 20th,  the UUCGT office will be closed on Fridays through August.
 
Wednesday Supper / Brewing Community:  Wednesday, May 25 is our first Summer Supper Out with the Brewing Community at Rare Bird.  5:00pm social time, dinner at 6pm.  Family friendly, fun and fellowship!
 
Wednesday Summer Supper Potlucks 
REMINDER!
We are scheduling Summer Potlucks hosted by members at their home.  Please contact Sarah if you would like to sign up. 

UUCGT Men's Group:  Monday, June 6, 5:30pm.  BBQ supper at the home of Karl & Lauren Keinath.  A sociable get together for UU men to learn more about the Keinaths' multiple interests, home and land.  6351 Cherry Blossom, TC.  Questions?  Contact Dave Halsted at 409-0854.
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CONCERT  SERIES  at  UUCGT
Saturday, May 21, 7:30pm
Robin Lee Berry & Glenn Wolff 

Tickets are $15.00 ($20 at the door) and a few tickets are still available in the UUCGT office.  Link to more information HERE
Robin Lee Berry's voice is like "clear spring water gushing out from a deep place in the earth.  It goes right to your heart."
  - Greg Brown, Red House Recording Artist
Bassist Glenn Wolff , has been performing and recording with Robin for many years, recently adding slide guitar and dobro to their duo performances.  He is also bassist in the Neptune Quartet, and Jazz North.

F Y I

 Green Sanctuary:  Saturday, May 21 at 5:00pm, " For All Tomorrow's Children" St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beulah.  A Benefit Concert for the Flint Child Health & Development Fund sponsored by the Singing Sisters and Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation.  The concert will feature the choral music of Carolyn McDade and Friends, performed by Singing Sisters and Gaia Women of the Great Lakes Basin.  Reception to follow with food provided.  Suggested donation $20 or more.  All funds go directly to support the long-term care and services for those potentially affected by lead poisoning in Flint.

Memoir Writing Group:  Monday, May 23, 1:00pm.  This is the last gathering for this session as we will be on recess until the fall.  It's not too late to join in to w rite stories from your life experiences and share them with the group.  Maybe this can be the beginning of your personal memoir.  If you would like, bring something you have written to share.  Questions?  Contact Sara Boys, at 231-620-3921 or email [email protected]
  
 New Member Welcome Service:  Sunday, June 12.  Please contact the office or Chris Walter at 231-421-3069 or [email protected] as soon as possible if you wish to join our loving UUCGT community.
 
UU Book Club:  Sunday, June 12:  "Secret Daughter" by Somaya Gowda.
 
Local Community Needs
request form is HERE.


 Smile....
 


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