January 10, 10:30 a.m. (one service only)

"The Art of Medicine" - Paul Ward

The human body is at times referred to as "the last frontier."  There is still much to learn about growth, disease, treatment and healing.  While most might think that medicine lies entirely in the realm of science and reason, there are essential spiritual aspects as well.  Please join us for a lay led service in which Paul Ward will discuss his 30 year career as a physician in the Grand Traverse region and the interplay between the spiritual and the scientific aspects of medicine.  

 

Friday Night Out, January 8, is full for this month.

 

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Donate Winter Gear for Children!

  

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.

 

  2016 UUCGT Directory:  Members & Friends who are listed in the current Directory, please email any changes to your address, email or phone to office@uucgt.org.

Additionally, Friends who would like to be included in the 2016 Directory, please also email your contact information to the office.

Our hope is to gather all data in the next few weeks and have a new 2016 UUCGT Directory ready for you in February!  Thank you!

SCRIP Cards:  Orders will be taken for SCRIP cards on Sunday, 1/10. Please remember your checkbooks if you'd like to order gift cards.  Our Guatemalan student, Norma, is sponsored by this project.  This means that she and her siblings receive school supplies, uniforms, shoes, and the whole family receives free health care.  Thanks for your continued support of Norma and her family.  If you have questions, call Mary Van Valin at 421-5243.

 Fife Lake Elementary School offers early world history and civilization class to 1st graders and includes early world religions (link to article here).  Call 231-369-3388 with your offer of support!

 

The Flying Rabbi:  A reminder that Rabbi Chava will be away from January 8 to the 15th, attending the OHALAH Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal annual conference, where she will present a workshop on what it's like to lead a UU congregation.  The conference theme is "Deep Ecumenism."  Rabbi Chava will be checking email and voice mail once daily.  If you have an emergency, it would helpful if you could also send a text to her cell phone (231)357-7152. 

"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.  

Tuesday, January 19, 12-1:00pm:  Pema Chodron's, "Practicing Peace in Times of War" (Shambala Publications)

Tuesday, February 16,  12-1:00pm:  Eknath Eawaran's, "Your Life is Your Message: Finding Harmony with Yourself, Others and the Earth" (Nilgiri Press).  See the January Beacon for more information.

Appreciative Inquiry:  The Committee on Ministry will offer Appreciative Inquiry small group discussions on  Sunday, January 31 following the 10:30 service.  We hope to see many of you there. 

Thinking About Membership at UUCGT?  Well, you are in luck!  A Prospective Member Orientation Session is scheduled for Sunday, February 7, 12 noon-1:15 pm.  Members of the Membership Committee and others will be on hand 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 / attenders at another UU congregation, there is much we wish to share.  This session is FOR YOU!  Sign up at The Membership Table or call the office 947-3117.  Reservations for child care are required by January 24th - please contact the office.  See you there! Chris and Rick Walter, Membership Committee Co-Chairs, 421-3069 or chris9709@sbcglobal.net.

 
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 through March 1, 3:00PM-5:00PM at the University Center.  Call (231) 995-1700 for more information and to register.

 

Save the Date - UUCGT Leadership Development Committee:  Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.  Experiential workshop, "What's Discernment Got to Do With It?"  Contact Tom Darnton, darnton@me.com

 

Local Community Needs:  Please find a Local Needs Community

donation request form here.  Should you wish, please complete the attached form and send to Liz Bruning, Community Needs Chair.

Donated Dinners fundraiser event update:  The event was a success!  To date, 9 dinners have been sold-out and we raised a little over $2,000.  Approximately 70 different people (including hosts) are participating.   Dinners range from Vegetarian, to a Beer & Brats picnic, to Italian/Indian/Moroccan fares, and gourmet Thai.  A nice variety! 

  The UUCGT Board had approved a request from the Autumn Affair Committee to set aside some of the monies for a scholarship fund to assist congregants who want to attend the 2016 UUA General Assembly this June.  If you have not yet paid for your dinner, please contact Sheri Novak at the office, 231-947-3117.  Thanks for your participation in this event!