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Congregational
Mission
Statement
We are a Congregation creating a better world by nurturing the heart and expanding the mind.
We provide a safe, caring community where all can freely explore diverse religious thought.
We work for justice and equality with the power of compassion and compassionate power.
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UUCGT Quicklinks
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If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter
the Beacon
please contact
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Today's Flash was finished and scheduled for sending before I left yesterday, but last night two pieces of news came in that are worth not only sharing but celebrating -
First, Treasurer Karl Keinath and the Finance Committee very happily report that the Congregation's Small Business Administration PPP LOAN HAS BEEN FORGIVEN in its entirety!
Second, Mike & Sandra McDonald shared this photograph of the FIRST IN-PERSON WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER GROUP this year!
Further, Mike writes, "We enjoyed food, drink and most importantly, fellowship in the UUCGT parking lot this Wednesday. Please join us at 5:30 pm (weather permitting) at the UUCGT parking lot on future Wednesdays. Bring your own food, drink and chair.
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THIS SUNDAY:
For the Service, the Zoom link is here.
The Service begins at 10:30 AM; you can sign in at 10:00 AM to visit!
Sunday's Service
5.23.2021
TRANSITION:
Working Through Our Anxiety
Sunday's Service is coordinated by Pam Hendricks and led by Reverend Cathy Harrington. Six Congregants will share stories, thoughts, and feelings on the subject of Transition:
Mary Anne Rivers
Jim Linsell
Barb Culton
Barb Termaat
Susan Lio
Cathy Harrington
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Again, the Zoom link for SUNDAY SERVICE is
You may read and/or download the Order of Service here.
You can view the Service of Sunday May 16th, including the vote to call Candidate Alex Jensen, here! You will need the passcode #351o6Vd
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MINISTERIAL SEARCH TEAM REPORT
We did it! Most importantly, we did it together - during a pandemic! We, the UUCGT Family, demonstrated that being united in a worthy cause can result in achievement of lofty goals.
As a team, we felt your support and appreciated your patience all through the process that began in earnest during August 2020, and steadily picked up momentum throughout the search. You showed up in impressive numbers for the various opportunities offered during Candidating Week. Your faith sustained us, and your enthusiasm carried us through to a happy conclusion. We brought you our candidate, Alex Jensen, and 118 of you rocked the vote to call him as our new Settled Minister.
By choosing us to represent you in the search, you gave us more than you can imagine. The seven of us will always enjoy our special bond, and our love and commitment and UUCGT is greater than ever because of this exceptional experience. We thank you Sincerely and look forward to New Beginnings.
Love,
Mary, Geoff, Charles, Dusty, Jim Chris, Jan
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Changes to Interim Reopening Plan
5/18/21
UUCGT Gathering Restrictions
In person committee and small group gatherings are allowed with these limitations:
- Indoor capacity limit 25
- Outdoor full capacity
- Social Distancing required
- Masking required for those who are not fully vaccinated
- Attendance/sign-in log required; you can download a log including instructions and a blank form here.
- Group leader is responsible for notifying attendees of the requirements and for ensuring the sign in sheet is completed and returned to the office
- Applies to
- Board and Committee Meetings
- Small group gatherings
- Wed night supper
- VE practice
- Building rentals
- At this time does not apply to:
- Sunday Services and associated VE, Child
Care, Hospitality - RE
Contact Tracing
UUCGT will maintain logs of attendees at all gatherings, to be held in confidence at the office unless needed for contact tracing. Logs are to be destroyed after one month if not needed for contact tracing. The logs will include a phone number for each attendee who is not fully vaccinated.
If UUCGT is informed of a potential exposure, a member of the ROTF will notify the Grand Traverse Health Department and will coordinate contact with non-vaccinated attendees.
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PLEASE NOTE:
Our Office Administrator, Guy, has ZERO authority to grant permission for gathering in the building! Please contact Mary Anne Rivers or other members of the Re-Opening Task Force with your questions.
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MUSIC
from Renée Russell
"A Few Notes"
In this week's service we discuss transitions. Transitions are what make music interesting, be it a change in key, or tempo, or instrumentation, it is the changes that catch our ears and our heart and take us deeper into the composition. May we all find as much joy as these two in this video in just rolling with the transitions as they come!
