Weekly Communicator October 12, 2023

Weekly Communicator

October 12, 2023

Sunday Service

Join us this Sunday at 10:30am in the Sanctuary or via Zoom

https://zoom.us/j/5264858673

Minister's Musings

"May the nourishment of the earth be yours,

may the clarity of light be yours,

may the fluency of the ocean be yours,

may the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow

wind work these words

of love around you,

an invisible cloak

to mind your life." John O'Donohue

This week our worship will be led by myself and our amazing Respectful Relations team. Come, be inspired and learn about this beautiful ministry. Our service will be followed by a potluck and continued conversation and Q and A with the Respectful Relations team. See you (in person) on Sunday!

Upcoming Themes for Sunday Services:

October 15th: Turn the World Around (Rev. Sue and The Respectful Relations Team)

October 22: Being Mortal (Rev. Sue and Mary Cline Golbitz)

October 29: Samhein/Day of the Dead (Rev. Sue, Lesley Peterson and CUUPS)

Don't forget to buy your tickets for the Masquerade at the Mac. If the price is a burden and you would like to attend, please ask Rev. Sue about complimentary or reduced cost tickets.

revsue@uucfm.org

WhatsApp call or message: +506 8891 2847

US phone number: 603-395-7559

Facebook Messenger: Sue Gabrielson

Skype: suegabes

Please send all newsletter articles by

12pm Wednesday for publication in Thursday's newsletter.

Send articles to newsletter@uucfm.org

Newsletter articles should be limited to 250 words. Send artwork or photos in jpg format. If multiple posting dates are desired, please include that in your request.

**Please do not send requests to the office manager email**

CAN’T MAKE IT TO THE MASQUERADE AT THE MACC PARTY?

Fellow snowbirds and others who cannot make it to the fun planned for October 21st , take heart! Consider a donation to this important fundraiser. The funds that UUCFM receives

from this event will be used to offset expenses to repair damage to our lovely building and grounds that have occurred over the past year—Ian being the main culprit.

David and I were looking forward to the party and auction, but have found we have to delay our arrival in Florida. We have made a donation and hope others will also. You can donate easily with this link:

https://gulfcoastsymphony.org/concert/masquerade-macc/ or if you are more comfortable writing a check to UUCFM, kindly designate “masquerade” on the memo line.

Nancy Hutchins

Volunteer of the Month

Barbara Shearer is Volunteer of the Month. We are so fortunate that a librarian should walk through our door just as we are enriching our book collection with banned books and books promoting social justice. Barbara was our Grand Marshall for the procession of books from the sanctuary to the library and is working on creating a database for the collection.

Neil A. Yesu

January 4, 1935 - August 21, 2023

“When he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night.” (Shakespeare-Romeo and Juliet)

Please join Neil's wife of 38 years, Diane Buckley, Rev. Sue, Mary Cline Golbitz , Peter Golbitz, Jon Dalton and the choir as we pay tribute and celebrate Neil's life. We will gather for a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, October 21st at 11:00am in the Sanctuary. A reception with light refreshments will follow in the Narthex and for those of you who want to continue the conversations, there will be a luncheon at the restaurant Two Meatballs in the Kitchen.

Mark your Calendars: October 21, 2023

Masquerade at the MACC

URL: https://gulfcoastsymphony.org/concert/masquerade-macc/

for reservations, donations, and details.

5:30pm Cocktail Hour (Cash Bar)

6:00pm Dinner & Auctions & Raffles

7:30pm Concert

The Gulf Coast Symphony and UUCFM combine forces for an evening of fun, food, and music!

Auction Items and a basket raffles will be a part of the evening. Come fully decked out in a costume or wear just a mask for the fun evening.

Single Tickets are $50 per person or $75 for two.

Become a Table Sponsor for $500 (Include 8 seats and $100 tax-deductible donation). (Table Sponsors may donate their unused seats to Rev. Sue for Congregation members who could use some financial assistance to buy tickets.)

Event Sponsorships are available for a $1000 tax-deductible donation. Fantastic Adventure Auction Items (air transportation, personal beverages and phone calls not included):

1 week in paradise, Monteverde, Costa Rica, in Rev. Sue’s new home in the mountains with a breath-taking view of the Gulf of Nicoya and the Pacific Ocean. And, just minutes away from restaurants and activities in Monteverde. With all the comforts of home.

1 week beside a pristine lake in Central Wisconsin, just North of Madison, offered by Suzanne Ziemer. Enjoy the 2-bedroom, 2-baths lakeside retreat on the Ziemer compound. Adult “lake toys” available!

6 days & nights on a lifetime safari adventure in South Africa for two. Includes full board at Zulu Nyala Heritage Safari Lodge/Tented Camp in the heart of Zululand and St. Lucia/Sodwana Bay Marine Reserve – one of the richest wildlife conservation regions in Africa. Donated by Zulu Nyala.

