June 2019 Communicator

The Communicator

June, 2019 Volume 36 Issue 6

Sunday Services in June - Beauty

It is fitting that my last month with you gives us the theme Beauty. Beauty is more than that which is pleasing aesthetically. Beauty is a gateway to transcendence, as well as a grounding in our interconnectedness. This month, all the expressions of beauty are welcomed- even the movements of life that bring change and uncertainty. May we offer the beauty we have within to all the growing edges of Life. ~ Rev. Allison Farnum

June 2

You Are Beautiful; Life is Beautiful

Today we reframe beauty as an intrinsic value that flows from within. And we are invited to behold our own beauty.

June 9

Be Still and Know

Beauty of one’s interior life by stilling the mind and finding stillness that connects us with a larger Peace and a larger Love. And as a church to take the transition time as a time of sacred contemplation amidst the typical anxious rush to fix, manipulate and manage. Perhaps the church is part of these larger movements of Love and Peace and taking time for reflection and stillness can provide guidance before making decisions on next moves.

June 16

CUUPS Led Service

Goodbye to Rev. Allison. A pot luck is offered after the service so please bring a dish to share with the community.

June 23

The Rev. Kierstin Homblette-Allen

June 30

Guest Speaker Gini Gottman

Summer Ushers & Greeters Needed

We need ushers and greeters during the summer months. We especially need people to stay out in the lobby (narthex) to let in latecomers. If you could help out one Sunday or more, please email or call MaryGayle Skinner at 239-482-8969 or [email protected]

Community Sharing in June

Our Community Sharing partner this month is the Lee County Homeless Coalition. Your generous contributions each week in May are greatly appreciated! All unmarked donations will be given to this local organization.

The mission of the Lee County Homeless Coalition is “to advocate, educate, and promote awareness of issues and obstacles facing homeless individuals in Lee County through community collaboration, planning, and implementing solutions.”

We are a non-profit advocacy group made up of community and faith-based service providers, local businesses, people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, and other advocates committed to ending homelessness.

The Lee County Homeless Coalition was reorganized in 2004 under the umbrella of the Lee County Department of Human Services with the intent to develop a broader base of support and at some time operate again as an independent agency. Thanks to support from the community, that goal was achieved in 2009, and the Coalition was recognized as an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

To become a member, click here .

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.

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.

Music Notes

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 protected]

Wizard Camp

Have you registered for the School of Wizardry summer camp yet? The camp runs from June 24th to June 28th and is held here on the UUCFM campus. We're filling up fast, so register today! We need youth 14+ to register as camp ghosts (volunteers) as well - click here to apply!

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

Membership- New Member Ceremony June 2nd

Would You Like to Become a Member of UUCFM?

The Membership Ministry Team is making plans for our June New Member Ceremony on Sunday, June 2nd. If you are interested in becoming a new member, please contact [email protected] to receive your membership enrollment kit prior to the ceremony.

Meet Our Members!

Denis Jensen : Denis has been a Unitarian since 1975. After becoming dissatisfied with the Methodist Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and realizing that he was of an atheistic bent, Denis found the Omaha Second Unitarian Church to be a haven for his way of thinking and spiritual development. In addition, Denis discovered that Unitarians were thinking people who were also good company---something that is in short supply in a good portion of the general population. Membership and involvement in subsequent Unitarian Churches in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida have been fulfilling and rewarding.

Denis does not believe in an afterlife or anything that can’t be scientifically seen and proven. He considers the Universe itself to be the great mystery of life and is looking forward to more space exploration to try and penetrate that great mystery. Denis has two wonderful children and six marvelous grandchildren that he and Linda will visit this summer during four months in California.

From Operations

Our Building Supervisor, Mickey Kellam, will be on vacation from June 7-17th. In his absence we are looking for some volunteers to help restock paper products and do some light cleaning. We are planning two sessions- one on Monday, June 10th, and one on Saturday, June 15th. If you can help, please sign up with Mary Alice Pierce at the Social Justice table on Sunday, or email her at [email protected]

Office Closed

The UUCFM Office will be closed on Thursday, June 6th & Friday, June 7th. The newsletter will go out on Wednesday, June 5th. Please have all articles in by Wednesday the 5th at 9:00 AM, [email protected]

From the Board of Trustees

Honoring Linda Johnson

May Volunteer of the Month

Linda was church shopping when she found UUCFM in 1996 just after the move

to the new campus on Shire Lane. She has been a dedicated member and volunteer.

