The Communicator
December 2019 Volume 36 Issue 12
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This Sunday, December 1st
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The Humanist Forum
meets every Sunday at 9:30 AM. All are welcome to attend. Join us as we engage in a new topic each week. The
Humanist Forum will be in Room 7 for the next 2 Sundays. Starting this Sunday, The Forum will start at 9:30 AM until further notice.
Our
Sunday Service
begins at 10:30 AM in the Miller Sanctuary. This Sunday, December 1st, we bring you a service entitled
On Becoming.
Our
Community Sharing
partner for December is the Quality Life Center.
Quality Life Center’s Arts, Character and Education (ACE) program provides after school, summer camp, and teen leadership programs to help at-risk youth realize their potential and foster their abilities. Performing arts help build confidence, discipline and resilience, and visual arts provide the opportunity for self-expression.
Quality Life Center’s ACE After school Program was named a 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program finalist by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services. This national recognition established ACE as one of the top arts and humanities based programs in the country.
Sunday's
Social Hour
happens after the service every week at 11:45 AM. Come join us for coffee and snacks. Newcomers, visitors, friends, and members are all welcome. Sponsoring groups are the Women's Circle and CUUPs. Donations of food, snacks, or cash are welcome.
Note- The UUCFM Office will be closed Thanksgiving Day and the day after.
Happy Holidays!
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Friendsgiving!
The Faith Formation team invites anyone staying in town to join us in Hobart Hall on Thanksgiving morning,
November 28th
, for a "Friendsgiving" Pancake Brunch! Buy your tickets to the Friendsgiving Brunch
this Sunday
in the Narthex, or fill out this online registration form and bring your payment to the brunch itself:
Member Art Fair & Lunch Fundraiser
December 1st and 8th will see the return of our Member Art Fair after the Sunday service from 11:30 to 1:30.
Come support our "Artists In Residence" booths. It's an excellent time to bring neighbors and friends. Please support our members' artistic talents and Next-to-New donations booths. Enjoy a $5 lunch of Quiche, salads, dessert, & beverage each Sunday. Door Prizes and Christmas Shopping. Bring your Next-to-New donations, priced and early to Hobart Hall each Sunday.
Work Day for Family Gardens
We have a few garden beds that need topping off of new soil. The new soil has been graciously donated by
Green Care Recycling
. Jim Morgan is organizing a work day for Saturday, December 14th starting at 8:30ish out by the gardens. Please come if you can spare about an hour. This is a great time of the year weather wise- being outside on a crisp morning with good friends is very rewarding. Please put December 14 on your calendars. (By the way, if you can, go on Facebook or Google and give a positive rating for
Green Care Recycling
!)
The UUCFM Board of Trustees meet on Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30 PM in the Administration Building.
The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
:
CUUPS will be honoring and celebrating Yule on Saturday, December 21st at 7:30 pm in Hobart Hall. We are going to again bring the bards with mirth and merriment. We cordially invite everyone to join us. Please bring a traditional dish of your family to our table as part of the feast. This is open to all. Bring a performance, your singing voice and your drum. Help us call in the solstice light. Dress in whatever finery you wish. We will again bring you merry measure. Join us, we cordially invite you to join our community of love and peace. Merry Yule and Solstice to all!
January 31- Feb 2: Imbolc gathering. Fire and Ice, camping, workshops, ritual to honor Bridget, lady of poetry, hearth and forge. More information soon. This is open to all. There will be child-friendly activities.
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.
$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 $20 for a semi-private room or $30 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]
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Groups & Classes
New Connection Circle Coming!
Want to connect on a deeper level with other UUCFM members, visitors, and friends? Then come to the Connection Circle on Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00 pm beginning January 8, 2020. Our circle will be meeting every week for 6 weeks so the meetings will be January 8, 15, 22, 29 and February 5th and 12th. Small group Connection Circles like this help promote bonding in a supportive atmosphere through facilitated discussions on spiritual topics that pertain to you and your life. Come join us in Room 2 and discover more about one another and about yourself.
For more information and to register please contact Mary Cline Golbitz at
[email protected]
or call or text 207-479-4082. Thanks and look forward to connecting with you!
T
he Men's Social Group
meets the second Tuesday of each month at 11:45 AM at Cross Creek Country Club (off Daniels at Cross Creek Blvd). This is time for UUCFM men to get together for fun, conversation, socialization, and lunch. Put this on your calendar and bring a friend. If you’re new to the UUCFM Men’s Social Group, please RSVP to Denis Jensen at
[email protected]
The Women's Circle
next meets on Tuesday, December 17th at noon. Bring a wrapped white elephant-type gift for a Robber Exchange. The theme is Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men. Looking ahead to January 28th New Year's "Looking Inward, self scoreboard." Contact Suzanne Ziemer 239-463-9020
[email protected]
The Book Club
meets Wednesdays from 1:00-2:30 PM in the Library. All are welcome to join in facilitated discussion and group bonding. We are starting a
new book on December 11th,
On the Brink of Everything
, by Parker Palmer. Palmer explores the question age raises and the promises it holds.
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A
rt in the Narthex
Every month the art work of our member artists is hung in the Narthex. Look for changing displays each month.
