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Worship in October: Unity and Diversity
As we have begun more intentional programming in the church around multicultural awareness and facilitating healing conversations on race and ethnicity through Beloved Conversations, this month we explore the tensions with the theme of Unity and Diversity. Come and join us for our annual multigenerational
Honoring the Beloved Dead
service the last Sunday of October. Bring trinkets/photos of beloved dead to place on the altar in the sanctuary before the service and bring a family dish to share that reflects your ancestral roots for the potluck feast following.
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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.
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Community Sharing in October: Visuality
The mission of
Visuality
is to enhance and sustain the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning) community and allies through programs, educational events and services.
Visuality
was originally a youth and young-adult only program. Recently, the community center became a center offering services for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum regularly meets every Sunday at 9:15a in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend.
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Meetings this Sunday, October 15th
*The Membership Committee meets in the Conference Room at noon.
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Potluck on Sunday, October 29th
After our
Honoring the Ancestors
service on October 29th, there will be a community gathering in Hobart Hall. Please bring something to share with all, maybe a traditional family favorite. Drop it off in the kitchen before the service and we will take care of it. Let's make this a time for our blossoming and diverse UU community. We are grateful for so many things.
Joy Purcell
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From Our Community Ministers
Dear Members and Friends,
Our congregation is on a long and winding road of justice making. On Sunday October 22nd, we will have our 2nd
White Supremacy Teach-In. This is another step on the journey. Our worship theme for the month of October is
Unity and Diversity and racial justice fits right in. Yes, I know the term “White Supremacy” is startling. When we hear those words we may think of people such as some of those we saw in the Charlottesville protest. What I am interested in exploring and understanding more is the set of “institutional assumptions and practices, often operating unconsciously that tend to benefit white people and exclude people of color.” We know that in 2017, actual “white supremacists” are not required in order to uphold white supremacist culture. Some of the holding up is done unconsciously.
Rev. Allison Farnum preached on this subject in April and has asked me to lead the second teach-in worship service. The Humanist Forum in Hobart Hall from 9:15am-10:15 am will be led again by the Rev. Suzanne Fast as a way to equip ourselves to recognize white supremacy and begin to notice how we can disrupt it.
A gathering space specifically and only for people of color will be hosted by Albie Johnson in the Library Conference Room at the same time to provide a safe space for conversation and support. At 10:30 we will worship together and learn together about this important issue. Our children and youth will also have age-appropriate programming about white supremacy.
This just another step. None of us will leave the campus with all the answers and the perfect way to go about ending white supremacy. The hope is that we are planting seeds of how to begin disrupting it-- within ourselves, these walls and other institutions. Like all good things, we need to be in it courageously for the long haul. For more information about this national Unitarian Universalist effort, please
Thank you!—Margaret (The Rev. Margaret L. Beard)
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RE News
This week, our investigation of the Five Smooth Stones of Religious Liberalism continues in our RE class. All ages will be investigating the Stone of Possibility a little deeper with the help of some guest speakers. We will be hearing from three UUCFM congregants about the things they believe and discussing the reason our theology values possibility. Oh, and games. There will be games too!
All families are invited to join us on Wednesday, October 25th at 6:00p for a special Halloween Community Dinner! The $5/person buffet will be followed by games, crafts, and treats. Costumes are welcome, but please remember that this is an all-ages event, so truly horrific or threatening characters are not permitted. Please do not bring weapons (real or pretend) as part of your costume. Thank you!
Jenn Blosser, Director of Religious Education
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Music Notes
Musical Calendar
October 15: The Choir and Band join forces to rock USA for Africa's 80s ballad,
We Are the World, and Peter Golbitz returns to share his original song,
Bring It Home.
October 22: Austin Pierce covers the edgy folk song
Your Next Bold Move by Ani DiFranco, and the Choir does an encore performance of Hezekiah Walker's gospel number
I Need You to Survive.
