UUCGT Flash

 October 15, 2015 

   Vol. 9, Issue 399 

 
In This Issue
Reflection
Sunday Contemplative Reflection
Sunday Service
Sunday for Children and Youth
Board Meeting / Public Comment
AUTUMN AFFAIR CANCELED
Coffee Updates
What's Going on at UUCGT?
CUUPS Pagan Fair
FYI
Chuckle
Congregational Vision
UU Logo
We are a Congregation creating a better world by nurturing the heart and expanding the mind.
We provide a safe, caring community where all can freely explore diverse religious thought. We work for justice and equality with the power of compassion and compassionate power.
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Reflection:  What Makes You Come Alive?
 
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive.  And then go and do that.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."   - Howard Thurman
 
Friends, what makes me come alive is the possibility that religion and spirituality can contribute something positive to a world where there is a great deal of conflict, large and small.  One of the reasons I am delighted to have been called to the UU is because we are showing the world what one small face of this looks like. 
 
As you know, I had been planning for the last four years to attend the Parliament of World Religions this week; you may know my doctor grounded me from travel until they get to the bottom (so to speak) of my back pain.  I am deeply saddened not to be with the 10,000 people - including our DLE Sarah and 20 of my rabbinic colleagues whom I organized to attend - and who are gathering in Salt Lake City as I write this.  But the fact that they are gathering, learning, worshiping and planning together gives me great hope and encouragement. 
 
In honor of the Parliament, let us to remember why we - the UU and I - came together:  to create a living illustration of what the world can look like when we honor the six sources by living, learning, worshiping and working for better world, together.  
 
I still believe. 
 
In blessing-
Rabbi Chava

Contemplative Reflection
October 18, 9:00am - "Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear", UUCGT Members
Join us in the sanctuary for a time of quiet contemplation with our beloved UU symbols - bell and chalice - in addition to a period of silence and a short teaching.  Begin your day in peace.

Sunday Service 
October 18, 10:30am - "In Loving Care & Pastoral Care" - UUCGT Members
Join members of the congregation, including Pat Light, who will reflect on caregiving from a nursing/hospice care perspective.  Being present at moments of illness or near death can be a deeply rewarding experience if we learn how to listen, in loving care.
 
This Sunday for Children and Youth
9:00 a.m.
Nursery:  Intended for children who are 4 years old and younger  
UU Youngers (preschool-1st grade):  Chalice Children Curriculum
UU Mids (2nd-5th grade):  Our UU Principles & "Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome"
UU Youth (middle/high school):  Heeding the Call:  Qualities of a Justicemaker Curriculum

UU Youngers will be in the small yellow classroom; UU Mids will be in the large classroom; and UU Youth will be in the office.  These classes will offer a more focused and engaging curriculum-based offering, with an expectation around participation.

Our 9:00 UU Mids Religious Education class (children 2nd-5th grade) is exploring our UU Principles this year while gaining inspiration from Kid President and his "Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome"!  In October they will start exploring our 2nd Principle:  "Justice, equity and compassion in human relations".

It's not too late to register!  Contact Sarah soon!
10:30 a.m.
Nursery:  intended for children who are 4 years old and younger
Children's Programming (preschool-5th grade):  Encouraging Little UUs
This is our one-room schoolhouse model for those families who choose to attend the 10:30am service, and features multiple activity stations. 
Registration is likewise required for this program. 
  
We encourage youth (middle/high school) who join us to attend the 10:30am service, affording them the opportunity to build connection with adults in our community and begin to take more active roles in the service itself.
            
 
 
What better way than to kick off our own "Socktober" Sock Drive for our neighbors in need?!?  Don't know what "Socktober" is?  Learn all about it with the help of Kid President!  Look for our donation box in the Social Hall!  Get involved!  http://soulpancake.com/socktober/.  Our children have made some wonderful posters to advertise their sock drive!  CLICK HERE to see them!  Copies will also be in your Orders of Service for the 10:30 am service this week!  PLEASE DONATE NEW SOCKS!  The children have set a goal for 350 pairs!!!

Board Meeting / Public Comment

 

As you know, our Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public.  We are expecting several guests at next week's meeting, Tuesday, October 20th beginning at 12:30pm.  A few points of order from our friend "Robert's Rules":

 

  1.  Each person will be given a specific length of time to speak, with a maximum of 3 minutes.  The total number of guests who wish to speak will be divided into the time allotted for Public Comment.

 

  2.  Because the goal is to be heard, the Board will listen deply and will not respond, unless a Board member has a question.

 

  3.  We ask that individual speakers not simply repeat one another so as to allow for multiple points of view to be represented.  This will also help to avoid going over the time constraint for that part of the meeting.

 

We hope this will help you prepare to speak if that is what you choose to do.

