Sunday Worship Service
All Welcome to our Service at 10:30 am Sundays in the Miller Sanctuary
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This Sunday, October 28th
Please b
ring photos and mementos of your loved ones who have died for this Sunday’s service,
Honoring Our Beloved Dead.
You can place them on the altar at the front. Thank you!
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Congregational Meeting
Please join the Board of Trustees on Sunday, October 28, at 11:45 AM for a congregational meeting to discuss the transition of the UUCFM governance to a team ministry model.
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Please invite all of your Veteran friends and neighbors!
As an expression of our gratitude, we set aside the morning of November 11th to show our appreciation for all who have served our country. All veterans and their families are cordially invited to join us in honoring their dedication and service. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us at 10:30 AM at Unitarian Universalist Church in honoring all who have served. Coffee and good fellowship afterwards.
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Community Sharing in October: Visuality, Inc
The mission of Visuality is to enhance and sustain the health and well-being of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning people and allies. They provide activities, programs, educational events, and services that create community, empower community members, provide essential resources, advocate for civil and human rights; and embrace, promote and support our cultural diversity. We strive to end violence, harassment and discrimination based on real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or sexual expression.
Visuality Website
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend.
At the Humanist Forum this Sunday we’ll watch a talk delivered at a Bioneers Conference by Paul Hawken, the founding figure behind
Project Drawdown
. Paul is an inspirational figure. What he has to say impacts on every aspect of our lives, including our relationships with nature.
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Social Hour
Sunday's Social Hour happens after the service 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! This Sunday we have a Theatrical Group Meet n Greet at 12:30. 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 3. 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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SPARK
is our newest youth group. Exclusively for children ages five to nine, Spark will meet weekly from 12-1 in Room 2 to explore Unitarian Universalism and learn more about our church and each other.
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Register Now for Our Next Lock-In!
Ignite youth (10-13) AND Burn youth (14-18) are invited to our covenanting and identity focused lock-in. Parents and guardians, register your youth asap! Yes, you can bring friends, just make sure their parents/guardians register them independently. More information about the lock-in, supervision, and sleeping arrangements can be found on the registration form.
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From the Minister
Bring photos and mementos of your loved ones who have died for this Sunday’s service. We will be remembering the Beloved dead with a lovely altar and ceremony, as well as having an opportunity to reflect on the presence of our beloved dead with us now and in the future.
When you come into the space, we ask that you places items on the altar tables by the chancel.
Rev. Allison Farnum
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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, Director of Music
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From the Office
Mailboxes!
We have some overflowing mailboxes in the office. If you have a mailbox and haven't picked up your mail for a while, please do. Our new mailboxes are very small and they fill up fast. You can access your box Tuesday to Friday from 9-2 and Sundays from 9-1.The following people and groups have mailboxes:
Staff, Board Members, Art in the Narthex, Arts & Crafts Fair, Caring Network, CUUPs, Decor, Endowment, GRACE Project, Grounds, Family Gardens, Membership, Pachamama/Social Justice, Personnel, Security, Service Auction, and Worship Associates. If you would like to know if there is mail in your box please call or email the office at 561-2700. If you don't have a mailbox and need one, let me know.
Jill Carville, Office Manager
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Operations
If you have an interest in maintaining our beautiful campus, please join the Operations Team on November 1st at 3:00 PM in the Conference Room to learn what has been accomplished and what challenges are facing us. Bring your questions and ideas!
Mary Alice Pierce
, VP of Operations
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Worship & Music Ministry
Our meetings are held in the Sanctuary on the third Sunday of each month from 12:15 - 1:45 pm. Our next meeting is this Sunday, October 21st. Join us if you are already or wish to be involved in this ministry that includes all things service related including the following:
-Choir and Music Team
-Worship Associates
-Audio Visual
-Décor
All are welcome and we hope to see you there! Contact Board Co-Liaisons Theresa L. Bahre
[email protected]
and Lesley Peterson
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FUUn BUUnch!
