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Weekly Communicator
January 27, 2022
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Democracy and Voting Rights | |
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Dear UUCFM Congregation
We are saddened to report that Lee County’s risk factor has now reached the “severe risk” level due to the widespread omicron variant: https://covidactnow.org/us/florida-fl/county/lee_county/?s=27751665
We will not be holding worship services in our Sanctuary until the risk level has returned to a safer level. Our return to Zoom-only services is out of concern and love for each of you. We are hopeful that we will be back together in person soon.
Other gatherings on campus may proceed in cautious compliance with our re-opening guidance, found by clicking here.
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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Greetings from the Ministerial Search Committee
We are enthusiastic as we begin our work for the congregation to find an appropriate minister to partner with. We appreciate that you have entrusted us with this important mission.
If you would like to connect with us, an email address has been set up for your convenience at
searchcommittee@uucfm.org
The team includes Helen Leddy (chair), Leslie Gatto (team spokesperson), Jeff Letts, Alanis Garcia, Mark Brandon, Matt Hoffman and Hank Flandysz. Please understand that the nature of our work involves much that must remain confidential.
Hugs, Leslie Gatto for the team
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KICKOFF KICKED DOWN THE ROAD
Omicron cases are still rising in Lee County and we want to keep everyone as safe as possible.
The Stewardship Committee is postponing the ice cream social kickoff event for this year’s pledge drive until a date to be determined (we hope not too long) when it will be safer to gather together.
Please join us Saturday, Feb. 5, at 2pm for a Zoom Discussion on what your pledge accomplishes, and ask your questions of our Treasurer and Stewardship Committee.
https://zoom.us/j/91090495576
Passcode: 14859
By now, you should have received your invitation in the mail to participate in our Generosity Campaign. Please either return the green card you received in the mail or go online to record your pledge at http://uulead.org/fairshare/ Please record your pledge even if you are sending in your check at this time.
Questions?? Call Len Cohen at 301.908.5752 or email StewardshipComm@UUCFM.org.
ON-LINE PLEDGES of Support for UUCFM can be made at https://www.uulead.org/fairshare/
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Volunteer of the Month
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce this month’s Volunteer of the Month. That honor goes to Leslie Gatto. Leslie is a long-time member of our congregation. She signed the book in 1995 - 27 years ago. She has been the secretary of the Board of Trustees, traveled to Guatamala for the Grace Project and has been a member of the singing group Womynfolk along with being a member of our choir. Leslie has also been honored as a Gauch Award recipient - those members who have served our congregation in extraordinary ways.
In terms of current service, we can find Leslie working hard on the newly formed Committee on Shared Ministry, the Ministerial Search Committee and the Chair of the Worship Committee. Leslie is also a facilitator of our Connection Circles. We can be pretty darn sure we left other things out that Leslie has accomplished here at our congregation. But we are pretty darn sure that we love and appreciate her and it is our pleasure to honor her as Volunteer of the Month.
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Help wanted!
The Membership Committee is looking for one person from each committee to help out with the upcoming 60th anniversary party. Please contact Carole Latino at carolelatino@gmail.com if you can help.
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Kids + Community = Lee County Trees
Kickoff Saturday, Feb 5th at UUCFM 4:00 PM
A Lee County-wide multi-year tree germination, planting and monitoring initiative kicks off on Saturday, February 5th in a free education and engagement event hosted by SWFL RESET in the Amphitheater and Screened Porch.
Register here
Activities and speakers include:
- RESET’s Gary Robbins Mother’s Day tree planting appeal
- RESET’s Holley Rauen composting team formation
- Dunbar High’s Jennifer Giles, science teacher presenting nature’s plant-water-bacteria relationships via PlanetBox™
- Future Forestry’s Russ Ringland describing his tree planting program on Veterans Parkway, Coral Gables
- JustLearn’s founder/CEO Djimo Serodio presenting the Silvi™ tree monitoring app
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15+ Group Meeting Postponed
Due to the current Covid situation in our area, the February 6th meeting of the 15+ Group has been postponed. We will reschedule when the church reopens and numbers reflect a safer environment for a face-to-face meeting. Keep safe! If you have any questions, contact Ellen Erickson at 239-218-4789 or andy.ellen.erickson@gmail.com.
