|
Weekly Communicator
May 5, 2022
| |
|
Sunday Service
Join us this Sunday at 10:30am in the Sanctuary* or via Zoom at
https://zoom.us/j/5264858673
or listen to audio only at UUCFM.org
*Please remember that masking and social distancing indoors remains in effect
| |
Happy Mother’s Day to every mother, and every parent there ever was and will ever will be. Beautiful and Precious are you. Lay Ministers, Alberita Johnson and Mary Cline Golbitz will join Worship Associate Gary Robbins, VP of Programs and Acting DRE Karen Brown, and VP of Worship Lesley Peterson as we explore the beauty of Mother Wisdom. | |
|
SOCIAL HOUR
We will not be having Social Hour this Sunday. Social Hour will resume next Sunday.
| |
|
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**
| |
|
Follow up on Gary's Reflection
On Sunday, May 1st, Gary Robbins mentioned in his reflection a 21 page article by David Korten entitled "Ecological Civilization: From Emergency to Emergence." It is an exploration of many of the social and ecological crises we currently face, with some fascinating concrete approaches to their resolution. (The book from the Harvard Negotiation Project that he referenced is "Getting to Yes," by Fisher and Ury.)
The link to the Korten article is here.
| |
|
WELCOME NEW MEMBER
LYNN LACY
Lynn joined on Feb. 27, 2020 and immediately began to welcome others in the Narthex and you'll find her there on Sundays as an ambassador for joining UUCFM activities. She has lived in Cape Coral for 40 years with her partner, Jim Rose. Her initial connections to UUCFM was through her sister, Leslie Gatto and Lynn's son, Jonathon and his girlfriend, Julia Davis, who were members until their move to Lakeland, FL. Lynn has been a commercial investment realtor for decades and now owns and operates several residential rental units. She loves to play Bocce Ball and Mahjongg and counts the Visual Arts among her hobbies. She says, "I look forward to making friendships
with like-minded people and volunteering".
| |
|
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
| |
|
Tech team volunteers needed
Tech team volunteers are needed every Sunday. Please come see Walter Peterson in the sound room after service if you would like to volunteer.
| |
|
UU Dialogues volunteers needed
UU Dialogues needs volunteers to help out with moderating.
We need two people every Sunday, one from home and the other person zooming from the library. Right now we have a handful of people who are working almost every other Sunday. We need two or three or more people to help carry the load! If you come to church every week please consider spending a half hour after service to join our online friends. If you are unable to attend service please consider zooming from home. We need all the help we can get! Thank you for considering helping out. If you can help please let either myself or Mary Studer know.
Warmly,
Carole Latino
| |
|
SMALL GROUP MINISTRY
beginning May 5
UUCFM has a long history of Small Group Ministries. One of these is the Connection Circle. It's a way for newer and long-term members, those thinking of membership and guests to get to know each other and themselves in deep and meaningful ways. Participants are provided with Quotes and Questions prior to each session, then led in discussion of the topic by co-facilitators, Mary Cline Golbitz and Leslie Gatto.
The next 6 week session will be held on the first and third Thursdays of May, June and July from 1:30-3:00 by Zoom. The dates are May 5, 19, June 2, 16, July 7, 21. Participants are asked to make a commitment to attend each session.
Please contact Leslie Gatto to secure your place in the group or if you have questions gatto.leslie@gmail.com or 239.850.9664.
We look forward to our time together. Leslie & Mary
| |
|
Campus Sharing Update: Fort Myers Friends (Quakers)
In the last ENews article in November about our discussions regarding a Fort Myers Quakers meeting hall on our campus, we discussed investigating a north property alternative. As of this writing, that area has been found to be unavailable due to environmental and setback zoning restrictions.
We are revisiting the original property site just east of the east parking lot, in the Paul Holton Eco-Preserve. Our last update (November) also mentioned that the UUCFM Board of Trustees had agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding and a Covenant with the Fort Myers Quakers. Since then, the Board has approved in principle a Land Lease Agreement for the meeting house arrangement. Prior to any official action on the Lease, the Board is conducting a second Congregational Zoom Forum to apprise the Congregation of the proposed relationship and to receive feedback from the Congregation.
Please plan to attend the Zoom Forum to learn about the tentative plans and to offer your thoughts.
Friday, May 6 @ 4:00pm, Zoom meeting ID: 997 3361 3327, Passcode: 992358
Representatives from the Fort Myers Friends will be present to answer any questions you might have for them.
