Weekly E-News
October 10, 2019
This Sunday's Service

Join us this Sunday, October 13th, at 10:30 AM in the Miller Sanctuary for our Sunday service. Our topic this week is Pride. You may attend this service or choose from the Many Windows experiences below! Don't forget our Spaghetti Luncheon fundraiser in Hobart Hall at noon! Donation: $5.
New! Many Windows Worship Experiences

The following are the Many Windows worship experiences offered this Sunday, October 13th. These will take place at the same time as our traditional Sanctuary worship service, from 10:30 - 11:30 AM. On Sunday, please sign up for the worship experience of your choice at the membership table. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian in the Sanctuary, but may attend one of the following options unaccompanied. Please drop off and collect your child at the appropriate location, thank you.

Truth & Meaning - Room 4
Through storytelling and a hands-on activity, we will examine the many ways we nurture the free and responsible search for truth and meaning at UUCFM. Our Director of Religious Education, Jenn Blosser, will lead this worship experience for young and old alike to reflect on this essential aspect of Unitarian Universalism. 

Planning the Ratatouille Garden - Room 2
You are invited to join Theresa Bahre in the preparation of a community ratatouille garden, the first of a series of monthly worship opportunities which will culminate in sharing a ratatouille lunch. Through the creation of a garden blueprint, participants will explore themes of journey, vision, and inspiration. This worship will involve a blessing of the painted rock markers which will be used in the garden and an opportunity to reflect on sowing the seeds of possibility in our community. Come and experience how spirit moves us in the work of preparation. 

Humanist Forum

The Humanist Forum meets every Sunday at 9:15 AM in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend. Join us as we engage in a new topic each week. This week join us for Mindahi Bastida Munoz, Director of the Original Caretakers Program at the Center for Earth Ethics. He will be discussing Earth spirituality and its relation to inter-generational trauma and resistance . Learn about how we can protect sacred lands and help indigenous communities. 

"The purpose and meaning of life is interconnection and transcendence of all beings, including Mother Earth. As human beings, our presence on Earth is for the care of life." 

Sunday Social Hour

Sunday's Social Hour happens after the Sunday service every week at 11:30 AM. Come join us for coffee and snacks. Newcomers, visitors, friends, and members are all welcome. Sponsoring groups are the Women's Circle and CUUPs. Donations of food, snacks, or cash are always welcome.

Community Sharing

The mission of the South Fort Myers Food Pantry Coalition is to feed the needy of the South Fort Myers area including Sanibel and Captiva.

The pantry works in partnership with the Harry Chapin Food Bank and Midwest Food Bank and is supported by churches and organizations in South Fort Myers which provide funds, food and volunteers in service to our community.

Minister's Column

What is Developmental Ministry?
For those unfamiliar with the UU Interim Ministry Model, Interim Ministry is a time limited ministry designed to help congregations in transition. (More detailed information can be found at the UUA website in the “Transitional Ministry Handbook” and in the book In the Interim: Strategies for Interim Ministers and Congregations (2nd edition)). A list of further suggested reading can be found at the end of this column). 

Interim Ministry is one type of ministry offered through the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).  It may surprise you to learn that of the nearly 1100 UU Congregations and Fellowships approximately 30 percent are occupied by called (“settled”) ministers. (A called minister is one who has gone through a rigorous selection process and is voted on by the congregation. Rest assured all other UU ministers have undergone a similarly rigorous training and selection process.)
Rev. Keith Kron Coming to UUCFM October 27th
An Integral part of the Interim Ministry is the Interim Startup. The Startup will be kicking off October 25, 26 and 27. Leading the kickoff will be the Rev. Keith Kron, Director of the UUA Transitions Office. Twelve Transition Team Candidates, Staff and Board members will be participating. Also, Rev. Kron will be preaching on Sunday, October 27 and will stay after the Social Hour to lead a conversation on the unique advantages of Developmental Ministry.