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We were just starting to develop a small program of five children and youth when we reopened our doors as a congregation, but alas we had to shut down again. But the youth did something significant during that small window of opportunity when we were open. They started a Food Drive. | | | |
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WRITERS & PLAY READERS NEEDED:
We are writing a UUCFM 60th Anniversary Play using the 40th
Anniversary Play produced in 2002 as a basis. Next meeting, Saturday, Jan. 29th, 1pm, at Suzanne Ziemer's home. Materials provided for writing ideas. One Act Plays will also be read. We will be meeting every 2 weeks. For exact meeting times/dates, contact Play Coordinator Suzanne
Ziemer, 239-463-9020, suzanneziemer@gmail.com.
All welcome, no theater experience needed.
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Social Justice Committee
The Social Justice Committee will meet on the first Sunday in February on the 6th at noon. The current plan is to meet by zoom. Please submit any items for inclusion in the agenda.
Helen Dixon, helendixon9@gmail.com
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Monday Book Group
The UUCFM Monday Book Club will meet via Zoom at 1 o’clock January 31 to complete Defund Fear: Safety without Policing, Prisons and Punishment.
If you’re joining for the first time, please email Mary Studer at mstuder929@gmail.com to get the Zoom link.
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Social Issues Book Group
You are cordially invited to join us in our new book discussion. We will read Isabel Wilkerson's The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. To add your email address to our list please contact Helen Leddy: helen.leddy@gmail.com who will provide us with discussion questions for reflection.
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Mindfulness Opportunities
We welcome you to join either of our two online sitting practices each week. 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 Naht 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.
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Poetry Group
The poetry group meets every other Tuesday from noon to 2 pm, and will meet next on February 1. We read and discuss a variety of poems, and members share their own work for discussion as well, if they want to. We offer weekly prompts, but 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.
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Great Decisions 2022, a program sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association, has openings for its 21st season. The 8-week course will start on Thursday, January 20, and ends on March 10, 2022, and will be held in person at UUCFM.
The facilitator for the group is Bruce Leddy. Information about Great Decisions and the 2022 topics can be found on the FPA website at fpa.org.
For registration and information about the local group, contact Helen Leddy at helen.leddy@gmail.com.
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GRACE Project Sewing Donations
The Guatemalan Rural Adult and Children's Education Project, GRACE, is shipping large boxes to women's groups in rural Guatemala.
Recently three sewing machines were donated. Now we are seeking helpful materials to include in this shipment.
Please consider donating any of your extra sewing supplies to the GRACE Project.
Please leave your donations at the UUCFM Office for Helencita.
Muchísimas Gracias!
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60th Anniversary Pave the Way Fundraiser | |
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How to order your brick:
Contact Helen Dixon at helendixon9@gmail.com
or call 239-633-4989
or
Contact Suzanne Ziemer at
suzanneziemer@gmail.com or call 812-332-3450.
Each 4"x8" brick can be engraved with up to 3 lines of 13 characters/spaces on each line.
Your check for a $100 donation should be made to UUCFM with Brick fundraiser in the memo line.
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We now have over 70 commemorative donated bricks lining the walkways
into our sanctuary. They are loving reminders for who we are, and who we have been. Do consider adding your names and thoughts.
Ideas for engraving: Remembrances with birth-death dates, UU sayings/messages (Believe in truth, work for Justice), your name with personal wishes or identity, meditate at the Labyrinth, Honoring..., In Memory of..., etc.
Your entire Brick donation goes to the General Budget since our Endowment Fund Grant will pay for all production costs. This is our only Fundraiser since the Covid-19 Pandemic prevents us from being together.
Grateful thanks to all who have contributed bricks!
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The Bill Brewer Family Gardens | |
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UPDATE
The gardens are currently partnering with Hope Pace in Fort Myers, a non profit associated with Lee Health, to provide seniors with day treatment and activities that help them stay in their homes. We have provided some seeds, flats and containers to grow seeds. Some they will grow in their own beds and some they will grow for our family gardens (to sell to gardeners or to provide produce to sell or donate). We are setting aside two of our beds for those plants.
We now have a tumbler composter , donated by SWFL RESET, housed at our congregation.
A few irrigated beds are still available for rent. They are 4x8’. And are $85 for the season. Contact Bonnie Jean at familygardens@uucfm.org if interested.
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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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