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IN THIS FLASH:
This Week’s Service IN PERSON at UUCGT - and ONLINE!
TIME: Sunday, December 4th at 10:30 AM
“Find A Stillness”
On this second Sunday of Advent, join us for a service of contemplative arts and music. What can this time of darkened stillness move in us?
Rev. Alex Jensen
Coordinator: Mary Anne Rivers
* Membership Orientation After Service *
For the complete Order of Service click HERE.
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If you’re joining us online, attend with YouTube by clicking here.
- If you are attending in person, please feel free to join us following the service for a time of community and fellowship in our Social Hall!
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Please submit Joys & Concerns before 9 AM on Sundays with the online form at: https://forms.gle/k1L7NynkwpamWynx7 or at UUCGT in the book in the Sanctuary.
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To view past Sermons - visit our website: UUCGT.org | | | |
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Membership Orientation After Service This Sunday!
Do you want to learn more about Unitarian Universalists or UUCGT? Join us after the service this Sunday, Dec. 4th for a Membership Orientation. There is no commitment from this time, just a chance for you to learn more and feel if membership at UUCGT is right for you. So come join us on Dec. 4th for more information! We'd love to have you!
Please contact Chris Lautz at chrislautz7777@gmail.com or 860-884-7741, just to let us know you might be coming so we have enough material available - thank you!
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Winter Sunday Service Cancelations & Building Closures
In the event of unsafe or inclement weather, we may need to cancel our in-person services at a moment's notice. Sunday service cancelations or closures will be determined by Rev. Alex, the Sunday Service Coordinator, and Staff. As the colder months approach, please be on the lookout for an emergency e-blast about possible closures and alternate plans for worship. We will also announce closures on our website and social media pages. Please be vigilant and stay tuned!
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A friendly reminder that it is cold and flu season, not to mention Covid season still - so we encourage you to stay home if you're feeling sick, and to wear a mask if you feel more comfortable that way! | |
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What a FUN Fundraiser! Thanks to all of you, we listened to uplifting music, had lovely food and drink, and bid and bought to provide UUCGT with $9,374! We still have a few outstanding sale possibilities, so we hope to break $10,000.
Thank you’s are due to all of you! Thank you for donating, setting up, cleaning up, providing food and cider and wine, serving people, checking folks in and out, and planning, and just enjoying each other. Many of you bid and won items, found goodies in the store to purchase, or signed up for services and classes. Please know, how ever you participated, you are truly appreciated!
ALSO...
There are still openings for the Donated Dinners Fundraiser!
I will be at UUCGT on 12/4 and 12/11 with sign-up sheets. Come to my table and see what's available! Hosts are Weavers (Comfort Foods dinner), Walters (PA Dutch dinner), Gribi's (Gourmet Shrimp dinner), Mary Anne Rivers (St. Patricks Day Irish dinner), John Hoffmann, (Beer and Brats picnic).
Lots of FANTASTIC choices - see you on Sunday!
- John Hoffman
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The children in RE will be holding a Fundraiser in December!
We will be selling cookie mixes in mason jars - they are perfect for gift-giving, or for making your own holiday cookies at home! The children chose to donate our proceeds to a local environmental protection organization called SEEDS.
Cookie mixes will be available for purchase after Sunday Services on December 11th and 18th!
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Here at UUCGT, we are going to tackle something that has not been addressed for a very long time...
The Deep Clean Project - HOORAY!!!
We will start with PHASE 1 (starting with the big unlocked closet first)
Please click HERE for the exciting details!
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Directory Corrections for Dec 2022
Changes to the Online Directory will be made monthly.
The changes will be noted in the Beacon and the first Flash of the month. To see the specific change, you will need to go to the online directory at uucgt.org. Go to “About Us” Then go to “Members and Friends Only”. You will need the password to get into this section. If you have not already done so, call the office to get the password.
- Pg 3 & 11 - Arica Eshelman name spelling corrections
- Pg 14 & 22 – Barney Hanchett not Bernard
- Pg 18 – Chris Lautz address change
- Pg 20 – Amanda Mangiardi address change
- Pg 25 Marge Rundell passed away
- Pg 29 – Carolyn Thompson has an asterisk by her name and street number added. TN address removed
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Pitch In and Shovel Walks for a Week?
Will you help shovel the walks this winter? A group of volunteers will be sharing the work, each responsible for a single week. Here’s how it will work: Each person takes on a week and assures that the walks will be clear of snow during that time. If it’s just a daily dusting it’s a quick job. If it’s a larger snowfall we call the rest of the group and those that can help out join the effort.
It is cost prohibitive to hire a service for this work, since our lake-effect snow sometimes falls a bit every day. Nor should it be one person’s full responsibility, as winter is long and our average snowfall is substantial. With this system, we share the work and contribute to a team effort. (The parking lot plowing is done by a pro, but the shoveling of the walks is not in their scope.)
