Weekly E-News
September 12, 2019
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Sunday
Join us this Sunday, September 15th at 10:30 AM in the Miller Sanctuary for our weekly service entitled
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors. All welcome!
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Sunday Social Hour
Sunday's Social Hour
happens after the service every week. Come join us for coffee and snacks. Newcomers, visitors, and members are all welcome. Sponsoring groups are the Women's Circle and CUUPs. Any donations of food, snacks or cash are always welcome.
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend. Join us as we engage in a new topic each week. The topic for the Humanist Forum this coming Sunday is
Negotiating Differences and Overcoming Biases
. We’ll have a couple of interesting videos and plenty of room for discussions.
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Community Sharing
Lee Interfaith for Empowerment
is an interfaith justice ministry seeking long-term solutions to systemic injustices that began in Lee County, and has grown to encompass the State of Florida. Each year, LIFE engages in a series of processes to
- Determine and vote on a problem area to be focused upon that year;
- Research with other faith communities and determine who has the power to change it;
- Organize and gather in what is called Direct Action, ask those accountable and in power to commit to a solution;
- Follow up on the problem/solution/commitments to ensure measurable success for 24 month period
This year, LIFE is focusing on solutions for affordable housing and restructuring the criminal justice system.
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Religious Education News
In a sermon given on October 6, 2002 titled
One Light, Many Windows
, the UU Rev. Dr. Forrest Church asked that his congregants imagine themselves in a vast cathedral, a worldwide cathedral, with brilliant windows all around. The windows are vastly different, some with abstract splashes of color, some with representative figures, still others just frosted slightly. While some faith traditions determine that their window is the only window in this massive cathedral through which the Light shines, our faith acknowledges that we each behold the Light (God, Truth, Love, Being, whatever we choose to call it) as it shines through the many windows.
Rev. Church goes on to say, "This metaphor is a perfect description of Unitarian Universalism. One Light (Unitarianism) shines through many windows (Universalism), illuminating human minds and hearts in many different ways. In our congregations we honor this truth by encouraging our members to reflect on the Light through whatever set of windows they find most illuminating."
This sermon is the inspiration behind the name of the next evolution of our Faith Formation program; Many Windows. To further our multi-generational community and the celebration of the amazing wealth of talents and spiritual traditions in our congregation, we will begin offering multiple worship opportunities on Sunday mornings. All congregants will have the opportunity to select which worship experience they want to attend; either Sanctuary Worship, or another experience at a different location on campus. More information about this exciting evolution of our program will be shared later this month in a special newsletter. Please email any questions or concerns to Jenn Blosser, Director of Religious Education:
dre@uucfm.org
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The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:00 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Come join us in singing!
The UUCFM Band
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 5:45-6:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 9:10 in the Sanctuary. Do you play an instrument? Are you interested in playing 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
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Would You Like to Become a Member of UUCFM?
If you are interested in becoming a new member, please pick up a Membership Kit on Sunday mornings in the Narthex or in the office during the week. Thanks!
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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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Membership Committee 2.0 is Now Forming
With Rev. Carlos’s commitments to our interim “re-boot,” we are looking to add some new energy to our Membership Team. We have lost some of our long-standing members and need a few new faces on our “welcoming team.” If you have a welcoming smile and a couple of extra minutes each month, we need you! Please contact Jill at
OfficeManager@uucfm.org
or Bill Petrarca at 239.810.4608. (First team meeting will be announced next week.)
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To All Members
After some consideration following email incidents, the board proposed to create
uucfm.org
domain email addresses for each position. Some have already been in existence and use by prior board members, but an address for every board position had not been created.
To reach any board member, you can email
board@uucfm.org
. Currently, Allie Carville, Secretary, monitors this account.
For each board role currently held, email addresses are as follows:
We hope this action helps with bettering communication with members and friends of UUCFM.
Allie Carville,
UUCFM Board Secretary
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Worship, Music, AV
The Worship/Music/AV Ministry will be meeting this Sunday in the Sanctuary at Noon to discuss our fundraising efforts for "Deeper Than the Skin" which will be a church-wide event held on November 23rd.
