Weekly Communicator

Weekly Communicator

December 1, 2022

Sunday Service

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

We hope you will join us as we celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent. This is a time for us to remember the wonders all around us and the hope those wonders can bring.

Minister's Musings

Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting.-Joyce Meyer

It was delightful getting to spend time with so many of you over Thanksgiving time. This week, worship is in the very capable hands of Mary Cline Golbitz and I will see you via Zoom on December 13th. Then on the 18th of December, I will be in person to celebrate the Solstice with many participants in the service. On the 19th, join us for a special “Blue Holiday Vespers Service” This is a contemplative service honoring that the holiday season is NOT always joyful especially after a loss in your life. On December 24th, we will celebrate Christmas Eve (this is “high church” for UUs and always a wonderful service. We will gather again on Sunday morning, the 25th, which happens to be Christmas Day this year. I am looking forward to once again being in your midst. Warmly, Rev. Sue

[email protected]

call, 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 [email protected]

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

Community Sharing for December

Quality Life Center's mission is to strengthen and instill pride in family and community through programs and services to cultivate self-discipline, self-development, build confidence and promote cultural awareness.

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".

Snowbird Follies: An Original Yuletide Revue-sical

Nomads from the north have been flocking to the sunshine state for well over 100 years. Come enjoy a whimsical musical yuletide celebration with a winking nod to Fort Myers' original snowbirds, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.

FREE TICKETS FOR UUCFM MEMBERS!

The Gulf Coast Symphony would like to see a packed house for opening night, so they are offering free tickets for UUCFM members. To get your free tickets, call (239) 277-1700 ext 108 and let them know that you are with UUCFM.

When:

Saturday, December 3, 2022 7:30PM

Location:

Music & Arts Community Center on the campus of UUCFM

UU and You

An Invitation for Newcomers*

Sundays, December 4th & 11th

9:00-10:00 a.m. - Room 2

Informal discussion

Coffee & Cookies

Connections!

* Visitors & newer Members & All who seeking community are welcome!

Book Club

On December 5, the UUCFM Monday Book Club will reconvene from its hiatus to begin our discussion of the Intro through Ch. 2 of An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz. We’ll meet at 1 o’clock Monday. Contact Mary Studer for more information.

Dinner and a Movie-You Bet!

Do you miss having fun with your friends? Bring them along and come join us at All Faith’s on Friday, December 9^th at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and a movie. We will start with a selection of assorted, handmade quiches, a garden salad and homemade tomato soup. Plus the meal will feature homemade bread with Flourless Chocolate Cake for dessert!

After dinner we will watch “Mission Joy”, a wonderful movie featuring the Dalai Lama and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu. This is a special, private showing of these two teachers as they discuss the nature of joy. Having been lucky enough to see the Dalai Llama speak in Boston, your host, Ariel Hoover, will introduce the movie with an anecdote about the Dalai Llama’s sense of humor.

You’ll go home full of delicious food and joy! Tickets are $20.00 each, kids under 12, $10.00. All moneys go to support All Faiths Congregation and its social and climate justice work in the community.

Tickets must be purchased in advance, so we know how much food to prepare. You can buy tickets at All Faiths on Sunday, November 27 or December 4 following the Sunday service. You can also send your check (made out to All Faiths) by mail to All Faiths Congregation, Attention: Movie Night, 2756 MacGregor Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33901. If you have any questions, feel free to email Ariel Hoover or call: 978-505-5599.

Hope to see you there!

Being a Good Neighbor - A five-session course Starting Jan 23

You are invited to participate in a UU Service Committee-inspired learning series called "Being a Good Neighbor".

This will be presented on zoom for 4 Monday evenings starting Jan 23. The 5th and final session will be an in-person gathering at the UUCFM. It will include members from 4 UU congregations and their allies.

This online course is a collaboration of the SWFL RESET Center, The Love The Everglades Movement, and four Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Ministries. UU Justice Florida and the UU Service Committee generously have funded this work.

We hope this will be an entry for many of us into the rich culture and history of the Miccosukee people and a way we can be good neighbors and allies with all indigenous people, starting right here in SW Florida. We ask that participants commit to all 5 sessions, as the relationships and trust among all involved will grow over the weeks we spend together. We hope many of our UUCFM members will be a part of this experience.

Coming Soon! New Horizons Music

2023 Florida UU Women's Retreat

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

Brewer Family Garden Update

We are planting beds for the food banks, and will continue to do so throughout the season. We still have beds for rent. Contact Bonnie Jean.

Thanks for Your Generosity

Rev Sue and the Board of Trustees would like to thank UUCFM members and friends who have generously donated over $4,000 to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund to assist households who are struggling to recover from Hurricane Ian damages. We give special thanks to the UU Church of Saco and Biddeford, Rev. Sue’s former church.

Rev Sue and the Caring Team have been able to assist a number of families with a cash donation and have distributed gifts cards to others in need. If you have a hardship, please contact Rev Sue:

[email protected]

WhatsApp call or message: +506 8891 2847

Facebook Messenger: Sue Gabrielson

Skype: suegabes

Revised Covid Protocol

The efficacy of vaccines and treatments has significantly reduced Covid’s danger for most of us. As a result, the protocols for campus events have been revised:

MASKS ARE OPTIONAL BUT ENCOURAGED in the sanctuary during worship services.
Masks are optional for coffee and other functions in Hobart Hall.
In classrooms, the library and other small spaces, masks are still required UNLESS everyone present agrees otherwise. We’ll continue to be respectful and protective of those of us whose immunity is impaired.
Worship services will continue to be available via Zoom.

Although the Covid risk level will continue to fluctuate, I’m sure all of us hope the worst of the pandemic is behind us. We’ll continue to monitor the risk and change the guidelines as needed to protect our congregation.

Please reach out to me with any questions

Namaste,

Mary Studer

President, UUCFM Board of Trustees