Congregational Vision
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. |
____________________
UUCGT
Beacon
If you are not receiving our monthly newsletter, the
Beacon, and would like to, please contact the
office
.
|
|
| |
Reflection: Many Under One Roof
Friends -
I begin my reflection with an apology for a typographical error in this month's Beacon - this was no one's mistake but mine. Our service on Sunday, April 17 will be lead and co-coordinated by Mary Van Valin, Nancy Cotcamp, Gretchen Kronk and members of the community. (I will be in LE with the children that day.) We will correct this error in the April Beacon. While we're at it, any other unintentional errors in this issue of the Flash are mine as well! Thanks for honoring our covenant of assuming the best and being forgiving.
So this month, we imagine big community. As I write this I am preparing to go off to Cadillac to protest at a rally. I will literally be carrying dozens of names with me, friends from near and far who wish they could protest but are unable. This helps me feel like I am part of a community larger than myself, what Rabbi Sherwin Wine, of blessed memory, called ethical transcendence.
Being part of something bigger than ourselves - a congregation, a group within a congregation, a community - is an important part of why we do UU. We are many voices, ideas and perspectives, under a single roof. Together we create something much more powerful than any one of us can do alone.
We are delighted to welcome a large group of new members at this Sunday's service - please come to meet and greet them!
Thanks for being part of it.
In blessing -
|
|
Sunday Service
Sunday, March 6
9:00 AM Adult Learning Program: "The Seven Sources of UUism" - Part 1
10:30 AM Service: "Our Blue Banner" - Rabbi Chava
We have a gorgeous quilted banner on our pulpit with six religious symbols. We look at it week after week, but what does it represent and why are these symbols displayed in a UU congregation? Come and learn about these and the role of indigenous traditions as well.
|
|
This Sunday for Children and Youth
March 6th
9:00 a.m. Childcare is available for pre-K-5th grade during Adult Learning Opportunities
10:30 a.m. Programming & Education for Children and Youth
Children (preK-5th grade) and Youth (6th-12th grade, 12-18yrs) are invited to join their families in the service through the Story Wisdom. Following Story Wisdom, Children (preK-5th grade) will follow their teachers to the large classroom space. Youth (6th-12th grade, 12-18yrs) will join their teacher in the Office. Parents of Children (preK-5th grade) should make their way to the classroom/program wing of the building to sign their child(ren) out of programming following the service.
This Month for Children
...While the adults in the congregation explore "Big Community" and the theme of "Imagine" children will continue to work on art for the Children's Art Exhibit which will be featured in the Sanctuary beginning Wednesday, March 16th. Other stories and learning this month will revolve around the books: "Imagine" by: Bart Vivian, "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" By: Dr. Seuss, and "The Legend of Mackinac Island" By: Kathy-Jo Wargin.
This Month for Youth...This month our youth will continue to explore justice as they consider Community. This will include helping our younger children with the Children's Art Exhibit.
|
Friday Night Out
We are in need of one volunteer to help our regular team staff the Friday Night Out on March 11th from 5:15pm-9pm. This is an important program that serves many families - parents are counting on us!
PLEASE contact
Sarah ASAP if you are able to assist!
ALSO... we frequently have a wait-list for Friday Night Out and could make this program available to more families if we REGULARLY had an additional person available... please consider this as well.
Friday Night Out is March 11, 5:30pm - 9:00pm. Please reserve your spot by March 7th. Space is very limited! Contact Sarah.
|
|
What's Going On At UUCGT?
FLASH CALENDAR: Because guest editor Rabbi Chava is producing the Flash this week, the link that would normally be here to the full calendar is not fully updated, but the previous UUCGT weekly FLASH calendar is linked to the UUCGT website calendar, and may be viewed HERE. This link will connect you to the website calendar page where you will find information and details about upcoming programs and meetings.
Weekly activity schedules are also listed in Sunday's Order of Service and monthly calendars are included in the Beacon.
Upcoming meeting dates and events are listed below
Please note: UUCGT Board Meeting date is changed for March only. The Board meeting will be held on MONDAY, March 14 at 5:30 p.m.
All are welcome
.
President Karl Love will hold President office hours this Sunday, March 6, following the service.
"IMAGINE!"
Our 2016/2017 Stewardship Campaign kick off is
in full swing!
Wednesday Night Supper:
Wednesday, March 9, 5:30pm social time, dinner at 6:00pm. Join us for our St. Patrick's Day Themed-Meal and shared fellowship! $5/adult, $3/child 10 and under. Please join us!
