Weekly E-News, July 18, 2019

July 18, 2019

Weekly E-News

Sunday Services in July-

Cycles of Life

July 21

Cycles of Life Part 3: Midlife

July 28

Cycles of Life Part 4: Elder

Humanist Forum

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.

Social Hour

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.

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 UUCFM Choir rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:00 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Come join us in singing!

The UUCFM Band rehearses most Wednesday nights from 5:45-6:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 9:10 in the Sanctuary. Do you play an instrument? Are you interested in playing with the UUCFM band for worship? If so, please schedule an audition time with me by email. Come join us in making music together!

Suellen Kipp, Director of Music

[email protected]

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. Kits are also available on Sunday mornings in the Narthex or in the office during the week.

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

Social Justice

Join us to Witness in Homestead!

Email the Director of Religious Education, Jenn Blosser, to get more information about helping to witness at the for profit Homestead human detention camp.

We will organize a bus to Homestead, spend the day at the witness camp (operating from 10a - 4p) and then return home the same day. Help is sorely needed to maintain vigil over this center. Jenn is in talks with the folks managing Witness Homestead to organize the best date, but we are looking at a weekday late this month. Email Jenn for more information - show up for justice!

Jenn Blosser

[email protected]

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. 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. 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 617-750-0470 or email [email protected] .

UUCFM Groups & Classes

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 41

12:00 PM Monday, July 22nd

Please RSVP to Peg Clayton Fischer at [email protected]

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.

Covenant of UU Pagans

We will be having a Lughnasa celebration on Saturday, August 3rd at 7 in the evening in Hobart Hall and the Screen Porch.

Wednesday Connection Circle

LilibethGrimes [email protected] will be facilitating a once monthly Wednesay evening circle called 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 member, family, and friends. 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. Here is the schedule:

September 11: Third Principle: Acceptance of One Another and Encouragement to Spiritual Growth in our Congregations

October 9: Fourth Principle: A Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning

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

December 11: Sixth Principle: The Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty, and Justice for All

January 8: Seventh Principle: Respect for the Interdependent Web of all Existence of Which we are a Part.

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. Contact Gary Robbins at 302-540-5899.

The UUCFM Book Club 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.

UUCFM-Caloosahatchee Mindfulness

UUCFM and Caloosahatchee Mindfulness invite participants to join our weekly meditation book group. The group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 AM at UUCFM in Room 3. This is a continuing group with a new home.

Our first meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 7th. We will be reading: Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wise r by Lewis Richmond.

"Everything changes. For Zen Buddhist priest and meditation teacher Lewis Richmond, this fundamental Buddhist tenet is the basis for a new inner road map that emerges in the later years, charting an understanding that can bring new possibilities and a wealth of appreciation and gratitude for the life journey itself."

All are invited to attend. For more information contact Helen Leddy [email protected]

Pachamama Alliance of SWFL

This is your chance to participate in a World Cafe!

Our Game Changer Gathering will be the second Thursday evening in August—the8th—and it promises to be an entirely new kind of experience for those of us who are passionate about creating a more environmentally sustainable community. Just imagine having the unique opportunity to connect with many other game changers in a new way--a way that will reflect your priorities for addressing the most critical environmental issues we face in Lee County.

PASWFL and the Lee County Democratic Environmental Caucus are partnering to bring this special highly interactive program to us, and it promises to be an enlightening experience for every one. We’ll be gathering at UUCFM 6:30 to 8:30 PM on Thursday, August 8th, and we hope to see you there! For questions, email Gary Robbins: [email protected]

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]

More!

Make money for UUCFM just by using this link to shop Amazon. smile.amazon.com/ch/59-1160337

Member to Member

As Rev. Carlos prepares to head to Fort Myers, he would like to find a home for Stripe, his 14 1/2 year male (neutered) tabby. He has had him since 2005 so the Rev. is an excellent character reference.

Stripe is an independent athletic cat who exhibits a strong attachment to people. He can sometimes be observed regressing into kitten-hood particularly when stroking his head as his mother might have. He is also known to allow the rubbing of his fleecy golden belly.

He is a good mouser. He has long resigned his membership to the Audubon Society and wears a bell around his neck to remind him of his friendly brand of bird-o-philia. If you’re interested, Rev. Carlos will be happy to share more details about this lovely creature of God. Call or text Rev. Carlos at 914 830 2420 . Thank you!