Weekly E-News August 15, 2019

Weekly E-News

August 15, 2019

This Sunday!

Join us this Sunday, August 18th for our 10:30 AM service. Our topic this week is From Safe to Brave Spaces.

Our Community Sharing Partner for August is the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida. Their mission is to enhance the quality of children’s lives by providing families, early childhood educators, care-givers and community partners in Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties, with opportunities to positively impact the future.

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.

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 pick up a Membership Kit on Sunday mornings in the Narthex or in the office during the week. Thanks!

Did you know your purchases can help us? AmazonSmile donates to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers when you do your online shopping by following this special link to Amazon:

smile.amazon.com/ch/59-1160337

Building Supervisor Out

Our Staff Building Supervisor, Mickey Kellam, is recovering from strep surgery and will not be returning to work until September 1st. A "UUCFM Work Party" will be held on all Saturdays starting at 9:30 AM and done by 12:00 noon. We will be checking supplies in bathrooms, vacuuming, emptying waste paper baskets, etc. Any help is appreciated,including putting chairs and furniture back in place after use. Keeping our grounds and buildings looking good for our members and renters is our goal.

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]

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.

Special Request from the South Fort Myers Food Pantry

A few months ago we made a special donation to the South Fort Myers Food Pantry through our Community Sharing Program. This was for food purchase and general operations, utilities, gas, and repairs.

In addition to food and overhead they rely heavily on equipment to complete their mission, "to feed the needy of South Fort Myers". They have had a large used box truck for ten years which has recently been causing them problems; for example, the brakes gave out while returning from picking up food at Harry Chapin. They have not been able to find a "good" used truck that fits their needs. Hence, they are looking at bids for a new truck Their goal is to get a truck ordered by October.

The board has voted to set aside $30.000 towards the purchase of the new truck. They are asking all coalition members and friends to consider donating funds toward this purchase in addition to your continued support of the pantry through volunteerism, food drives and financial support. They need to raise an additional $45,000 to reach their goal. Please spread the word and know that any amount to help them reach their goal will be appreciated.

Donations may be sent to: South Fort Myers Food Pantry Coalition, Inc.

8260 CypressLake Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919. For questions see Fran Rose or email her at [email protected]

UUCFM Groups & Classes

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 1:00-2:30 PM in the Library of our Administration Building. All are welcome to join in facilitated discussion and group bonding. Our next book will be Life Before Life by Jim Tucker, MD. We will start this book Wednesday, August 28th at 1:00 PM. Please read chapters one and two.

Wednesday Connection Circle

Lilibeth Grimes 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 members, family, and friends. Please email 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. You don't have to attend all sessions. 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.

[email protected]

Women's Circle

Join the Women’s Circle for Lunch at Perkins, 14801 Tamiami Trail on the Southeast corner of Route 41 and Ben C Pratt on Tuesday, August 27th at 1:00 PM.

RSVP: Peg Clayton 267 467 1622 or [email protected]

If you need a ride, please let me know when you RSVP.

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.

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