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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....
THE GROUT
The Unitarian Universalist congregation where I served as an intern made a mosaic Tree of Life the summer before I arrived. Congregants of all ages came together to craft the tree's leaves, using bits and pieces of broken ceramics, jewelry, glass, and stone. There are many precious personal items in the tree, including fragments of the Berlin Wall, a father's watch face, pieces of great grandmother's china, and a key to the front door of a loved home. Like the members of the community that brought them together, each part is imbued with memories and meaning; each fragment holds a piece of truth.
Unitarian Universalists are mosaic makers. We are a people who bring together the broken pieces of our histories and the shining pieces of our seeking and, piece by piece, create a mosaic religion. Our Tree of Life is found in the stories of our living tradition. The bead from a transformational moment of worship at a youth conference. The bit of paper stamped with the blazing emblem of the Unitarian Service Committee that saved lives during World War II. The button or patch on a backpack that proudly proclaims the first justice issue that lit our souls on fire. But our mosaic making tells another story too, one that is often more difficult to see. One that is essential to the purpose of religious community. One that lies not in the beautiful and broken bits and pieces, but in the grout.
Grout. The chalky, gritty stuff that is squeezed between the cracks of tiles. In a mosaic, the grout holds the image together, unifying disparate pieces into a whole. The grout of a community takes years to lay and settle. Grout happens in board meetings and committee meetings and endless emails and slow-moving institutions. It is in weekly potlucks shared by neighbors, a ride to church, and coffee in the social hall after worship....
We help to make the grout when we learn each other's names and when we reach out across generational divides. We help to make the grout when we show up on Sunday morning without having checked first to see if we're interested in the sermon topic. When a newborn arrives to be blessed by the community, it is the grout that enables us to welcome them. And it is in the grout that we rest when we gather to grieve and memorialize a beloved one who has died.
Hold us, O Grout.
Gather us in, through time and space, and make all our broken pieces whole in community. In our multiplicity, make us one. From each of our jagged edges, give us the shape of a communal beauty.
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Sunday Service
Sunday, November 11
10:30 AM:
"Armistice Day - 100th Anniversary
"
All Congregation Service - Margaret Wozniak,
Coordinator
The Great War, the war to end all wars, ended on November 11, 1918.
We will commemorate the 100th anniversary of that date, now called Veteran's Day which falls on Sunday this year. We will honor veterans of our own congregation as well as veterans everywhere.
All of us have memories of war and of how all wars have impacted the lives of our families
no matter if it was the Civil War, the Great War, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan
or the Middle East
.
Please join us on this day of remembrance and honoring those who have served.
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A note regarding our service on November 25: In keeping with the season,
members and friends are invited to speak of a personal gratitude.
Please contact Max Old Bear if you would like to participate in this service.
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Children & Youth Programs
Children and families are an important element within UUCGT. Currently, we are in the process of restructuring our Children & Youth Programs for Sunday mornings. Our intention and goals are to build
an excellent future with kids and youth in mind with
new and exciting programs, as well as having a new teacher/coordinator in place by the first of the year.
In the interim, child care is provided only for infants through age 4 in our Nursery.
All other children and youth are invited to remain in the service with their families.
Your input is welcome and encouraged!
Please contact Jolynn Paige, Child and Youth Program Task Force Coordinator at
heyjopaige@gmail.com
with your thoughts or suggestions.
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Thanks! from the UUCGT Facilities Team!
On Saturday, November 3, we had one of the most satisfying UUCGT Fall Clean-Up Days we have ever had! At least 15 people showed up and were actively involved in getting UUCGT ready for winter
.
For one of the first times, a family joined us and were most helpful! My hope is that other families will participate in future clean-up projects!
Most of the windows were washed inside and out; leaves were raked and disposed of; and our gasoline-powered equipment was serviced for the coming winter months.
The involvement of the Landscape Committee was greatly appreciated! Our grounds are more attractive because of their leadership and work; and t
he memorial garden has benefitted from the efforts of its committee as well.
Again, the Facilities Team is grateful for the congregational support of our Fall Clean-Up!
- David Halsted, chair
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UUCGT Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner!
Sunday, November 18
Gilbert Lodge @
Twin Lakes Park
Sign up on Sundays at UUCGT!
Prepayment:
$5.00/person or $15.00/family unit
Bring a dish to add to our bountiful feast
and your own table service
Everyone is Welcome!
Room and food set-up - 10:00
Arrival & Fellowship - 10:45
Brief Service - 11:00
Dinner - 11:30
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UUCGT Calendar of Events
Community Needs: Friday, November 9, 10:00am, library
New Moon Women's Circle: Saturday, November 10, contact Kat Norman @
kakn922@gmail.com
Singing Sisters: Saturday, November 10, 10:00am - 2:00pm, sanctuary
Private Memorial Service: Saturday, November 10, 3:00pm, sanctuary
Program Council: Sunday, November 11, 9:00am, classroom
UU Book Club: Sunday, November 11, 2:00pm, Marcia Bellinger will host
Stretch & Strengthen: Monday & Wednesday, 11:00am, social hall
Indivisible Grand Traverse: Tuesday, November 13, 11:30am, sanctuary
Bridge Group: Tuesdays, 1:00pm, social hall
Finance Committee: Tuesday, November 13, 4:30pm, office
UUCGT Board Meeting: Tuesday, November 13, 6:30pm, classroom
Note date & time change
Law of Attraction Meet-Up: Tuesday, November 13, 6:30pm, social hall
contact Sherry Davis
Death Café: Wednesday, November 14, 1:00pm, sanctuary
Membership Team: Wednesday, November 14, 4:15pm, library
Wednesday Supper/$5: November 14, 5:30pm, social hall - All are Welcome!
Shantideva Fan Club: Thursday, November 15, 9:30am, sanctuary
Congregational Care Team: Thursday, November 15, 1:00pm, library
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UUCGT Social Justice
Team meeting -
Sunday, December 2 @ 11:45am
Join us!
* * * * * * * * *
Imagine....a day without Water....
Some people must live for days without it.
Learn more:
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UUCGT Bulletin Board
UUCGT Board Meeting: Tuesday, November 13 @ 6:30pm
(Please note date & time change due to Thanksgiving holiday)
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Safe Harbor Volunteer Sign-ups start this week:
UUCGT is providing the volunteers for the Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter during the week from Saturday evening, December 8 through Saturday morning, December 15. There will be a sign up table in the Gathering Space for the next five Sundays both before and after the service.
Volunteer positions are available for those who wish to furnish, prepare and serve dinner, act as evening or overnight hosts, serve breakfast or help with morning cleaning duties. Please come and sign up to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
For more information contact Mike or Sandra McDonald at 231-935-3759 or
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Call for Art!
Our next UU Art Exhibition will be a collaboration of favorite pieces from your personal collections - always a favorite!
Select a piece of art and bring it to UU between November 4-11
Please include a short note on why this selection speaks to you
It is important for each piece to be labeled with your name and address.
Pieces will be returned January 6 - 12
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End Note...
Sometimes
Sometimes things don't go, after all, from bad to worse.
Some years, muscadel faces down frost;
green thrives; the crops don't fail,
sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.
A people sometimes step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care enough,
that they can't leave some stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.
Sometimes our best efforts do not go amiss;
sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow that seemed hard frozen:
may it happen to you.
~ Sheenagh Pugh ~
(In
Good Poems
, ed. by Garrison Keillor)
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UUCGT office hours
Mon
day - Thursday
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
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