Come Join The FUUn BUUnch for Dinner at
Perkins on the Southeast corner of Route 41 and Six Mile Cypress on Saturday, October 27th at 6:00 pm. Please call or text John E. Fischer, 1-267-992-6566 or email
[email protected] to reserve your place.
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Arts and Crafts Fair Returning
Sundays, December 2nd and 9th, from 11:30-1:30, we will be hosting Members & Friends for Arts & Crafts Booths and the All-Church Bake Sale. Mark your calendars to enjoy Christmas shopping, Christmas cookies to freeze, Next-to-New items, Joy's Chili lunch, and to see what our people create.
For Volunteering, Next-to-New items, and Baked Goods, contact Suzanne Ziemer, cell: 812-332-3450,
email:[email protected]
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Covenant of UU Pagans Medieval Feast
Blessings all UU folks,
It is getting to be that time of year again where many return and our halls are filled with lovely faces. As you know, every other year or so, CUUPs holds a Medieval Feast. We are happy to say this year we will be presenting it. It is our fund raiser and even more it falls on winter solstice. If anyone would like to entertain with a song, music or skit , please let me know. The date is December 21st, gathering at 6:30 pm in Hobart Hall. You will be announced into the hall. We always have wassail, wine and beer at the tavern, and a feast fit for all of you very special ones attending with music, mirth and merry measure! We must call in the light. This is a heads up to mark your calendars. Please RSVP as we only have so many seats in the royal hall. Let the fun begin!
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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, FL.
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.
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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Family Game Night
The next Family Game Night is Friday, November 2nd at 5:30 pm in Hobart Hall. All welcome! Please join us.
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Dreamwork Group
We will meet each of the Sundays in November at 12:00 noon. November 4 (Sanctuary), 11 (Sanctuary), 18 (Room 7), 25 (Conference Room). In general, we follow a Jungian philosophy. Debra trained with Jeremy Taylor and others in California and has a Jungian background in psychology. For reading, I suggest reading Jeremy Taylor's website:
jeremytaylor.com
. Please RSVP to:
[email protected]
or call Debra at (831) 818-1418.
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New Spirituality Discussion Group
Starting Wednesday, November 28th, at 6:45 pm in Room 7, there will be an open enrollment, no requirements, discussion group on spirituality. UU Poet Mary Oliver says, "What I mean by spirituality is not man-made theology but one's attitude for the known and unknown."
How to best live our lives with universal truths is the goal. Contact Suzanne Ziemer
[email protected] if you are interested in joining us.
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Book Study
Join us at Book Study on Wednesdays at 1:00 pm. We are reading the book
Sapiens
by Yuval Noah Harari. Come having read the first few chapters. We meet in the Church Library.
From Amazon.com:
"One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one—homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us?
Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas.
Dr. Harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. We are acquiring the ability to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where is this leading us, and what do we want to become?"
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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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It's Time to Think "Connection Circle"
Come one, come all to the next 6 sessions of the Connection Circle beginning after church on Sunday, November 11th! New members, potential members, visitors and long-time members all are welcome. As we discuss meaningful spiritual topics by sharing our own life experiences as guided by a trained church-member facilitator, we get to know each other (and sometimes ourselves!) on a rich and deep level. We will meet every other Sunday, ending on January 20th. Participation in all six sessions is expected. For more information and to register, please contact Nancy Letts at
[email protected]
or call at 401-741-2712.
Thank you.
My best,
Nancy Letts
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Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays in Room 1. All are welcome to join us. We have a new meeting time- 2:00-4:00 pm.
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Community Wednesday
Community Wednesday Dinners are back! Please join us for Chef Joy's Dinners at 6:00 pm. We will be serving salad, soup and entree. The price is $5.00. The meal is vegetarian, but every other week will feature a meat item alternate.
Community Activities for October:
6:00-6:45
Band Rehearsal in Sanctuary
6:45-8:00
Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary
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Pachamama
Pachamama First Thursday Game Changer Gathering
Introduction to Drawdown. Thursday, November 1st at 6:30 pm
Hobart Hall. Bring a dessert to share.