UUCFM & Caloosahatchee Mindfulness
invite participants to join our weekly meditation book group. The group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 AM in Room 3. Please contact Helen Leddy if you want to join.
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. Are you interested in playing an instrument 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
Mindfulness Meditation
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 6:30-8:00 PM in the Sanctuary. Contact Gary Robbins at 302-540-5899.
Wednesday Connection Circle
Lilibeth Grimes facilitates a
once monthly Wednesday evening circle,
Principles of Joy
. The goal for this 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 RSVP. We'll meet the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM.
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]
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News
Staff Holiday Bonus
There will be white envelopes marked "Staff" in the pews on December 1, 8, and 15. Please consider donating to our hard-working, loyal staff. This is the only bonus they receive each year. Place the envelopes in the collection basket during the offertory. Thank you!
South Fort Myers Food Pantry
As you may know the South Fort Myers Food Pantry began a fund drive in June to replace their aging truck used to transport food from the Harry Chapin Food Bank to stock the Pantry shelves. The goal was to raise $45,000 of the total estimated cost of $75,000.
Although the goal was not met in full, they were able to reduce the cost to $70,000 and they received a trade in value for the old truck of $5,000; thus reducing the cash needed. They have collected $36,000 from the 16 Coalition Members and Supporting Partners, Pantry volunteers and friends of the Pantry. To this, they added the balance from the reserves for equipment replacement to reach the needed $65,000. As the truck fundraising effort comes to an end, the South Fort Myers Food Pantry Coalition, Inc. expresses their gratitude to the UUCFM members. They hope to have our continued support in the future as they strive to fulfill their mission, to feed the needy of South Fort Myers.
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Meet the Minister-
Rev. Carlos will be holding a
Meet the Minister
session on December 8th at noon in the Minister's office. This is an opportunity to share your hopes and dreams for the future of UUCFM. Sign up with the Office Manager
Dinners Go Round Now Forming!
Dinners Go Round are forming for January through April. These potluck dinners offer you a chance to get to know your fellow UUCFM Members on an informal basis. One dinner is held each month at a host UUCFM member’s home on a date determined by the host and participants. If you didn’t participate last year and would like to do so this year, Email Denis Jensen by December 15th
Include your names, number, address and email address in your email. Let him know if you would consider being a host for one of the four monthly dinners, if there is one or more of the four months where you would not be able to participate, or if you need wheelchair accessibility.
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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:
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Want to Become a Member?
If you are interested in becoming a new member, please pick up a Membership Kit Sunday mornings in the Narthex or in the office during the week. Thanks!
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Our Greater Community
Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai group meets Sundays at 2:00 PM in Room Number 1. We do not meet on 5th Sundays.
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Quality Life Center Toy Collection
It's that time again! Time for UUCFM to
show our support for The Quality Life Center of SW Florida
and the important work they do teaching and mentoring children in under served areas of our community. We do this in two ways during December. First, as our Community Sharing Partner for the month and second,
by donating toys for their holiday party
.
They appreciate unwrapped gifts for all school aged children. Please, no toy guns or other items that promote violence! Be aware that battery operated toys are very expensive to play with and are bad for the environment. Kindly bring your donations to church and
place them under the Christmas tree in the Sanctuary or in Hobart Hall by Sunday 12/15
. Members of the Social Justice Ministry will take them to The Q on 12/18. Let's help The Quality Life Center celebrate a joyous holiday season and let them know that UUCFM supports the work they do, such as after school programs, art and dance classes, summer camp and their almost complete brand new teen center!
Thank you!
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Save the Date! The Southwest Florida Voices will be performing a concert on Sunday, December 15th, in the evening in Hobart Hall. More details to come next week!
The SWFL Concert Band will be performing a holiday concert on Sunday, December 15th at 2:00 PM in the Sanctuary. Admission is free! All ages welcome.
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Registration is now open at
uua.org/ga/registration
$400 for adults, $250 for high school youth and retired and candidate ministers,
$150 for off-site registrants. Early bird registration is now through March 15, 2020. Rates increase on March 16th.Prefer smaller payments over a longer period of time? We've designed a payment plan just for you. When you register, simply click "payment plan" when prompted and, for as little as $50 down, you can spread out the balance of your registration over several months. Payment plans must be paid in full on or before February 29th.
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Volunteer Opportunity
People go hungry and we can do something about it. There is an important volunteer opportunity to become the contact person from our congregation to the South Fort Myers Food Pantry. This volunteer will be a member of the Social Justice Team and be responsible for making sure the food gets delivered to the pantry, writing a few brief newsletter articles, and staying in touch with the pantry and what they need. You will be fully supported by the Team. Please get in touch with Karen Brown at
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Happy Birthday!
Dec 3 Carol Ungerleider
Dec 11 Dawn Lienhardt
Dec 12 Karen J. Brown
Dec 13 John Pittman
Dec 13 Kimberly Littleton
Dec 14 Lucy Wistreich
Dec 15 Lesley Peterson
Dec 15 Sydney Stewart
Dec 16 Matt Halstead
Dec 21 Harvey Heckes
Dec 30 Joy Sokeitous
Dec 30 Bruce Marble
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UUCFM | 13411 Shire Lane Fort Myers FL 33912
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