Weekly Communicator

Weekly Communicator

March 2, 2023

Sunday Service

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

The service theme for the month of March is “Vulnerability”. This Sunday, Lesley Peterson explores the topic of difficult relationships through the lens of Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah”. Relationships are not always smooth; they can be rocky. Opening up to others requires us to become vulnerable, but the rewards are worth it. Please join us as we reflect on

embracing the imperfect in ourselves and others as we work towards improving our relationships.

Minister's Musings

Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new. ~ Og Mandino

On March 12th, I will offer a question box service. During the time of the sermon I will answer your questions. Questions can be submitted in advance or at the beginning of the service. They can be simple or complex, about the world or the congregation or me or anything else. What do you want to know from me? I can't guarantee that I will answer every single one, but I will try. See you all soon.

revsue@uucfm.org

WhatsApp call or message: +506 8891 2847

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

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

Community Sharing for March

The Southwest Florida Gay & Lesbian Chorus was formed in 1993, at the initiative of Doug Gathers and a small group of founders, despite the problems that would undeniably come with his "coming out" publicly. Since their founding in 1993, they have been a LGBTQ-friendly and all-inclusive 5013c non-profit organization. This group participates in local, regional, and national performances.

Their mission is to provide educational, cultural, and social enrichment for our audience and ourselves through excellence in the choral arts.

The group's name was changed in 2019 from Southwest Florida Gay & Lesbian Chorus to Southwest Florida Voices, to be more inclusive to the LGBTQ-Community and Allies.

If you cannot attend in person, you can still donate by mailing a check to the office with "community sharing" in the subject line, or by using the "donate" button on the website and marking it "community sharing".

Did you know that we're on Facebook and Instagram?

Be sure to follow us on Facebook or Instagram for inspirational quotes, and to see more about what is happening in the Congregation. Just click on the icons above. You can also share our posts with your family and friends.

ROOTS AND WINGS

OUR ANNUAL GENEROSITY CAMPAIGN

WE ARE PLEASED to announce the RESULTS of our Annual Generosity Campaign. Seventy members and family units have committed a total of just over $130,000 to fund our coming fiscal year (April 2023 – March 2024.). THANK YOU for your commitment, and many thanks to Denise for helping us keep track of our progress! Stay tuned for communications from the Finance Committee and the Board as a new budget is planned based on your gifts.

And since nothing is ever final…..If you have not yet let us know your intentions for supporting UUCFM for the coming fiscal year, here is a link you can use for a digital pledge card. If you prefer a paper commitment card, you can pick one up at the Welcome Table on Sunday. All pledges are confidential. You can also call or email Denise at the UUCFM office for help in making a pledge or to learn the status of your present commitment.

With appreciation from your Stewardship Team: Nancy Hutchins, VP for Stewardship; Len Cohen, Chair Stewardship Committee; Judy Burget, David Hutchins, Joan McDermott,

Suzanne Ziemer

BOT Update

Your Board met on February 14, 2023, and many members also attended. You could be like them and attend the next meeting, as they are always posted on the website. We are always trying to increase our transparency! We heard reports from the Treasurer, the Committee on Shared Ministry, the Nomination Committee, the Music Committee, and the Right Relations Committee. We also approved Amendment 1 of Rev. Sue Gabrielson’s Ministerial Letter of Agreement wherein she will be our ¾ part-time minister as of August 1, 2023! We approved the Community Sharing partners for the next year, and discussed the upcoming General Assembly. Finally and most fun, we voted for the Volunteer of the Month, Allie Carville!

Volunteer of the Month

We chose Allie Carville even BEFORE Reverend Sue gave her that great shout-out at last Sunday's service, because everyone appreciates all of her contributions to UUCFM. She serves on the tech team, which is a very behind the scenes job. She manages the slides and makes sure that the speakers who are Zooming in

appear on the screen. She will create the slides if needed. It's a lot of work and she deserves recognition for it. She is also involved with social justice and is a reliable presence at the MLK march every year. From Marge Gonzalez, VP for Membership: "When I came to UUCFM Alison was an 8th grader. I held a vacation church school and she was my right hand person. She anticipated needs before they were apparent to others. She was also in my Coming of Age class and showed herself to be a courageous leader. It has been a joy seeing her grow into the fearless, kind, empathetic, activist person she is today". Hooray to Allie!