October 25th , The Rev. Keith Kron, UUA Transitions Office Director is coming to UUCFM. (See:  https://www.uua.org/offices/people/keith-kron ) to preach on a T-Rex, Pittsburgh and what a Theologian can teach about religion and Unitarian Universalism, following a conversations after the social hour on the benefits of developmental ministry.

His schedule is as follows:

Sunday: Oct. 27 at 10.30 am: Rev. Keith Kron on "What a T-Rex named Penelope, Pittsburgh, and a theologian Can teach us about The Future of Religion and our commitment to the Values of Unitarian Universalism."  Religion, including Unitarian Universalism is at a moment in time. Can it survive? And what must it do in order to survive? What must we do? We’ll explore our place in today’s world, and why it’s metaphorical meteorites and not a comet that could wipe us out. We’ll honor those who’ve come before us, see where we are, as we look toward the future for both our faith and this congregation.

Sunday: Oct. 27 at 12.15 p.m. in the Sanctuary: Rev. Kron leads a 45 min conversation on the benefits of Developmental Ministry.,

Your attendance is essential.
As one of the many types of ministries available through the UUA, Interim Ministry is just one form of time delimited ministry. Each has unique areas of specialization and focus. Developmental Ministry is once such ministry model that complements the work of Interim Ministry. Developmental Ministry is especially relevant for congregations which are experiencing “stuckness” or an absence of progress over time in meeting goals.  

Developmental Ministry is an option for congregations with a history of repeated short ministries, chronic conflict, a general inability to thrive AND a desire to make serious changes to remediate issues associated with stuckness . In sum, Developmental Ministry allows more time to work through chronic issues that may be inhibiting a congregation from thriving. 

One key aspect of the Developmental approach is that mutual goals are established between the congregation, the UUA regional representative and the UUA Transitions Office. Resources are brought to bear throughout the developmental period (usually 3-5 years) and a Development minister is recruited and contracted with the temperament, skills and ministerial acumen best aligned to address the agreed upon goals and to meet the congregation where it is at and where it hopes to go.
 
As we kickoff the Interim Startup process, the goals to be worked on during the interim ministry period will be articulated.  As you can imagine the identified work such as Community Buliding, Safe/Healthy Congregational Practices, Mission, Idenity, Stewardship, Governance, Membership, Growth, Finance, etc... require more time and often extend well beyond the allotted interim ministry period. 

Many of you have shared with me in our individual and group gatherings your thoughts and feelings about what is holding UUCFM back. If you haven’t yet done so please come to a “Meet the Minister” session scheduled in October, November and December. These sessions are an opportunity for me to listen to your hopes and dreams for the future of this beloved congregation.  Please sign up with our office administrator, Jill Carville. Additionally, you can schedule 1:1 time with me at most any mutually convenient time. 
 
The challenges once identified and the will to remedy them will help us steer a new course into the future.  I am optimistic about the future of UUCFM and your resolve to continue making a difference and give full attention and effort to bear on ALL areas of church life that will make UUCFM a more welcoming and hospitable place for future generations of UU’s.                                                
Rev. Carlos

Further Reading:

The comprehensive guide for all transitional ministries (Revised March 2019). See pages below:

What Type of Ministry Next—Interim, Contract, Developmental, or Settled?.....p. 20
Developmental Ministry Overview..................................................................p. 43
Developmental Ministry Evaluation................................................................p. 45
Compensation, Benefits, and Relocation for Developmental Ministers…….........p. 46

From a Review: “First published in 2013, In the Interim quickly became an indispensable resource for congregations, their leaders, interim ministers, and all involved in transitional ministry. In its second edition, editors Barbara Child and Keith Kron and contributors retain all of the practical strategies and keen insight of the original.”




Given the increasing shortage of UU ministers, congregations might wish for a simple way to evaluate their own fitness for ministry. Ministers, likewise, might find an objective scale helpful in discerning whether a congregation is ready for them. This scale is similar to the hoped for outcomes...