All monies raised will be used to fund physical improvements on the UUCFM campus and benefit the Gulf Coast Symphony’s youth education programs at the MACC.

Melyssa Caballero will head-up the UUCFM efforts. We’re looking for a couple more UUCFM volunteers to help with preparations.

To help, call Sarah, our Office Administrator, at 239- 561-2700 or let Rev. Sue know at RevSue@UUCFM.org

See you there!

Social Justice and the Northwest Woods!

Wow!

Transgender Lives and Disability Activism!

And Climate Activism!

Triple Wow!

It's official! We're reading Exile and Pride. Eli Clare is a brilliant writer. He makes the beautiful deep green Northwest Coast come alive, while simultaneously presenting thought-provoking questions on a variety of topics involving gender, queerness, disability, and environmental protection..

We've moved the start date back a week, to October 25, so that you'll have a chance to get the book. Please let me know if you have trouble getting it. There are a couple of options.

We'll be meeting on Zoom, Wednesdays from 2pm to 3:30. For information and Zoom link, contact Cat Pivetti (equalrightscommittee.org).

Being Mortal

Aging in Place & Options for When That’s No Longer an Option

Classroom 2 at 9:15 am Oct.15

Please note the change of location for this Sunday.

Barbara Shearer from Neighbors Network of Lee County will tell us about various classes & services available to help us live independently. But because aging in place sometimes or suddenly becomes infeasible, a discussion of financial and other considerations of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities will be facilitated by Mary Studer

Please note the upcoming Pre-Church Programming:

Oct. 22 - Death with Dignity and Deciding What's Important (Tony Ray & Mary Studer)

Oct. 29 - Honoring Our Ancestors (Beatrice Muhlenbruch)

What a Wonderful World

As we continue to celebrate our Heritage this month, the choir will be singing “What a Wonderful World” on October 15th. You are all invited to sing this great piece with the choir on that Sunday.

It might be a way to see if our small but mighty choir is for you. We’ll gather at 9:30 to practice. Very much hope

to see you there!

Jon Dalton

Music Director

UU and You — All seekers are welcome!

Note: new date*: October 22 - After Sunday service

Newcomers and recent visitors are warmly invited to this discussion of beliefs and values Our focus is the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism & Sources. Marge Gonzalez will facilitate.

After the service, you are welcome to stop by Hobart Hall and grab a beverage and/or nibbles to bring with you to Classroom 2 (directly across from the Sanctuary). We’ll plan to adjourn by 1:00 pm.

We look forward to becoming better acquainted!

Questions? contact judyburget@gmail.com

* Originally scheduled for Oct. 15--Instead a potluck lunch will follow, all are invited.

Poetry at the Intersection

Indigenous Peoples' Poetry

and

LGBTQIA+ History Month

This month we acknowledge Indigenous Peoples Day and LGBTQIA+ History Month. This week we look at the work of poets who embody both. There are so many reasons to read their work, which includes some of my favorite poems. We'll meet on Zoom, Tuesday at 2pm or Saturday at 6:30, or maybe both!

We hope that you can join us. Newcomers are welcome. Contact Cat Pivetti (equalrightscommittee@uucfm.org) for poems and Zoom links

Men’s Group Returns

After our summer respite, the Men’s Group will resume monthly luncheons on October 19^th at 11:30 AM. We will be meeting on the third Thursday all season. We are looking forward to seeing as many UU men as possible. No reservations needed; just show up for lunch and camaraderie with other UU men.

We will meet at the Cross Creek Golf Club clubhouse. You can order from the regular menu or the golfers’ menu and we will get separate checks.

Dave Hutchins and Len Cohen will both be away on October 19^th. Dave Katz has volunteered to host.

My Little Pony Was Right

Discussion of Rev Cecilia Kingman's Berry St. Essay

POSTPONED

to MONDAY, OCTOBER 3O

at 6:30 PM

We, Marge and Cat, had originally planned to host a discussion of Rev Kingman's timely, informative, and provocative essay/lecture on Monday, October 16, but due to circumstances beyond our control we must postpone our discussion to October 30.

This essay highlights the strategies of fascism and how the language of oppression is being used to support authoritarian power. It's an extremely useful introduction to understanding what fascist strategies are and why certain groups are being chosen for demonization.

We hope that you'll join us for this facilitated discussion as we explore the implications of Rev Kingman's work for our own work as a congregation and within our local community. We are looking forward so much to this opportunity to share responses with each other. Our discussion on October 30 will be on Zoom at 6:30 pm. Contact Cat Pivetti (equalrightscommittee@uucfm.org) or Marge Gonzalez ( margaretgonzalez@me.com ) for more information or for registration and Zoom link.

