UUCGT Flash 
September 13, 2018
Vol. 12, Issue 551
 
In This Issue
Reflection
Sunday Service
Lifespan Experience for Children, Youth & Families
Note from Sarah Montgomery-Richards
What is a Sukkah?
Bulletin Board
SAVE THESE DATES!
Calendar of Events
End Note
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Congregational Vision


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We are a Congregation creating a better world by nurturing the heart and expanding the mind.

We provide a safe, caring community where all can freely explore diverse religious thought. 

We work for justice and equality with the power of compassion and compassionate power.
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Reflection....



Sunday Service 
Sunday, September 16
10:30 AM:   "Seeking Personal Growth" - Hal Gurian, Coordinator

What is this yearning that creates an endless search for happiness, calm, creativity, clarity, or even perfection in our lives?

Religious Experience
September 2018

Sundays in September for Pre-K - 5th grade

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This registration form needs to be completed for  all children - nursery through high school   EVERY year.

Th is year, in our efforts to move to a Family Ministry model - in which members of all ages worship more regularly together in the sanctuary - things will look a little different. 

The 1 st and 3 rd Sundays (and 5 th if there is one) will be Religious Education Sundays.  Our first Religious Education Sunday will be September 16.

On these Sundays there will be curriculum-based classes for children preschool - 5 th grade during the service (following the Story Wisdom). 
The curriculum we are using this year is Katie Covey's "Picture Book UU".  

The 2 nd and 4 th Sundays will be All Congregation Sundays when all ages are invited to remain in the sanctuary for the duration of the service.  Childcare will be available on these Sundays for those children preschool-5 th  grade who need it (please note - this will be childcare - NOT Religious Education).  

At this time, given the number of middle - high school youth, we will have the youth remain in the service every Sunday.  We can reevaluate this based on the registration forms we receive this fall

I am working with the Sunday Services Committee to find fun ways to get the children involved in these All Congregation Services.  If you have ideas, or are interested in having your child light the chalice, ring the bell, read, etc., please let me know!  I'm really looking forward to co-creating this model with you, and am looking forward to better connecting the generations in our congregation.

Suggested reading for families/parents this month

This month I am suggesting a purely silly, fun book as many of our children head back to school  with this bestselling groovy Pete the Cat book!



"Pete The Cat:  Rocking in My School Shoes"
by James Dean and Eric Litwin

"Pete the Cat is rocking in his school shoes.  Pete discovers the library, the lunch room, the playground, and lots of other cool places at school.  And no matter where he goes, Pete never stops moving and grooving and singing his song...because it's all good".    https://goo.gl/ipmkdB


The Future of Faith Formation

As I mentioned last month, one way that we are working to support families as the primary providers of their children's faith formation is to provide them with a bi-monthly e-blast of resources, readings and ideas.  If you are not currently signed up for this and are interested in getting on the email list, 

Friday Night Out!

September 14, 5:30-9:00 pm
Contact Sarah ASAP to reserve a spot!


My Friends,

As my time with you in my role as the Director of Religious Experience (formerly Lifespan Experience) draws to a close, I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who have supported the program over the years.  

I recognize that I am blessed to be part of the heritage of religious education for all ages in this congregation, and the long line of educators who have stewarded this position so well.   I feel humbled to be counted amongst their number.  

The responsibility for continuing the legacy and the learning involved with our UU heritage lies with each of us, and I would encourage every member of this community to look for ways that they can support that.  I look forward to my continued membership in this special community, and look hopefully toward its remarkable potential. 

As always, be kind to yourselves, kind to each other, and send loving kindness out into the universe.

In Peace,

Sarah Montgomery-Richards
Director of Religious Experience


What is a Sukkah?

"Congregation Beth Shalom contacted UUCGT to collaborate in building a Sukkah to celebrate the Jewish festival of Sukkot.   Since Congregation Beth Shalom rents our building for the Jewish Holidays and joins with us to help with Safe Harbor, I thought this would be a good idea."  - Hal Gurian
 
A Sukkah is a temporary structure constructed for annual use during the week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot.  The original source for this tradition is Leviticus 23:42-43, where it is described as a reminder of the booths in which the children of Israel dwelt during their journey through the desert, from slavery in Egypt to freedom.

Jewish tradition commands dwelling in these freestanding booths for the seven-day period marking this harvest festival.  These outdoor structures range from simple huts to elaborate retreats.  In modern times, the Sukkah is a symbol of shelter, and the frailty and transience of life, and Jewish
families honor this tradition by taking meals and entertaining in Sukkahs that they erect in their back yards, terraces and rooftops.

The Sukkot festival highlights the importance of a safe refuge  against the elements and reminds us of others in Traverse City and other cities who are homeless or under housed, dislocated or estranged and their need to establish a home of their own.

