Weekly Communicator

January 20, 2022

Sunday Service

Join us Sunday, January 23, at 10:30am

via Zoom only at

https://zoom.us/j/5264858673

or listen to audio only at UUCFM.org

Intention and Choices

This Sunday we will honor the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and those who worked for Reproductive Justice as we examine how to continue that work. We will be treated to live music by extraordinary musicians from the 2022 Women’s Singfest. We hope you will join us on January 23d.

Message from the

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

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**

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

We have met twice and will be meeting every week. The team includes Helen Leddy (chair), Leslie Gatto (team spokesperson), Jeff Letts, Alanis Garcia, Mark Brandon, Matt Hoffman and Hank Flandysz. We will keep you posted with a monthly Communicator article and occasional updates on Sunday mornings. Please understand that the nature of our work involves much that must remain confidential.

Hugs, Leslie Gatto for the team

OUR ANNUAL GENEROSITY CAMPAIGN IS BEGINNING

Check your mail! The Stewardship Team is spending the morning of January 20 stuffing envelopes with materials highlighting the good news about UUCFM. When we started thinking about all the good things that have been accomplished and all the ways our members and friends have been generous with their talent and time and treasure, we had a hard time fitting it all into our mailing. We hope you will read the cover letter from Lane Cook, President of our Board of Trustees, and enjoy the colorful brochure which shows many, many ways we connect with each other and the wider Fort Myers Community.

Prepare to make your generous and confidential pledge: The Stewardship team hopes you will find the materials in the mailing both hopeful and useful. If you have any questions, please contact us by emailing StewardshipComm@uucfm.org and a member of the team will contact you. Or you can ask any of us at the Kick-off Party, call us, or attend the Zoom meeting on Feb. 5. Your Stewardship team is Nancy Hutchins, Len Cohen, Judy Burget, David Hutchins, Bill Petrarca, Sue Roth, Suzanne Ziemer.

Mark you calendars:

Jan. 30, 12:00 – 2:00 pm Kick-off Party and Celebration
Feb. 5, 2 – 3 pm Zoom discussion: What our pledges accomplish
Feb. 13 Beloved Community Sunday Service
Feb. 20 End of formal campaign

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.

Useful items are:

-Scissors

-Needles

-Embroidery hoops

-Knitting needles

-Thread

-Beads

-Ribbons.

Please leave your donations at the UUCFM Office for Helencita.

Muchísimas Gracias!

Commemorative Bricks being laid by David Hutchins and John Worster

SWFL RESET Center

The SWFL RESET Center is deeply honored to host a presentation with Eric Toensmeier on January 25th at 1:30pm.

Eric has owned a seed company, managed an urban farm that leased parcels to Hispanic and refugee growers, and provided planning and business training to farmers. He is the author of The Carbon Farming Solution: A Global Toolkit of Perennial Crops and Regenerative Agricultural Practices for Climate Change Mitigation and Food Security. His writings can be viewed at www.carbonfarmingsolution.com and www.perennialsolutions.org.

Whttps://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUscu6uqTwrGNwJXyiCH6GvBrVU-2wjjEW_

Women's SINGFEST 22 will now be an ONLINE ZOOM EVENT on Saturday~January 22nd, 2022!

Join us for a full day and evening of fun or attend the sessions that call to you!

VISIT: singfestfl.com and/or FOLLOW us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/934511313789486

Saturday Workshop Sessions: 12:00 PM - 5:15 PM (EST)

Saturday Evening Concert: 7:00 PM - 9:15 PM (EST)

Social Hour 9:15 PM - 10:00 PM (EST)

Tickets: Suggested Donation~ Sliding Scale $15-$60 Visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/242041461527

#No womyn turned away due to lack of funds

Sunday Service via Zoom at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ft. Myers: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)

Workshop facilitators will be interwoven into the Sunday Service led by Lay Minister Mary Cline Golbitz (SingFest 22 Committee Member).

The Zoom Link for SingFest 22 and final schedule will be sent to registrants on Friday, January 21st! Zoom doors will open 15 minutes early for the workshops,

the concert and the Sunday Service!

Questions? singfestfl@gmail.com

SAVE THE DATE,

PARTY COMING!

Sunday, January 30th at Noon, the Generosity Campaign will host a party for all in the Screen Room. Beverages and ice cream will be provided. Bring your own sack lunch and be ready to be entertained.

We will be Honoring our Past, Celebrating our Present, and Imagining our Future with speakers and inviting members & friends to share thoughts.

Eating and Drinking Together with social distancing and masks.

A Kickoff Party for the coming Pledge Campaign.

15+ Group

There will be a gathering of the UUCFM 15+ Group on Sunday, February 6, at noon, on the screened room. If you joined UUCFM in 2007 or earlier, you are a member of this group. Many churches call a group like this The Elders! If you have any questions, contact Ellen Erickson at

andy.ellen.erickson@gmail.com or 239-218-4789 or Suzanne Ziemer at suzanneziemer@gmail.com or

239-463-9020.

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

Social Justice Team

Thursday, Jan. 6 our Social Justice Team hosted a Jan. 6 Remembrance and Action vigil outside on the Lanai. At least 63 people attended.

Much appreciation to Helen Dixon, Chair Social Justice who did a magnificent job as the hostess, Bill Petrarca made sure we had sound and remained safe, Carole Latino for managing at one point three lines of people at the to sign in table, Holley Rauen, who so graciously used her own mobile device to capture the event on Zoom. And to our speakers, Gary Robbins, Lane Cook, Suzanne Ziemer and many others.

We gathered in solidarity because most of us believe that people who betray our nation and endanger our lives have no business governing in our name.

