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Weekly Communicator
June 9, 2022
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We invite you to join us at our Service on June 12th at 10:30am as we honor Pride Month and celebrate the blessings of our LGBTQIA siblings and friends. Please join us as we celebrate love, diversity and community. | |
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UU Dialogues
UU DIALOGUES IS ON HIATUS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
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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**
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Covid Protocol Update
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 will continue to be required in the sanctuary during worship services.
- Masks are optional for coffee and other functions in Hobart Hall.
- In the library, classrooms, and other small spaces, masks are required UNLESS everyone present agrees otherwise. We’ll continue to be respectful and protective of those of us whose immunity is impaired.
- Worship services and UU Dialogues will continue to be available on 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 at UUCFMPresident@UUCFM.org.
Namaste,
Mary Studer
President, Board of Trustees
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CONGREGATIONAL MUSIC COMMITTEE SURVEY
The Music Committee of UUCFM would like to hear from singers, former choir members, players and others who would like to contribute their talents and time to the UUCFM music program!
The UUCFM music program is looking to expand its offerings to the congregation for Sunday services and other events by bringing the choir back together and adding experienced musicians to the “band”. We have put a short survey together, which can be found by using this link, which asks about specific areas of interest and has room for suggestions for the music program in general.
Please take a few minutes to respond to the survey and let us know how we can continue to make our music program great! You can also reach out to me directly if you prefer - Peter Golbitz, Music Committee Chair, at peter.golbitz@gmail.com.
We would like to hear from everyone. Please answer all of the questions in the survey.
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Welcome New Member
DANIELLE SALERNO
Danielle just moved here in November from New Jersey where she was a member of the UU in Montclair. She works full-time from home as an environmental project manager for an environmental consulting firm. Her special interest with us is the Covenant of UU Pagans where she has already led several events on our campus. She has been a practicing Neo-Pagan witch for the past 15 years. Danielle is delighted to find a home with us and appreciates our openness to diversity in all aspects of life. She looks forward to working with members to build further community among us.
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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.
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Yolanda Renee King: My generation has to stand up against gun violence | |
By Yolanda Renee King
May 30, 2022 at 3:07 p.m. EDT – Washington Post
Yolanda Renee King, the granddaughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., is an activist and eighth-grader.
I never met my grandfather the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. because he was taken from my family by gun violence. But I know the mark that he and my grandmother Coretta Scott King left on American history. I know that the challenges my generation faces resemble those that led my grandparents to march on Washington and other cities to demand change.
I am 14 years old, and once again I am afraid. Two major mass shootings in 10 days. In Buffalo, our elders, many of whom share the same complexion as me, were gunned down while simply shopping for groceries. In Uvalde, Tex., 19 children not too much younger than me were murdered in their school.
Enough is enough.
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SPECIAL INVITATION FOR NEWCOMERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR—
- UUCFM connections…
- Understanding Unitarian Universalist ways…
- Exploration of our spiritual paths.
This class is particularly designed for past and current visitors, newer members and those considering membership. We will meet for three Sundays following the service, two weeks apart. Mark your calendars and save the dates: June 26, July 10, & July 24 11:45am-1:15. VP of Membership Marge Gonzalez will facilitate our discussions. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP judyburget@gmail.com.
Thank you!
We will get to know each other by sharing our spiritual journeys. Here are the questions we will ask each of us to answer:
1. What is your past history with religion?
2. What do you treasure and want to hold onto from that experience?
3. What do you want to leave behind as you embrace Unitarian Universalism?
Our hope is that we will come away from these meetings understanding each other a little better!
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SWFL RESET Center presents
An Afternoon with Houston Cypress
Sun, June 26, 2022
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT
An experiential journey using discussion and creative activities that encourage a better connection to our Self and Nature. Bring Your Open Heart.
Register on Eventbrite here.
Rev. Houston Cypress is a member of the Miccosukee Indian Tribe of Florida, Otter Clan, and is the founder of the Love The Everglades Movement. Cypress also serves as Advisory Board Member at Climate Crusader, Member of the Board of Directors at Unity Coalition, Coalicion Unida, Board Member at Composition INC, Executive producer at Miccosukee World Media, Volunteer at Film Recording & Entertainment Council Inc., Consultant at Miccosukee Tribe Of Indians Of Florida, and former Production Assistant at Kimbo Productions. He will be co-leading an online UUSC/UUFJ/RESET partnership program this fall called Being a Good Relative.
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Self Care Workshop
The Pastoral Care Team invites you to join us for a self-care workshop offered by Mary Tracy Sigman via zoom on July 1 from
1-2:30 pm. Please contact Mary Tracy for more information including the zoom link.
The workshop will include gentle seated movement, meditation and the opportunity for group sharing. We hope to offer these workshops on a monthly basis.
Mary Tracy Sigman is Dharma Teacher/Leader of Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group of Fort Myers. She and her group have been with UUCFM since September 2010. Mary Tracy also has been serving on the Pastoral Care Committee since its inception, and she volunteers with local organizations, such as HOPE Hospice, United Way, Calusa Waterkeepers, Citizens Climate Lobby, and RTCW. She believes we cannot heal others unless we first heal ourselves, so Self Compassion is important for us all.
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Monday Book Group
The group won’t meet until June 20 to allow everyone to get a copy of our next book, Becoming Story: A Journey among Seasons, Places, Trees and Ancestors by Gre Sarris. For more info, click here to contact Mary Studer.
Mindfulness Opportunities
We have two online sitting practices each week for you. We practice mindfulness and discuss a reading. If you don’t have the books, you're still welcome to sit with us.
The Monday sangha meets at 6:30-7:45 p.m. and is discussing Beyond Mindfulness by Stephan Bodian. Contact Mary Studer for details.
The Wednesday sangha meets between 10:00-11:30 a.m. in coordination with Caloosahatchee Mindfulness. Contact Helen Leddy for more information.
Social Issues Book Group
Our next book is RACE TALK AND THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE: UNDERSTANDING AND FACILITATING DIFFICULT DIALOGUES ON RACE by Derald Wing Sue. "If you believe that talking about race is impolite, or that 'color blindness' is the preferred approach, you must read this book. The book debunks the most pervasive myths using evidence, easy-to-understand examples, and practical tools."
The start date is Friday, June 17 at 3 p.m. To join us contact Helen Leddy helen.leddy@gmail.com or Helen Dixon helendixon9@gmail.com.
Poetry Circle
This is an ongoing Zoom group. New members can join at any time, and we really hope you will. Contact Judi Dettorre judidet84@gmail.com or Cat Pivetti joypivet@aol.com for more information.
We meet every other Tuesday from 1-3pm.
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UPDATE
The gardens are moving forward this summer, planting with an eye on soil health. We are also working on seeking new renters and consistent volunteers for the upcoming season. We welcome visitors to see how are gardens are growing. Please no dogs inside the bed areas.
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