Weekly E-News, September 23, 2021

Weekly E-News

September 23, 2021

Sunday Service

Join us Sunday, September 26th, at 10:30AM via zoom https://zoom.us/j/98733916229 or listen to audio only at UUCFM.org.

Quality Life Center is our Community Sharing Partner for September 2021!

Quality Life Center's mission is to strengthen and instill pride in family and community through programs and services to cultivate self-discipline, self-development, build confidence and promote cultural awareness.

UUCFM Reopening Considerations

The Board thanks you all for the support you have shown for our difficult decision to postpone the return of in-person worship services. While we have no particular date in mind for a future reopening, we have agreed to monitor the following "risk level" for Lee County. We are currently at "Severe Risk," and will consider in-person worship when we reach "Medium Risk."

Here is a link to the methodology:

https://covidactnow.org/us/florida-fl/county/lee_county/?s=21711097

Yours in Growth,

Lane Cook

President

UUCFM Board of Trustees

UUCFMPresident@UUCFM.org, or 239-222-9406.

Please note that the next board meeting will be held on October 12th at 5:00 PM via Zoom. Here is the Zoom link:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92925862711

Volunteers of the Month

We are pleased to announce that we have picked Helen and Bruce Leddy for Volunteer(s) of the month. Helen and Bruce have been members of this congregation for almost 20 years - stalwarts of UUCFM.

Dr. Helen Leddy’s contributions to our congregation are too many to list, but the following are some of the highlights of her service: President of the Board of Trustees, Great Decisions Group Coordinator, Gauch Award recipient, and the group facilitator of the Social Issues Book Study Discussion Group. She has been a Connection Circle Leader and served on the Membership and Religious Education Committees. Helen has been on several UUA Committees, and the list of community activities are many, including being an active Board member of the League of Women Voters of Lee County. With Helen’s expertise, enthusiasm and an abiding commitment to Unitarian Universalism, we are all appreciative and totally grateful for her service.

Bruce Leddy has been on the Endowment Committee as a member and as a chair for 6 years or maybe more. Bruce was on the Search Committee for an Interim Minister after Rev. Allison Farnum resigned her position. He has been on the Finance Committee and a member of the Men’s Group. He has participated in the Connection Circles and ushered too many times to count. Bruce acts as Parliamentarian for our Annual Meetings, and as an attorney he has consulted the Board many times over the years. Members tell us that they can still imagine Bruce mowing the large expanse of our campus lawn. Thank you, Bruce, for helping us navigate the course of our congregation and we look forward to many more years of your service and presence.

Are you interested in becoming a Worship Associate?

The UUCFM Worship Team is looking for a few new Worship Associates. Are you interested in participating in planning and leading worship and the opportunity to learn more about being a UU?

If you are interested, please contact Mary Cline Golbitz at mary@uucfm.org or Albie Johnson at albiej@uucfm.org for more information about the application and training process.

Pastoral Care Associates Offering Self-Care Workshops

Your Pastoral Care Associates will be offering a series of self-care workshops online this fall. The exact times will be determined based on responses of those interested. The workshops may include simple healthy lifestyle practices, meditation, simple yoga and more.

If you are interested in being a participant or have something you would like to offer please contact Mary Cline Golbitz at mary@uucfm.org.

Connection Circle forming by Zoom

Whether you are new to UU or a long-termer, whether you are in Florida or far away, you are invited to participate in a Connection Circle by Zoom. Now is your chance to experience this way to connect with others on a deep and meaningful level. Trained facilitators, Mary Cline Golbitz, Lay Minister and Leslie Gatto will co-lead this covenanted group, where confidentiality is protected to promote compassionate dialogue. Participants are asked to attend all six sessions.

THURSDAYS from 1:00 to 2:30 pm

September 23, October 7 & 21, November 4 & 18, December 2

Please contact Leslie by phone or text at 239.850.9664 or email at gatto.leslie@gmail.com to join or for more information.