Board of Trustees
| |
|
Another UU Church in Need
On May 7, 1994, our office manager Denise Greenwood married her high school sweetheart, the late Erik Stevens, at Emerson Church Unitarian Universalist in Troy, MI.
This historic 110 year old church, now known as Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, is in need of repairs to the roof and the sanctuary.
Please help Denise honor what would've been her 28th wedding anniversary, and help save this church, by donating if you can. For more information, click here.
| |
|
Social Justice Committee
I highly recommend this video which was brought to my attention by Karen Brown.
The video is of several people answering the same questions about a variety of topics: Institutional racism, Person of Color, Racist, Ally, Microaggressions to name a few.
The video is an hour long and there are good places to pause.
Our local chapter of Coming to the Table will discuss these questions in our May 13th gathering at 1-2:30pm by Zoom. You are invited to join us.
Please contact Helen Dixon, helendixon9@gmail.com or 239-633-4989.
Helen Dixon and Carole Latino, Co-chairs of Social Justice Committee
| |
 | |
Monday Book Group
On May 9, we’ll continue our discussion of Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. For more info, click here to contact Mary Studer.
Mindfulness Opportunities
We have two online sitting practices each week for you. We practice mindfulness and discuss a reading. If you don’t have the books, you're still welcome to sit with us.
The Monday sangha meets at 6:30-7:45 p.m. and is discussing Beyond Mindfulness by Stephan Bodian. Contact Mary Studer for details.
The Wednesday sangha meets between 10:00-11:30 a.m. in coordination with Caloosahatchee Mindfulness. It’s discussing After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path by Jack Kornfield. Contact Helen Leddy for more information.
Social Issues Book Group
Meeting every other Friday from 3-4:30pm. They are reading Our Time Is Now by Stacey Abrams. Contact Helen Leddy helen.leddy@gmail.com or Helen Dixon helendixon9@gmail.com for more information.
Poetry Circle
We read and discuss in detail a variety of poems, often related to our UU experience, usually centered around a weekly theme. Members share their own work for discussion as well, if they want to, but you do not need to be a writer to join. We offer weekly prompts, although there is no obligation to follow them.
This is an ongoing Zoom group. New members can join at any time, and we really hope you will. Contact Judi Dettorre judidet84@gmail.com or Cat Pivetti joypivet@aol.com for more information.
We meet every other Tuesday. We will meet from 1pm to 3pm. This a change from the original time.
| |
|
Eagle Scout Project You Can Rest Assured
Nearly every year one of the aspiring Eagle Scouts, from the Troop that calls our campus Home, brings their project to our campus in a wonderful collaboration. Brandon Bill just recently finished his beautiful benches and Adirondack chairs project, which he calls “Seating for the Citizens at UUCFM,” to help make our campus more enjoyable for all who come here.
Brandon started Scouting in the 3rd grade. Now 16, Brandon looks back on all the skills he’s learned and the “amazing” friends he has gained in his Scouting experience. He has earned 35 merit badges during his youthful journey. He has attended National Youth Leadership Training and has been inducted into the Order of the Arrow. I have had the honor of meeting Brandon and working with him during his Eagle Scout project; he is an upstanding young man with budding leadership skills. As a successful Scout, he is “Prepared, for Life.”
He has completed designing and building 10 benches and 4 chairs around the new labyrinth, fire pit, the lake, picnic areas, and trail entrance in the Holton Eco-Preserve. As you sit to enjoy our campus, you’ll notice these comfortable benches/chairs are made with long-lasting composite decking material. We all applaud and appreciate Brandon’s creative efforts and wish him well as he embarks on his youthful challenges in life.
Bill Petrarca
| |
The Bill Brewer Family Gardens | |
|
UPDATE
We welcome our new volunteer Jodi Hahn who will work with Bonnie Jean on Sunday mornings in our garden.
We will also saying a Temporary Good bye to our steadfast volunteer Michele Bellinger who will be going to New Jersey for an educational position for five months. We will all miss her.
| |
|
60 Years - Holding Strong
Writing is underway for our 60th anniversary play, "Over 60 Years Holding Strong". It's been 60 years since June 20, 1961 when UUCFM received its Charter from the UUA. Your reflections and ideas are needed to make this updated play as complete as possible. The more ideas and reflections the better. We are building on the 40th Anniversary Play produced in 2002. To be part of this effort, contact 60th Play Coordinator, Suzanne Ziemer, suzanneziemer@gmail.com, 812-332-3450.
| | | | |
