Worship in May: Truth
Service at 10:30 am Sundays in the Miller Sanctuary
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Community Sharing in May: Planned Parenthood
The mission of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida is to ensure the right of all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health by providing medical services, education, and advocacy.
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend. This week:
Solving Challenges for Children with Special Needs
Many parents of children with special needs have trouble answering questions about their child, because their child may experience challenges of being nonverbal, experiencing sensory overload, having ADHD, or psychomotor agitation (restlessness). A local firm has developed an artificial intelligence platform to aid parents and teachers in addressing children with special needs.
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Coffee Hour
Sunday's Coffee Hour happens after church every week and is provided by volunteers from the Women's Circle on the first Sunday, CUUPS on the second Sunday, Humanist Forum on the third Sunday, Men's Group on the fourth Sunday and if there is a fifth Sunday, it is All Church. Any donations of food, snacks or cash are welcome.
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BURN Youth Group
The Youth Group meets on Sundays at noon, usually in Room 4! There is a car wash in the parking lot this week!
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Membership Committee Meeting
There is a membership Committee meeting Sunday, May 20th at noon in the Conference Room.
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From the Minister
Times of transition and flux can be a challenge. At the same time, these moments can offer opportunities for new possibility and new learning. From the perspective of our mission, to love, grow, and serve, the transitions of governance, worship, and music direction could entice you into a deeper level of engagement with your growth as a Unitarian Universalist.
In the midst of all the transitions in our lives, within the walls of our church and outside of them, we are also invited to be gracious with ourselves and one another. Let us generously exercise the use of forbearance and go gently forward into the unknown together. My faith tells me that, no matter what, if we tune our hearts to our mission, love will guide us through.
I am so grateful for the loving devotion and service of our former director of Music Amy Laursen. I am equally grateful to receive Suellen Kipp as our acting director of music for the next few months as a search committee discerns and selects a new director of music.
Rev. Allison Farnum
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Religious Education News
During our Flower Communion service on May 6th, those at the Intention Table were invited to make tissue paper flowers. Children, youth, and adults went to work with green pipe cleaners and colorful strips of tissue paper to create an amazing bouquet of impressive petals. One of our youth, an origami rock star, even created a lily using our order of worship for the day!
These delicate flowers, created in the sacred space of our Sanctuary, filled with the echos of world class musicians and our love-centered Flower Communion ritual, are holy. They represent the beauty and joy of our church community, as well as our purpose. Yesterday, I spent some time to gather them together into a vase so that we can deliver these colorful gifts to our community sharing partner this month, Planned Parenthood.
I am grateful to everyone who came to the Intention Table to invest this beautiful gift with their love. Our support of Planned Parenthood, locally and nationally, is total. I hope that this bright bouquet can fill their office with gratitude for and support of the work they do.
Jenn Blosser
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Music Notes
Musical Calendar
May 20:
In honor of Harvey Milk Day, Karen Feinan covers Pauley Perette's 2016 pop song
Beautiful Child
, and the Choir harmonizes Fred Small's heartfelt folk song
Everything Possible
.
May 27:
Peter Golbitz covers Bob Dylan's
Blowin' in the Wind,
and the Choir sings beloved UU hymn about the beauty of religious diversity,
Let This Be a House of Peace
.
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. Please email me in advance so that a music folder can be prepared for you. 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, Acting Director of Music
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Special Events
Wizard Camp
Sign up for Wizard Camp! This year's summer camp will start on June 11th and finish Friday, June 15th with a banquet in Hobart Hall. You can register here:
uucfmwizardcamp.webs.com
We are also seeking volunteers!
Whether it's
teaching a class, assisting with those who teach, or any of the prep work, we need you!
Future wizards and soothsayers can partake in a Sorting Hat Ceremony, become Quiddich players, make cloaks and wands, send out Wishes for the World, take classes on Incantations, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Muggle Studies, and more! Alchemy, potions, and divination await them at the School of Wizardry Summer Camp,
June 11 through June 15th from 9:00 am -4:00 pm.
(with optional before and after care). Prices range from $175-200. Also, there will be a feast on Friday at 6:00 pm as a culmination of our week of wizardry!
Be sure to register soon! Once a certain number of campers is reached, registration will be closed. Feel free to Contact Us on our web page with any questions you might have! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
- email Krista at
kriserta@gmail.com
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Member Login Website Help
Our congregation's website has a Members Services section, but you must register for access. Have you been having troubling registering or logging in? Lesley and Walter Peterson, along with Mark Brandon, will be available in Hobart Hall after the service on May 20th to assist anyone who wishes help with the registration or login process. Please stop by their table and they'll make certain to help you log into our website successfully.
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FUUn BUUnch is Back!
Meet us Saturday,
May 26th at 6:30 p.m.
At Bianca’s Ristorante
DIRECTIONS TO
BIANCA’S Ristorante ITALIANO
12651 North Cleveland Avenue
North Fort Myers, Fl 33903
239 995 3272
Go Northbound over the Caloosahatchee River Bridge. Continue on No. Cleveland Ave. Go over Littleton Road, past Bianca’s Restaurant on the left and make the first “U” Turn. Bianca’s is in the Tamiami Plaza on the Right Side.
PLEASE RSVP FOR A PLACE AT A TABLE by May 23, 2018. The restaurant needs firm numbers to accommodate us.
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Soul Collage
Registration is now open for two all-ages family-oriented MeCards4Kids
TM
sessions in June!