UU Communities can be very different from one another! Use this continuum exercise to see how your congregations understands itself.
Meet the Minister

Rev. Carlos will be holding Meet the Minister sessions in October and November. This is an opportunity to share your hopes and dreams for the future of UUCFM. The sessions will happen on Sundays and Wednesdays in the Minister's office. Please choose one session from the following dates:

Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 PM: October 16, October 23, October 30

Sundays 12 noon-1:30 PM: October 6, October 20, November 3, November 10, December 8

Space is limited. Sign up with the Office Manager to reserve your spot. [email protected] or 239-561-2700.
Board Meeting
Please note that the Board meeting date for October has been moved from October 8th to Tuesday, October 15th at 6:30 p.m. in the Office/Conference Room.

Please email Allie Carville at  [email protected] with any questions or comments. Thank you for your understanding with the date change this month.
The UUCFM Choir  rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:00 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Come join us in singing!

The UUCFM Band  rehearses most Wednesday nights from 5:45-6:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 9:10 in the Sanctuary. Do you play an instrument? Are you interested in playing with the UUCFM band for worship? If so, please schedule an audition time with me by email.Come join us in making music together!

Suellen Kipp, Director of Music
Music Team Spaghetti Luncheon
Join us after the service on Sunday, October 13th for a Spaghetti Luncheon in Hobart Hall for only a $5 donation! The goal is to raise $300 to cover half of the Music Team's financial responsibility to host  Deeper Than the Skin  in November. The Music Team hopes to sell 30 tickets at the suggested donation price of $10 each for the November 16th event. That amount would cover the remaining expense to the Music Team for hosting Deeper Than the Skin.  The Endowment fund will cover the remaining expense.
What:  Deeper Than The Skin: Reggie Harris and Greg Greenway
in a musical presentation on Race in America
When:  Saturday November 16, 2019 6:30pm
Where:  Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers
How:  For information: (508) 896-6225


On Saturday November 16th, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers will present  Deeper Than The Skin , a musical presentation on Race in America by Reggie Harris and Greg Greenway. Reggie and Greg have a unique story. Born three days apart, ancestry flowing through the same portal of history, Richmond, VA. They are on a pilgrimage together - one that began three decades ago. The racial divisions that are the reality of America started them in two different worlds, but the amazing bonds of music, mutual respect, sheer admiration, and shared vision have brought them together as friends and colleagues.

Their stories together form the quintessential American story. The music that flowed from these experiences is powered by unadorned truth, raw and riveting, beautiful and uplifting.Echoing Gandhi, they believe that in telling our truths, we are able to rise up from the past and build bridges to the each other and the future. The presentation will be interactive and there will be time at the end for discussion.

Reggie Harris is a Woodrow Wilson Scholar and the Co-Chair of the  Living Legacy  Project of the Unitarian Universalist Association, co-leading tours through the historic sites of the Civil Rights movement in the South. Solo, and in the duo, Kim and Reggie Harris, he has led hundreds of programs on Race and Social Justice. Greg Greenway has been heard on NPR’s  All Things Considered, Mountain Stage,  and  Car Talk.  He’s played Carnegie Hall and had the honor for two years of having his song, “Rosa Parks,” play when  rosaparks.com  was opened. For eight years , he was one third of the successful Folk Trio,  Brother Sun.  Together and individually, Reggie and Greg have brought the issue of race before audiences around the world.
Covenant of UU Pagans

Blessings community,

Time is again moving quickly. We just honored Equinox as Samhain comes soon. The coming months will be busy time with lots of community projects.

Sunday, October 13: monthly meeting at noon. What is the Element of Air?

Drumming circle will be held on October 19th, beginning at 5 PM. See below:

Oct 19th- 5:00 pm gathering time. 1000 god/ess, worldwide event honoring peace and our planet thru mother Gaia. Community event welcome and open to all. Meet at the fire circle, bring drum, dancing shoes and a chair. We will have a fire circle.

TBD- crafting days for ancestor tree- each week we will work on our family ancestor tree of life. Work with old jewelry, recycled paper and then some.