Come lift your voices…

At this moment, our congregation is without a Director of Music. The Board of Trustees has appointed an ad hoc committee to search for a new individual to take on this role. In the meantime, we are blessed to have Jeff Letts on organ and Peter Golbitz on guitar. While their efforts are appreciated, it is not reasonable to rely upon them every Sunday. We will be looking at bringing in guest piano accompanists to play on a rotating basis.

In order to keep our music program moving forward, I have accepted the role of Music Team Coordinator. But our congregation members can help our music program, as well… I invite anyone who is interested in leading our Sunday hymns to participate in a “pick-up” choir. Simply come to the Sanctuary before the service begins – between 9:30 and 9:45 – grab a hymnal, and we’ll run through the hymns together. During the service, we’ll sing together as a choir and lead the rest of the congregation.

Also, if anyone wishes to get together in small groups – duets, trios, or more – and offer a song for the service, please let me know. The theme for the month is posted on the homepage of our uucfm.org website, so please think about what you and your singing buddies might be able to offer that would help to support the theme. We would love to have our congregation members come forward and offer their talents!

In service,

Lesley Peterson

VP for Worship and Music Team Coordinator

A Voice for True Freedom

Dr. Marvin Dunn

Dr. Marvin Dunn - author, historian, professor, psychologist, retired Navy commander, and much more – will be our guest speaker for the March 2, Voices Zoom Discussion, from 7-8:30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from a leader on the front lines willing to use his Voice and speak out against the actions and policies in Florida and beyond that are impacting education and racial justice. Dr. Dunn has been a strong voice against new and proposed policies impacting our true freedom. There will be time for Q&A. Learn more about Dr. Dunn here and his books here.

PLEASE DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!

Link to Zoom discussion

Campus Gardening

This Saturday is the First of March! Everyone is invited to join the Garden Guardians on Saturday to spruce up and maintain our beautiful campus, including the Memorial Garden, the Sculpture Garden, the courtyard and other areas as needed. Equipment is provided, bring water. We work from 9-11, and have a good time! Every 1st Saturday and 3rd Wednesday are work days.

TUUSDAYS Together

STORIES CONNECT US - MARCH 7th, 11am-1 pm

Mary Murray will lead us in storytelling for our TUUsday Together meeting, March 7th in the Screen Room. Beginning at 11am, break for lunch, bring your own and beverage, and ending at 1pm. Mary says to share your stories of times felt powerful or overwhelmed; finding your path or losing your way; joys or sorrows; amazing experiences... Sharing our life stories does indeed connect us. Do come hear from others and enjoy the connectedness of our community with each other.

Gulf Coast Symphony

Now through March 11

Forever Plaid is one of the most popular and successful musicals in recent memory. This deliciously fun revue is chock-full of classic barbershop quartet harmonies and pitch-perfect melodies!

Once upon a time, there were four guys (Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie) who discovered that they shared a love for music and then got together to become their idols – The Four Freshman, The Hi-Lo’s and The Crew Cuts. Rehearsing in the basement of Smudge’s family’s plumbing supply company, they became “Forever Plaid”. On the way to their first big gig, the “Plaids” are broadsided by a school bus and killed instantly. It is at the moment when their careers and lives end that the story of Forever Plaid begins….

Singing in close harmony, squabbling boyishly over the smallest intonations and executing their charmingly outlandish choreography with overzealous precision, the “Plaids” are a guaranteed smash, with a program of beloved songs and delightful patter that keeps audiences rolling in the aisles when they’re not humming along to some of the great nostalgic pop hits of the 1950s. (Music Theatre International)

RESET Conversation

Join us for a RESET CONVERSATION on the Psychological Effects of Global Climate Disruption, on March 14th at 6:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada).

(After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.)

About our Presenter:

Dr. Lise Van Susteren is a general and forensic psychiatrist in Washington, DC, and an expert on the physical and psychological impacts of climate change. In 2011 she co-authored "The Psychological Effects of Global Warming on the U.S. - Why the US Mental Health System Is Not Prepared". Van Susteren is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University and has been a consultant to the Executive Branch of the US government profiling world leaders. She is a frequent contributor on television, radio, and in print media. In 2006 Dr. Van Susteren sought the Democratic nomination to the US Senate from Maryland. Her book, “Emotional Inflammation – Discover Your Triggers and Reclaim Your Equilibrium During Anxious Times” was published in April 2020.

There are still a few spots open for the retreat.

The correct link for the conference center is: https://dayspringfla.org/.

Bill Brewer Gardens Update

We had a great harvest on Wednesday for the Outreach at St Martin de Porres. They serve a meal five nights a week and hand out groceries once a week to the poor of Tice.