Worship in December: Peace
We as religious liberals chose Peace again and again. It is hard earned and ephemeral. We work faithfully and look towards a time when Peace will reign, in our hearts and in our world.
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum regularly meets every Sunday at 9:15a in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend. In the Humanist Forum this coming Sunday we return to a consideration of the book:
Daring Democracy- Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America we Want.
Marge Gonzalez leads the discussion which focuses on individual empowerment. Bring your thoughts and suggestions.
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Community Sharing in December: Quality Life Center
The
Quality Life Center strives to strengthen family and community through the development of programs, services and the provision of housing and property management to ultimately cultivate self-development, teach self-discipline, build confidence and promote nutritional and cultural awareness. See more about the Q in our Social Justice section!
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Sunday Coffee Hour
Sunday's Coffee Hour is provided by volunteers from the Women's Circle on the first Sunday, CUUPS on the second Sunday, Humanist Forum on the third Sunday, Men's Group on the fourth Sunday and if there is a fifth Sunday, it is All Church. Any donations of food, snacks or cash are welcome.
Dorothy Van Howe
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Gifts for Quality Life Center
The Social Justice Committee is sponsoring Holiday Gift Giving for the Students at the
Quality Life Center.
Please bring all unwrapped gifts by this Sunday, December 17th.
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Meetings & Happenings this Sunday, December 17th
*Membership Event
Conference Room at 12:00 pm
*Connection Circles
Rooms 2 &3 at 12:15 pm
*CUUPs Gift Exchange Room 1 at 12:00 pm
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From the Minister
Happy Merry...
This time of year asks of us to be happy and merry, even if we aren't really feeling it. Some have experienced losses and estrangement that become more pointed at holiday times. Please know that all your experiences and feelings are welcome in our sanctuary.
Join us at 5:00 pm in the sanctuary for our Candlelight Christmas Eve service. It's a beautiful time of gathering, and I do hope to see you there. In the meantime, I look forward to communing with you this Sunday for our multi-generational winter solstice pageant.
Rev. Allison Farnum
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Music Notes
Musical Calendar
December-March: Please welcome Suellen Kipp as Director of Music during Amy Laursen's maternity leave. Suellen is a talented pianist, singer, and conductor who currently serves as the Director of Music at Temple Beth El here in Fort Myers, and previously served in the same role at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne, Indiana for 11 years. She has also taught vocal music and dance in schools for 17 years and holds a degree in Vocal Education.
December 17: For our winter solstice service, the Choir harmonizes the beautiful UU hymn
Dark of Winter and Peter Golbitz is featured.
December 24: 10:30 am Suellen Kipp shares her piano talents.
December 24: 5:00 pm Beloved Christmas carols for the annual Christmas Eve service.
December 31: Celebrate the end of 2017 with Rev. Jason Shelton, UU composer! The Choir shares the heartwarming round,
Dona Nobis Pacem.
The next
Music Committee meeting will be in January, 2018.
The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:45-8:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings from
9-10a in the Sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Please email me in advance so that a music folder can be prepared for you. Come join us in singing!
The UUCFM Band
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:00-6:45 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9:00-10:00a in the Sanctuary. If you would like to play your instrument during a Sunday service, please email me to coordinate the details. Come join us in making music together!
Suellen Kipp
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Join the FUUn BUUnch for LUUnch after Church.
Sunday, December 17th, 12:30 pm at
BIGGY’S PLACE
3701 Fowler St.
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239) 277-0064
DIRECTIONS:
From Shire Lane at the Church, turn right and drive west on Daniel’s Parkway. Turn right onto Plantation and follow it north around the circle at Crystal Dr. to Colonial Blvd. Turn left onto Colonial and follow it west to Fowler St. Turn right onto Fowler St. and follow it north across Winkler Avenue. Biggy’s is ½ block
north of Winkler on the east side of the street.
