February 2019 Communicator

Volume 36 Issue 2

Worship with us in February!

Trust

In the 5 Smooth Stones of liberal religion, the late, white theologian James Luther Adams reminds us that we are a people of Trust. Yes, skepticism and doubt and questioning are a deep and proud of our Unitarian Universalist heritage. Those behaviors are resulting from a deeper sense of trust that Love prevails in all things, underneath it all. A greater Love calls more powerfully than any dogma supposedly set in stone. And this trust extends to any theology or life philosophy theistic or not. The deeply thoughtful atheist writer James Baldwin writes, “Trust life, and it will teach you, in joy and sorrow, all you need to know.” This trust of Life and Love extends beyond the ebb and flow of our day to day lives, and when we worship together we can access that depth together. So come, trusting that your presence matters, and that you might experience something you needed.

Community Sharing in February- ACT, or Abuse Counseling Treatment

For the past 38 years, ACT's mission is to protect, support and educate victims of domestic violence and their children and survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking in Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties. They provide 3 emergency shelters, 24-hour hotline, individual and group counseling and therapy, advocacy, rape crisis center, children's program, education, and professional trainings and information and referrals. Please remember our community sharing partner at each Sunday's offerting time. All unmarked donations go to our partner each week! Thank you!

The Humanist Forum

The Humanist Forum meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend.

Sunday Social Hour

Sunday's Social Hour happens after the service every week. It is volunteer run- by the Women's Circle on the first Sunday, Humanist Forum on the second, CUUPs on the third, Men's Group on the fourth, and if there is a fifth Sunday, it is All Church. Any donations of food, snacks or cash are welcome.

Youth Groups

If you have questions about our youth groups or Children's Religious Education program, please contact Jenn Blosser [email protected].

BURN , our High School Youth Group meets on Sundays at noon in Room 4. All youth, ages 14-18, are welcome!

IGNITE , our junior youth group for ages 10-13, meets weekly from 12-1 pm in Room 3. (or 7) Come join us for community, conversation, and finding your call to action!

S PARK, exclusively for children ages 5-9, Spark meets weekly from 12-1pm in Room 2 to explore Unitarian Universalism and learn more about our church and each other.

Scout Sunday

As an expression of our gratitude for building character in our youth, we set aside the morning of February 10th to show our appreciation for all Scouts and those who serve them. All youth, their leaders, and their families are cordially invited to join us at the Unitarian Universalist Church. There will be coffee and good fellowship afterwards.

From the Minister-Updates and Reminders

Dear ones,

Since we do not have our weekly newsletter next week, I want to make sure all of you are aware that our scout troop will be having their annual Reverence Ceremony on Sunday, February 10, and we will also dedicate a plaque which will be installed on one of the Eagle Scout projects. We will have many scout families with us, so please welcome them with great rejoicing! After the service and dedication ceremony of the Eagle Scout project out back, we celebrate together with a Scout style cookout, thanks to our troop!

Also, our Interfaith justice ministry has been busy in research to find solutions to our community problems of children’s services and affordable housing. Here are some updates provided by our lead organizer for life :

“February brings with it some new understanding of the problems in Lee County...

-One out of every five families in Lee County is paying over half their income on housing.

-It would take a person 82 hours of work a week at a minimum wage job to afford the average rent for a one bedroom apartment.

-Meanwhile, 40% of housing units are sitting empty.

To those wanting to help move from an understanding of community problems towards definitive solutions, please consider attending one of the following research opportunities.

Children and Families Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 29 ^th

6:30 PM

Mount Hermon Ministries (off Douglas)

Property Appraiser

Friday, February 1st

9:00 AM-11:00 AM

Mount Hermon Ministries (off Douglas)

Affordable Housing Committee Meeting

Monday, February 11 ^th

6:00 PM

Mount Hermon Ministries

As we move forward and prepare for the Nehemiah Action on April 9th, please do not hesitate to reach out for assistance in building and strengthening the justice ministry at UUCFM!”