In service of its mission to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet, Pachamama Alliance developed educational programming. This program is part of its Drawdown Initiative based on Paul Hawken's Project Drawdown.
For more information and to register go here:
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Changes to the Food Pantry re: Donations
The support that UUCFM has shown to our pantry over the years is greatly appreciated and along with other coalition members' support it has helped the South Fort Myers Food Pantry (FMFP) to feed 23,000 people in need during 2017. The Harry Chapin Food Bank is vital to our mission, to feed the needy of South Fort Myers, at a very modest cost. They are however, making some changes at Harry Chapin.
In the past, members of our congregation have financially supported the pantry by donating directly to the pantry or by sending checks to the Harry Chapin Food Bank with the stipulation the funds were to support the SFMFP. The Food Bank would then place the funds in a "Designated Grant" account for our use to purchase food. They are eliminating these accounts. As of August 1, 2018 any checks they receive in support of one particular pantry will be returned to the sender. Therefore, our pantry is requesting that any monetary donations be sent directly to and made out to:
The South Fort Myers Food Pantry
If you feel strongly about your donation being only for food and not for operating expenses, write "for food only" on the memo line. The pantry relies on the support of the coalition churches for the funds and the volunteers needed. There are no paid positions and it takes hundreds of volunteer hours and thousands of dollars each month to accomplish our mission. If you have questions call Fran Rose and leave a message at 617-750-0470 and Fran will return your call.
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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
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Art in the Narthex
Mary Richey's art work will be on display during the month of October. Mary's exhibit " A Retrospective" is some of Mary's older favorites and one new piece...and she is still painting. Mary taught painting at the Art League of Fort Myers for years. Now she enjoys painting at her home and working at a slower pace. The art group hopes you enjoy her show.
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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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Computer, etc. For Sale
HP 15“ inch laptop computer
(model 15-bs015dx), 8 GB memory, Intel 7
th
generation i5, Black case, Windows 10 Home (purchased 12/17, gently used and I paid to have it restored to factory specs.) Paid $450.00. Would like $400.00 or best offer
Dragon Naturally Speaking
dictating software (never used or installed.) with portable digital recorder and a headset. Purchased 12/17 to use with this computer (windows 10) it says it will also work on windows 7 and 8. Paid $219.81. Would like $150.00 or best offer
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Free Singing Lessons!
If you have occasionally said to yourself,
“Gee, it would be fullfilling to sing with the UU choir if only I knew how.”
Well, believe me, everyone can sing. All most of us need is a little encouragement and a few lessons. Here’s your chance. Join several us UU’s and take these free lessons taught by an expert. No obligation to join the choir. None of us are “great” singers. We just love to sing and contribute to the beauty of our Sunday services. But if you do, you’ll find our director, Suellen a very supportive and inspiring director.
Glenn Siebert
, UU choir member
(440) 572-5558
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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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CIW Wendy's Protest in Estero
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is inviting us to join in a protest at a Wendy’s restaurant in Estero this Saturday, October 27th.
Here are the action details for the Wendy’s Protest in Estero:
— date/time: Oct. 27 at 11 AM
Wendy's
8661 Commons Way, Estero FL 33928
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Lee County Election Deadlines
The following deadlines apply for the General Election on Nov. 6, 2018:
- Request Vote-By-Mail Ballot – Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018
Early voting will occur as follows:
- 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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Life Line Screening
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers is pleased to offer a preventive health event. Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will host their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked
arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a
ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease;
atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density
screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness
Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our
member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. In order to register for
this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1-
888-653-6450 or text CIRCLE to 797979 visit
www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle. We also have 2 free screenings available. They are located in the Narthex on one of the front tables. Please take one.
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Oct 27 Sima Robbins
Oct 30 Peter Golbitz
Oct 30 Jersey Blosser
Oct 30 Sue Magee
Oct 31 Don Burget
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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
Director of Music
Director of RE
Office Manager
Building Supervisor
Nursery Supervisor
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