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Weekly Communicator
March 17, 2022
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We invite you to join us this Sunday March 20th as we welcome new members to our Congregation, exploring what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist and our monthly theme of Renewing our Faith. | |
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Dear UUCFM Congregation,
With great rejoicing, we are pleased to report that Lee County’s COVID risk level has continued to improve, and we’re now ready to return to worship services in our Sanctuary on March 13! In-person attendees will be required to wear masks and remain socially distant, in compliance with our re-opening guidance, found by clicking here. We’ll maintain our Zoom broadcast for those who aren’t able to join in-person.
As always, reach out to me with any questions at UUCFMPresident@UUCFM.org or 239-222-9406.
Yours in Growth,
Lane Cook
President, UUCFM Board of Trustees
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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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Denise out of office
Denise will be out of the office from 4pm on Thursday March 17th to 9am on Tuesday March 22. She will not be able to check emails or voicemails during that time.
Thank you!
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Annual Members Meeting
Please plan on meeting in the Sanctuary at noon on Sunday, March 27 for this year’s meeting. Your votes are needed to confirm candidates for next year’s Board of Trustees, as well as those who wish to serve on the Nominating Committee. Details will be emailed to you shortly.
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LIFE NEHEMIAH ACTION
On March 15 I attended the LIFE Nehemiah Action. Lots of people showed up at Mt. Hermon Ministries including some of our Council Members. LIFE put their feet to the fire! Lots of people showed up on online streaming sites. I attended in person with Marge Gonzalez. First on the agenda were the calling out of the names of congregations who are members of LIFE. UUCFM and All Faith’s were among them. Rev. CJ McGregor from all Faiths gave the opening prayer. Following is a short synopsis of the Affordable Housing Position Statement:
There is not enough low-cost rental housing in Fort Myers. People who serve all of us can’t find housing. This is a travesty.
LIFE’s solution is to increase the supply of low-cost housing using a local Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The City Council in January of 2022 unanimously approved an ordinance, now we have to keep fighting for the promised 1.5 million to put into the fund - without delay.
LIFE is asking for a revenue source of $3 million a year.
Money will go to creating affordable housing and also to help families pay their rent.
Let’s show up for LIFE. You can contact Helen Leddy and Marge Gonzalez for more information. You can contact me - Karen Brown. We are all needed at the Justice Table. To invest in LIFE text lifejustice to 4-4-3-2-1 to invest via credit card or bank account or mail your check to LIFE PO Box 62692, Fort Myers, FL 33906. LIFE for Justice! Justice for LIFE!
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Our Memorial Garden
What does this space mean to you? It is a place to go sit, meditate, and remember all those people who have gone before and helped make our campus and congregation what it is today. The plaques on the stone walls tell the story. Perhaps you want to be part of this story when you leave this life?
Many plaques have been preordered, engraved, and stored in the office ready to place on the stone walls.
For your name plate or a loved member's name plate to be engraved and added, please look for a form at the Information Table each Sunday or call the office to have a form sent to you, 239-561-2700.
The Garden Guardians are taking loving care of this special place.
They are proud to have a part in this ongoing history of UUCFM. Do visit it and even pull a weed or two.
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Community Sharing Committee
The Community Sharing Committee is pleased to report the donations made recently.
GRACE Project for August and January total was $865.
Pachamama Alliance for June and February was $695.
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CUUPS
The Unitarian Universalist living tradition draws wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life. As interest in earth-based traditions and neo-paganism grows, the category of world's religions must be expanded to include these spiritual traditions with ancient roots and modern applications. Those in CUPPS are a rainbow people, proud of our diversity and open to the ever-creative and surprising newness of the sacred.
CUUPS Folks,
We will be gathering at the Amphitheater on Friday March 18th at 7pm.
A great beginning with a Full Moon.
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Congregational Budget Forum
A congregational Zoom forum on the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year is scheduled for Sunday, March 20, at 12:30 pm. Please join us if you would like to ask questions about the budget prior to the in-person annual meeting on March 27, when you will have the opportunity to vote on it. A copy of the proposed budget can be found by clicking here.
The meeting details are:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97443284489
Passcode: 417647
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On March 30, join the UUA Commission on Social Witness for their Spring Social Witness Convening to organize, collaborate, and find support for your congregation's work on recent social justice statements as well as plan for justice-making in 2022. | |
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Awakening the Dreamer Symposium
All Faiths Unitarian Congregation.
Saturday, April 2nd, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Facilitated by Gary Robbins and Joseph Bonasia
The program includes lunch.