October 29: For our service honoring our beloved dead, Karen Feinan and Keith Hamlin pair up for folk song,
This Love Will Carry, by Dougie MacLean and Kathy Mattea, and the Choir shares the mystic pagan round,
The Gates, by Reclaiming.
The next
Music Committee meeting is Wednesday, November 8th at 3:00p in Room 7.
The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:45-8:15p, 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 6:00-6:45p, 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!
Amy Laursen, Director of Music
Treasurer's Corner
Are you at least 70 1/2? Do you have a traditional IRA? If so, you are eligible to make a contribution to the church from your IRA by December 31st. If it's done properly, it's a qualified charitable distribution, or an RA charitable rollover.
How do I make an IRA charitable rollover?
Write a letter to the custodian of your traditional IRA to send a check for up to 100,000 from your IRA payable to UUCFM. You may designate that the donation go to Endowment Fund or if no designation is made, the donation will go to the General Operating Fund. The distribution must be made directly to the church, not to you. This opportunity is not available for Roth IRAs.
Why is this a good deal?
As you know, when you take a distribution from your IRA, you pay income tax on it. The IRA charitable rollover is an exception to that rule. You do't pay any tax on the amount distributed to the church. You also know that you must take annual "minimum required distributions" from your IRA or other retirement accounts. The IRA charitable rollover will count as all or part of your required minimum distribution.
Can I claim a charitable deduction for the distribution?
No. Because you don't have to treat the distribution as income, you can't take a charitable deduction from it. However, the church will acknowledge the distribution as a gift from you, just like any other gift.
And finally, remember to consult your financial advisor, CPA, or attorney about your IRA charitable rollover to the church.
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Holton Eco-Preserve, Family Gardens Kick-off Delayed
Hi friends of the Eco-Preserve and the Family Gardens,
Hurricane Irma has setback our work schedule for the gardens by about 2 weeks. We have some damage that we have to repair and the delivery of soil has been delayed as well. So we think we can catch-up by the 15
th of October. So our first day is now set for October 15
th.
Thank you for your understanding of this extraordinary situation.
Bill Petrarca
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Service Auction Meeting
The first 2018 Service Auction meeting will be held Wednesday, October 25th at 7:00p in Room 7. Anyone who is interested in volunteering and/or planning for the Service Auction is invited to attend.
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Come Join The FUUn BUUnch for Dinner at Perkins
Perkins is on the Southeast corner of Route 41 and Six Mile Cypress.
Saturday, October 28 th at 6:00p
Please call John E. Fischer, 267-992-6566 or email
[email protected] to reserve your place.
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December Shopping
The Arts & Crafts Fair and All Church Bake Sale is happening in Hobart Hall on Sunday, December
3rd, and Sunday, December 10th immediately following the service. Please mark your calendars and bring a friend. New this year is a "Next to New" booth for donations or 50/50 consignment. Teri Cooper & Barbara Mannix
[email protected]
are in charge. For an Arts Booth, contact Patricia Linhoff,
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Games and More!
Saturday, January 27th, our church- sponsored Scouts present a Casino Night for our UUCFM general budget needs. Hobart Hall will be a festive environment of Casino Tables and a Buffet Supper. Doors open at 6:30p. Bring friends. Limited advance tickets are for sale @ $20, includes $3,000 worth of playing chips. To volunteer contact Suzanne Ziemer at
[email protected]
or
812-332-3450
.
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UUCFM Book Group
The UUCFM Book Group meets each Wednesday from 1:00 to 2:30p in the Library. We are now reading a book by international peace-maker, Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD, (forward by Deepak Chopra),
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, (3rd Edition) Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships (Nonviolent Communication Guides)
. Over 1,000,000 copies of this book have been sold and it has been translated into over 30 languages.
"Nonviolent Communication shows us a way of being very honest, without any criticism, insults, or put-downs, and without any intellectual diagnosis implying wrongness."
