Sunday Worship in July: Ethics
Service at 10:30 am Sundays in the Miller Sanctuary
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Community Sharing in July: Pachamama Alliance, Inc.
For two years, as part of our Social justice Ministry, we have been carrying out our mission to create an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling human presence on our planet. More than 100 people and eight organizations have joined us by participating in our programs and presentations like the
Awakening the Dreamer Changing the Dream
Symposia, monthly Game Changer Gatherings and special programs, like our Florida Going Solar luncheon last winter. We encourage deeper learning and interacting through our online
Game Changer Intensive
,
and getting involved in the exciting new Drawdown programming that, when acted upon, promises to create the cleaner more beautiful world we know is possible. The Diving into Drawdown study/action group has galvanized much cooperation and collaboration with many groups working for clean water and social justice in SW Florida. We also attend and support monthly meetings of the All Faiths Congregation CAT (Climate Change Action Team) and are working on grants with them on Water awareness and hurricane resilience starting with eco-summer camps at the Quality Life Center. We continue to grow and move forward and are most grateful for the support of UUCFM.
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall. All are welcome.
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Coffee Hour
Sunday's Coffee Hour happens after church every week and is provided by volunteers from the Women's Circle on the first Sunday, CUUPS on the second Sunday, Humanist Forum on the third Sunday, Men's Group on the fourth Sunday and if there is a fifth Sunday, it is All Church. Any donations of food, snacks or cash are welcome.
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BURN, our High School Youth Group meets on Sundays at noon in Room 4. All youth, ages 14-18, are welcome! Contact Director of Religious Education, Jenn Blosser:
[email protected]
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IGNITE
, our junior youth group for ages 10-13, meets weekly from 12-1 pm in Room 2. Come join us for community, conversation, and finding your call to action! Questions about the group? Reach out to Stephanie Hoffman:
[email protected]
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IGNITE Candidate Forum
The IGNITE Candidate Forum is this Sunday at 1:00 pm. We have had an overwhelming response from the candidates- they want to answer your questions. They want to hear about your concerns.
The panel will be moderated by Cyndy Nayer, a friend of UUCFM through the Pachamama Alliance. Cyndy brings years of experience as a business owner, activist, and political insider through her work with the State of Missouri. All questions must be submitted in writing for this panel. Please email questions for panelist on gun violence and youth participation in government to Stephanie Hoffman with PANEL QUESTION in the subject to
[email protected]
. Questions will be accepted at the event.
All candidates running for US Senate, US Representative, Florida Senate, and Florida Representative in Lee County have been invited to participate. The following candidates have accepted:
US Representative: Bill Pollard, David Holden, Pete Pollard, and Todd Truax
Florida Senate: Catherine Price and Annisa Karim
Florida Representative: Parisima Taeb, Neilson Ayers, David Bogner, and Alanis Garcia
Stephanie Hoffman, IGNITE Youth Group Leader
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Music Notes
The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:45-8:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9-10 am in the sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Come join us in singing!
The UUCFM Band
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:00-6:45 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9-10 am in the Sanctuary. If you would like to play your instrument during a Sunday service, please email me to coordinate the details.
Come join us in making music together!
Suellen Kipp, Acting Director of Music
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Volunteers Needed
We need volunteers to stay after the service on Sunday, August 5th to help manage the annual purge of the Family Ministry storage room (Room 5). Please email Jenn Blosser if you're interested:
[email protected]
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Music Director Search Is Underway!
The search for our congregation’s settled Director of Music has begun. We will be seeking candidates through August 15th. After reviewing applicants, we hope to welcome a well-qualified, settled director to our midst by October 1st. We anticipate that our congregation’s music program will continue to grow in a positive direction and remain an enriching part of our worship services.
The following members have agreed to serve on the Search Team:
Rev. Allison Farnum
Mary Cline-Golbitz
Jeffrey Letts
Lesley Peterson
Elise Sexton
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Village News
The New Village Council
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SPARK is now forming! Exclusively for children ages five to nine, Spark will meet weekly from 12-1 in Room 3 to explore Unitarian Universalism and learn more about our church and each other.
OWL (Our Whole Lives - comprehensive sex education) clases for Middle School and High School are in the planning stages. We will announce a parents and caregivers meeting soon to answer questions and working on setting dates.
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CANDIDATE Forum: Gun Violence and Youth Engagement in Government
This Sunday, July 29 at 1 PM, IGNITE junior youth group, with participation from the Village Council, Social Justice, and the Humanist Forum, will host candidates for state and national congress at a moderated panel discussion.