 

Thank you,

 

Becky Somsel, President

On behalf of the UUCGT Board of Trustees

 



2015 AUTUMN AFFAIR
 
 HAS BEEN CANCELED  

Dear UU Friends,
          We regret to inform you that the Autumn Affair has been canceled for this year.  We had neither sold enough tickets nor collected enough auction items.  Your ticket money will be refunded in a manner to be announced. Some people have already decided to leave their ticket money as "seed" for next year's event.  Folks who have so kindly donated, we will return your items, which are stored in the music room at UU, on Sundays after service.
The committee was disappointed to make the decision, but lack of participation is hard to argue with.  John and Pinkie Hoffmann will carry on with the donated dinner events, and you'll hear more about that soon.  We'll all miss the social event of the year at UU.
 
Autumn Affair Committee:  Gail Trill, Bob Hicks and Shelley Burnes, John and Pinkie Hoffmann
 
 
Coffee Updates...

Sunday Coffee Hour at 10:30am ...Coffee and tea will continue to be served for our social hour after the 10:30 service, however, at this time beverages will not be provided for the 9:00 program.
 
If you would like to help the Hospitality Committee with preparing coffee and set-up/clean-up on Sunday morning, Committee Chair, Penny Ort, would welcome your help!  She's anxious for new members to join her in providing our convivial coffee time after the 10:30 service.  Please contact Penny at 932-9766.  The Sunday Services Committee thanks the congregation for its understanding in this matter.

Monthly Coffee Orders from Higher Grounds Trading Company...

You have read in the Beacon and are hopefully now aware that coffee ordering will be different.  The price of coffee has gone up, but our prices had not gone up since we started this process many years ago.  So, now we must make changes, too!
  
1 - Coffee is now sold in 12 ounce bags, no longer in 16-ounce/1 pound bags.
  
2 - We will be charged extra for having Higher Grounds grind our coffee. Coffee will be 25 cents more per bag when ground coffee is ordered.
  
3 - Our coffee is 10% or more under grocery store prices.  We will be adding a charge of 30 cents to each bag.  This money is for Social Justice Action issues.
  
4 - Please look at the order sheet in the Causeway on the coffee bookcase shelf, and use a copy of the order sheet to fill out your order.  Remember that orders must be in by the last Sunday of the month.  Coffee is delivered in the Causeway on the following Thursday.
  
Please be sure to submit your order by the last Sunday of the month (this month, October 25).  Thanks!  If questions or problems, please email

What's Going On At UUCGT? 
 
Vocal Ensemble:  Today, Thursday, October 15, 7:00-8:30pm, classroom.

UUCGT Fall Clean-Up:  Saturday, October 17, 9:00am-3:00pm.  Bring leaf rakes, wheelbarrows, window washing equipment, and your Smile! 
Enjoy Fun & Fellowship!

UUCGT PICTURE DIRECTORY PHOTO SHOOT:  October 14 - 17
Just a few appointments left!  Call Jane Watts, 941-7233.  Also, help out with sign-ins, provide snacks, or take photos of church activities to include in the Directory.  Great thanks!
 
LGBTQ Support Group:  Saturday, October 17, 1:00-2:30pm, classroom. For persons with questions about their sexuality.  Contact Nick Erber or Rachel Snyder.
Mindfulness Meditation Group:  Sunday, October 18, 5:00-7:00pm (please note Winter hours).  Silent meditation / beginners welcome.  For more information contact Fleda Brown or their website.

Stretch & Strengthen Exercise:  Monday, October 19, 11:00-12noon, social hall.  Contact Judith Briggs, 228-4655.
 
Open Gay AA Meetings:  Monday, October 19, 7:00-8:00pm, small classroom.  Contact John Young, 590-8229.
 
Tuesday Community Lunch:  October 20, 11:30am-1:30pm.  Friends Church on the corner of Fifth & Oak.  Contact Mary Kiner.
 
UUCGT Board Meeting:  Tuesday, October 20, 12:30-2:30pm, large classroom.
Duplicate Bridge:  Tuesday, October 20, 1:00pm and every Tuesday.  Sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League.  All are welcome.  Cost is $5 per person.  Have questions?  Need a partner?  Contact Paul Christ.
 
Leadership Development Committee:  Wednesday, October 21, 9:30-11:30am, classroom, Dottie Cain.
 
Wednesday Meditation:  October 21, 10:00-10:30am, sanctuary, self-led this week.

Stretch & Strengthen Exercise:  Wednesday, October 21, 11:00-12noon, social hall.  Contact Judith Briggs, 228-4655.
 
Wednesday Night POTLUCK!  October 21, 5:30pm is social time, with dinner at 6:00pm.  See you there!

International Folk Dance:  Wednesday, October 21, 7:00-8:00pm, classroom, Richard Fidler.
 
