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Weekly Communicator
November 24, 2022
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Minister's Musings
This week, I am in person again as we officially mark the beginning of the Christmas season. We will light the first candle of the Advent wreath and explore the ideas of waiting and wondering. Join us in person or on line. Following the service we will have a spaghetti lunch!
revsue@uucfm.org
call, WhatsApp call or message: +506 8891 2847
Facebook Messenger: Sue Gabrielson
Skype: suegabes
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Please send all newsletter articles by
12pm Wednesday for publication in Thursday's newsletter.
Send articles to newsletter@uucfm.org
**Please do not send requests to the office manager email**
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Out of the Office
Denise and Mickey will both be out of the office on Thursday and Friday. Denise will be checking emails, but will not check voicemails until Tuesday.
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Brewer Family Garden Update
We are preparing the gardens for this week’s Plant Swap and Festival. We are also planting beds for the food banks, and will continue to do so throughout the season. We still have beds for rent. Contact Bonnie Jean.
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Board of Trustees Update
The Board of Trustees met on the 8th and handled a lot of business. Your Treasurer gave us an update on our financials including an estimate of the damage from Ian, which has really taken a toll on our Congregation and community. Thankfully Rev. Sue is still able to distribute aid from the UUA grant for those in need. The Right Relations and Nominating Committees gave short reports, and we adopted an official Narthex Use Policy. The Stewardship Committee is really rocking and has a series of gatherings planned. Finally we selected our Volunteer of the Month - Gary Robbins!
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Volunteer of the Month
Gary Robbins was one of the driving forces to conceive of and build the organization we now know as the SWFL RESET Center, which is committed to making a difference in SWFL, through collaborative actions to reset human impacts on global warming and ecological systems through transformative education. Gary has served as a board member and an officer of the organization from its inception. Gary has been a valued member of the Worship Team - acting as a Worship Associate for many years. Acting from his heart of big compassion, Gary connected with many of our members during Hurricane Ian, and has become a member of our Pastoral Care Team.
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Thanks for Your Generosity
Rev Sue and the Board of Trustees would like to thank UUCFM members and friends who have generously donated over $4,000 to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund to assist households who are struggling to recover from Hurricane Ian damages. We give special thanks to the UU Church of Saco and Biddeford, Rev. Sue’s former church.
Rev Sue and the Caring Team have been able to assist a number of families with a cash donation and have distributed gifts cards to others in need. If you have a hardship, please contact Rev Sue:
revsue@uucfm.org
WhatsApp call or message: +506 8891 2847
Facebook Messenger: Sue Gabrielson
Skype: suegabes
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Community Sharing
The Alliance for Fair Food (AFF) is the vibrant, diverse ally network of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), the internationally-acclaimed farmworker organization transforming human rights in the U.S. agricultural industry. The principal focus of the Alliance for Fair Food is the Campaign for Fair Food, a farmworker-led, community-powered movement that successfully holds major food retailers accountable to the highest human rights standards in their produce supply chains.
www.allianceforfairfood.org
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COME SHARE TOGETHER AT A THANKFUL PARTY
WHEN: Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24th
WHERE: Hobart Hall
Dinner at 1pm. Food provided. (Donation for cost)
Afternoon of sharing, music, singing, dancing and other activities.
Contact Dorothy Van Howe by Tuesday, Nov. 22nd to RSVP.
We need to know how many dinners to prepare.
COME AND ENJOY!
Thanksgiving Menu: Turkey with dressing and gravy, spiral ham, roasted rosemary potatoes, honey glazed carrots, assorted fruit, green salad, rolls with butter, and pumpkin pie--need a head count. Call or email Dorothy. Dinner at 1 pm.
Email or call 239-560-7238
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Join us for the Fall Plant & Seed Festival this Saturday, Nov 26th!
YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN SWFL RESET Center at the beautiful Bill Brewer Family Gardens for a celebration of the amazing abundance and nutrition that is available to all from seeds planted in family and community gardens.
EXPERT GARDENING ADVICE & TIPS
The festival, which opens at 10:00 a.m. and lasts until 3:00 pm, will feature periodic Talks and Presentations throughout the day from Urban Gardening, Native plants, and Permaculture experts. Learn more about planting and sustainable growing that will benefit your diet, health, and the environment through proven and regenerative best practices. Residents whose home gardens and landscaping suffered during Ian can get expert counsel on how to revive and restore.
