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Congregational Vision
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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UUCGT Quicklinks
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If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter
the
Beacon
please contact
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Reflection....
May the Blessings of this Season of Gratitude
be with you...
- adapted from Brittany Deininger, MA
Seattle School of Theology & Psychology
As we move through this season of gratitude, I am reminded of the words of
W. B. Yeats in his poem, "
Vacillation"
"It seemed, so great my happiness,
that I was blessed and could bless."
There is something beautiful about the cyclical nature of that line.
It reminds me that blessing is gratitude made manifest in the world.
Having known love, we seek to love others well.
Having been witnessed, we bear witness to others.
Having known suffering, we listen to the suffering of others. Having been accompanied through thresholds, we are moved to accompany others.
Having been blessed, we become those who further beget blessing.
May it be so with you.
Happy Holidays!
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Sunday Service
Sunday, December 23 - All Congregation Service
10:30 AM: "Las Posadas" - Kat Norman
, Coordinator
Interactive, all-ages service with carol singing based upon Las Posadas. During our Posada, we will walk with Mary and Joseph as they seek a place out of the dark and cold, and journey with them as they are foreclosed upon, immigrate across the border, and are targeted because of their gender identity.
If this doesn't sound like the familiar Christmas story, you are right. The story of Mary and Joseph is just one story about the struggle to find room at the Inn - and we are going to be shining our light in some dark places in order to consider the practice of radical hospitality and the ways in which we are gifts to each other.
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Children & Youth Programs
Currently on Sundays at UUCGT, child care is provided in our nursery for infants through age 4. All other children and youth are invited to remain in the service with their families.
Interested in serving on the Religious Education Committee, or have input to share? Please contact Jolynn Paige.
We will be hosting brainstorming sessions in January (Sundays during the coffee hour!). Your suggestions are welcomed and encouraged!
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UUCGT Giving Tree
donations may be sent to
a sister UU congregation in Chico, CA in support of
people who suffered great loss during the Camp Fire in California. Please make your checks payable to UUCGT and write
"
Camp Fire
" on the memo line.
Or, you may choose to give a donation for refugee relief in Mexico.
Volunteers from the UU Fellowship of San Miguel de Allende are working with refugees who seek help. Christie McGue (UUCGT member) is volunteering at San Miguel de Allende during the winter months. Again, checks are payable to UUCGT with "Refugee Relief" written on the memo line.
Please place your check in the basket on the Giving Tree Information Table or i
n the offering basket through the month of December!
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Safe Harbor Thank You!
Hillary Clinton once said, "It takes a village" - and that is exactly what it takes to do a volunteer week at Safe Harbor. This past week over 100 volunteers from UUCGT and our partners filled 160 volunteer slots as we hosted an average of 56 guests each night for seven nights.
We served over 450 hot dinners with rave reviews each night from the guests. Our evening volunteers assisted and socialized with our guests as did our overnight volunteers. Guests enjoyed a continental breakfast served by our breakfast volunteers, and our morning clean-up crews prepared the shelter building for another day.
A special thanks to the congregation of Temple Beth Shalom and the Grand Traverse Humanists for each providing volunteers for a full day. Higher Grounds Coffee and our own Vocal Ensemble, Men's Group and Shantideva Fan Club each provided an evening meal and several community wide volunteers also helped out.
Thanks to all of you for your role in this vital "hands-on" ministry. This year, we are going to do a second week of Safe Harbor in mid-March. Watch for sign-ups to start in mid-February.
Your grateful co-coordinators,
Mike and Sandra McDonald
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Warm wishes this holiday season!
Please join us for the 5th Annual I
nterfaith
Christmas Eve Service at the State Theatre
Music and songs by UUCGT Vocal Ensemble, storyteller Elon Cameron, and inspirational holiday messages will help bring light, love and our extended Traverse City community together during this special season.
Free tickets available at UUCGT office, or after service on Sunday, 12/23
Or, c
all the State Theatre box office to reserve free tickets - 231.947.3446
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May we all enjoy all the holidays and have a healthy, fruitful New Year!
May we find it in our hearts to speak out and help protect the rights
of others as we listen to their concerns, so they too, can enjoy the bounty
and beauty that our country could offer to all
w
ith peace, health, opportunity, and good will.
From the UUCGT Social Justice Action Team
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2019 Donated Dinners+ FUNdraiser!
John Hoffmann and Lauren Keinath are coordinating this effort, and
are looking for UU congregants to host a dinner or other related activity in order to have a successful FUNdraising event.
In past years, we have had a variety of donated events ranging from
ethnic themed dinners...
fondue parties...
patio picnics...
sailing on the Bay...
X-C ski outings...
nature walks...
dinners with cocktail music...
You get the idea!!
These fun, social activities benefit the Congregation as well as designated community groups.
Look for hosting sign-up sheets in the social hall after Sunday Services through December.
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UUCGT Bulletin Board
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!
UUCGT Office Holiday Hours
Monday, December 24 - 9:00am - 12:00 noon
Christmas Day - closed
Wednesday, December 26 - closed
Thursday, December 27 - 9:00am - 3:00pm (closed Fridays)
Monday, December 31 - closed
New Year's Day - closed
Wednesday 1/2 & Thursday 1/3 - 9:00am - 3:00pm (closed Fridays)
HOW ART SPEAKS
Check out the new
Exhibit in the Corridor Gallery!
UU Men's Group:
Monday, January 7, 5:30pm @ Minerva's
Discussion will focus on the movie, "Green Book" - still playing at the State or Bijou through December 24! If you haven't seen this movie - go see it! Also, a 1962 article by James Baldwin is in the front entryway - pick one up!
Needed:
Indoor Plant Adopter(s)
Time: less than 1 hour
Frequency: once a week
The Landscaping Team is enjoying a little down time, now that the ground is (mostly) covered in a white blanket. But, we discovered something new - and we need your help! Our lovely indoor plants (all donated by different people) need a regular caregiver. Do you love plants? and have 20-60 minutes once a week (or a couple of someones) to water, trim, mist, occasionally fertilize
and/or transplant plants as needed? If you're interested, please contact Lauren Keinath, 231-342-0617, or
Ladyofthelake48@gmail.com
. Thank you!
Please Note - Cash donations to UUCGT - How to get credit: If you wish to receive credit for cash donations - toward a pledge or for income tax purposes - put the cash in an envelope with your name and designation - Congregation or Community Needs - before putting it in the basket on Sunday. Several cash donations are received each Sunday that are not clearly identified. All donations are much appreciated.
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UUCGT Calendar of Events
Vocal Ensemble: Thursdays, 7:00pm, sanctuary
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End Note...
Winter Solstice Blessings
Friday, December 21
The Winter Solstice time is
a period of descent and rest,
of going within ourselves
and taking
in all that we have been through,
all that has passed in this full year which is coming to a close...
...just around the corner the new year will begin again,
and like a seed planted deep in the earth,
we will all rise with renewed energy once again
to dance in the sunlight.
- adapted from Venice Wyatt
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UUCGT office hours
Mon
day - Thursday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Closed Friday
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