Weekly E-News
January 16, 2020
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This Sunday, January 19th
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Our Sunday Service
begins at 10:30 AM in the William Miller Sanctuary. This Sunday, January 19th, we bring you a service on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Humanist Forum
meets every Sunday at 9:30 AM in Hobart Hall, sometimes in Room 7. All are welcome to attend. Join us as we engage in a new topic each week.
Our Community Sharing
partner for January is the
GRACE Project.
The Guatemalan Rural Adult and Children’s Education (GRACE) Project designs and delivers health, art, and teacher capacity-building programs for Latina, Maya and Mixteco women, youth, community leaders, and educators in Southwest Florida and in Central America.
The GRACE (Guatemalan Rural Adult and Childrens’ Education) Project began in 1997 and grew through collaborations between the Lee County School District’s Migrant Education Program, the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking (FCAHT), the Florida Migrant Interstate Program at Florida Gulf Coast University.
The Director of the program is Genelle G. Grant, Ed.D, who has worked with indigenous and migrant farm worker families in Southwest Florida since 1993 and is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers.
Sunday's Social Hour
happens after the service every week at 11:45 AM. Come join us for coffee and snacks. Newcomers, visitors, friends, and members are all welcome. Sponsoring groups are the Women's Circle and CUUPs. Donations of food, snacks, or cash are welcome.
From Membership
The Membership Committee invites our congregants to invite friends, co-workers, and even members who may have been absent for a while to attend our services and programs. We wish to share our great campus, programs, and renewed enthusiasm to both new and old friends. So, bring someone with you when you come!
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Upcoming Events
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative March Monday, January 20th
UUCFM Member Krista Hopper will provide shuttle service in her van beginning at 9:30 AM. She will pick us up at the statue “Uncommon Friends” in Centennial Park. Wear your green UUCFM tee shirts. Marchers will be dropped off near the corner of Blount and High Streets and proceed down MLK into Centennial Park, singing hymns and old civil right chants. The march itself begins at 10:00 AM. At the park celebration, community and vendors will gather to enjoy stage performances and presentations. Food and informational vendors will be available throughout the park.
Scout Sunday February 9th
Scout Troop 3300 will be presenting
Scout Sunday
during the service on Sunday, February 9th. This is a short presentation at the beginning of our service performed by all of our Scout groups. Following the service, the Scouts will offer a luncheon for all on the Screen Porch. Donations welcome!
Service Auction February 22nd
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The 2020 Service Auction will be Saturday, February 22nd at 5:00 PM in Hobart Hall. Tickets are $20 in advance and will be available soon. Ticket price includes food and auction paddle. Drinks will be available for a donation. We now need services, gift cards, treasures and donations to auction off! Please donate your item online at
The Covenant of UU Pagans Imbolc Gathering
There are tiers for tickets, $25 day passes, $75 weekend passes, and $88 weekend passes includes Saturday Cycle of Season's Feast. More Details are on the Brown Paper Ticket site.
Vendors: $20.00 plus weekend pass. Tent Set Up is Friday, Jan. 31, 2020 between 2PM-4PM. Gates open at 5PM, Opening Ritual 6PM.
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Aloha Gathering March 22nd
The Membership Committee is pleased to announce the forthcoming Aloha Gathering, March 22nd, starting at 12:00 noon, in Hobart Hall. This will be a Potluck Event to celebrate joyful goodbyes and hellos. The Aloha Gathering is being held to welcome the New Member Class of 2020, bid adieu to our beloved Snowbirds (have a great summer!), recognize standout volunteers for the year, and laud membership milestones.
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Groups & Classes
Wednesday Connection Circle
Want to connect on a deeper level with other UUCFM members, visitors, and friends? Then come to the Connection Circle on Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00 pm beginning
January 8, 2020.
Our circle will be meeting every week for 6 weeks so the meetings will be January 8, 15, 22, 29 and February 5th and 12th. Small group Connection Circles like this help promote bonding in a supportive atmosphere through facilitated discussions on spiritual topics that pertain to you and your life. Come join us in Room 2 and discover more about one another and about yourself. For more information and to register please contact Mary Cline Golbitz at
Sunday Connection Circle
Another Connection Circle has formed and all visitors and new and longtime members are invited to join! Bond with others on a deep and meaningful level in this facilitated group by discussing different topics as they pertain to your life. Always lively and heartfelt, participation in the Connection Circle is a great way to meet new folks and to deepen connections to those you already know. This facilitated 6 session group will meet after Sunday services from 12:15 -1:45 PM in Room 7 on the following dates:
January 12, February 2 and 16, March 1, 15 and 29. Please contact facilitator, Leslie Gatto, for more information and to register. 239-850-9664 or
gatto.leslie@gmail.com
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Women's Circle and Potluck
Join us on Tuesday, January 28th at noon for our women's monthly potluck in Hobart Hall. We celebrate a Special Welcome to returning Snowbirds. The conversation theme is "Looking Inward for Outward Strength" We will be discussing ways we all can help move UUCFM along in 2020 with its needs and roles to be filled in the coming months without a minister. Input is needed if you cannot attend. Contact Suzanne Ziemer, 239-463-9020,
suzanneziemer@gmail.com
Mark the February date for Tuesday, February 11th, noon potluck in Hobart Hall for "Sharing people and things one most loves, including UUCFM favorites that keep us together." We will preview the Service Auction offerings on the 22nd.