Due to the highly charged political atmosphere currently overtaking our country, all questions must be submitted in writing. To submit a question, please email Stephanie Hoffman at
[email protected]
with the PANEL QUESTION in the subject.
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Save the Date!
The Southwest Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action is screening Making A Killing: Guns, Greed, and the NRA on Sunday, August 19th at 4 PM. Co-hosted by IGNITE. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
Stephanie Hoffman, Communications
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Community Sharing
Here are the ways the congregation can volunteer with or support our
Community Sharing Sunday (CSS) partners:
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GRACE (
Guatemalan Rural Adult and Children’s Education
Project)
website
here
.
If you would like to volunteer or participate in anyway, please contact Dr. Genelle Grant-
[email protected]
1.This coming week is the second week of the Happe Summer EcoCamp for farmworker children at the Happehatchee Center, of which GRACE is a sponsor. There are 30 Guatemalan children learning about the environment, canoe safety and stewardship of the Earth. If anyone would like to visit the camp this week, please let me know.
2. The Women’s Health Class at the New Image Tabernacle in North Fort Myers is on summer break. It will begin again in September.
3. We always need people to make Fertility Bracelets. Helen Dixon puts Kits of the beads together, or people could purchase the beads on their own (very helpful). Beads are red, purple, and green pony beads.
4.In July, we will begin meeting on Wednesdays to sew and assemble the menstrual Kits. People can contact Dr. Grant if they want to participate.
5. There is a Trip planned for Guatemala for the first week in December, if anyone wants to volunteer and contribute to the workshops in Guatemala.
2018 GRACE Project
Work-study Trip
Dec. 1 – 9, 2018 $900 Land only
GRACE Volunteers will travel
to El Petén, Guatemala
Assist in the Reproductive Health Workshops with women from
local cooperatives, (Spanish not essential)
Support the workshop with public school teachers, in
collaboration with the Guatemala Ministry of Education,
Deliver menstrual management Kits and Fertility Bracelets,
Visit the Tikal National Park,
Travel in safe, private vans,
Enjoy the Breakfast or dinner provided daily,
Shop in Flores and Santa Elena.
Land Transportation is included. Airfares from USA
to Guatemala City and to Flores, El Petén are not included.
$120 additional fee for single room. To save your space, please send
$100 deposit in a check, by September 1, 2018, to: The GRACE Project, UUCFM 13411 Shire Lane Fort Myers, Fl 33912. And please contact
Here's a link to Jessica Meszaro's new story about Vilma and Rita's business in San Lucas, which she broadcast through NPR Tampa:
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry:
Volunteers are needed during the summer season as snowbirds have gone home. There is still a great need during the summer for local families when children are not being fed in school. Please contact the food pantry at (239) 628-3191 if you would like to participate on Mondays for food distribution.
Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church
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Planned Parenthood:
If you know anyone in need of services offered by Planned Parenthood, please direct them to a local center.
Planned Parenthood Fort Myers
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FUUn BUUnch
THE CLAM BAKE RESTAURANT
16520 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL, SUITE 152
FORT MYERS, FL 33908
239-482-1920
JULY 28, 5:30 pm
(USE OF GPS IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED)
NOTE NEW TIME FOR THIS DINNER ONLY.
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EARLY BIRD PRICING, WE MEET AT 5:30 P.M.
RSVP TO JOHN E FISCHER, BY JULY 25, 2018.
DIRECTIONS:
From the corner of Cleveland and Cypress Lake (Daniels Dr.), proceed south toward Alico Road. Shortly before Alico Road, make a right turn onto Island Park Road and immediately turn left into the parking lot. The restaurant sits almost in the inside corner of the shopping center.
(DO NOT CONFUSE THE CLAM BAKE WITH THE RAW BAR ON THE CORNER OF THE SHOPPING CENTER AND TAMIAMI TRL.)
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Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans Event
Blessings and love to all! CUUPs will be holding our Lughnasadh ritual August 4th, gathering at 6:30 pm in Hobart Hall. We celebrate solar blessing. It is the festival of Lugh or Llew, aspect of the sun. Come join us as we tell the story of Lugh and celebrate your own seeds of harvest. Bring drums- we will be chanting. Bring a dish to share as we will be feasting. Join us for a bit of story, song and honoring that which Great mother has given us with nourishment of our sun.