Upcoming Colloquiums
March 9 - Pete Kirkwood of Workshop Brewing, "How My Beer Can Change the World - Creating Community"
March 16 - Children's Art Reception! Special Event - 5:30 p.m. before Wednesday Supper!
March 23 - Karin Killian - Fair Trade Farmers in Latin America (rescheduled from 2/10)
April 13 - Rick and Christine Walter, Tanzania
April 27 - Paul Ward, "The Art of Medicine" - revisiting his service from January
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Chili Cook Off needs 4-5 volunteers to assist with clean-up for the event.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UUCGT Men's Group: Monday, March 7, 5:30pm, Minerva's
Please note: Revised topic is Michael Moore's new movie, "Where to Invade Next," now playing at the State Theatre until March 3.
Hall Gurian will present on
"Islam, Radical Islam and Political Islam" on April 4.
UUCGT Book Club: Sunday, March 13, 2:00 p.m. "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd. If questions, contact
Emmy Lou Cholak.
"Little Spiritual Book" Brown Bag Lunch & Learn:
Join Rabbi Chava for this monthly brown bag "lunch and learn" program. Pack yourself a lunch and come with an open heart.
Tuesday, March 15, 12-1:00pm:
Rami Shapiro, "Ecclesiastes: Annotated & Explained
" (SkyLight Illuminations). Please get
Rami
Shapiro's SkyLight version
of Ecclesiastes - any edition of this version is fine.
Tuesday, April 19:
Robert Lawrence Smith, "
A Quaker Book
of Wisdom: Life Lessons in Simplicity, Service and
Common Sense"
(Quill Press)
Tuesday, May 17:
Brother Benet Tvedten, "
How to be a Monastic and Not
Leave Your Day Job: An Invitation to Oblate Life" (Paraclete Press)
|
| Children's Art Reception Wednesday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. 
|
|
F Y I
Safe Harbor Volunteers Needed: UUCGT
will be preparing and serving meals and providing evening hosts for Safe Harbor at The Presbyterian Church on three evenings: Sunday, March 27; Tuesday, March 29; and Thursday, March 31. We will also be providing overnight volunteers on Thursday, March 31. Many positions are still open, especially evening hosts and overnight volunteers. Sign ups for these opportunities will continue this Sunday, March 6 in the social hall both before and after the 10:30 am service. For more information contact Mike or Sandra McDonald at
m_mcdonald@charter.net
or 935-3759.
- From Our Green Sanctuary Team:
We have three major environmental crises here in Michigan right now and our legislature needs to have our comments on what we wish them to do about them. They are:
- Oil and Water don't Mix - the ongoing problem of old oil pipelines under the Mackinac Bridge
- Fracking - Petitioning is still going on for a ballot initiative eliminating fracking in Michigan. It will continue until June. Please let me know if you want to sign a petition or wish some petitions to circulate. (231 499 9488)
- Flint - please contact your representatives in Lansing regarding the debacle in Flint and let them know what you wish to happen in regards to the water in Flint. To help the children who have been damaged by the tainted water, go to flintkids.org. Our church has already sent money to this organization which appears to be the best available.
Please do contact Governor Snyder, the representatives from your area, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
They need to know the will of the people.
The Social Justice Book Discussion Group meets Thursday, March 10, at 6 PM, downstairs at Horizon Books. We will discuss pertinent events regarding racism and continue with "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nahisi Coates, "The New Jim Crow" and "Just Mercy" titles. If questions, please contact Emmy Lou Cholak.
Food for Life Nutrition Education & Cooking Workshops - designed by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM.org): offered by Sherry Davis, Certified FFL Instructor. Please see link to website HERE.
UU author, Heather Shumaker's new book, "It's OK to Go Up the Slide" covers her respectful yet contrarian take on everything from homework to talking to strangers, and is a sequel to her renegade parenting book, "It's OK Not to Share" (based on a UU preschool in Ohio). Celebrate book launch on Sunday, March 13, 2:00pm at Horizon Books.
Local Community Needs: Please find a Local Community Needs request form HERE.
|
|
End Note...
To commit to creating a prophetic congregation today is to grapple with what it means to take responsibility for cocreating the holy right here on earth.
Meg Riley (Unitarian Universalist, clergy, activist) "Prophetic Congregations in the Twenty-First Century" A People So Bold, ed. John Gibb Millspaugh
|
phone: l(231) 947-3117 website: www.uucgt.org email: office@uucgt.org Office hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 9:00 - 4:00 Friday, 9:00 - 12:00 noon (Monday by appointment) FLASH articles are due by noon on Wednesday of each week
|
|
|