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Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
Please join CUUPs on December 17th in Room 1 for our traditional gift give and take. Bring a wrapped gift and be prepared to take one away. Bring a snack to share for our festivities. All are welcome. We start around 12 noon. Helen Dixon is our gracious hostess for this event.
We are having a special time for all! Last year we hosted a Yule feast and song- we will do this again on a smaller scale on December 22nd. We will gather at the fire pit. Come join us at 6:30p as we drink wassail and have a Yule log with song and stories. We will honor the solstice. Bring a chair, a dish to share, and your voice. Join us as we celebrate Yule! May blessings of Peace and Love be with you all.
CUUPs co-chairs,
Lily Nieves
Heather Robinson
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Join The FUUn BUUnch For Dinner on Christmas Eve!
Sunday, December 24, 2017 immediately following the Evening Christmas Eve service at:
LaGrotta
9520 Marketplace Road
Ft Myers 33912
1-239-332-5500
DIRECTIONS:
Drive E/W on Daniels Parkway toward 75. Turn North on Danport Way (Just east of Denny’s). Turn Right (East) on Marketplace Road (first road). La Grotta is on the right across from the Marriott. If you miss it, go round the circle, head west. La Grotta is 500’ west of the circle on the left.
To sign up, please call or text John E. Fischer 1-267-992-6566 or email
[email protected] by Friday, December 22, 2017 to reserve your place. Management needs exact numbers to schedule staffing. Please see John at the FUUn BUUnch table at coffee hour Sunday for your copy of the special holiday menu.
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Memorial for William P. Ziemer
A family-led Remembrance will be given, Sunday, December 31st, immediately after the Church Service. The Ziemer family welcomes anyone to attend in celebration of a life well lived.
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Games and More!
Saturday, January 27th, our church sponsored Scouts present a Casino Night for UUCFM. There is limited seating. Get tickets for friends and neighbors for a fabulous evening on January 27, 2018 from 6-10 pm,at $20 per person. Make checks payable to UUCFM, memo line Casino fundraiser. Send to/ contact Suzanne Ziemer, 4753 Estero Blvd, #303, Fort Myers Beach, 33931 or reserve
239-463-9020
,
[email protected]
Dinner Buffet includes: Caesar Salad, Artichoke & Parm Decadence,Baguette slices w/spread, Mushroom Melange , Greek marinated veggies w/feta, Pork loin spiral, Caribbean Chicken, Fruit and Assorted Pastries.
Casino tables, Roulette, and Wheel of Fortune will be serviced by our Boy Scout Troop as a thank you for using our facilities. All proceeds go to the UUCFM Budget.
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Mike Durall Visit
We’ll have a special visitor on the weekend of January 20-21 of next year. Mike Durall, a parish consultant and author of nine books about church life, will be helping us figure out what the future might have in store for UUCFM.
Mike was here four years ago, and among his recommendations was to urge UUCFM to become, in the words of one of our own members, “A church that is respected and valued in this community.”
We’ll provide more details as the date approaches, including how church members can participate in the overall process of looking ahead. If you’d like more information about Mike and his work, his website is
www.vitalcongregations.com
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Great Decisions
Great Decisions 2018 starts January 25th and runs for 8 weeks. For more information, contact Helen Leddy at
[email protected]
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Rummage Sale
Save your gently used items for our UUCFM Rummage Sale! The sale will happen over 3 days in January or February. Contact Deb Lewis for details
[email protected]
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UUCFM Book Group
Join up with the book study group starting Wednesday January 10th, meeting from 1:00 to 2:30 pm in the Library.
January 10th: Part I pgs 6-39
January 17th: Part I pgs 39-71
(skip a week)
January 31st: Part II pgs 71-99
February 7th: Part II pgs 99-132
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Optimal Living Group
The Optimal Living Group is open to all and does not require attending every session. We meet in the Sanctuary on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 4:00-5:30p. We discuss how to live optimally, including practical ways to cope with life's challenges and issues. Helping others and developing maturity in ourselves is part of our quest. We explore many paths and techniques for enriching our lives and making a difference for others. For more information, fill out a blue card found in the pews or email Neil Yesu:
[email protected].