February Calendar Connections

Interfaith:

● Nirvana Day /Parinirvana Day (Buddhist) - Feb. 15

● Chinese New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist) - Feb. 5

Unitarian Universalist:

● Fannie Barrier Williams’ birthday - Feb. 12 (1855)

● Susan B. Anthony’s birthday - Feb. 15 (1820)

● The Edict of Torda is issued - Feb. 18 (1568)

National & Cultural:

● Black History Month

● Season for Nonviolence - Jan. 30 - April 4

● Groundhog Day - Feb. 2

● Freedom to Marry Day - Feb. 12

● Mardi Gras - Feb. 13

● St. Valentine’s Day - Feb. 14

● President’s Day - Feb. 19

● Louis Riel Day (Canada) - Feb. 19 (more here: http://louisrielday.com/ )

● National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP) is founded - Feb. 12 (1909)

● Malcolm X assassinated - Feb 21 (1965)

● Trayvon Martin is shot by George Zimmerman - Feb. 26 (2012)

For Fun and On the Fringe:

● Superbowl Sunday - Feb. 4

● Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day - Feb. 11

● International Darwin Day (Darwin's Birthday) - Feb 12

● Random Acts of Kindness Day - Feb. 17

Rev. Allison Farnum, Minister

[email protected]

Music News

The UUCFM Choir rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:45-8:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9-10 am in the sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Come join us in singing!

The UUCFM Band rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:00-6:45 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9-10 am 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, Director of Music

email Suellen

From the Office

The office will be closed the week of February 4th-8th. Please contact the Office Manager by tomorrow if you need anything for upcoming events, keys, etc. There will be no Weekly E-News next week! All submitted articles will be published in the February 14th E-News.

Membership

If you or a friend has been thinking about joining our faith community, you are cordially invited to pick up a Membership Enrollment Kit at our “Welcome Tables” in the Narthex and Hobart Hall on Sunday, or come by the Office and grab a Kit. (Or I can email you an Enrollment Kit [email protected] .) Complete the forms in the kit and drop in the mail or bring the completed forms with you Sunday morning. It’s that simple! Wherever you are on your journey, we bid you Welcome!

Meet Our New Members!

LANE COOK joined us on November 18, 2018. Lane is an Attorney Supervisor

at the Dept. of Children and Families and she is a self-claimed "Crazy Cat Lady." She and partner Chris spent a week at the Chautauqua Institution and were inspired to find a progressive community whose members are caring and curious. UUCFM was the perfect fit and she now enjoys helping out on our beautiful campus and

participates in the Book Club. When the cats allow her to, she is home cooking, reading, and working puzzles.

MICHELE BELLINGER joined us last month but has been a vital volunteer for past years. She hails from the South Jersey Shore with a Marine and Environmental Science background. She stays busy volunteering for Lee County Parks and the Corkscrew Preserve. Her sense of wonder ignites her passion for social and environmental action. She has found joy in attending services and working in the UUCFM Community Gardens. She looks forward to feeling the peace and love here and becoming more

involved in the Social Justice Committee and other church missions.

The Membership team needs a few more Ambassador Volunteers

This past fall the Membership Team began the process of helping newcomers on the pathway to membership by assigning volunteers (we call them Ambassadors) to the newcomer once they submit a Connection Card. Six volunteers have formed our current Ambassador Corps but we need a few more. In the past 3 months we are averaging 16 newcomers/month, that’s a healthy increase over previous months. That’s the good news! To help our newcomers with the journey to membership, we need a few more Ambassadors, representing a cross-section of our membership.

If you’re interested, please let the Membership team know by emailing [email protected] or just corner one of us and let us know of your interest. The time involved is not significant, no more than an hour a week.

What are Gratitude Gatherings?

Last year, the Board of Trustees, at the recommendation of the Finance Council, chose to re-invent the way we manage our traditional pledge campaigns. Recent years’ experiences, although successful in terms of contributions pledged, became overburdensome on just a few volunteers and somewhat intrusive for many members, cramming all solicitation meetings within a short amount of time in order to complete the grueling budgeting process for the church. Furthermore, the weeks-long, energy-

draining effort necessarily put an unbalanced focus and stress on financial expectations with very little focus on the overall sense of the mutual appreciation for the connectedness between the church and each member. Furthermore, we understand that many of our members have busy lives, filled with urgent demands on their time.

Our new stewardship approach is a year-round series of hour-long Gratitude Gatherings where a twelfth of our members voluntarily come together each month in small groups with the minister and church leaders. In these sessions, members learn about the “state of the Church,” share our proudest moments of being a member of UUCFM, express concerns and satisfactions about our progress toward our Vision,

and celebrate our commitments to our faith community. The goal is that members will leave feeling uplifted and more engaged as a member of our congregation!

So, when you receive an invitation to attend a future Gratitude Gathering, you now know a little bit more about why you are being invited and what you can expect.

Proposal for Community Sharing Partners for 2019-2020

The following list was approved by the CSS Committee: Cathy

Snow, Allie Carville and Helen Dixon, the Social Justice Ministry and the Board of Trustees and will be voted on by the congregation at our annual meeting.