Oh, but that's not all! Sunday, August 5th at 10:30 am is Blessing of our Animals, also in Hobart Hall. Bring your fur friends, swimming ones, flying ones to be honored in sacred space. Please use discretion as some of our loved animals can not tolerate all the hype. Looking forward to seeing you all for these time honoring traditions.
Love and Peace
CUUPs
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"Reflections on Hurricane Irma" - Art Quilters Unlimited Exhibit
Miller Sanctuary Narthex
August 6-September 29, 2018
Open Reception Thursday, August 9, 2018 5-7 p.m.
Art quilters create fine art wall hangings based on their experiences, imagery and ideas, rather than on traditional patterns. Art Quilters Unlimited is a group of fiber artists interested in expanding their knowledge and pushing the boundaries of their creativity. Our very own, Rev. Margaret L. Beard is a member of this group!
For more information, please contact Pam Richardson, Exhibition Committee Chair at
[email protected]
.
To confirm access to the exhibit, please call the Church Office at (239) 561-2700. For more info, check out the public event page
here
.
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UU Women's Retreat
Celebrating Sacred Places
9th Annual Florida Unitarian Universalist
Women’s Retreat
April 5-7, 2019
DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center Ellenton Flo The retreat begins Friday at 5:00pm and ends Sunday.
DaySpring Conference Center is conveniently located off I-75 just north of Sarasota on Florida’s West Coast. The beautiful campus nestled under ancient oaks and located on a cove of the Manatee River offers a serene setting for our annual retreat. Take a look.
$220 per person covers expenses for a semi-private room and meals. 8 women share a cozy cottage with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, a screened porch and common area. A limited number of single rooms are available at $292 each.
$5 Discounts Available for Registration before September 15, 2018.
A non-refundable deposit of $15 for a semi-private room or $25 for a private room will reserve your place. Final payment is due January 15, 2019. Come join us for an enriching and memorable weekend. Any questions? Contact Helen Leddy
[email protected]
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Book Study
Polishing the Mirror
is Ram Dass' invitation to experience who we are and why we are here, and how to become beacons of unconditional love."
August 1 Chapter 7 & 8
For Book study beginning August 8th, we read
Play
by Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan.
"From a leading expert, a groundbreaking book on the science of play, and its essential role in fueling our happiness and intelligence throughout our lives
We've all seen the happiness on the face of a child while playing in the school yard. Or the blissful abandon of a golden retriever racing across a lawn. This is the joy of play. By definition, play is purposeless, all-consuming, and fun. But as Dr. Stuart Brown illustrates, play is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. We are designed by nature to flourish through play.
Dr. Brown has spent his career studying animal behavior and conducting more than six-thousand "play histories" of humans from all walks of life-from serial murderers to Nobel Prize winners. Backed by the latest research,
Play
(20,000 copies in print) explains why play is essential to our social skills, adaptability, intelligence, creativity, ability to problem solve and more. Particularly in tough times, we need to play more than ever, as it's the very means by which we prepare for the unexpected, search out new solutions, and remain optimistic. A fascinating blend of cutting-edge neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science, and inspiring human stories of the transformative power of play, this book proves why play just might be the most important work we can ever do.
Come having read Part One (first 47 pages)
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Mindfulness Meditation
Join us on Monday evenings to explore the very simple and satisfying practices of mindfulness and meditation. You don’t need experience with meditation, nor do you have to be a Buddhist. Do please bring an intention to quiet the mind and the 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 6:30-8:00p in the Sanctuary. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Robbins at
[email protected]
.
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Optimal Living Group
The Optimal Living Group is open to all and does not require attending every session. We meet in the Sanctuary on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 4:00-5:30 pm. We discuss how to live optimally, including practical ways to cope with life's challenges and issues. Helping others and developing maturity in ourselves is part of our quest. We explore many paths and techniques for enriching our lives and making a difference for others. For more information, fill out a blue card found in the pews or email Neil Yesu:
[email protected]
.
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UUCFM Gaming Group
The UUCFM Gaming Group is the club for you. We do our best to meet in Room 7 on Sundays after church from 1:00-4:00 pm. Those of us with children can't always make it so please check the Facebook group page (
UUCFM Gaming Group
) to see if games are scheduled.
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Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays at 1:45p in Room 1. All are welcome to join us.
