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: A Congregation of Learners
"Successful [congregations] now will have to speak convincingly to those who can just as easily leave religion as stay, and who have no interest whatever in the folk memories of a former generation. [Congregations] of the fifties and sixties appealed to people for whom [religious] identity was a given. Successful [congregations] now must work with a population seeking spiritual meaning and personal transformational insight from the wisdom of a variety of traditions. Ultimately, congregational transformation depends on, and leads to, personal transformation of individuals."
(Adapted from Aron, Isa,
Becoming a Congregation of Learners: Learning as a Key to Revitalizing Congregational Life
)
Friends, I am so excited to begin sharing with you part of the ministerial vision for the new year! One key component is shared learning. (Granted, my enrollment in a doctoral program and Sarah's work on her Master of Arts certainly support this interest.) I am eager to invite you into opportunities to learn with and from one another in the months ahead.
This month I will be providing the Board of Trustees and Committee on Ministry copies of the book,
Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times by Peter Steinke. It is considered a classic and offers guidance for how to be non-anxious when challenges arise.
Our monthly "little spiritual book group" is taking on the
Sacred Art of Lovingkindness (Rami Shapiro) this month and
Nonviolent Communication (Marshall Rosenberg) in August, and I've be using those resources for opening and closing words in meetings in other gatherings. These two books support the work of the Healthy Congregation Task Force which invites ALL members and friends to be heard. Please consider a sit-down with Linda Fletcher, Jane Watts or Joan Sheard so that your voice might be heard.
Starting in the Fall, our 9:00 AM program will also be based on learning from the congregational covenant that you, our members, co-created. In other words, we are a congregation of learners.
I am excited and delighted that we have such good and new things happening. Before I close, let me thank the many of you who turned out for our vigil at the Government Center. Showing up matters, and you make a difference.
In blessing -
Rabbi Chava
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Sunday Service
Sunday, July 17
10:30 a.m. Service: "A Celebration of Gardens and Gardeners"
UUCGT Member-led Service
Let's share our enthusiasm, awe and gratitude for the summer garden in this UU tribute to all
things green and growing. Join us in sharing
favorite poems, art and readings on this nurturing subject.
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This Sunday for Children and Youth
10:30 a.m.
SPECIALTY CLASS SUMMER FORMAT
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 REMAIN IN THE SERVICE. Following the service, 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.
This Month for Children...
In July we continue our annual Specialty Class Summer! Throughout the summer the children will take part in a delightful array of activities. This month features an Independence Day celebration (complete with ice cream sundaes), Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses, Super Hero Sunday, Movie Magic Sunday and more!
This Month for Youth... This month, and for the remainder of the summer, our youth will join the adults in the sanctuary for the duration of the service. Please contact Sarah in advance to make arrangements if this is problematic for your family. This provides youth with the much needed opportunity to learn to be in community with the adults of the congregation, and to learn more about UU Sunday services.
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| What's Going On At UUCGT?
Link to the UUCGT WEBSITE CALENDAR
HERE
Weekly activities are listed in the Order of Service & the Beacon
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Wednesday Night Summer Potluck
July 20, 5:30pm at the home of Mary Kiner & Cal Boulter. Please BYOB and place settings. Please join us for a lovely summer meal shared with UU friends! Contact
Mary with questions and/or directions.
Benzie UU Summer Picnic
Wednesday, July 20, 6:30pm at the home of Don and Sue Pyne. Contact
Don
or
Sue
for more information and/or directions.
What's Love Got to Do with It? The Challenge of Human Relationships
A presentation by Anthony Wilgus, MSW, Social Work Faculty Emeritus at the University of Findlay, Board Member of Healthy Congregations
WHEN: Monday, July 24 and Tuesday, July 25 from 9:00-12:00 noon.
$60 both days / $40 one day.
For more information and to register, click
HERE.
We will be featuring the story of "The Princess Bride" as our annual movie-themed, all-congregational service on July 31st. We are looking for folks of all ages to play roles in the service. There are non-speaking parts, and we are in need of narrators as well. Please contact
Sarah or
Rabbi Chava
asap if you are interested - lots of roles are still open! Rehearsal will be before service on July 31st.
August Book Club
"Americanah" by Chimananda Ngozi Adichi
Book Club meets on Sunday, August 14, 2:00pm. Bonnie Mathias, host.
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We Are Listening.....
For more information on the Healthy Reconciliations Task Force, please see the article in the July 2016 issue of The Beacon.
If you would like to be a part of this healing process, please contact your choice of the listeners listed below to establish a meeting(s) so that YOUR voice may be heard:
Your voice is important. Please don't let your ideas and feelings go unrecognized.
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Seeking UU Volunteers - Many hands make Light work!
Many volunteers are needed to accomplish the good work
that we all want to accomplish at UUCGT...
Notes from Program Council Chair, Rick Walter
UUCGT is a great place to worship and do great things! Many of these 'things' are done by our wonderful volunteers who pitch in with great frequency, and oftentimes there are other activities and jobs that need to be done. This is especially true currently as staff is having to cut back due to stewardship pledging shortfalls. They need our help and all our committees need volunteers to help get that necessary committee work done.
There are a variety of volunteer committee chair positions that need to be filled. We currently need a new Hospitality coordinator to replace Penny Ort who has led this position for many years. We also need a Thanksgiving coordinator to replace Mary Kiner who has led this delicious activity for many years. Whether you are only here in the summer or here year 'round, please consider lending your hand and support.
Please let
Rick Walter
know of your interests and he will help coordinate finding an area that brings you added satisfaction. Together - we share, we care and we build a stronger community!
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F Y I
UUCGT Financial Report as of June 30, 2016: Click HERE
UUCGT to host Safe Harbor: Our very own UUCGT will be hosting Safe Harbor in our building from Saturday evening, November 26 until Saturday morning, December 3. Safe Harbor is a seasonal shelter
that provides overnight housing and meals,
in area churches, t
o people experiencing homelessness. Watch for more details starting in September and sign up to volunteer in late October. Anyone interested in serving on a planning task force for this effort, please contact Mike or Sandra McDonald at (231) 935-3759.
Please Note Date Correction:
Leelanau County UUCGT Friends &
Members Gathering at the home of Karl and
Rabbi Chava Bahle is Saturday, July 23, 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
RSVP to the office (231)947-3117.
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phone: l(231) 947-3117 website: www.uucgt.org email: office@uucgt.org Office hours: Monday by appointment Tuesday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm FLASH articles are due by noon on Wednesday each week
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