Here's a link to the essay, in print and as a lecture:

https://uuma.org/berry-street-essay/2023-berry-street-essay-the-reverend-cecilia-kingman/

See you on the 30th!

CUUPS News

From the CUUPs team, we want to thank all of you that have supported our coffee service and soup with sides, it is our service to the community.

Now mark your calendars for upcoming events:

Oct 28th - Samhain ritual. Gather at 5:00 at the amphitheater to begin promptly at 6:00. Bring a chair to place at the fire pit and something to share for our community feast. Samhain is honoring our ancestors of land and blood, it is a solemn and joyful time. This ritual is open to all but we do advise younger children must be with a parent as some of the ritual is of adult nature.

All this bring us to November. We will let you all know as time gets a bit closer, but a heads-up, there is a community gathering in the works for Solstice gathering in December.

Hispanic Heritage Month

LGBTQIA+ History Month

Indigenous Peoples Day

and

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion LIBRARY

We have books to acknowledge, honor, and learn about each of these groups of people. We have books for every age level! We have picture books, novels, history, critical theory, and poetry! Come check them out!

We also need volunteers to staff the library and our display table in Hobart Hall. Contact Cat Pivetti (Equalrightscommittee@uucfm.org) for more information.

Community Sharing for October

Our Community Sharing partner in October is Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. The mission of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, an affiliate of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., is to provide affordable access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care and accurate health information through patient care, education and advocacy. This affiliate began operations in 1966 and presently provides vital sexual and reproductive health services, as well as comprehensive sexuality education to women, men and teens throughout southwest and central Florida.

LIFE for Justice

UUCFM is privileged to host the Annual Assembly in our Sanctuary. This is one of the four major yearly events of LIFE (Lee Interfaith for Empowerment), so don’t miss this exciting occasion, October 24 at 6:30; you will be part of the UUCFM caucus. We are expecting about 240 people from 14 congregations!

At the Annual Assembly we decide on the issue we will embrace for the year. This issue comes out of the concerns raised at the House Meetings held by participating congregations, including UUCFM, throughout the county. Once this decision is made a research group will form to see how best to effect change in our community.

October is

LGBTQIA+

History Month!

Fun facts and reasons to be proud to be UU!

UU all rock!

LGBTQ History & Facts

for Unitarian Universalists

The first General Assembly resolution on this topic passed in 1970, urging the UUA to work to end discrimination against homosexuals and bisexuals. (Wow! 1970!)

The first resolution to affirm transgender individuals and identity passed at General Assembly in

2007 and urged the expression of this affirmation through employment practices, educational

efforts, congregational life, and public witness, as well as encouraging congregations to explore

the differences between sexual orientation and transgender identity.

Welcoming Congregations

Unitarian Universalism began teaching about gay issues to youth in 1971 in the UU curriculum

About Your Sexuality (now called Our Whole Lives).

In 1989, a General Assembly resolution urged the UUA to implement the Welcoming

Congregation program (proposed by the Common Vision Planning Committee and approved by

the UUA Board of Trustees), and the first edition of the curriculum was published in 1990.

First Parish of Brewster, MA, became the first recognized Welcoming Congregation in 1991. By

1996 there were 57 recognized Welcoming Congregations; in 2000 25% of all UU congregations

"...the majority of congregations that have not gone through the program have smaller

memberships, over 85% of Unitarian Universalists attend a Welcoming Congregation.

Freedom to Marry

The first ceremony of union performed by a UU minister for a same-gender couple was reportedly

done in the late 1950s. It became more commonplace in the late 1970s and early 1980s. (1950s! Wow Again! Are you prouud yet?)

Personal Fun Facts from Cat's Own Personal Fun Facts:

Only a Queer person could manage to be married three times in two years in Unitarian Universalist ceremonies to the same woman, without ever choosing to divorce! And then be unmarried without divorce! And then be remarried a fourth time, without ceremony, to the same woman by the Supreme Court!

First: Civil Union in Vermont, performed by UU minister in Vermont.

Second: Wedding in Eugene, Oregon, in my home church, performed by my own UU minister.

Third: Marriage ceremony in Portland, Oregon, complete with marriage license, performed by UU minister. Divorced, by the One Woman, One Man amendment to the Oregon Constitution. AKA: The right to impose your religious doctrines on others, or: Their church trumps our church!

Yay for freedom of religion! Who except Queer people get to be divorced by Constitutional Amendment!

Fourth: Supreme Court affirms right to marriage equality in 2015, in Obergefell v. Hodges. REmarried! By the Supreme Court!

For more information about the UU's support of LGBTQIA+ people, about why Welcoming Congregations matter, why they're larger than other UU congregations, or any other QUUeer questions, contact Cat Pivetti (equalrightscommittee@uucfm.org).