Congregation Beth Shalom and UUCGT invite everyone to help decorate the Sukkah on Sunday, September 23.  This is really fun for children and adults alike!

Decorate Sukkah on Sunday, September 23 @ noon

If you have any questions, please contact  Hal Gurian
 
UUCGT Bulletin Board


New Photography Exhibit by Cal Boulter! 
This photo exhibit echoes two of the 7 UU Principles:

Principle 1:  The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Principle 4:  A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

"Perhaps it is only I, the photographer, who experiences these images as portals, as windows through which I go beyond the stone facts of their 2 dimension representational clarity.  I enter them again and again to engage another dimension...not one confined to space/time, but to a transcendent place and an accompanying feeling of peace, even joy.  
You come too?"  -  Cal Boulter

UUCGT Financial Report as of August 31, 2018:   Please click here

September Sunday Services - Congregants are invited... to bring items for our September altar setting.  September's theme is "Seekers Together - We Are All Seeking Something."

Items can reflect on these questions: 

- What are you seeking now?
- What past journey still influences your life today?
- What should ou r congregation be seeking in the next five years?

Please continue bringing items throughout the month of September.

Social Justice Committee to Meet: 
Sunday, September 30, 9:00am, social hall.  Discussion of fall activities and current business.  All are invited!

Prospective Member Orientation
Sunday, October 14 at 12 Noon

You've been attending for a while...Or you've been a UU member elsewhere.  We can explore your questions about membership.
Sign up at Welcome Table or email  office@uucgt.org

New Fall Group!  Law of Attraction Meet-up
Second Tuesdays, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.  Next Meet-up is Tuesday, October 9.  Sherry Davis facilitates this monthly group based on the natural law of "like attracts like" with a focus on "Your Thoughts Create Your Reality".  
This is a fit for anyone interested in this exciting life practice!  Come have some fun as we learn this empowering approach to life!  Freewill donation.
For more information see September Beacon or to sign up, go to: 

Holly Near Concert at Midland UCC - Sunday, September 30 @ 3:00 PM!  4100 Chestnut Hill Drive, Midland, MI.  For more information, see  https://www.hollynear.com/.  Questions?  Check-in with Chris & Rick Walter who plan to go!

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Local Community Needs

Community Needs Committee...requests donations on behalf of Jubilee House for lightly used boots and shoes (including tennis shoes), especially
large sizes.  Jubilee House would be grateful for help in meeting this special need.  A donation tub is in the hallway near the kitchen.

* * * * * *   Save these Dates!   * * * * * *

Saturday, October 6
9:00-noon or 1:00-4:00

UUCGT Fall Clean-Up!


Hauling Brush
Washing Windows In & Out
Raking  Leaves
(rain date 
Saturday
, November 3)
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Sunday, October 14

CROP Hunger Walk


GT Civic Center
Registration @ 
1:30 pm 
Walk starts @ 2:00 pm
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Saturday, October 20
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

UUCGT Visioning / Objective Setting


Your Board of Trustees is planning a day of Visioning and Objective Setting for Saturday, October 20 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at UUCGT.   We plan to develop a Vision of where we should be going for the next three to five years and set some objectives for the next year to move us towards that Vision.  

Our session will be facilitated by UUA Consultant, Dori Davenport Thexton.  Dori has served UU congregations for fifteen years and has been on the UUA Field Staff for nineteen years.

The session will be open to any congregant who wishes to participate.  Board members will be attending and we would like Committee Chairs to be present or represented by someone else from their committee.  

Sign-ups for the session will begin in mid-September.  Watch the Flash, Beacon and Order of Service for more information in September.  In the meantime, please save the date!

Mike McDonald, President, Board of Trustees
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Sunday, October 21
after Sunday Service

All Congregation - Potluck Brunch


Everyone is Welcome!

Many thanks to these committees for organizing this community event!   Hospitality, Sunday Services, Membership, Religious Experience

UUCGT Calendar of Events
(Please contact  office@uucgt.org  to schedule all meetings and events)


Indivisible GT:  Tuesday, September 18, 11:30am, sanctuary

Bridge Group:  Tuesdays, 1:00pm, social hall


Wednesday Potluck:  September 19, 5:30pm @ Sandra & Mike McDonald's
Contact Sandra McDonald - 935-3759

Shantideva Fan Club:  Thursday, September 20, 9:30am, sanctuary

Congregational Care Team:  Thursday, September 20, 1:00pm, library

Decorate the Sukkah:  Sunday, September 23, 12 noon - All Are Welcome!

End Note...

Blue Boat Home
by Peter Mayer



  

UUCGT office hours
Mon day - Thursday
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

(231) 947-3117       office@uucgt.org         www.uucgt.org