The Worship/Music/AV Ministry will be hosting a Spaghetti Dinner meal after service on Sunday, October 13th to raise funds for the event. All are invited to attend this event. More details to follow as they become available.
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry
A few months ago we made a special donation to the South Fort Myers Food Pantry through our Community Sharing Program. This was for food purchase and general operations, utilities, gas, and repairs.
In addition to food and overhead they rely heavily on equipment to complete their mission, "to feed the needy of South Fort Myers". They have had a large used box truck for ten years which has recently been causing them problems; for example, the brakes gave out while returning from picking up food at Harry Chapin. They have not been able to find a "good" used truck that fits their needs. Hence, they are looking at bids for a new truck Their goal is to get a truck ordered by October.
The board has voted to set aside $30,000 towards the purchase of the new truck. They are asking all coalition members and friends to consider donating funds toward this purchase in addition to your continued support of the pantry through volunteerism, food drives and financial support. They need to raise an additional $45,000 to reach their goal. Please spread the word and know that any amount to help them reach their goal will be appreciated.
Donations may be sent to: South Fort Myers Food Pantry Coalition, Inc.
8260 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919. For questions see Fran Rose or email her at
franrose512@gmail.com
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Join Us For Our Annual Family Gardens Clean-Up Day
Every year at this time we can use all the help we can get to clean up the Family Gardens for the new gardening season. If you can spare a little time Saturday, 9/28, starting around 8:00 a.m., please help. Meet back by the Family Gardens. The Scouts will be joining the effort this year. Dress for the weather. Questions? email
bill@petrarca.net
. See you then.
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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 6:30-8:00p in the Sanctuary. Contact Gary Robbins at 302-540-5899.
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The UUCFM Book Club
meets Wednesdays from 1:00-2:30 PM in the Library of our Administration Building.
All are welcome to join in facilitated discussion and group bonding. Our current book is
Life Before Life
by Jim Tucker, MD.
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Wednesday Connection Circle
Lilibeth Grimes will be facilitating a once monthly Wednesay evening circle called
Principles of Joy
. The goal for this connection circle is to serve as a bridge between UUCFM and the broader community. This is open each month to all members, family, and friends. Please email by the Monday before each circle to let her know you will be there that month. We'll meet the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM. You don't have to attend all sessions. Here is the schedule:
October 9:
Fourth Principle: A Free and Responsible Search for
Truth
and Meaning
November 13:
Fifth
Principle: The Right of
Conscience
and the Use of the Democratic Process within our Congregations and in Society at Large
December 11:
Sixth
Principle: The Goal of World
Community
with Peace, Liberty, and Justice for All
January 8:
Seventh Principle:
Respect
for the Interdependent Web of all Existence of Which we are a Part.
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UUCFM-Caloosahatchee Mindfulness
UUCFM and Caloosahatchee Mindfulness 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 to make sure the group is meeting each week or if you want to join. All are invited to attend. For more information contact Helen Leddy
helen.leddy@gmail.com
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10th Annual Florida Unitarian Universalist Women’s Retreat
April 3-5, 2020
DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center
A Weekend Gathering of UU Women
• Friday evening we will get to know one another and create community
• Saturday one-hour workshops offer choices
• Sunday we share a UU Service bringing it all together
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.
http://Dayspring.dioswfl.org
.
$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, 2020. Scholarships are available.
Come join us for an enriching and memorable weekend. To register or for more information contact Helen Leddy
helen.leddy@gmail.com
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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. Contact Mary Tracy Sigman for more info
uuchurch@uucfm.org
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Sept 16 Genelle Grant
Sept 19 Toni Latino
Sept 21 Deb Leigh
Sept 24 Leslie Gatto
Sept 30 Jen Smith
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Staff
Senior Interim Minister
Director of Music
Director of RE
Office Manager
Building Supervisor
Nursery Supervisor
Liza Kellam
Board of Trustees
President
Theresa Bahre
President Elect
Lesley Peterson
Secretary
Alison Carville
Treasurer
Vacant
VP Finance
Alanis Garcia
VP Programming
Vacant
VP Ministerial Services
Vacant
VP Operations
Dorothy Van Howe
Member at Large
Helen Leddy
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers
239-561-2700
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