UUCGT Flash 
August 4, 2016
Vol. 10, Issue 441
 
In This Issue
Reflection
Sunday Service
Children and Youth
It's Official!!!
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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UUCGT Beacon

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Reflection:   Name that Sermon

The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her preacher father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon.  One day she asked him why.   "Well, Honey," he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages, "I'm asking the Lord to help me to preach a good sermon."

"Well then, how come He doesn't do it?" she asked. 

Friends, what we hear from the pulpit matters, and what you want to learn about, reflect upon and consider also matters deeply to me.  It is a privilege and gift to be honored with your trust.  On August 14, we are trying something new:  Name that Sermon! 

I want to hear from you what you want to learn!  Please take a moment to consider some topics and put them in the BIG green box in the lobby by this Friday, and let the adventure begin.  Thanks in advance to Max Old Bear who volunteered to coordinate this rich service.

What is great about our UUCGT pulpit is that it is not just the Rabbi who teaches.  This Sunday, an annual favorite - Mark Gustafson's Film Festival review - will take place.  Mark is a marvelous teacher and also brings insights to the films he discusses, as well as something about life.  Please join us.

In the meantime, the Sunday Services Committee will meet this week to take our next steps in planning Sunday services for September to June.  If you have input or want to see the draft of the calendar Sarah Montgomery-Richards, DLE and I have drafted, please come to the meeting on Wednesday, August 3 at 1:00 PM.  Your voice is welcome.

There is much to learn.  That's just the place I want to be. 

In blessing - 
Rabbi Chava 

Sunday Service 
Sunday, August 7
10:30 a.m. Service:  "Reflections on TCFF Films" - UUCGT Members 
Join Mark Gustafson for a close-up look at five TCFF films.  If you were able to see any or all of them, so much the better!  We will celebrate the fact that all five had female directors at the helm and examine each through the lens of our UU principles.

---  Sand Storm 
---  Suffragette 
---  Kings of Kallstadt 
---  Death by Design 
---  The Last Reel 

This Sunday for Children and Youth
10:30 a.m.
SPECIALTY  CLASS  SUMMER  FORMAT

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 REMAIN IN THE SERVICE.

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...   August marks the last month of the 2016 Specialty Class Summer!  This month will feature beekeeping (everything but the live bees), watercolors, an outdoor walk and more!  Come and explore with us!

This Month for Youth...  This month, and for the remainder of the summer, our youth will join the adults in the sanctuary for the duration of the service.  Please contact Sarah
in advance to make arrangements if this is problematic for your family.  This provides youth with the much needed opportunity to learn to be in community with the adults of the congregation, and to learn more about UU Sunday services.
 
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ATTENTION PARENTS
Registration for 2016/2017 programming for Children and Youth begins NOW.  Please click HERE to download the forms.  Completed forms need to be returned to Sarah BY SEPTEMBER 11TH.  Forms can be mailed, scanned and emailed, faxed, sent by carrier pigeon, whatever!  Please just turn them in.  
REMINDER - even if you completed forms last year, you need to fill out new ones.  New registration is required at the start of each programming year - this includes those children who use the nursery.  Thank you.


VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED !
Lifespan Experience is beginning our search for volunteers for the 2016-2017 program year!  Without volunteers, programming for all ages will not be possible.  PLEASE consider volunteering even once or twice/month in our various programs - especially in our classrooms on Sunday mornings! Our classrooms span from preschool-12th grade, and there are lots of options for you to choose from.  Please contact Sarah as soon as possible to get involved - we currently have less than half of the volunteers needed to staff just our existing Sunday morning programs for children and youth. This does not factor in anything new that we would like to offer.  



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FRIDAY NIGHT OUT:  August 12.  Contact Sarah to register by August 9th.

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

Our new UUCGT Board has selected officers for 2016-2017:
 
         President                    Linda Fletcher
         Vice-President            Phyllis Jessup
         Treasurer                    Kay Sturgeon 
         Secretary                    Loraine Anderson

Trustees and officers alike are excited to have the opportunity to serve this congregation by embodying and emphasizing behaviors consistent with the Covenant, by embracing diversity, and by modeling and requiring good communications.

In the footsteps of our highly esteemed and well loved most recent leader, Karl Love, Linda will be available to the congregation via many routes including "Office Hours" after Sunday services on a monthly basis.  

Stay tuned for further information including an "Office Hours" schedule and availability of other communication mechanisms.

What's Going On At UUCGT?
   
FLASH   CALENDAR
Link to the UUCGT WEBSITE CALENDAR

Weekly activities are listed in the Order of Service & the Beacon

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Mindfulness Meditation:  Sunday, August 7,  first Sunday schedule is 
2:30 - 6:30 PM.

Wednesday Summer Potlucks:   August 10 & August 24 are open dates for hosting a Summer Potluck.  Please contact Sarah if you would like to host UU members & friends for a casual summer supper.

August Book Club 
"Americanah" by Chimananda Ngozi Adichi
Book Club meets on Sunday, August 14, 2:00pm.  Bonnie Mathias, host.

Calling all VE members - past, present and future!
Come join us for a potluck supper at the home of Mary Kiner and Cal Boulter on August 25.  We will convene about 5:30pm with dinner to be served at 6:00 or so.  BYOB and a dish to share.  Spouses and significant others are welcome!  If you have an easily portable chair, that would be helpful also.  Questions?  Call Mary at 231-935-3050. 

F Y I

 Please Note:  Office hours will vary August 4, 8 & 9 due to scheduled staff vacation.   Please call ahead if you plan to stop by on those dates to confirm someone is in the office.   Thank you for your consideration.

  We Are Listening.....
For more information on the Healthy Reconciliations Task Force, please see the article in the July 2016 issue of The Beacon.

If you would like to be a part of this healing process, please contact your choice of the listeners listed below to establish a meeting(s) so that YOUR voice may be heard.  

Joan Sheard:      [email protected] 
Jane Watts:        [email protected] 
Linda Fletcher:   [email protected]

Your voice is important.   Please don't let your ideas and feelings go unrecognized.

P.S.  Listening sessions will wrap up at the end of August.  Schedule soon to avoid the rush.

 UUCGT to host SAFE HARBOR - Vo
lunteers Needed!
Our very own UUCGT will be hosting Safe Harbor in our building from Saturday evening, November 26 until Saturday morning, December 3.  
Safe Harbor is a seasonal shelter  that provides overnight housing and meals,  in area churches, t o people experiencing homelessness.  Watch for more details starting in September.  Anyone interested in serving on a planning task force for this effort, please contact Mike or Sandra McDonald at (231) 935-3759.

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Local Community Needs
request form is HERE

Smile...



Dog Days of Summer...


 phone: l(231) 947-3117       website:   www.uucgt.org         email:   [email protected]

  

Office hours:  Monday by appointment

 Tuesday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

  

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