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Community Wednesday
Activities for July:
4:00-5:30
Optimal Living Group (1st & 3rd Wed)
6:00-6:45
Band Rehearsal in Sanctuary (off 1st two weeks in June)
6:45-8:00
Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary (off 1st two weeks in June)
Community Dinners are on hiatus until September. Enjoy your summer! Rehearsals and Events will continue through summer.
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Pachamama Alliance of Southwest Florida
Game Changer Gathering August 2 at 6:30pm Hobart Hall
Biophilia - Can You Feel It?
with
Joseph Bonasia,
Pachamama Alliance trained leadership facilitator, retired teacher and former Scoutmaster who is also a Pachamama trained facilitator. He is editor of the Sierra Club Calusa Group newsletter, moderates the website of the Cape Coral Freecycle Group, and is President of Cape Coral Toastmasters, a public speaking organization.
Biophilia is the scientific hypothesis that humans have an innate love of nature, that it is in our DNA because it has provided human beings with evolutionary advantages. This presentation provides a stimulating and surprising overview of the critical impact biophilia has on our physical, cognitive, psychological, and spiritual well-being—indeed, how central it is to our very humanity—and therefore how critical it is in efforts and educational approaches to saving life as we know it on this planet.
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LIFE News
Big things are happening! We asked the commission to form a children's service council and while they are still refusing to even allow it on the ballot- they have increased the budget for children's services by $1.7 million. Should this budget pass we will be able to celebrate dental care for thousands of more children as well as hundreds of children getting access to full day preschool. It is still not a victory but it is a sign that work for justice is never done in vain.
2018-2019 Dates. See below for the newly announced dates for the upcoming year.
Annual Assembly
Monday, October 29, 2018
Rally
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Nehemiah Action
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Celebration
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Community Forum
LIFE members were invited to a community forum to help the county health department decide on a focus for the upcoming few years. If you wish to participate see below:
What: Department of Health in Lee County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Town Hall Meeting
When: July 2, 2018
Time: 6:30p – 8:30p
Where: Department of Health Lee County
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry
The response for food donations has been consistently good over the last year. The need is still there and UUCFM has been a strong supporter of the pantry. Many people will lose seasonal jobs and the need for food donations and volunteers will be just as great as it is now. Keep that in mind. Remember to bring at least one can each week and consider volunteering during the summer months.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers.
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Do you have something to offer, trade, or sell? Are you looking for something? Free ad space here for personal items only. Will run ad for 4 weeks. Email
[email protected]
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Kimberly Littleton
would like to know if
anyone has recordings of Angela Melton singing and playing music, especially at our services. Photos, recordings, videos, or any stories they may want to share would be welcome. Contact Kim at
[email protected]
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If you are a UUCFM Community Sharing Partner, a regular Facility User, or have UU related news to share, you are welcome to submit announcements for publication in our Greater Community section of the newsletter. Please send announcements in by Wednesday for publication in the Thursday E-news.
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Lee County Election Deadlines
The following deadlines apply to the Primary on August 28:
- Register to vote – Monday July 30, 2018
- Request Vote-By-Mail Ballot – Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018
The following deadlines apply for the General Election on Nov. 6, 2018:
- Register to vote – Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018
- Request Vote-By-Mail Ballot – Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018
Early voting will occur as follows:
- Primary – Aug. 18 thru 25, 2018
- General – Oct. 22 thru Nov. 3, 2018
If you are voting by mail and you will not be at the address provided, contact Lee County Elections. Your ballot will not be forwarded to a different address. For more information call 239-533-8683 or on-line at
www.Lee.Vote
.
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HOW TO BE A BETTER ALLY:
ALLY CONVERSATION TOOLKIT
Workshop by Dr. David Campt
Why Racism Skeptics Should Be Empathetically Listened to, and This Should Be the Work of White Allies
FRIDAY AUGUST 3rd 6-9:30 PM
Engaging white folks who are skeptical of racism, in an empathetic way, so they can examine and potentially revisit their views should be the a primary task of white allies and not a key task for people of color.
As one journalist titled his review of new research on empathy based methods of dialogue aimed at de-biasing: “Research says there are ways to reduce racial bias. Calling people racist is not one of them.”
**Childcare Provided - please request it at the bottom of the ticket form**
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July 28 Deborah Lewis
July 30 Don Klein
July 31 Kevin Carr
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Board of Trustees
President
President Elect
Secretary
Treasurer
VP Finance
VP Programming
VP Ministerial Services
VP Operations
Member at Large
Staff
Minister
Acting Director of Music
Director of RE
Office Manager
Building Supervisor
Nursery Supervisor
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