Please enjoy:
We continued with this month's theme of Story. We shared that as UU our stories remind us of who we are as Unitarian Universalists, A family, As anti-racists, As living beings, As courageous people. It was shared with the kids how much fun the Friday evening zoom to meet the new minister, eat dinner together and share music was and how we have so many adult musical and theatrical talents. One of the things that became clear is that there are elders in the church who remember so much about how the church started, the first ministers, musical directors and so on. So we reminded ourselves that the Stories of who we were (even if we are so young) are important to remember so we can shine a light on who we will Become. The youth were encouraged to ask their parents about family stories. For instance last week one of the kids shared that when she was born her Mother was in labor all night and her Mom didn't sleep ALL night long!
Famous people have interesting stories too. We listened to Dolly Parton sing her song about her "Coat of Many Colors" and how something made with love can make us feel so rich. Then we drew and colored someone (our pet or ourselves) in a coat of many colors.
Next Sunday at our 10:00 RE, we will watch a video provided by UU about indigenous people and how important story is to them. During the Antiracist Class at 1:30 a local Ottawa elder will speak to the older youth. All families are welcome to come listen.
More details are here:
Anti-racist Class on Sunday May 23, 2021
Issues a Special Invitation to UU Members
We will meet outside. Seating will observe social distance. For those who are not vaccinated or feel more comfortable please wear a mask. If you have one please bring a camp chair although we will have some folding chairs set up. (If we are deluged by heavy rain we have been given permission to move inside the building!) We look forward to seeing you!
 Linda Woods, M.S.W., was raised in Peshawbestown in Leelanau County,Michigan by her grandmother, Susan Miller, and her mother, Esther Miller Koon; both were basket makers. She graduated from Suttons Bay High School in 1961 and served in the United States Air Force 1962-1966. She became a substance abuse counselor in the 1970's then later earned her Masters of Social Work in 1994 from San Jose University in California.
Woods is committed to providing education and understanding of Native American culture in Michigan. She retired in 2008, with over 30 years of experience in social work but she continues to serve the Native American community with cultural presentations.
Most notably perhaps, Woods is the first female veteran in the U.S. to create and carry an Eagle Staff, an esteemed symbol in Native American culture generally carried by male veterans. Ms. Woods carries this healing Eagle Staff on behalf of women veterans and all women. She was inducted into the Michigan Women Hall of Fame in 2015.
Ms. Woods is an Elder in her tribe, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, a veteran, a mother, a Nokomis ~ grandmother and recently a great-grandmother furthering her interest in promoting a Mino Bimaadziwin ~ Good Life on behalf of the future Seven Generations.
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CALENDAR
The calendar is also available on the UUCGT website here. _______________________________
MON 05.24 9:00 AM Office will be closed until noon; Guy is being trained
in website maintenance.
11:15 AM Stretch & Strengthen
https://us02web.zoom.us/s/86328072766
TUE 05.25 10:30 AM Community Lunch, Friends Church, 5th & Oak
Contact Mary Kiner, 423-991-9794
1:30 PM Sunday Svcs Comm/Coords
Zoom link is here.
WED 05.26 11:15 AM Stretch & Strengthen
https://us02web.zoom.us/s/86328072766
12:00 PM Zoom Office Hours w/Rev. Cathy
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/91530276534
4:00 PM Healthy Congregations (tentative)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88414487885
5:30 PM The Wednesday Picnic, weather permitting, can
happen here at UUCGT! Contact Mike and Sandra McDonald
m_mcdonald@charter.net, 231-342-0768/342-0783
Last night Sarah e-mailed this note: Same plan as last year-bring your own food and drink, chairs and
little table. (We can discuss later when we would be comfortable
sharing potluck.) We hope to see all of you, including those we haven't seen since
last summer or the close-down.
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Please continue to give to For Those in Need
in our virtual "collection baskets".
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"Change one letter, and it might change your whole outlook. Every change is an opportunity."
- Anonymous
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The UUCGT building is closed until further notice;
however the office is again staffed (at least) Tuesday-Friday, 9am-3pm.
Stay up to date on the UUCGT website
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