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. |
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UUCGT
Beacon
If you are not receiving our monthly newsletter, the
Beacon, and would like to, please contact the
office
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Reflection: Does Preaching Matter?
Friends,
I awoke far too early this morning as I sometimes do, and decided to do some reading. I found myself on a website called "Preaching Today." There was an article about immersing ourselves in the topics on which we preach, because if we ourselves are not changed by the process of preaching, we cannot expect our words to reach other people's hearts. A comment from the Midrash says, "What comes from the heart enters the heart."
I would like to know from you what sorts of experiences you have had with some of the teachings that we have shared. In the months ahead, I would like to invite you to sit with me following some Sunday services to discuss this. Just simply talking with each other will help us go deeper.
Before I sign off, let me remind you that next week I will be in Texas, teaching 60 Methodist ministers about the Book of Psalms. I guarantee that they know the book better in terms of being able to quote chapter and verse, but my goal in this teaching is to talk about sacred reading and how we can allow text to touch our hearts.
I will hope to see some of you tomorrow, Friday, at Brew for coffee and conversation.
In blessing -
Rabbi Chava
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Sunday Service
January 28
10:30 a.m. "Humanism: Its History and Significance" - UUCGT Congregation members and guest, Scott Blair
Scott Blair is a member of Grand Traverse Humanists. Mark Gustafson is a member of both UUCGT and GT Humanists. Together, they will delve into just what it means to be a Humanist. Please join us as we celebrate our deep connection to this philosophy and faith.
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This Sunday for Children and Youth
January 28
Please remember that as of January 1, 2016 there is no 9:00 a.m. Children's Educational Option. Childcare will be available when there is a 9:00 a.m. Contemplative Reflection or 9:00 a.m. Adult Learning opportunity.
Please consider enrolling your children in our 10:30 a.m. Children's Programming. Contact
Sarah with questions.
10:30am: Programming & Education for Children and Youth
Children (pre-K - 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 (pre-K - 5th grade) should make their way to the classrooms/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 science and reason in the sanctuary, we will be exploring the universe through the following:
"Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story" & "From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth Story," by Jennifer Morgan and Dana Lynne Andersen.
This Month for Youth... This month our youth will gather to focus on connecting and getting to know one another as they prepare to revisit the "Heeding the Call - UU Justice Maker" curriculum which was started in our 9am Youth program earlier this year.
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LAST CHANCE!!!
Donate NEW Winter Gear for Children!
COLLECTION CONTINUES ONLY UNTIL JANUARY 31st!
Please bring in NEW winter gear for children - hats, snow pants, mittens, jackets, etc. - and place them in the collection bin near the kitchen. These items will be donated locally to both Traverse Heights Elementary School and the Goodwill Inn.
Friday Night Out: Friday, February 12th, 5:30pm-9pm. RSVP to Sarah BY Monday, February 8th.
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What's Going On At UUCGT?
FLASH CALENDAR: The 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 in Sunday's Order of Service, and monthly calendars are included in the Beacon. Upcoming
meeting dates and events are listed below:
Brew Crew: Have-A-Java-with-Rabbi Chava and Friends!
Friday, January 29, 10:00-12:00noon & upcoming dates: Friday, February 12 and Tuesday, February 23, 10:00-12noon at BREW in downtown TC.
UU Men's Group: Monday, February 1, 5:30pm at Minerva's. Mark Gustafson leads a discussion on "In the Kingdom of Ice," by Hampton Sides.
Social Justice Action: Monday, February 1, 6:00-8:00pm, Horizon Books downstairs. Discussion on racism and privilege. All are welcome even if you did not attend the fist meeting or read any of the material. The book we suggest is, "Between the World and Me" by Ta'Nehisi Coates. We were mentioned in the January 17
Record Eagle. If you have any questions or comments, please email
Emmy Lou.
Thinking About Membership at UUCGT? Well, you are in luck!