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UUCFM Historical Martial Arts Club
The UUCFM Historical Martial Arts Club is dedicated to preserving and practicing a variety of historical martial arts for entertainment and fitness purposes. We meet at various times (determined by interest) most often at 12:0p after the service on Sunday to practice archery and tomahawk/axe throwing. Other activities and times can be found oun our facebook page of the same name. All are welcome to join us.
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Mindfulness Meditation
Join us on Monday evenings to explore the very simple and satisfying practices of mindfulness and meditation. You don’t need experience with meditation, nor do you have to be a Buddhist. Do please bring an intention to quiet the mind and the body in a supportive group of UU members and friends with a similar intention - people who want to carry mindfulness into their daily lives. We meet Mondays from 6:30-8:00p in the Sanctuary. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Robbins at
[email protected]
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Gaming Group
The UUCFM Game Group is the club for you. We do our best to meet in Room 7 on Sundays after church from 1:00-4:00
pm.
Those of us with children can't always make it so please check the Facebook group page (UUCFM Gaming Group) to see if games are scheduled.
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The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays at 1:45p in Room 1.
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UUCFM eBINGO
December play cards will be available this Sunday after the service in Hobart Hall.
What a great Holiday surprise it would be to win the eBINGO Jackpot! Join in the fun! Tell your friends—the more who play, the bigger the jackpot. Where else can you turn $10 into $125 (or more) and help the church in the process? Easy-peasy!
[email protected]
Bill Petrarca
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Community Wednesday
Community Wednesday is held in Hobart Hall. All are invited. Bring friends and neighbors, too. Join us each Wednesday for a delicious meal prepared by Chef Joy for a small donation. After the fellowship and fine fare from 6:00- 6:45p, join your favorite programming event, committee meeting, or social activity. Child care is provided until 8:30p.
Community Wednesday Activities for December:
4:00-5:30
Optimal Living Group (1st & 3rd Wed)
6:00-6:45
Community Meal
6:00-6:45
Band Rehearsal in Sanctuary
6:45-8:00
Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry & the Q!
Thanksgiving is over and we have already started to collect Christmas presents for the children at the Quality of Life Center or “the Q” for short. Why the early start? The Q has been the recipient of our community sharing in December. The children and teens who attend the after school program have received the Christmas gifts that our parishioners have donated for the last three years. Mr Mohamed, who has spoken at our church many times over the years, started the after-school program seeing the need for support of the youth, as well as the working parents, in the Dunbar community.
So, what exactly do they do for these young people? First they are served a snack when they get there and a meal before they leave in the early evening. The following are some of the supports offered while they are there: a tutoring program, homework help, reading support, meditation, art classes, and dance classes. Once a year they put on a very impressive major production. In addition, teens are taught how to manage money, including how to raise money for special projects in which they might have an interest. In the summer they have special outings such as going to the beach, maybe sailing, golf, tennis lessons and even rock climbing. Many kids would never get to do this without the Q. Our part in their Christmas is to make sure they all get at least one gift. The Q has been able to expand since we first gave gifts and now have 181 students. We have now handed out about 140 gift tags designating the gender and age of the intended recipient. Help us get the gifts for the other 41 students. Get your tag with instructions by December 3rd if possible and returning them by the 17th. Pick up a second tag if you are feeling in the holiday spirit.
Thank you all and Happy Holidays from the Q gift Committee!
If you have questions or are interested in volunteering at the Q or the Food Pantry, email
Fran Rose at
[email protected]. Put "Food Pantry" on the subject line of your email.
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Do you have something to offer, trade, or sell? Are you looking for something? Free ad space here for personal items only. Email
[email protected]
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Thank You to All Participants!