The
Men's Social Group
meets the second Tuesday of each month at 11:45 AM at Cross Creek Country Club (off Daniels at Cross Creek Blvd). This is time for UUCFM men to get together for fun, conversation, socialization, and lunch. Put this on your calendar and bring a friend. If you’re new to the UUCFM Men’s Social Group, please RSVP to Denis Jensen at
dalanjensen@gmail.com
Great Decisions
Want to learn more about China's Road into Latin America? Artificial Intelligence? Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking? Our Great Decisions group is now enrolling new participants. We meet for 8 Thursdays starting on January 23 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in Hobart Hall. For more information, please contact Helen Leddy
helen.leddy@gmail.com
Dreamwork Group
Come discover the wisdom of your dreams. Learn to interpret your dream symbols and unique dream language as well as the universal archetypes throughout. Participate in the safety and support of a caring group where we share dreams and learn the concept of "Projection," taking responsibility for what we contribute.Reservations: Debra Leigh, Facilitator
dreamrookery7@gmail.com
or (831) 818-1418. We meet in Room 2 from noon till 1:45 PM on the following Sundays-January 19, February 2, February 16, March 1, and March 15.
A
rt in the Narthex
Our art display for the month of January was created by the religious education classes and features U.U. symbols and a large collage of watercolor squares made by the kids and put together by director and teacher, Jenn Blosser. I met some of the elementary students a few weeks ago and found them to be delightful children.
Each month a new artist will be featured on our Narthex wall. If you would like to be a member of this group email Priscilla at:
jeffcoatp@comcast.net
Caloosahatchee Mindfulness
and UUCFM members
invite participants to join our weekly meditation book group. The group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 AM in Room 3. Please contact Helen Leddy if you want to join.
The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:00 pm, and some Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Come join us in singing! Contact Suellen Kipp for details:
music@uucfm.org
The UUCFM Band
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 5:45-6:15 pm, and some Sunday mornings at 9:00 in the Sanctuary. Are you interested in playing an instrument with the UUCFM band for worship? If so, please schedule an audition time with me by email. Come join us in making music together! Suellen Kipp, Director of Music.
music@uucfm.org
Mindfulness Meditation
Come explore the simple and satisfying practices of Mindfulness Meditation. You don’t need experience with meditation, nor do you have to be a Buddhist. Please bring intention to quiet the mind and body in a supportive group of UU members and friends with a similar intention - people who want to carry mindfulness into their daily lives. We meet
Mondays from 6:30-8:00 PM
in the Sanctuary. Contact Gary Robbins at 302-540-5899.
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The Book Club
meets Wednesdays at 1:00 PM in the Library. All are welcome to join in facilitated discussion and group bonding. We are reading
On the Brink of Everything
, by Parker Palmer. Palmer explores the question age raises and the promises it holds.
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News
Transition Team: Update
Our Transition Team has been meeting now for about a month with good input from many church members; we are reaching out to various groups for ongoing input. This is a short update on our focus areas.
We started out describing where we feel we are as a congregation: what’s working and what could be improved upon. We then set out to describe where we want to be in the next few years. Those two exercises created our “transition gap.” Now, how to get from here to there?
As we assessed what had to be done both short- and mid-term, we recognized that our action steps could be grouped into 4 main focus areas: vision focus, faith focus, congregation focus, and sustainability focus.
Using these 4 groupings, we have described what our transitioning success looks like, how we know we will have succeeded, as follows:
Faith Focus
- We are engaged in spiritual enrichment, individually and as a faith community
- Our Sunday services are engaging and inspirational in collaboration with a strong music program
- We commit to a vibrant multi-generational RE program
- We honor our traditions
Vision Focus
- We are a “beacon of environmental and social justice” in our community
- We prioritize our energies to align with our Vision
Congregation Focus
- We are a tight, cohesive congregation: strong in stewardship, multi-generational & inter-generational diversity, pastoral care, and shared energy
- We welcome diversity with radical hospitality
- We honor our covenantal commitments to each other
- Sustainability Focus
- We are on a path to financial sustainability
- Our governance structure is clear and vital
- We are blessed with a dedicated, professional staff
If we can look back on this transition time and say we have achieved these congregational attributes, we will have succeeded in our Transition process. We are encouraging input from church members at any time. Please contact any of us on the Transition Team. In the next Update, we’ll discuss the various short-term activities we will be recommending to the Board of Trustees.