2756 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers FL 33901.
Masks optional.
Awakening the Dreamer is a transformative educational program that explores the challenges facing humanity at this critical moment in time and the opportunities we as a human family have to create a new future.
This experience is about waking up from the “dream of the modern world” that is destroying our planet and way of life. Through videos, slides, presentations, and discussions, we aim to create an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling human presence on Earth. While we initially deal with some disturbing facts, we promise that you will leave feeling optimistic, empowered, and inspired to help create our new future.
For more information and to register click here.
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UUCFM 15+ GROUP MEETING
There will be a gathering of the UUCFM 15+ Group on Sunday, April 3, at noon, in the screened room. If you joined UUCFM in 2007 or earlier, you can be a member of this group. Many churches call a group like this The Elders! If you have any questions, contact Ellen Erickson, andy.ellen.erickson@gmail.com, 239-218-4789 or Suzanne Ziemer at suzanneziemer@gmail.com or 239-463-9020.
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Mark the date!
SWFL RESET Center and the Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra Present:
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Friday, April 22
5:00 Pm
Celebrate Earth Day and Care of Creation with music, art, poetry, food trucks, and community. Join us for an SWFL RESET Board Members reception, a conversation with Joe Bonasia about the Right to Clean Water Constitutional Amendment. The Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra will be presenting an Earth Day evening celebration, and those who attend the RESET event earlier in the evening will receive a discount on performance tickets.
Register here: https://resetearthdayceleb.eventbrite.com.
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Monday Book Group
On March 21, we’ll discuss Ch. 8&9 of Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by C.C. Perez. 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 begins discussing Thich Nhat Hanh’s Happiness: Essential Practices. Contact mstuder929@gmail.com for details.
The Wednesday sangha meets between 10:00-11:30 a.m. in coordination with Caloosahatchee Mindfulness. It’s discussing Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication by Oren Jay Sofer. Contact Helen Leddy for more information: helen.leddy@gmail.com.
Poetry Circle
We read and discuss in detail a variety of poems, often related to our UU experience, usually centered around a weekly theme. Members share their own work for discussion as well, if they want to, but you do not need to be a writer to join. We offer weekly prompts, although there is no obligation to follow them.
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.
The Poetry Circle will meet next, on Zoom, on March 29, when we will look at poetry of prayer and spirit written from different perspectives, the emotions they evoke, and how they are crafted. If you have a poem you’ve written that you would like to share, it doesn’t need to address this theme.
We meet every other Tuesday. We will meet from 1pm to 3pm on the 29th. This a change from the original time.
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Community Sharing in March:
Early Learning Coalition of SW Florida
Our mission is to enhance the quality of children’s lives by providing families, early childhood educators, care-givers and community partners in Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties, with opportunities to positively impact the future.
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60th Anniversary Pave the Way Fundraiser Update | Two recent brick donations have come in, making our total bricks at 85. Mary Studer's brick reads REALIZE THE 8TH PRINCIPLE and Dawn Lienhardt's brick reads FRIENDSHIPS GROW HERE. Now that we are reopening on March 13th, you will be able to view the bricks on the walkways along the Sanctuary entrances. | | | |
The Bill Brewer Family Gardens | |
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UPDATE
In the interest of Social Justice, our gardens are reporting a total of 641 pounds of produce donated to St. Martin de Porres Outreach and the Cypress Lake Food Bank so far this season, to address local food insecurity. We have also dedicated three beds to Cultivate Abundance, a non profit devoted to helping farm workers in Immokalee. Sadly those who harvest our food do not have enough to put food on their own tables.
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60 Years - Holding Strong
Writing is underway for our 60th anniversary play, "Over 60 Years Holding Strong". It's been 60 years since June 20, 1961 when UUCFM received its Charter from the UUA. Reflection interviews are being collected by Hank Nash and Margaret Ramus. The more ideas and reflections the better. We are building on the 40th Anniversary Play produced in 2002. To be part of this effort, contact 60th Play Coordinator, Suzanne Ziemer, suzanneziemer@gmail.com, 239-463-9020.
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The MACC
The Music and Arts Community Center
2021 - 2022
Season Tickets
The GCS comprises the Gulf Coast Symphony, the Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra, the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective, and the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC). This year over 100 programs will be offered that present the best in classical music, jazz, world music, dance, opera, film and musical theater.
Ticket prices range from $24 - $44
As you know, there's not a bad seat in the house!
Tickets and seat choice can be purchased online or at the door.
For more info visit
gulfcoastsymphony.org
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