Join us Sunday, February 7, 12noon-1:15 pm for a Prospective Member Orientation Session with the Membership Committee and others to talk about the steps to Membership and answer questions about all that is available at this very active, very caring congregation.
Even if you have been attending for some time or were members or attended another UU congregation, there is much we wish to share.
Sign up at the Membership Table or call the office 947-3117. Child care reservations are required - please contact the office ASAP. Contact
Chris or Rick Walter, Membership Committee Co-Chairs, 421-3069.
UU Book Club: Sunday, February 14, 2:00-4:00pm. February title is "Everything I Never Told You," by Celeste Ng. Host:
Mark Gustafson
"Little Spiritual Book" Brown Bag Lunch & Learn:
Join Rabbi Chava for this new monthly brown bag "lunch and learn" program. Pack yourself a lunch and come with an open heart.
February lunch is Tuesday, February 16, 12-1:00pm: Eknath Easwaran's, "Your Life is Your Message: Finding Harmony with Yourself, Others and the Earth" (Nilgiri Press). See the Beacon for more information.
Colloquiums: Wednesday, February 10, 7:00pm - Karin Killian, "The Faces of Fair Trade". Have you ever wondered what "Fair Trade" really means? Karin will talk about her experience working with farmers and artisans in South America and explain how, exactly, choosing fairly traded products changes lives. Karen and her husband, Matt, worked with coffee farmers and artisan groups in Peru as Peace Corps volunteer and have continued to do work in that field.
February 24: Mark Hoffmann & Dan Mauk, "Introduction to Backpacking for Beginners"
March 9: Pete Kirkwood of Workshop Brewing, "How My Beer Will Change the World - Creating Community"
Committee on Ministry Small Group Discussion: The Committee on Ministry's small group discussion scheduled for Sunday, January 31 has been moved forward to
Sunday, February 21 following the 10:30 service (please note date change). We hope to see many of you there. More details to follow.
Leadership Development Committee Experiential Workshop: Saturday, March 5, 10:00am-2:00pm. "What's Discernment Got To Do With It?" Contact
Tom Darnton.
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F Y I
2016 UUCGT Directory: Members & Friends, please email any changes to your address, email or phone to
office@uucgt.org.
Our hope is to gather all data in the next few weeks and have a new 2016 UUCGT Directory ready for distribution in February! Thank you!
If you were the last person to use the UUCGT Samsung Galaxy Tablet 4, please kindly return it to the office at your earliest opportunity.
The family of Arline Howe would like UU members and friends to be aware that an estate sale will be held on Friday and Saturday, January 29th & 30th from 9:00-4:00, at 167 Wildwood Meadows Drive. All household contents, including original art work and custom-made furniture, will be available.
Coffee Orders: Order forms are located in the causeway area and are due Sunday, January 31! Your purchase supports UU Social Justice Action Committee. Contact Emmy Lou with questions.
UU Library -
On Our Shelves: Check out these books from our UU Library to commemorate Black History Month
"All Labor Has Dignity: the King Legacy," demonstrating Martin Luther King, Jr. as a tireless champion of the working class.
"Creating Black Americans: African American History and Its Meanings, 1619 to the Present," an art book which interweaves straight-forward narrative with vivid portraits of black artists to record how an unloved people created a vibrant but still endangered Black America.
"Bound for the Promised Land," revealing Harriet Tubman as one of the giants of American history.
Rabbi Chava at NMC Extended Education:
"Meeting Jesus in His Jewish Context" - Explore the Jewish context of Jesus and how this can help deepen your understanding of the ministry of Jesus. By looking at Jewish approaches to God, sacred text, and cosmology, you will discover how Jesus taught and why his message was both timely and timeless.
Tuesdays, February 16 - March 1, 3-5pm at the University Center. Call
(231) 995-1700 for more information and to register.
Local Community Needs: Please find a Local Community Needs request form here.
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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
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