UUCGT Flash 
September 1, 2016
Vol. 10, Issue 445
 
In This Issue
Reflection
Sunday Service
Children and Youth
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

If you are not receiving our monthly newsletter, the Beacon, and would like to, please contact the office .
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Reflection...Learning

"There is no end to education.   It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education.   The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning."
  - Jidda Krishnamurti 
 
Beloveds, as you know I am writing this week from the kick-off of my doctoral studies in Chicago.  It is quite challenging, but I am finding such joy in the learning.  Did you know that every single one of our UUCGT staff are also either in school or teaching (or in some cases both)?  It is our goal to bring the best gleanings of these experiences to the life of our beloved community.  On all our behalf, let me say THANK YOU for the loving support you give to the idea that we want our staff to be constantly growing in wisdom and knowledge.
 
Ours is a congregation that values learning, and I could not be more excited about the new opportunities we will offer to our members, friends and community in the coming months.  How do YOU want to grow this year?  
 
Many thanks and blessings, and I hope you have a chance to join Hal Gurian and team for this Sunday's services.  I am excited to hear about it, and you will get a FANTASTIC story wisdom as part of your experience.  
 
Please accept every good blessing from Hyde Park and I look forward to being back home next week.

In blessing -
Rabbi Chava 

Sunday Service 
Sunday, September 4
10:30 a.m. Service   
"Seeking the Common Ground"   -   UUCGT Members  
We set this weekend aside to honor American workers.  A portion of our 5th principal will be the focus of this service ... "the use of the democratic process in society at large."  In this hotly contested political season, UUCGT members will speak to what can be done to promote bipartisanship, fairness in elections and the protection of the American dream.

This Sunday for Children and Youth
10:30 a.m.  
Sunday, September 4th is the last class of Specialty Class Summer for 2016 - Mary Cheney and Richard Miller will be offering an art lesson for the children this week.  The lesson is intended for preschool-5th graders. Middle School and High school students are invited to remain in the sanctuary.
 
Next week's FLASH will include more details regarding our Sunday programs for Children and Youth in September.  Can't wait for next week? Check out the Lifespan Experience Article in the September Beacon!

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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 complete new forms.  New registration is required at the start of each programming year - this includes those children who use the Nursery.  Thank you.

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VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED

Lifespan Experience Committee 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 a 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 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 is September 9:  5:30 - 9:00 pm
Deadline to register is Tuesday, September 6.
Reminder:  Friday Night Out families also need new 2016-2017 registration forms on file!

Family Welcome Picnic is Sunday, September 11
Annual event hosted at the home of John and Pinkie Hoffmann
Gathering time 5:30-6pm, 6:00pm dinner
PLEASE RSVP TO SARAH ASAP.  Hot dogs and veggie burgers will be provided - please bring a potluck dish to share and BYOB.
John serves as our Adult Programming Liaison on the Lifespan Experience Committee, and we thank both John and Pinkie for their very gracious offer to host again this year.

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

Weekly activities are listed in the Order of Service & Beacon

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Mindfulness Meditation 
Sunday, September 4
1st Sunday sitting time:  2:30pm - 6:30pm, sanctuary

Wednesday Supper returns September 7!
As we begin the 2016-2017 Program Year, our first Wednesday Supper is a Potluck - please bring a dish to share.  Social time at 5:30pm, dinner at 6pm.  If you have an interest in this program, please make it a priority to attend on September 7th.  We will have a brief conversation following dinner regarding the schedule for the dinners this year as well as Wednesday Night programming.

UU Book Club:  Sunday September 11, 2:00pm.  Corrected book title: 
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.  Host:   Barbara McClellan

F Y I

 Benzie UU:   The 2016-2017 program(s) for the Benzie County Unitarian Universalist Group begins on Wednesday, September 7th
6:30 pm at Michigan Shores, Frankfort, MI.  Meetings are the first and third Wednesdays of the month.  The evening begins with a potluck meal followed by a speaker and fellowship.  The speaker on September 7th is Jean Lave, PhD.  Dr. Lave, professor emerita in anthropology from University of California Berkeley, has conducted extensive research in learning and challenges the current structure of education.  The program's title, Everyday Life's Learning, is also the title of her most recently published book.
                                                                         
We look forward to interesting and informative gatherings throughout the fall, winter and spring.  Please feel free to join us.  If you have any questions, please call Laurie Mason at 231.889.4718.

  Morning Meditation:   Thursday, September 8
Please note  Morning Meditation has moved to Thursdays at 9:00 AM .  
Please join us for a time of quiet and calm.

  UU Men's Group:  Monday, September 12, 5:30 PM @ Minerva's
Pick up a copy of the New Yorker article about Tony Schwartz, ghostwriter for "The Art of the Deal" by Donald Trump.  Fascinating read!

  Mark your calendars, dust off your walking shoes!  
2016 CROP HUNGER WALK is Sunday, October 9 at the Civic Center! 
T his community-based project raises awareness and monies to help combat hunger both locally and globally.  This year Sarah Montgomery-Richards and John Hoffmann are coordinating efforts to promote our Congregation's participation in the WALK.  UUCGT has not been involved since 2009, so it's time to engage once again with this community service project.  We will need walkers and donors.  Watch for details to follow. Keep this date reserved.  Thank you!

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Local Community Needs

Smile...
"Why not go out on a limb?
That's where the fruit is."
 -  Will Rogers



 phone: l(231) 947-3117       website:   www.uucgt.org         email:   office@uucgt.org

  

Office hours:  Monday by appointment

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

  

FLASH articles are due by noon on Wednesday each week