Weekly Communicator

Weekly Communicator

June 22, 2023

There will not be a service this Sunday. Instead, you may watch the General Assembly Sunday Worship, which is being broadcast from 11am-12:30pm, by clicking on the link below:

https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2023/sunday-worship

NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Minister's Musings

“I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer – its dust and lowering skies.” Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye (commonly banned book)

This week, please join us for Sunday morning worship at General Assembly, at 11:00. You can join from your home. Click on this link: https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2023/sunday-worship

There will be no worship in person or via Zoom coming from the church. The tech team has a very deserved Sunday off.

You will not see me in the pulpit for awhile. I will be on vacation in July and will see you again, in person, on August 13th. The Worship Associates have wonderful services planned during this time.

It's hard to believe almost a year has passed since I first met you all. I am so excited to be continuing our journey together.

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

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**

Office Hours

Office hours for June 22 and June 29 are 8am-1pm.

Community Sharing for June

The SWFL RESET Center was founded in 2020 by UUCFM members and committed community activists seeking to be a positive force for change in SWFL. The RESET office is located on the UUCFM Campus. RESET contributes to the Community Gardens and will continue to partner with other organizations seeking to teach and practice regenerative agriculture, permaculture, and community leadership.

SWFL RESET Center offers ongoing free programs and online RESET Conversations educating the public about real solutions for Clean Water, and Environmental Justice in our bioregion. Check out our positive daily messaging called Earth Moments and help us spread the word by sharing, reflecting, and commenting on social media. Stay tuned for our upcoming programming called Being a Good Relative, a UUSC, UUFJ, RESET partnership about working with our Indigenous neighbors in the Everglades on Climate Justice.

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".

CUUPS

Outdoor work party this Saturday, June 24, from 10am-12pm.

Meeting to follow in the Screen Room starting at 1pm.

Worship Service Sunday June 25

There will NOT BE a live service at UUCFM on Sunday, June 25.

Instead, please join us for the largest annual gathering of UUs joining in worship. This powerful, communal worship experience will stream on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 11:00 am ET. Access the service at https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2023/sunday-worship.

The Office of the UUA President, the Rev. Susan Frederick Gray, is pleased to announce that the Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, Senior Minister of the First UU Congregation of Ann Arbor, MI will lead the 2023 Sunday Service at GA.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti serves as Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is a co-editor of "Conversations with the Sacred: A Collection of Prayers" (2020) and the 2018-2019 UUA common read, "Justice on Earth: People of Faith Working at the Intersections of Race, Class, and the Environment." He has served extensively in Unitarian Universalist leadership, including as a member of the UUSC Board of Trustees; the UUA Board of Trustees; President of DRUUMM (our UU people of color organization, Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries); Commissioner on the UUA Commission on Appraisal; Secretary of the Board of Starr King School for the Ministry; and as an author and advocate of the 2007 General Assembly resolution confronting gender identity-related discrimination. He brings to the ministry his multicultural experience serving as a U.S. diplomat during the Clinton administration. Rev. Manish loves desert hiking and his amazing kids and husband.

UU and You ~ Newcomers Invited

No matter where you are in life, you are welcome here.

Sunday, July 2 ~ 9:00-10:00 a.m. Room 2

The Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism & Sources

How to take our values out into the world!

Guided discussion with Marge Gonzalez, V.P. Membership, Board of Trustees

Refreshments served ~ Sign up appreciated

Helping Our Neighbors

Many local not-for-profit organizations align with our mission. If you’re aware of any such groups in need of meeting space, we may be able to offer our facilities for just the amount of whatever donations its participants offer. Advise the organization to contact Rev. Sue or Mary Studer to see if UUCFM can help.

Banned Book Project

Here are more comments from congregants who donated books.

Beneath a Meth Moon: A Elegy

“This is a brilliantly written book, often lyrical. The central character is vulnerable after the death of her mother and grandmother in Hurricane Katrina. It is the story of redemption as well.”

The Family Book

“This book encourages loving tolerance of differences.”

Melissa (George)

“Cisgendered children might not be interested, but reading about a transgendered child might help them understand better when they meet one. . . .. . It’s for kids who need to know they are not the only ones like this. It’s probably a little misleading about how easy this path must be for transgendered kids who want others to recognize who they really are.”

Brave

“This is a graphic novel with charming drawings and with a relentlessly sympathetic protagonist. It would help any young reader struggling with the challenges of middle school.”

Everywhere Babies

“It is adorable. Babies will love it and so will toddlers..”

Voter Registration Help

It’s more important than ever that we fight voter suppression. You can help by reading this link, then posting it to your social media and share however else you deem fit. Thank you!

Mary M. Studer

VP for Programming, Board of Trustees