Tony Borras, Karen Brown, Lane Cook, Roy Green, Karen Feinen, Walt Ittenbach, Patricia Vivier-Naidl, Bill Petrarca
Office Closed Wednesday
The Office Manager will be out of the office on Wednesday, January 22nd. Please come in or call on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday next week. Thank you!
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry
How do we nurture those who are hungry? Give to the Food Pantry. We all have the power to make sure our neighbors go to sleep with a full stomach. When you think about people being hungry, do you think of people all over the world? Do you think about people who might be living close to you? The hungry exist everywhere - even in wealthy communities. Here are some things you can do.
1. Bring in non-perishable food to our congregation every Sunday. Places like the Dollar Store have wonderful buys on soup and other canned fruit and vegetables. Look for BOGOs. Protein items are a good pick - canned meat or fish, meals in a can such as beef stew, spaghetti and meat balls, or ravioli. Some seniors like Ensure. Fran Rose informed us that the pantry is receiving less free food from USDA.
2. Start a great habit by giving up expensive coffee drinks and putting your savings into a jar to donate to the Pantry.
3. Put food items you buy for the pantry near your front door at home so you don't forget to bring them. The Food Pantry basket is in the Narthex (the large room before you enter the Sanctuary).
4. Respond to requests for all food drives even when all you may be able to afford is a jar of peanut butter.
5. And last, perk up when you hear the words 'food drive' and remember that your Social Justice Team is your vehicle to help nurture people who might otherwise go without.
If you would rather give monetary donations to the South Fort Myers Food Pantry, send a check to: South Fort Myers Food Pantry Coalition, Inc., 8260 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919.
Gratefully yours,
Social Justice Team at UUCFM
Thank You
The Operations Committee would like to thank the following people for cleaning and straightening up our church kitchen: Barbara Mannix, Tom Sizemore, Shelia Jaskie, Sydney Stewart, and David and Nancy Hutchins. GREAT JOB!
2019 Contributions Report
If you would like a report of all your monetary contributions to UUCFM for the calendar year of 2019 for tax purposes, please contact the office and I will send out a printed statement or scan it by email to you. Contact:
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For Sale
For Sale: 2005 32’ Fleetwood Terra Motor Home with one slide out in good condition. Asking price $16,500. Call
Jeff Letts
at 401-741 -3162.
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Guided Campus Walk
Twenty Two stops are on the guided walk of our campus. We will start from Hobart Hall and visit the Miller Sanctuary, Nature Trail, and more, and end at the Labyrinth by the Family Gardens. We walk after Sunday Service at Noon. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Reservations required. Contact
Patricia Linhoff
at
freckles345@comcast.net
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Women's March
We are days away
. The Unitarian Universalist Association is a proud partner of the 2020 Women’s March on Washington and we are ready to march in our nation’s capitol on January 18! This year’s march includes a week of programming that will address women’s roles in reproductive health, rights, and justice, and will give key feminist leaders across the country a space to converge and finalize a united women-led 2020 political strategy.
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Did you know your purchases can help us? AmazonSmile donates to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers when you do your online shopping by following this special link to Amazon:
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Want to Become a Member?
If you are interested in becoming a new member, please pick up a Membership Kit Sunday mornings in the Narthex or in the office during the week. Thanks!
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Our Greater Community
Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai group meets Sundays at 2:00 PM in Room Number 1. We do not meet on 5th Sundays.
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Our Connection with Quality Life Center
We, the members of UUCFM were invited to attend the annual meeting of the Q Center so that they might show us their appreciation of the thirty years of support that we have given them. Twelve people from UUCFM signed up to attend but only six actually were able to be there; so we were especially pleased to have Dave and Ann Parton, former members of UUCFM, join our table. It was a real treat to have them with us and Mr. Muhammed was also pleased to see them. To witness what Mr. Muhammed and the Q Center have accomplished made me proud of UUCFM for showing thirty years of support to this wonderful program that offers so many opportunities to underprivileged children and teens.The annual report will be available at the Social Justice table in Hobart Hall after Sunday's service
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Happy Birthday!
January 19 Declan Ireland is 15!
January 26 Emily Hutchinson
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Please send all newsletter articles by Wednesday at noon for publication in Thursday's newsletter. Send articles to
newsletter@uucfm.org
UUCFM | 13411 Shire Lane Fort Myers FL 33912
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