April 2019 Pachamama Alliance

May 2019 Planned Parenthood

June 2019 Lee County Homeless Coalition

July 2019 Our Mother’s Home

August 2019 ARC – Blessing of the Animals/Early Learning Coalition

September 2019 LIFE (Lee Interfaith for Empowerment)

October 2019 Visuality, Inc

November 2019 Alliance for Fair Food

December 2019 Quality Life Center

January 2020 GRACE Project

February 2020 ACT (Abuse Counseling and Treatment Center)

March 2020 South Fort Myers Food Coalition, Inc.

5th Sundays (June, Sept, Dec and Mar) and Christmas Eve – Minister’s Discretionary Fund

Special Events at UUCFM

FUUn BUUnch

Our next FUUN BUUNCH DINNER will be at Monarco’s in the Edison Mall on

February 16th. NOTE: This is one week earlier from our customary last week to accommodate other church functions.

Service Auction

Venetian Masquerade Ball!

Saturday, February 23rd, 5:00 pm

While the guests will be disguised, there is nothing secret about the cause.

The UUCFM annual Service Auction is an important fundraising event for the church (and always a fun party), but it is also a great way to bring people together. Do you have a special talent or skill or a unique item to donate? Ideas for services to donate: Host a brunch, dinner or dessert party; Host a ping-pong or pool tournament; Take a few people on a nature hike or bird-watching tour of a local preserve; Set up a poker run or scavenger hunt; Offer a few hours of babysitting or handyman services. Other popular items are homemade scones, pizzas or lasagna, handmade quilts and paintings and gift cards! Everyone can participate and help expand our mission to Love, Grow and Serve.

Questions about the auction? Contact Helen Dixon or Sheila Jaskie, or you can reach us at [email protected] .

UUCFM Classes & Groups

Expanding our Small Group Ministry, Part 3

We’ve discussed the “Why” and “How” of Small Group Ministries (SMG) in our last 2 E-News articles. So, what about “What” topics are the subject of SGMs.

We talked about the 4 kinds of SGMs: theology-directed, curriculum-directed, minister-directed, and interest-directed. (There are many resources on the web that you can access on SMGs, such as the UUA Tapestry of Faith site and smallgroupministry.net.) We have had good experiences with most of these kinds of SGMs at UUCFM. The Membership Team would like to slowly expand the number of SGMs available at any time so that established, new, and potential members have an opportunity to become better engaged in our community.

To achieve this expanded SGM goal, we will have to focus on training facilitators over the next few months and beginning to solicit popular areas of interest for our members. There are literally dozens of SGM content plans available for us to utilize. They range in topics in several broad personal and communal areas of interest dealing with both inward and outward journeys, such as:

acceptance, expectations, finding peace, bucket lists, grief

aging, atonements, purpose, worship, trauma

racism, after a tragedy, consumerism, classism

justicemaking, music, spirituality and the arts, ethics

Our next week’s article will discuss the facilitator training strategy. Any questions, comments, or suggestions are appreciated at [email protected] .

Adult OWL - Lifespan Sexuality Education

The second session for Adult OWL is forming now. We will be exploring sexuality and relationships. If you're interested, please contact [email protected] or join us at our first meeting on Feb 13th at 6:30 pm in Room 7.

SEXUALITY AND RELATIONSHIPS

2/13 - introduction and reflections about sexuality and self

2/20 - sexuality and others

2/27 - attractions and early relationships

3/6 - developing relationships

3/13 - committed relationships

Women's Circle & Potluck

Every 4th Tuesday there will be a noon potluck in Hobart Hall. Bring a dish to share and your own beverage.

Feb. 26th, Noon, Program: Memories, bring a very much younger photo and we'll Guess Who!

March 26th, Noon, Program: Adventure Travel, Dorothy in Egypt, Joy in Australia....Bring your travel pics and story.

April 23rd, Noon, Program:To Be Decided

For contact information: Dorothy Van Howe, 239-560-7238,

[email protected]

Men's Social Group

We want you to join the UUCFM Men's Social Group. We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 11:45 am at the Cross Creek Country Club Clubhouse/Restaurant off Daniel's Parkway. For 2019, we are planning fun social activities as well as action sessions on what the Men's Group can do to help UUCFM. For information, contact Denis Jensen at 215-436-5748 or email Denis .

Spirituality Discussion Group

The Spirituality Discussion Group meets Wednesdays at 6:45 pm in Room 2 after the Community Dinner. Our Spirituality has to do with the way one connects to ourselves, others, nature, and the unknowns. Contact Suzanne Ziemer at [email protected] with any questions.

Great Decisions

If you would like more information on our 2019 Great Decisions series, please email Helen Leddy at [email protected] . Great Decisions meets on Thursday evenings in Hobart Hall in February and March.