Climate Action Team Invitation

The Climate Action Team would like to invite you to participate in our Global Climate Strike event this Friday, Sept. 24^th. These annual events were inspired by the Greta Thunberg, the Swedish child activist who began a Friday strike from school to hold up signs about climate change outside the Swedish parliament.

WHEN: 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 24^th

WHERE: Meet at the McDonalds on the corner of Colonial & Summerlin.

If possible, wear red as part of a Code Red for Humanity warning and bring a sign about climate change.

Possible sign slogans:

CLIMATE CHANGE: CODE RED for HUMANITY

THERE’S NO PLANET B

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE

SAY YES TO CLEAN ENERGY

We will do an hour long street demonstration with our signs at that busy intersection of Colonial and Summerlin. You will be joining millions of other demonstrators around the world who are helping to sound the alarm.

A Note from Gary Robbins:

Dear Friends,

We are working to expand the circle of "We" and "Us," creating a more inclusive, just and thriving Earth Community.

Above is an announcement from Joan Marshall, of the All Faiths Climate Action Team, for a Fort Myers version of the Climate Crisis demonstrations being held around the world this Friday, September 24th.

I will be there at least by 8:00 a.m. If anyone else is interested in an early start, Please join me, with your sign and your RED garment.

The Bill Brewer Family Gardens is readying for a start of a new and fruitful year.

We have two Master Gardeners and a third is in training, so we will have plenty of informational classes and on site assistance. We are also anticipating some seed donations and low cost vegetable plant starts for renters.

We are working with the SWFL RESET Center and FGCU on making compost; some beds have already been gifted with this super healthy soil. We hope to have more students assist with our Food Bank beds. Some beds will grow greens for St. Martin de Porres Outreach on Palm Beach Blvd, and some for the South Fort Myers Food Bank. Volunteers are greatly appreciated.

We are keeping prices the same, $85 for a 4 x 8 bed with automatic watering, $75 without. Our year is from October 15th to the following September 15th.

Please contact garden manager Bonnie Jean Clancy

at familygardens@uucfm.org. If you would be interested in renting a bed.

Join us for a cleanup work day and orientation on September 27th at 6:30 pm.

Welcome Home!

That's what the Membership and Stewardship Committees hope to say to you at an outdoor event Sunday, November 14th about 1 PM at our wonderful campus. Let's have lunch together! For safety, we ask that you bring your own lunch and we will provide bottled water and individual ice cream treats for dessert. This is a great time to see improvements to our campus, meet and greet friends, and enjoy each other's company. We are still in the planning stages, but the main thing is we want to see you in person. Mark your calendar and look for future updates.

Social Issues Book Group

NEW BOOK; NEW TIME; NEW DATE

We will read POST TRAUMATIC SLAVE SYNDROME; AMERICA'S LEGACY OF ENDURING INJURY AND HEALING by Dr. Joy DeGruy. We will begin on Wednesday, October 6th at 1pm-2:30. Questions, contact helendixon9@gmail.com

Monday Book Group

The UUCFM Monday Book Club will meet at 1 pm via Zoom on September 27th to discuss Part 3, Ch. 10 and 11 of Humankind: A Hopeful History. If you’re joining for the first time, please email Mary Studer at mstuder929@gmail.com to get the Zoom link.

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 is discussing Standing at the Edge by Joan Halifax. 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.

For Sale

2003 deck boat, 21’ $5000. 100% goes to UUCFM. Call Hank Flandysz for fun test drive. 239-877-8339.

60th Anniversary Pave the Way Fundraiser

Our goal is 100 commemorative bricks at $100 per brick for $10,000 for our General Budget. Our Endowment Fund will pay production costs so each $100 goes right to the Budget.

Each 4" X 8" brick can be engraved with up to 3 lines of 13 characters/spaces on each line. Examples of donated bricks are UU quotes, memorials, names & sayings, such as:

She loved and was loved. Nancy Letts

Service is our Law. Go Forth!

Remembering (name, birth-death)

Albie & Mary, Lay Ministers, Thank You

To donate a brick: Contact suzanneziemer@gmail.com, 812-332-3450 or

helendixon9@gmail.com, 239-633-4989.