If you are able-bodied and reside a reasonable distance from the building, please join the team. The more volunteers we get the fewer weeks anyone will be assigned.
Call text or email David Hassing to join. Dhassing13@gmail.com, 231.631.8757
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"OUR WHOLE LIVES" INFORMATION MEETING ON ZOOM AFTER SUNDAY SERVICE @ 1:30 PM ON DECEMBER 11TH
There will be a ZOOM Meeting for more information on OWL hosted by Director of RE, Betsie Hammerberg and Rev. Alex Jensen. Please contact Betsie for the ZOOM link information at dre@uucgt.org.
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Community Office Hours: Coffee with Rev. Alex!
Want to hang or visit with some of your friends from UUCGT over some tea, coffee, or sweet treats? Have a burning question or two for Rev. Alex? Grab a cup, pull up a chair, and come hang!
When: Thursday, Dec. 1st from 3 to 4:30pm
Where: Grand Traverse Pie Company at 525 W. Front Street
(next to Burritt's)
Drop in for as little or as long as you’d like - friends and acquaintances welcome!
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Penpals with Incarcerated Members
Have you ever considered becoming a penpal to one of our members currently experiencing incarceration? Might you and a friend join this important ministry?
From Susan Lio:
Hello fellow UU’s. I have been participating in this program since last year and highly recommend it. I have a penpal who is in a federal prison in Illinois. I have learned much about Bill and his family, his dreams and disappointments, and I am rewarded by getting hand-written letters that are thoughtful and heartfelt. During the cold dark months last winter Bill’s letters were something I looked forward to and that touched me deeply.
This is a low key, low demand ministry that can be done with little effort and high reward. It is a social justice ministry in that I feel I am doing a small bit to share my abundance of time and resources in a personally meaningful way. I may not be changing the system, but I do feel I am sharing my hope and my UU principles and values with someone who has had less abundance and freedom. The minimum commitment is only one letter per month, and the waiting list is long. I am happy to share more of my experience if you are interested. It is truly a treat to get a real letter delivered by USPS. There are way more incarcerated writers than free writers in the system.
Here are some ways to get involved.
Pen Pals Needed for Giving Tuesday
This year, the Church of the Larger Fellowship's Giving Tuesday, scheduled for November 29, will be a bit different. Instead of asking for a donation, the UU Church of the Greater Fellowship is asking more free-world UUs to work with our Worthy Now Prison Ministry. Our goal is to find 80 new free-world pen pals.
To be part of our Giving Tuesday goal, please click on this CLF Giving Tuesday link and let us know you are interested: https://clfuu.churchcenter.com/people/forms/468948
Holiday Messages
We continue to send holiday messages to our CLF members currently experiencing incarceration. So far, 116 volunteers have been able to send 1,741 messages! Each of our incarcerated members will now receive one message. Are we done? No! We would like to send a second message to all 1,646 members. One idea is to have your family gather around your Thanksgiving table for dessert and message writing.
More information here:
https://worthynow.org/3-simple-ways-to-spread-holiday-cheer-to-incarcerated-uus
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REMINDERS AND PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Interested in Getting More Involved at UUCGT? Click HERE to find out how!
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Vocal Ensemble: Rehearsals are Tuesdays at 6:30pm. All voices/experience levels welcome!
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Religious Education: Seeking help with our program during Sunday Service! Contact DRE Betsie Hammerberg.
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Sunday Service Greeters Needed: Please sign up on the sheets on bulletin board outside the office.
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Zen Buddhist Meditation/Study: * Tuesdays, 6:30-9 PM in Yellow Classroom/Zoom. Contact Anne Hughes for details.
* The Zen Buddhist Meditation/Study group will NOT be meeting in person on Tuesday, December 6th as several of us will be in retreat.
We WILL be gathering virtually (as we do every Tuesday) and the zoom line opens at about 6:15PM
Zoom line: 334 448 1137 / Password: buddha
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Soul & Creativity Matters Small Groups: Great opportunities for engagement and creation! Contact Kat Norman to get involved.
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WE ARE HIRING for RE Lead Teacher - Please click HERE for details!
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In order to keep Committee Lists current, please email ALL updates to Arica Eshelman at office@uucgt.org AND Chris Lautz at chrislautz7777@gmail.com when Committee members and/or Chairs change.
Many thanks!
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THE CALENDAR
The UUCGT calendar for the week may be viewed on our website at https://uucgt.org/21861-2/
| Again, please double-check if meetings are happening in person, online, or both; when in doubt please make sure the office knows your status. If you notice something is missing or in the wrong place on our calendar, please let the office know! | | | |
PLEASE NOTE: The Staff meet every Tuesday from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. The office will always be closed during this time. | | | |
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THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION
OF GRAND TRAVERSE
6726 Center Road
Traverse City MI 49683
231-947-3117
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