--- The Author
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Next Connection Circle Begins Sunday, November 19th
Come one, come all to the next Connection Circle beginning Sunday, November 19th! New members, long-time members, and visitors are welcome. In each of six sessions we'll discuss meaningful spiritual topics through the sharing of our personal stories and experiences. Participation in a Connection Circle is a great way for "potential", new, and old-time members to get to know each other on a deep level and to feel more connected to our church community. This facilitated 6-session group will meet from 12:15 to 1:45p on the following Sundays: November 19th, December 10th, December 17th, December 31st, January 14th, and January 28th. Participants are expected to attend all 6 sessions. For more information
and to register, please contact Nancy Letts at
[email protected] or call at
401-741-2712.
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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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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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The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays at 1:45p in Room 1.
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UUCFM eBINGO Kickoff
The jackpot is over $135 and you have a 1 in 20 chance to win!
This is the email address you should contact once you have a winning card or if you have a question.
Bill Petrarca
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UU Dancers
We will not meet Wednesday evening, October 18th. Please check the newsletter regarding future meeting times.
Cheers,
Debra Leigh
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Community Wednesday
Community Wednesday is held in Hobart Hall. 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.
Regular Activities for October:
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
Wednesday, October 25th there will be a costume and activity party after the community dinner in Hobart Hall!
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry
Urgent need for canned goods! If you have a lot of canned goods left over from your hurricane stock, please consider donating them to the Food Pantry this week. There is a collection basket in the Narthex by the middle door.
If you have questions or are interested in volunteering, email
Fran Rose at
[email protected]. Put "Food Pantry" on the subject line of your email.
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Member to Member
Church Member in Urgent Need of Room to Rent
Randall Gann is in urgent need of a room to rent. Circumstances beyond Randall's control have resulted in his losing his current living quarters. If anyone knows of rental availability to help Randall, please contact him at
239.834.2946.
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Yarn
Because of the generous gift of Judie Marble and a previous gift from Patricia Linhoff, UUCFM has a fabulous supply of yarn and some knitting needles. The intention is for this yarn to be used for the making of Comfort Shawls that the Caring Network distributes to members. You can find further information about the shawls at this link
www.shawlministry.com . The yarn can be found in the boxes inside the door of the office. The office may be accessed Sundays through the Library door, which will be unlocked.
When you have completed a shawl, contact Diane Buckley at
[email protected]. Your efforts will be greatly appreciated as the shawls are treasured by their recipients.
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2018 Women's Retreat
It's time to start planning to attend the 2018 Florida UU Women's Retreat, April 13-15. Flyers will be available in the Narthex. This year, we are again sending this information to all the Florida UU congregations at the same time that this mailing is going out to you allowing more UU women to learn about the retreat.
We are looking for volunteers to participate in the program planning. If you are interested and we hope you are, please contact us. Program planning can take place from anywhere in the state, so don't be reluctant to sign up to help.
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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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Lifeline Screening at UUCFM
Why Get Screened?
Taking preventive steps such as making lifestyle changes and getting health screening may help you avoid a stroke or other serious health events in the future. Early intervention is important.
If you are over fifty, if you have diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or if you have a family history of stroke or heart disease, you may be at risk, even if you feel great. Actually four out of five people who suffer a stroke have no apparent symptoms and nearly 30% of strokes occur under the age of 65. The good news is that according to the National Stroke Association, 80% of strokes can be prevented. Life Line Screening will help you find out if you are at risk, so you and your doctor can take the next steps and be proactive about your health.
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers
When: Thursday, November 16, 2017
Pre-registration is required. The Wellness Package includes 4 vascular tests for $139 ($129 with our member discount). The screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1-888- 653-6450 or visit
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Oct 15 Ted Brown
Oct 17 Holley Rauen
Oct 18 Doc Gatto
Oct 18 Jane Petrarca
Oct 23 Ruth Fotovat
Oct 23 Gordon Woodworth III
Oct 27 Sima Robbins
Oct 30 Peter Golbitz
Oct 30 Jersey Blosser is 17!
Oct 30 Sue Magee
Oct 31 Don Burget
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Newsletter Editor: Jill Carville
(239) 561-2700
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