Sunday, November 9: Samhain ritual, 6:30 gathering. Deep honoring to our ancestors, welcome the new year. This is an adult event- some themes are not appropriate for children unless parents are in supervision. More to come.

Yule celebration, Saturday, December 21, 7pm gathering. Welcome to all, community sharing feast with open mic for music and mirth. No charge for this. Bring a dish to share and sing, dance, play or perform. We will call in the sun.

Mark calendars for the new year, January 31-feb 2, will be an Imbolc gathering. Fire and Ice, camping, workshops, ritual to honor Bridget, lady of poetry, hearth and forge. More information soon. This is also open to all. There will be child friendly activities.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. Love and peace,

Joy Purcell
Dinners Go Round for 2020
Dinners Go Round are now forming!

Denis & Linda Jensen are organizing Dinners Go Round for January through April of 2020. These monthly potluck dinners offer you a chance to get to know your fellow UUCFM Members on an informal basis. One dinner is held each month at a host UUCFM member’s home on a date determined by the host and participants. If you didn’t participate last year and would like to do so this year, please Email Denis Jensen by December 15th at  [email protected]   and let him know.  Please include your names, telephone numbers, addresses and email addresses in your Email to Denis and also let him know if you would consider being a host for one of the four monthly dinners or if there is one or more of the four months where you would not be able to participate.  Also advise Denis if you will require wheelchair accessible dinner sites.
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Good News from South Fort Myers Food Pantry

As many of you know, the South Fort Myers Food Pantry began a fund drive in June to replace the aging box truck used to transport food from the Harry Chapin Food Bank and area stores to stock the pantry. The goal is to raise $45,000 of the estimated cost of $75,000. $30,000 was set aside from the pantry's reserves for the needed equipment replacement.

As of the end of September donations totaling $30,900 have been received from Coalition Members and Supporting Partners, many present volunteers, as well as former volunteers and friends of the pantry. They are very close to reaching their goal.

We at UUCFM have moved up the month for the Pantry to be the recipient of our Community Sharing to October so that this donation might be credited to the Truck Replacement Fund. Those individuals who would rather make a direct donation can mail checks directly to the Pantry. These can be made out and mailed to the South Fort Myers Food Pantry Coalition, Inc. 8360 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, FL. 33919. Write "Truck Fund" in the memo line.

Any donation you can afford to help deliver food safely and efficiently to our neighbors in South Fort Myers will be greatly appreciated.
The Caring Network
The mission of the Caring Network is to be the embodiment of hope and caring so that no member of our congregation feels alone.  How does one bring this forth?  If there is a need for pastoral care, simply fill out a  ‘blue card’  or ask someone to do that or email Neil Yesu at dbny79@aol. com .
Family Gardens
Our first gardening meetup will be Saturday, October 12th at 9:30 AM in Hobart Hall. We had a very successful clean-up day on September 28 th . Thank you to the many who helped. We have a couple more tasks to do, yet, like checking-out the irrigation lines and topping off some of the beds. 
 
Over half of the gardeners, so far, have indicated they are gardening with us this year again. Yay! We are developing a close community of returning gardeners and that feels wonderful. I hope you are enjoying the benefits of the community gardening! I sure do.
 
Bonnie Clancy is volunteering her experiences and gardening wisdom as our Master Gardener this year again. We are so fortunate to be able to enjoy her time and talents!! Thank you, Bonnie!
 
Several of you have asked what the fees are this season. They are pretty much the same as last year, as follows:
 
First bed: $75
Additional beds: $60/each
Auto water connection: $10/bed
 
Please confirm your bed assignments with me before planting. I’ll be working on assignments today and tomorrow and will have them finished before Saturday. First priorities will be the same beds as last year unless you specify otherwise. Again this year we will be dedicating some beds to children groups and the South Ft. Myers Food Pantry. Last year we donated dozens of bushels of veggies to the Pantry. Special thanks to Bonnie, Michele and Adrienne for helping with the Pantry beds. (Let me know if I missed anyone?)
 