Linda is being honored for that volunteer service, which now includes ushering,

greeting, and weekly watering of the sanctuary plants.

Linda and her family moved to Ft Myers in 1990 from Ohio. She continued her

nursing career through home health care and office nursing, while raising her children.

She has three grown children and two grandsons, one of whom is getting married in

June; Linda will be attending the gala family affair. Her oldest son is also a nurse as

are her two daughters-in-law. She also has a sister who is a UU.

We celebrate Linda’s membership this month, and thank her for her continuing

volunteer service.

Worship and Music Ministry

The Worship/Music/AV Ministry is changing their meeting date to honor Rev. Allison's last day of ministry in mid-June. The meeting will now be held on June 30 at 12:15 PM in the Miller Sanctuary.

Social Justice

Pachamama Alliance of SWFL Presents

DIVING INTO DRAWDOWN

First Four Saturdays in June, 2019

Hobart Hall 9:00 AM - 1:15 PM. All invited!

Find out which Solution you can work on that will help Southwest Florida DRAWDOWN atmospheric Carbon, and become part of the Global Community committed to reversing Global Warming.

Pachamama Alliance of SWFL also invites you all to:

Pachamama Game Changer Gathering and Party

June 6, 2019

6:30-8:00 PM.

Hobart Hall

We're getting together to celebrate progress and catch up on what we've been doing and planning. So many game changers have done so much over the last 2.5 years to bring about the more beautiful world we know is possible. We'll have a yummy light meal to enjoy with cake and cookies for dessert. Just bring yourself and your favorite libation!

For more information

[email protected]

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? Our Pantry needs summer help. The South Fort Myers Food Pantry thanks our winter residents for donating what was left in their cupboards before leaving for the summer. For those of you who live here year round, please, consider volunteering on Mondays during the summer months. They are desperate for volunteers who can tolerate working in the summer heat. At least go for one day to see if you can do it, even if you can only do a couple of hours. The people who need to use the pantry don’t get to take vacations during the summer months. Many have lost their seasonal jobs and only turn to us at this time of year. If you know the pantry then just go there around 10 AM for the day shift or at 4:15, 4:30 for the afternoon/evening shift. Pantry open only on Mondays. Contact Fran Rose 617-750-0470or email [email protected] t .

Special Events in June

Minister's Rite of Passage Service

On June 16th, at 10:30 AM on the occasion of Rev. Allison's last day, a Rite Of Passage service will be held. A pot luck is offered after the service so please bring a dish to share with the community. We say goodbye to our minister of ten years. CUUPs will be officiating this service.

UUCFM Classes & Small Groups

Summer Connection Circles!

Another Connection Circle is forming, and we hope you will join us! Come meet other UUCFM members, share stories in relation to the topic of the day, and hear the stories of others in order to get to know one another on a meaningful level. This is a facilitated and covenanted six-session group; our compassionate dialogue will contribute to our individual and collective spiritual and personal growth. (Group rules provide confidentiality).

We will meet after the Sunday service from 12:15 to 1:45 PM beginning Sunday June 2, and continuing on these Sundays: June 16, 30, July 14, 21 and 28.

Please contact Julia Smith at [email protected] or 239-297-6429 with questions and to register. Participants are expected to attend all sessions.

Wednesday Connection Circle!

Lilibeth Grimes, [email protected] will be facilitating a Wednesay evening Circle titled Principles of Joy . The goal for this connection circle is to serve as a bridge between UUCFM and the broader community. We'll meet the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM starting in July. Here is the schedule:

July 10: 1 ^ST Principle: The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person

August 14 ^th: 2 ^nd Principle: Justice, Equity, and Compassion in Human Relations

September 11 ^th: 3 ^RD Principle: Acceptance of One Another and Encouragement to Spiritual Growth in our Congregations

October 9 ^th: 4 ^TH Principle: A Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning

November 13 ^th: 5 ^TH Principle: The Right of Conscience and the Use of the Democratic Process within our Congregations and in Society at Large

December 11 ^th: 6 ^TH Principle: The Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty, and Justice for All

January 8 ^th: 7 ^TH Principle: Respect for the Interdependent Web of all Existence of Which we are a Part

Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans

Salutations one and all. I can’t believe we are into June already and with the turning of things, another celebration we do.

June 8th drumming circle, amphitheater at 6:30, if it rains we will be on the lanai.

June 9th Our monthly meeting to plan Solstice. All are welcome, this is an open gathering.

June 16th Rite of Passage service for Rev Allison with a pot luck after in the hall. We will be doing the service, bring a dish to share with our community.

June 21st Solstice Celebration, 6:30-7 gathering at the amphitheater or lanai if it rains. There will be a community sharing after. Bring your instruments and something to share.

Many of us will be helping out with Wizard Camp coming up june 24th-28th..

Peace and Love to all. Joy Purcell

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 6:30-8:00p in the Sanctuary. Info: contact Gary Robbins at 302-540-5899.

Book Study meets Wednesdays from 1-2:30 PM in the Library of our Administration Building.

Sessions for this weekly Book Study begin June 12th, and all are welcome to join in facilitated discussion and group bonding. We will be reading Gary Zukav's The Seat of the Soul.

Come having read up to page 57, Introduction of Chapters 1-4 of the 25th Anniversary edition with Study Guide. The group will be using the Study Guide provided in the book.

More!

My UU Story

CHARLES DARWIN

DISBELIEF IN DIVINE REVELATION

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) published On the Origin of Species, which introduced the idea of biological evolution by chance variation and natural selection, in November 1859. Darwin’s mother, Susannah Wedgwood, was part of a Unitarian family and took Charles to a Unitarian chapel before her death in 1817.

Thinking and writing on the subject of evolution and natural selection caused Darwin to reject the evidence for God in nature and ultimately to renounce the Bible, God, and the Christian faith.

The decline of Darwin's faith began when he first started to doubt the truth of the first chapters of Genesis. The more Darwin convinced himself that species had originated by chance and developed by a long course of gradual modification, the less he could accept not only the Genesis account of creation, but also the rest of the Old Testament as the divinely inspired Word of God.

“I had gradually come by this time, (1836 to 1839) to see that the Old Testament was no more to be trusted than the sacred books of the Hindoos or the beliefs of any barbarian.”

Having abandoned the Old Testament, Darwin then renounced the Gospels. This loss of belief was based on several factors, including his rejection of miracles: "the more we know of the fixed laws of nature, the more incredible do miracles become".

His rejection of the credibility of the Gospel writers: "the men of that time were ignorant and credulous to a degree almost incomprehensible to us"; his rejection of the Gospel chronology: "the Gospels cannot be proved to have been written simultaneously with the events"; and his rejection of the Gospel events: "they differ in many important details, far too important, as it seemed to me, to be admitted as the usual inaccuracies of eye-witnesses."

Summing up the above, he wrote, “by such reflections as these… I gradually came to disbelieve in Christianity as a divine revelation.”

Compiled by Joy F. Sokeitous

The UUCFM Photo Directory has been Updated

New photos have been taken and added and previous photos have been updated for the UUCFM Photo Directory. Sorry if you missed our two well advertised photo taking sessions—We’ll be taking photos again next winter. If you aren’t already accessing the Photo Directory, you can do so by going to the green message at upper right of the UUCFM Website that gives an option to register. Click on register and fill out the form that pops up and after review by the webmaster, you will be given access using the password you created. Denis Jensen

Boy Scout Work Crew

A big thank you goes to the Boy Scout work crew who worked hard on our front landscaped area this month. Thanks so much Troop 3300!

Shop at Amazon 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 online shopping. Follow this link: smile.amazon.com/ch/59-1160337