MeCards4Kids was developed out of SoulCollage®, a collage and journaling process for adults, adapted for the interests and needs of children and their families. During this workshop you and your family will be invited to collage cards that represent your inner lives and creative potential. Through the process of making MeCards, the children visualize, name and work with their feelings and with different aspects of themselves. The workshop will end with the young people creating their own poem describing their card, through a simple fill in the blanks template. Adults will also be given hand-outs that can help them develop their own SoulCollage® practice at home.
MATERIAL DONATIONS NEEDED!
If you have any magazines, pictures, or books which you would be willing to donate for use in the SoulCollage (TM) sessions, please drop them off in the designated box in Hobart Hall (you can't miss it - it's furry!) Thank you!
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Book Group
A new round of book study begins meeting Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:30 pm weekly, beginning May 23rd. This time, we read the newly-released nonfiction work by the late, great Zora Neale Hurston,
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo."
It is based on her interviews in 1931 with Cudjo Lewis, the last living survivor of the Middle Passage.
Come having read the foreword, introduction and Chapter 1.
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Mindfulness Meditation
Join us on Monday evenings to explore the very simple and satisfying practices of mindfulness and meditation. You don’t need experience with meditation, nor do you have to be a Buddhist. Do please bring an intention to quiet the mind and the 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. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Robbins at
pachamamaelder@gmail.com
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Optimal Living Group
The Optimal Living Group is open to all and does not require attending every session. We meet in the Sanctuary on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 4:00-5:30 pm. We discuss how to live optimally, including practical ways to cope with life's challenges and issues. Helping others and developing maturity in ourselves is part of our quest. We explore many paths and techniques for enriching our lives and making a difference for others. For more information, fill out a blue card found in the pews or email Neil Yesu:
dbny79@aol.com
.
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UUCFM Gaming Group
The UUCFM Game Group is the club for you. We do our best to meet in Room 7 on Sundays after church from 1:00-4:00 pm. Those of us with children can't always make it so please check the Facebook group page (UUCFM Gaming Group) to see if games are scheduled.
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Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays at 1:45p in Room 1. All are welcome to join us.
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Community Wednesday
Community Wednesday is held in Hobart Hall. All are invited- they whole family, friends, and neighbors. Join us each Wednesday for a delicious meal prepared by Chef Joy for a small donation. After the fellowship and fine fare from 6:00- 6:45p, join your favorite programming event, committee meeting, or social activity. Child care is provided until 8:30p.
Community Wednesday Activities for May:
4:00-5:30
Optimal Living Group (1st & 3rd Wed)
6:00-6:45
Community Meal
6:00-6:45
Band Rehearsal in Sanctuary
6:45-8:00
Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary
May 30th will be the last Community Wednesday Dinner until September. Enjoy your summer! Rehearsals and Events will continue through summer.
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Help Care for the Plants in our Sanctuary
Linda Johnson has graciously accepted the task of caring for the Sanctuary plants. Thanks Linda!
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry
The response for food donations has been consistently good over the last year. The need is still there and UUCFM has been a strong supporter of the pantry. I have not been able to post the pantry newsletter but there is one at the Social Justice table listing the number of people fed by the pantry for the last year. Easter is early this year which means many people will be heading north earlier too. Consequently, many people will lose seasonal jobs and the need for food donations and volunteers will be just as great as it is now. Keep that in mind. Remember to bring at least one can each week and consider volunteering during the summer months. Questions? Email Fran Rose:
francrose@centurylink.net
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Art in the Narthex
This month the artwork of Joan Hickok and Judith Lancaster is on display in the Narthex. Joan is showing her watercolors and mixed medium pieces and Judith is showing her acrylic paintings. Kind comments are welcome.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers.
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Do you have something to offer, trade, or sell? Are you looking for something? Free ad space here for personal items only. Will run ad for 4 weeks. Email
uuchurch@uucfm.org
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If you are a UUCFM Community Sharing Partner, a regular Facility User, or have UU related news to share, you are welcome to submit announcements for publication in our Greater Community section of the newsletter. Please send announcements in by Wednesday for publication in the Thursday E-news.
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Note:
The following camp is for Home School Rocks, a renter of UUCFM. This camp is not run by or sponsored by UUCFM.
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SWFL Gay & Lesbian Chorus
In honor of your continued support we, the SWFL Gay and Lesbian Chorus, are offering a discounted rate of only $10.00 to join us at our 25th Anniversary celebration at the Edison Restaurant below on Sunday June 10th at 2:00 pm for a trip down memory lane and a light lunch and full concert. Please see Albie or Carole this Sunday the 20th for your tickets. Hope to see you all there.
Carole Latino, VP
Alberita (Albie) Johnson
Southwest Florida Gay and Lesbian Chorus, Inc.
SWFGLC Board of Directors, President
PO Box 62331, Fort Myers, FL 33906-2331
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May 21 Mary Golbitz
May 23 Cathy Snow
May 24 Nancy Beecher
May 24 Elise Sexton is 17!
May 29 Stephanie Moreland
May 30 Diane Buckley
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Newsletter Editor: Jill Carville
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Board of Trustees
President
Matt Hoffman 239-222-4836
mwaters106@yahoo.com
President Elect
Secretary
Alison Carville 239-634-0487
alisoncarville@gmail.com
Treasurer
VP Finance
VP Programming
Cathy Snow 239-896-3693 cm
snow23@gmail.com
VP Ministerial Services
Lesley Peterson 239-839-4434
unicorn@cyberstreet.com
VP Operations
Mary Alice Pierce 239-267-4429
piercemaryalice@gmail.com
Member at Large
Don Ehat 239-947-8143
don.ehat@gmail.com
Staff
Minister
Acting Director of Music
Suellen Kipp
s
uellen.kipp@gmail.com
Director of RE
Office Manager
Building Supervisor
Nursery Supervisor
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