Either bring your checks made out to “H.E.P.” with you or mail them to UUCFM, Family Gardens, 13411 Shire Lane, Ft. Myers, FL 33912. Any questions, call me 239 810 4608.
 
The “Weeds of Wrath” continue to plague us. This year we are trying to work with Mother Nature and focus on mowing the aisleways between the beds rather than using any chemicals or other weed warfare. Looking for volunteers to help with the weekly mowing. If we can get 43 or 4 volunteers, that will reduce the time any one person would have to spend. I suspect it would take about an hour per mowing, once a week during the growing season, less often in the dry season. Holler if you can be available. We have the equipment in the green barn.
 
Thank you again for gardening with our community. See you Saturday at 9:30a in Hobart Hall,

Bill Petrarca
Come explore the simple and satisfying practices of  Mindfulness Meditation.  You don’t need experience with meditation, nor do you have to be a Buddhist. Please bring intention to quiet the mind and 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 6:30-8:00 PM in the Sanctuary. Contact Gary Robbins at 302-540-5899.
Wednesday Connection Circle
Lilibeth Grimes will be facilitating a once monthly Wednesday evening circle called  Principles of Joy . The goal for this connection circle is to serve as a bridge between UUCFM and the broader community. This is open each month to all members, family, and friends. Please email by the Monday before each circle to let her know you will be there that month. We'll meet the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM. You don't have to attend all sessions. Here is the schedule:

November 13:  Fifth   Principle: The Right of  Conscience  and the Use of the Democratic Process within our Congregations and in Society at Large
 
December 11:  Sixth   Principle: The Goal of World  Community  with Peace, Liberty, and Justice for All
 
January 8:  Seventh Principle:  Respect  for the Interdependent Web of all Existence of Which we are a Part.
Fall Connection Circle beginning November 10th!
Want to connect on a deep level with other UUCFM members, visitors, and friends? Come to the next 6-session Connection Circle beginning after church on November 10th and continuing every other Sunday ( Nov. 10 and 24; Dec. 8 and 22; and Jan. 5 and 19). Small group Connection Circles promote bonding in a supportive atmosphere through facilitated discussions on spiritual topics as they pertain to you and your life. Discover more about each other...and maybe yourself!

For more information and to register for this popular event, please contact Nancy Letts at  [email protected]  or call 401-741-2712.
UUCFM-Caloosahatchee Mindfulness
UUCFM and Caloosahatchee Mindfulness invite participants to join our weekly meditation book group. The group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 AM in Room 3. Please contact Helen Leddy to make sure the group is meeting each week or if you want to join. All are invited to attend. For more information contact [email protected]
The UUCFM Book Club  meets Wednesdays from 1:00-2:30 PM in the Library. All are welcome to join in facilitated discussion and group bonding. Our new book is The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace Wells. This is an important book about climate change. Please read the first two chapters.
New CUUPs Class for October
Create an Ancestral Jewelry Tree 

If you have costume jewelry passed down to you or your own - bring it out! Inspired by Christmas Trees like this beauty (and a velvet box of my mother’s costume jewelry sitting in the bottom of my closet), we are offering Ancestral Jewelry Tree making every Saturday during the month of October. It may take you one time or all month but it will be fun! 

We’ll cut foam core in the shape of a Christmas Tree or Tree of Life (or whatever shape fits your style) and cover in material. Then using your own costume jewelry, plus if you like, add sequins, buttons and baubles to create beautiful memories that can be seasonal delights or displayed all year long. 

We'll meet Saturdays in October from 1-4 PM in Room 1. Join us. All welcome!
Art Fair Returns in December

December 1st and 8th will see the return of our Member Art Fair after the Sunday service. To sign up for a booth, contact Patricia Linhoff, 612-382-5927 or email:  [email protected] . There's no fee required and it's open to UUCFM members and friends. To help with Bake Sale and Lunches, contact Suzanne Ziemer, 812-332-3450 , email: [email protected] . Save your Christmas shopping for our Fundraiser. It is a good time to invite neighbors and friends to share these festive Sundays.
10th Annual Florida Unitarian Universalist Women’s Retreat
April 3-5, 2020
DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center

A Weekend Gathering of UU Women 

• Friday evening we will get to know one another and create community 
• Saturday one-hour workshops offer choices 
• Sunday we share a UU Service bringing it all together 

DaySpring Conference Center is conveniently located off I-75 just north of Sarasota on Florida’s West Coast. The beautiful campus nestled under ancient oaks and located on a cove of the Manatee River offers a serene setting for our annual retreat. Take a look.  http://Dayspring.dioswfl.org . 