BUY PLANTS, SEEDS, SEEDLINGS & CUTTINGS, or SWAP/EXCHANGE! Local growers will be selling seeds, seedlings, cuttings, and plants to help residents repair and restore their gardens or landscaping after hurricane Ian and some will have donations to help community gardens that put food on the tables of those in need. Whether you are a family or community gardener or farmer, you'll also enjoy the Exchange where growers can swap seeds and plants. It’s a great way to SHOP LOCAL for the holidays.
MUSIC, FOOD & KIDS' ACTIVITIES
Multiple local bands and food trucks will be entertaining festivalgoers throughout the day, and kids will enjoy hands-on gardening activities.
ATTENDANCE IS FREE - A $5 DONATION AT THE GATE IS WELCOME (AND APPRECIATED!) ON EVENT DAY
Find us on Facebook
Get Directions
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Spaghetti Lunch
Come and enjoy a spaghetti lunch this Sunday at noon to honor our volunteers. We ask you to bring a salad, bread or dessert to share. We will be happy to see all of our snow birds back.
The Board
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Snowbird Follies: An Original Yuletide Revue-sical
Nomads from the north have been flocking to the sunshine state for well over 100 years. Come enjoy a whimsical musical yuletide celebration with a winking nod to Fort Myers' original snowbirds, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.
FREE TICKETS FOR UUCFM MEMBERS!
The Gulf Coast Symphony would like to see a packed house for opening night, so they are offering free tickets for UUCFM members. To get your free tickets, call (239) 277-1700 ext 108 and let them know that you are with UUCFM.
When:
Saturday, December 3, 2022 7:30PM
Location:
Music & Arts Community Center on the campus of UUCFM
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UU and You
An Invitation for Newcomers*
Sundays, December 4th & 11th
9:00-10:00 a.m. - Room 2
Informal discussion
Coffee & Cookies
Connections!
* Visitors & newer Members & All who seeking community are welcome!
Sign up appreciated: judyburget@gmail.com
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Dinner and a Movie-You Bet!
Do you miss having fun with your friends? Bring them along and come join us at All Faith’s on Friday, December 9th at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and a movie. We will start with a selection of assorted, handmade quiches, a garden salad and homemade tomato soup. Plus the meal will feature homemade bread with Flourless Chocolate Cake for dessert!
After dinner we will watch “Mission Joy”, a wonderful movie featuring the Dalai Lama and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu. This is a special, private showing of these two teachers as they discuss the nature of joy. Having been lucky enough to see the Dalai Llama speak in Boston, your host, Ariel Hoover, will introduce the movie with an anecdote about the Dalai Llama’s sense of humor.
You’ll go home full of delicious food and joy! Tickets are $20.00 each, kids under 12, $10.00. All moneys go to support All Faiths Congregation and its social and climate justice work in the community.
Tickets must be purchased in advance, so we know how much food to prepare. You can buy tickets at All Faiths on Sunday, November 27 or December 4 following the Sunday service. You can also send your check (made out to All Faiths) by mail to All Faiths Congregation, Attention: Movie Night, 2756 MacGregor Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33901. If you have any questions, feel free to email Ariel Hoover or call: 978-505-5599.
Hope to see you there!
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Coming Soon! New Horizons Music | |
2023 Florida UU Women's Retreat | |
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Revised Covid Protocol
The efficacy of vaccines and treatments has significantly reduced Covid’s danger for most of us. As a result, the protocols for campus events have been revised:
- MASKS ARE OPTIONAL BUT ENCOURAGED in the sanctuary during worship services.
- Masks are optional for coffee and other functions in Hobart Hall.
- In classrooms, the library and other small spaces, masks are still required UNLESS everyone present agrees otherwise. We’ll continue to be respectful and protective of those of us whose immunity is impaired.
- Worship services will continue to be available via Zoom.
Although the Covid risk level will continue to fluctuate, I’m sure all of us hope the worst of the pandemic is behind us. We’ll continue to monitor the risk and change the guidelines as needed to protect our congregation.
Please reach out to me with any questions
Namaste,
Mary Studer
President, UUCFM Board of Trustees
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