We are pleased to share that 89% of survey responses were positive for the vigil. A small number from our Beloved Community began planning this event 10 days before we had it. Imagine what we can do with more volunteers!

Our Social Justice Committee is outstanding and we suggest you connect with them:

Here are few things to get you started:

We will march in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on his holiday, Monday Jan. 17, 2022.
Joining with the WA and Ministers to Host a Reproductive Justice Sunday this month. Jan. 23, 2022. In commemoration of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the ongoing fight for reproductive health, rights, and justice, joining UU congregations across the country for a Sunday of solidarity, support, and reflection.
Beginning Jan. 16, 2022 a monthly series of training on organizing skills to help build our UUtheVote and Side with Love Volunteer Squads to help us build stronger Social Justice teams in our congregation and community. Skill Ups Spring Series 2022: Action Center 101 Soup to Nuts Skill Ups occur every 3rd Sunday for 90 minutes 1pm PT • 2pm MT • 3pm CT • 4pm ET

Find the topics and sign up here

Again thanks to those of you who helped to make the vigil successful. It is only by Coming together, that we can prevent another January 6th attack and realize the promise of democracy for all of us - no matter our color, zip code, or income - so we all have an equal say in the decisions that shape our daily lives and futures.

Ministry for Earth

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, 5597 Westwind Lane, in the Whiskey Creek area of Ft. Myers. 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.

Monday Book Group

The UUCFM Monday Book Club will meet via Zoom at 1 o’clock January 24 to discuss Chapters 5 & 6 of 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.

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.

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.

Poetry Group

Judi Dettorre & Cat Pivetti are starting a poetry group on Tuesday, January 4, which will meet from noon to 2pm every two weeks.

We plan to read and discuss a variety of poems and to spend some of our time writing to prompts, as well as to have meetings in which, if they wish, members may bring in their own work for discussion. This group will meet on-line, at least for now.

We’re really looking forward to this experience and to having you join us. Please e-mail either facilitator, Cat at joypivet@aol.com or Judi at judidet84@gmail.com, for more information and for links.

Connection Circles

What? A Connection Circle is a small group meeting every other week for six sessions. Facilitators will lead discussion on a variety of subjects.

Who? Any members, friends or guests. Facilitated by trained leaders, Mary Cline Golbitz and Leslie Gatto.

Why? To get to know others and yourself on a deep and meaningful level. Confidentiality is protected to promote compassionate dialogue.

When? Either Thursdays or Sundays (Please plan to attend all six sessions of the circle you choose.)

Thursday Circle from 1:30 - 3:00 on January 13 and 27, February 10 and 24, March 10 and 24.

Sunday Circle from noon - 1:30 on January 9 and 23, February 13 and 27, March 13 and 27.

Where? Thursdays by Zoom or Sundays in person at church (location TBD).

How do I sign up? Contact Leslie by phone or text at 239.850.9664 or email at gatto.leslie@gmail.com to join or for more information.

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.

Please Share Your UU Story

The Membership and Stewardship Committees are hoping to receive your reflections about either or both of the following:

Why I became a UU.

Why your membership in UUCFM is important to you.

We would love to be able to share these reflections with the Congregation in various ways. If you want to remain anonymous, please indicate that.

Send your stories or reflections to Nancy Hutchins at StewardshipVP@UUCFM.org.

Big Opportunities for You…

Are you a helper?

Do you like to promote UUCFM?

Here’s your invitation to join the Membership Committee! The group is all about recognizing and encouraging new members through personal contact and planned events. There is one meeting per month, a chance to get to know other members AND to participate in activities like the November “Welcome Home” social. Contact Carole Latino, carolelatino@gmail.com

Another Opportunity…

UUDialogs is a lively discussion every Sunday after service; it’s live from Hobart Hall and simultaneously on Zoom. The talk is moderated by co-hosts. More co-hosts are needed, so check it out. Assignments are made around your availability. Talk to Carole Latino, carolelatino@gmail.com, to sign up, or get more info.

Building Community Safety For All

UUMUAC MONTHLY "THIRD WEDNESDAY" WORSHIP SERVICE

February, 2022

7:00 pm Central Time (8:00 Eastern, 6:00 Mountain, 5:00 Pacific)

The Religious Professionals Task Force of the Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Council is sponsoring "Third Wednesday" evening worship services on the third Wednesday of each month. To get Zoom information, whether for the next Worship Service or those in subsequent months, please send your name, email address, and congregation (if any) to richard3point@gmail.com.

DATE: February 16

PREACHER: Rev. Rick Hoyt-McDaniels

SERMON: "Liberal Religion"

DESCRIPTION: Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion, not because of our progressive politics but because of our commitment to the ideals of liberalism. Liberalism in the classic sense is not an ideology, but a method for resolving conflict, gaining knowledge, and advancing toward truth. Our liberal approach to religion and to all that concerns us as religious people is a precious inheritance. Abandoning the principles of liberalism would mean losing an essential part of who we are.

For past services, type

"Third Wednesday UUMUAC services"

in the YouTube search box

60th Anniversary Pave the Way Fundraiser

How to order your brick:

Contact Helen Dixon at helendixon9@gmail.com

or call 239-633-4989

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.

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!

The Bill Brewer Family Gardens

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. Bonnie Jean, your garden manager, will be offering a composting basics course in January 22 at 10 a.m. at the garden site. This class is open to the public. Garden bed holders who take this brief lesson will be able to participate in the composting project and use the resulting compost in their beds.

We will also be discussing irrigation and water use on that day.

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.

The MACC

The Music and Arts Community Center

2021 - 2022

Season Tickets

On Sale Now

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