$220 per person covers expenses for a semi-private room and meals. 8 women share a cozy cottage with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, a screened porch and common area. A limited number of single rooms are available at $292 each. 

A non-refundable deposit of $15 for a semi-private room or $25 for a private room will reserve your place. Final payment is due January 15, 2020. Scholarships are available. 
Come join us for an enriching and memorable weekend. To register or for more information contact Helen Leddy  [email protected]
Youth Violence Prevention Project Grant Applications Due to United Way on October 23, 2019

Fort Myers, FL  (September 25, 2019) – The United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee has announced that grant applications for funds from the Youth Violence Prevention Partnership are due by  5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 . Applications should be submitted to the United Way by email to  [email protected] .

The United Way and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers (UUCFM) continue a partnership designed to reduce youth violence. This initiative is a United Way Collaborative entitled  Youth Violence Prevention Project (YVPP) . The YVPP is a community funding initiative to encourage the development of programs that will reduce youth violence and the risk factors that contribute to it.
YVPP focuses on giving grants to local youth centered organizations or communities who propose youth violence prevention programs with clear and measurable objectives. The project will offer a total of $25,000 in grants to fund  student-driven programs  that address youth violence prevention and awareness. Grants will be awarded in increments of $500, up to $2,500. Projects must be in Lee County. Recipients will be notified no later than November 15, 2019.
 
A student committee will review the submitted grant applications and select projects to be the recipients of the funding. Selected projects will be required to match the funding with money or in-kind donations. Projects will then need to be completed no later than April 17, 2020. The awarded student groups will then gather for a mandatory presentation on April 30, 2020. At this date, projects will present their outcomes to the grant committee and the invited public. For additional information, or to apply visit:  www.UnitedWayLee.org/YVP .
Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group-
The Rissho Kosei-kai group meets Sundays at 2:00 PM in Room Number 1. We do not meet on 5th Sundays. Contact Mary Tracy Sigman for more info  [email protected]
Member to Member
Nancy Willis, who lives in the Tortuga Development (Off Gladiolus between Bass Rd & A & W Blvd.) would like to find an occasional ride to church. If you can help, please call Nancy at 239-288-5079 or email [email protected]
Did you know your purchases can help us? AmazonSmile donates to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers when you do your online shopping by following this special link to Amazon:  
Would You Like to Become a Member of UUCFM?
If you are interested in becoming a new member, please pick up a Membership Kit on Sunday mornings in the Narthex or in the office during the week. Thanks!
Happy Birthday!

Oct 11 Roady Blosser is 16!
Oct 11 Jeff Hutchinson
Oct 12 Karen Feinen  
Oct 13 Deep Ford  
Oct 14 Vanda Barnes 
Oct 15 Ted Brown
Oct 15 Rev. Carlos R. Martinez
Oct 17 Holley Rauen
Oct 18 Doc Gatto 
Oct 18 Jane Petrarca
Oct 23 Ruth Fotovat   
Oct 27 Sima Robbins
Oct 30 Peter Golbitz 
Oct 30 Jersey Blosser  
Oct 30 Sue Magee
UUCFM Staff

Senior Interim Minister Rev. Carlos R. Martinez  [email protected]
Director of Music    Suellen Kipp  [email protected]
Director of RE         Jenn Blosser  [email protected]
Office Manager        Jill Carville  [email protected]
Building Supervisor    Mickey Kellam  [email protected]
Nursery Supervisor   Liza Kellam