Book Club

The Book Club will next meet on Wednesday, February 13th at 1:00 pm in the Conference Room to begin our new book, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard. Please read the introduction and Chapters 1-3. Upon completion, the following book chosen is How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence by Michael Pollan.

Mindfulness Meditation

Join us on Monday evenings to explore the simple and satisfying practices of mindfulness and 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 6:30-8:00p in the Sanctuary. If you have any questions, please call or text Gary Robbins at 302-540-5899.

Rissho Kosei-kai

The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays in Room 1. All are welcome to join us. We have a new meeting time- 2:00-4:00 pm.

UUCFM Weekly Activities

Community Wednesday

Please join us for Chef Joy's Community Wednesday Dinners at 6:00 pm each Wednesday. She will be serving salad, soup and entree. The price is $5.00. The meal is vegetarian, but every other week will feature a meat item alternate.

Community Activities for February:

6:00-6:45 Band Rehearsal in Sanctuary

6:45-8:00 Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary

6:45-8:00 Spiritual Discussion group thru May 2019 in Room 2.

Social Justice

Pachamama Alliance of SWFL Game Changer Gathering

Feb 7 6:30 pm Esteemed Speaker Series

with James Beever lll

Climate Change Planning in Southwest Florida : What Has Been Done And What Needs to be Done Now

Jim will discuss the climate change planning we have done in southwest Florida and what has been accomplished in climate change adaptation. He will also discuss projects done by others or that are currently in progress, what we are planning to do in the future and what other things could be done in the near future.

James (Jim) William Beever III is expert in Natural Resources and Climate Change in southwest Florida. Jim is a Planner IV for the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC).

Friday, Feb 8, 2019

Pachamama Alliance of SWFL - Community Day Retreat 10:00am- 6:00pm

Pachamama Alliance Community Building retreat with

National Pachamama Alliance Community Director Jason Bayless

Contact Holley Rauen or Gary Robbins if you are interested in building a community of Game Changers in SWFL that actually get out in the community and make a difference.

Pachamama SWFL is also delighted to bring Citizen's Climate Lobby to our UUCFM. They meet the second Tuesday of every month in the Library (for now) 2nd Saturday each month CCL Part of the meeting are speakers and livestreams from our Washington DC Congressional partners.

Next CCL meeting 12:30 PM FEB 8

South Fort Myers Food Pantry

The support that UUCFM has shown to our pantry over the years is appreciated. Along with other coalition members, the combined effort fed 26,646 people from the South Fort Myers area in 2018. There is still a tremendous need in Southwest Florida and consequently the Harry Chapin Food Bank sometimes runs low on food. When this happens, your donations of food each Sunday become so important, even if it’s just one item. Remember “Fran’s plan, just one can”? Look around church this Sunday and just imagine the amount of food, if everyone brought just one can. Protein items are always a good choice, canned ham, chicken , tuna or hearty prepared meals or soups.

Prefer to donate money? You can make out checks and send to the South Fort Myers Food Pantry. 8260 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, FL. 33919. Be sure to write Food Pantry in the memo line. Looking for a satisfying volunteer experience? See Fran Rose or email [email protected] .

Caring News

Caring Network

If you have any caring concerns, please contact our Caring Network coordinator, Neil Yesu at [email protected]

Our UU Story

Lewis Latimer:Black Inventor Helped Found Unitarian Church

Lewis Latimer was a key figure behind two of the most revolutionary inventions of all time—the light bulb and the telephone. The son of escaped slaves, Latimer became one of the first African American inventors and helped found the Unitarian church in Flushing, NY.

Latimer grew up in Boston. His family moved from house to house to elude slave catchers, and he attended only grammar school before going to work in his father’s barbershop.

At 16, Lewis Latimer enlisted in the Navy to fight for the Union in the Civil War, lying about his age. On his return, he landed a job as an office boy with a patent-law firm. Latimer eagerly studied the draftsmen who turned clients’ sketches into drawings for their patent claims. He bought his own tools and practiced at night. In eleven years at the firm, he rose to head draftsman—but was paid less than white draftsmen.

Latimer’s most significant contribution was making the light bulb practical and affordable. In 1879 Edison, the country’s most prolific inventor, received the U.S. patent for the light bulb. However, the paper filament in his bulb lasted only a few days. After hundreds of experiments, Latimer the same year developed long-lasting and inexpensive carbon filaments. He also improved almost every component and step in light bulb production: a threaded socket; the oven, chemicals, and glassblowing equipment; a new switch.