Restorative Arts Group:  Thursday, October 22, 10:30am-12:30pm, classroom, Karen Williams.
Peacemakers Needleworkers:  Thursday, October 22, 1:30-3:30pm, social hall.  Join us for needlework and conversation.
 
Vocal Ensemble:  Thursday, October 22, 7:00-8:30pm, sanctuary.

BREW CREW:  Friday, October 23, 10:00-noon at BREW, downtown TC.  Join us for coffee & conversation!

LGBTQ Support Group:  Saturday, October 24, 1:00-2:30pm, classroom. For persons with questions about their sexuality.  Contact Nick Erber or Rachel Snyder.

UUCGT Facilitator Training:  Sunday, October 25, 12noon-1:30pm, classroom.
    

  

UUCGT CUUPS PAGAN FAIR!

 

 

   

 
FYI                              
"Help Wanted" - Stewardship Committee is seeking new Stew Crew members - Lots of Fun!.  Contact Judy Myers if you are interested in serving on this committee!

SCRIP available now for Tom's!
Oryana and Scrip cards will be ordered on Sunday, Oct. 18th.  Meijer and Tom's will both contribute 3% to the Norma fund.  Family Fare gives 2% and Oryana gives 4%.  These are just a few of the hundreds of available cash cards that then donate to the fund to provide our Guatemalan student with her school supplies and health care for her entire family.  Catalogs like LL Bean (around 16%) and Land's End, Eddie Bauer, JJill, etc., offer higher percentages for Norma's fund, so if you are thinking ahead to the holidays, please consider these gift cards.  Norma is 13 now, and she and her family are very grateful for our help.  If you have questions, please call Mary Van Valin at 421-5243.  Thank you!

 Benzie UU:  Wednesday, October 21, "Argument Favoring Replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day."  Michigan Shores Retirement Facility, Frankfort, 6:30pm potluck, 7:30pm service.  Benzie UU Book Discussion Group:  Tuesday, October 27, 4:00-5:00pm, "Between the World and Me," by Ts-Nehisi Coates.  Darcy Library of Beulah, RSVP Cheryl Bartz or sign up at the library.
 
UUCGT Facilitator Training:  Sunday, October 25, 12noon-1:30pm, classroom.  All committee chairs or anyone interested in leading small groups are encouraged to attend. This meeting will feature discussion of small group dynamics and best practices for leading in small group situations, safe congregation information relative to small groups, and more!  Please RSVP Sarah or call the UUCGT office at 947-3117.

Christmas Eve at the State:  We are delighted that once again the UU will hold its Christmas Eve service at the State Theatre!  We are seeking volunteers to plan this incredible community event.  A planning meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 27 at 5:30pm.  We'll provide drinks and munchies for this meeting, so please RSVP to the office if you would like to be part of planning this event.

Wednesday Night Colloquium:  October 28, 7:00-8:00pm - Nancy Doughty, Weaving with Natural Materials - A conversation with an artist.  Join us for an artistic evening!

Brewing Community:  Will meet the last Thursday of each month.  Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 29 from 5:00pm-7:00pm.  We will gather at the Hofbrau in Interlochen - Northern Michigan's LARGEST tap room!
 
 Free Workshop:  New member, Sherry Davis, is offering UU members free attendance to the "Food for Life - Cancer Prevention & Survival Nutrition & Cooking Workshop" on Saturday, October 31, 9:00am-3:00pm at the Firs t Congregational Church.  See more information HERE, or contact Sherry at 231-709-2309.
 
Committee on Ministry:  The purpose of the Committee on Ministry is to support the spiritual health and well being of the entire Congregation...to strengthen the quality of these ministries and to provide conflict management."  (from the Manual on Board, Staff and Committees)
One of the methods the COM will use to operationalize this "purpose" will be 20 minute sessions held after services four times a year.  In each of these sessions, small group discussions will be facilitated by COM members utilizing the constructs of Appreciative Inquiry.
The next, and incidentally first, session is November 1 following the 10:30am multigenerational service (one service only this date).  Contact Anne Hughes.

UU Men's Group:  Monday, November 2, 5:30pm at Minerva's.  Continued discussion on management of carbon dioxide levels.  Pick up your copies in the office.
 
"15 Minutes with the Rabbi":  November 8, 10:00-10:15am in Rabbi Chava's office.  Intended for interested individuals or small groups of 3-4 people for an informal chat prior to membership.
 
Empty Bowls:  Sunday, November 8, 11:00am-2:00pm at the Hagerty Center - supporting Food Rescue for over 40 food pantries in Northwest Michigan.

Mark Your Calendars!  I know this is early and you don't want to think about it yet, but mark your calendars for the All Church Thanksgiving Potluck on November 22.  Tickets go on sale in November.  Mary Kiner.

 
       Chuckle...

 

 


 phone: l(231) 947-3117       website:   www.uucgt.org         email:   office@uucgt.org


 

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