Over $800 was raised during the December 3rd and 10th Arts & Crafts, Bake Sale, and Chili Lunch Fundraiser for the UUCFM Budget. There was a joyous feeling of community spirit among all who attended and contributed. Thank you to the many volunteers who made it happen and a special thanks to Joy Purcell who donated her time making all that chili for us. The support given for the artists and bakers, whose array of baked goods just kept appearing was fantastic. We are a fine bunch of sharing volunteers.
Let's look ahead to our next All Church Fundraisers- January 27th we have a fun night of games and more at Casino Night, and we can't wait for our Alice in Wonderland themed Service Auction on February 17th. Our spirit of giving and sharing the good times together is our treasure.
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Help Needed for Casino Night Fundraiser
A member has volunteered to furnish all the beverages, from water to wine, for theJanuary 27th Casino Night Fundraiser that our Boy Scout troop is producing as a token of their appreciation for being here at UUCFM. Additinally, I need volunteers to assist that evening to actually run the evening's activities, help sell tickets beforehand. and do the Beverage Bar. Contact Suzanne Ziemer to volunteer,
239-463-9020
,
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Bed & Breakfast Volunteer Opportunity
We are preparing for another year of UUCFM’s Bed and Breakfast program. Through the generosity of host families within our congregation, we have raised $3000 to $5000 a year for the church operating budget for many years. We provide this service to UUs and/or their friends from around the country. This
program cannot happen without volunteers and we need your help!
What’s needed to be a host? The host provides one bedroom and bathroom and a basic breakfast each morning of the guests’ stay. The guests are usually one or two people. The breakfast can even be a “do it yourself” if your guests are early risers or you have to go to work and they want to sleep.
Do I have to entertain the guests or take them places?
No! They will have their own transportation. If you have favorite restaurants to recommend, or other local travel tips, they are always appreciated. You are not expected to provide entertainment, transportation or extra food. For the most part, guests are off
doing their own thing most of the day and evening.
When and for how long? Guests stay from one to seven nights during the months of January through April. (Most stay only two or three nights.) You choose when and for how long you can host and then your requirements are matched with those of the guests. Even if you can only host for two nights in March, for example, that is a big help. February and March tend to have the biggest demand.
All money received from the guests as they stay in your home goes directly to the UUCFM operating budget. I haven’t even mentioned how interesting and fun this experience can be for the hosts. We have met so many great UUs through this experience!
Please consider being a host! Before you say no, talk to me. Just try it once…
Mary Nies, Program Coordinator
239-466- 7933
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If you are a UUCFM Community Sharing Partner, a regular Facility User, or have UU related news to share, you are welcome to submit announcements for publication in our Greater Community section of the newsletter. Please send announcements in by each Wednesday for publication in the Thursday
E-news.
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WhaleCoast Alaska
My name is Dave Frey, member of the Fairbanks, Alaska UU Fellowship. I am the organizer of a unique Alaska UU fundraising tour program called “WhaleCoast Alaska." We want the members of your congregation to know about the Alaska UU summer program for 2018, and to have an opportunity to register before the program fills. Since these tours are so popular, they will probably sell out long before the official registration deadline. We send similar notices to all the UU newsletters in the US. Our fundraising tour program involves dozens of volunteers from 4 Alaska UU congregations: Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau, and Sitka. This is a unique and wonderful opportunity for your members to visit our state. If you have any questions, please call
907-322-4966
or email
dfrey@WhaleCoastAK
. Thank you so much!
Dave Frey, UU Fellowship of Fairbanks
WhaleCoast Alaska program director
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The 1
st
Amendment vs. Anti-Discrimination Law
The Collier County chapter of the ACLU is hosting this 1
st Amendment debate on January 13, 2018, at the Naples UU church from 2:00-4:00 pm.
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Dec 14 Lucy Wistreich
Dec 15 Lesley Peterson
Dec 15 Sydney Stewart
Dec 16 Matt Halstead
Dec 17 Kay Flatten
Dec 21 Harvey Heckes
Dec 26 Melinda Machones
Dec 30 Joy Sokeitous
Dec 30 Bruce Marble
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Newsletter Editor: Jill Carville
(239) 561-2700
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