He oversaw installation of public lighting systems in New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and London. In 1918 he was the only African American selected as one of the 28 charter members of Edison’s Pioneers, a prestigious industry group. Among inventions he patented himself were a forerunner of the air conditioner and a locking coat rack.

Corresponding with black intellectuals, Latimer insisted on full citizenship and integration of African Americans into society. He bought a large house in the mostly white borough of Queens, which is now a museum in his honor. And in 1908 he helped found what is now the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Queens, where his portrait hangs in the sanctuary.

Edited by Joy F. Sokeitous

For more information: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/latimer-african-american-inventor

About My UU Story

Each month, the Membership Committee would like to publish your UU story- either converted or born UUs. How did you become a UU, or how did our religion affect your life? Alternatively, do you have a one paragraph remembrance of your first reaction to being in a UU church and/or learning about the religion? To share your story, please contact Joy Sokeitous at [email protected]. Joy will help you edit and she will provide questions to help you develop your story.

Bed & Breakfast

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? 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.) guests. I usually send out an email to all potential hosts when a request is received and the hosts respond as to their availability. Even if you can only host for two nights in March, for example, that is a big help. February and March tend to be in the biggest demand.

All money received from the guests as they stay in your home goes directly to UUCFM operating funds. 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

[email protected]

Hail to the Volunteers!

Without our UUCFM volunteers, Casino Night on January 26th would not have happened. Through their efforts we raised nearly $1,000 and also added about $40 to our kitchen supply budget. Besides our Boy Scout volunteers, new members Nancy and David Hendricks were volunteers. These other stalwart members made it a Fun Go: Jen Smith, Denis Jenson, Shelia Jaskie, Mary Nies, Don Klein, Tom Sizemore, Barbara Mannix, Roy Green, James Morgan, Suzanne Ziemer.

Kitchen Clean Up Thanks

A large THANK YOU to the following " Kitchen Clean Up Crew"- Bill Petrarca, Helen Dixon, Margie Kolde, Debra Lewis and John Worster.

All members using dishware, when finished, should return it to the kitchen, rinse items and place in dish rack for dishwasher. Please don't leave a mess for the next person to clean up. THANK YOU!

Dorothy Van Howe

Shop and Help UUCFM!

Did you know your purchases can make a difference? AmazonSmile donates to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers when you do your Valentine's Day shopping. Follow this link: smile.amazon.com/ch/59-1160337

Member to Member

Do you have something to offer, trade, or sell? Are you looking for something? Free ad space here for personal items only. Will run ad for 4 weeks. Email [email protected] .

Dear Congregates,

It's that time of year again when we ponder how best express our love for a wife, partner, significant other, mother or co-worker on Valentines Day. No doubt you have already given the heart shaped box of chocolates, bought a dozen roses or dined at an expensive restaurant.

This year consider something different. Imagine their surprise when four men dressed in tuxedos arrive at your home, a restaurant or office to deliver a "Singing Valentine" in 4-part harmony together with a long-stemmed red rose and a card from you. Surely it will be a gift that will not soon be forgotten. To order call 239-352-6366. The cost is only $60 or $50 if ordered before February 1st.

Yours in Harmony,

Glenn Siebert

*Laptop/Convertible 15” $425.00

A generous congregation member has donated a laptop to the church for sale. This HP laptop is practically brand new. It's a good buy for someone who can use it for personal or business. Description: HP Pavilion X360 15.6 Convertible 2-in-1 FHD IPS Micro-Edge Narrow Border Touchscreen Laptop Intel Core i5-8250U 8GB RAM 1TB SSD WiFi B&O Type-C Win 10. This laptop retails for over $600.

Send inquiries to [email protected]

Our Greater Community

Identify Risk Factors For Stroke & Heart Disease

1. Stroke Screening/Carotid Artery

Ultrasound scan of the carotid arteries to detect fatty plaque buildup—the leading cause of strokes.

2. Heart Rhythm Screening (Atrial Fibrillation)

EKG electrodes placed on the arms and legs to detect an irregular heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke 5 times

3. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Ultrasound scan of the aorta to detect an enlargement.

4. Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening

Screen of the leg arteries to detect fatty plaque buildup. It is 4-5 times more likely you will die from heart disease if you have peripheral arterial disease.

5. Osteoporosis Screening

An ultrasound scan of the shin bone to determine bone mass density. Osteoporosis is painless and silent in its early stages.

Life Line Screening’s mission is to make people aware of an undetected health problem and encourage them to seek follow-up care with their physician. Our painless, vascular screenings use advanced color flow ultrasound technology. All tests are reviewed by a board certified physician and the results are sent to you.

When: Friday, March 8, 2019

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers