Weekly E-News July 11, 2019

Weekly E-News

July 11, 2019

Sunday Services in July - Cycles of Life

July 14

Cycles of Life Part 2: Adulthood

July 21

Cycles of Life Part 3: Midlife

July 28

Cycles of Life Part 4: Elder

Community Sharing in July

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.

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. The forum this week will look at a subject of vital importance for our health and well-being: Sleep. There are two TED talk entries, one short one and a longer one by Matt Walker. He really lays it out: good sleep habits, which include getting enough sleep, are essential for many of our bodily functions. Don’t miss this one, it’s really an eye-opener on a shuteye topic.

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.

Religious Education News

I'm pleased to report that the 2019 term of the School of Wizardry (our Harry Potter themed summer camp) was a remarkable success! We had more volunteer involvement than ever before and I'm delighted to share with you two rave reviews from some of our campers' families.

A big thank you from the Kaszuba Family. To all staff including all the Ghosts: We’re so grateful for your creativity, the wonderful and meaningful lesson plans, knack for organizing 50 children (and parents), and especially your patience and energy that held strong throughout the entire week! The Feast was a fabulous capstone to an extraordinary week of new learning experiences. Wishing all staff that made this possible some well deserved rest and relaxation. And thanks Andy and Eric for recommending Wizardry Camp. We’ll be back next year. Thank you from all of us

I just want to let you know that both my girls have come home the last two days with TONS of stuff to talk about! They are SO excited about this camp each day and they love every second of it. Usually when we ask them how their day was, it’s just one word answers, but at dinner time, we can’t get them to even wrap up their turn for “favorite part of the day” because they have so many things to tell about:-) they have been to more than 10 different camps in the last two years, and they said this is hands down the best camp they have ever been to! I’m very impressed with how much they do and how much they get to make. Thank you for providing such a great and fun learning environment for them.

-Naomi

Please see the July Faith Formation bulletin later this week for a list of volunteers to thank for this successful program. If you're on campus this week, stop by the bulletin board in the breezeway between rooms 3 and 4 to read all the gratitude notes our volunteers wrote to each other. It will make you smile!

Jenn Blosser, Director of Religious Education

[email protected]

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]

Membership

Would You Like to Become a Member of UUCFM?

If you are interested in becoming a new member, please contact [email protected] to receive your membership enrollment kit.

Social Justice

2019 GRACE Project Work-Study Trip

November 3 - 9, 2019 $750 Land only

 Assist in the Reproductive Health Workshops with women and youth (Spanish

not essential)

 Support the workshops with public school teachers, in collaboration with the

Guatemala Ministry of Education and with community leaders,

 Visit the Casa Aurora Women’s Shelter in San Lucas Tolimán,

 Deliver menstrual management Kits and Fertility Bracelets,

 Travel in safe, private vans,

 Private room with bath,

 Enjoy the Breakfast or dinner provided daily,

 Shop in La Antigua and Panajachel.

Safe land Transportation, breakfast, and hotel rooms are included.

Volunteer pays own airfares from USA to Guatemala City.

To save your space, please send $100 deposit on the Donate button, through PayPal, on

www.thegraceproject.org, or send a check to:

The GRACE Project, UUCFM, 13411 Shire Lane, Ft. Myers, FL, 33912.

Please contact Helen Dixon at [email protected] or 239.543.2959.

Muchísimas gracias.

The Guatemala Rural Adult and Children’s Education (GRACE) Project represents the

Social Justice Outreach Ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers.

All workshops are non-sectarian and free of charge to participants.

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 .

UUCFM Classes & Small Groups

Women's Circle this Summer

Join the Women's Circle at MIMI’S CAFÉ

Bell Tower Mall

5070 Bell Tower Shop Ave

Fort Myers, FL 33907

Located at the northeast corner of Daniels Pkwy and Rte 41

12:00 PM Monday, July 22nd

Please RSVP to Peg Clayton Fischer at [email protected] or

267-467-1622 by Thursday, July 18th. The restaurant needs exact numbers.

If you need transportation, please let us know with your full name, address and phone number when making your reservation with Peg. We will make every effort to provide transportation.

Summer Connection Circle!

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. This is open each month to all. Please email Lilibeth 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 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 UU Pagans

Join us for our CUUPs monthly meeting on Sunday, July 14th at noon in Room 7. Our drum circle will be held the second Saturday of July on the screen porch at around 6:30 PM. We will be having a Lughnasa celebration on August 5th at 7 in the evening in Room 7 and the Screen Porch.

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. All are welcome to join in facilitated discussion and group bonding.

We will not be meeting next Wednesday, July 17th.

More!

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]

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

Our Greater Community

Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group

The Rissho Kosei-kai group meets Sundays at 2:00 PM in Room 1. This Sunday we do not meet as we feed the homeless on 5th Sundays! Contact Mary Tracy Sigman for info [email protected]