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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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Minister's Musings...
Dear Ones,
I spite of the Covid-19 chaos that has disrupted our lives, the search for your new Settled Minister is on schedule, and the time has come to select your Search Committee! This team will have lots of work to do and needs to be in place by the end of May. To this end, the Transition Team held an information session after the service on January 19, and you will find a comprehensive summary of that session below.
The purpose of that gathering was to give you information about the search process and provide you an opportunity to share your thoughts about who you would like to serve on the Search Committee to select your new Settled Minister. Beginning on April 24 - May 8, you will be receiving a phone call from someone from the UUCGT Board, the Transition Team, or the Leadership Development Committee to ask you for the name/s of someone you would trust to represent you on the Search Committee. To refresh your memory, here are the essential questions that we would like for you to consider:
- What are the good qualities needed for someone to serve on a Ministerial Search Committee?
- Who in the Congregation works well with others?
- Who can represent and serve the whole Congregation well (including looking out for the needs of children) and not just a piece or "faction" of the Congregation? Who would have no "axe to grind?"
- Who knows (or can learn) the history and culture of the Congregation, whether a member of long standing or relatively new? Who can use this history proactively instead of reactively on behalf of the Congregation?
- Who has been and/or is active in the Congregation and has demonstrated both responsible participation and responsible leadership?
- After a high salary, the most attractive quality a Congregation can have is self-awareness - awareness of strengths and weaknesses, what the Congregation is like at its best and at its worst, as well as on an average day. Who would be able to know and relate all this to potential ministerial candidates?
- After thinking about all of these questions, who would you trust to serve on the Search Committee on behalf of the Congregation?
Summary Report of Congregational Gathering - Sunday, January 19, 2020
A Congregational Gathering was held on Sunday, January 19, following the service, to discuss the ministerial search process and to take the first steps towards selecting a Search Committee. The gathering was organized by the Transition Team and the Leadership Development Committee. In addition to Team and committee members, approximately 30 other congregants participated. The meeting began with a carefully prepared and presented introduction to the UUA Ministerial Search Process, which we will follow to recruit and select a new Settled Minister for UUCGT.
Following the presentation, during a working lunch, those attending were divided into small groups and asked to consider three questions: 1) What do you bring to the Congregation, 2) What do you receive from the Congregation, and 3) What are the good qualities needed by someone to serve on the Search Committee?
Following analysis of the individual answers, your Transition Team has noted a very solid overlap between the characteristics we say we bring to the Congregation and those that are needed for our Search Committee members. The results suggest that we are looking for individuals who are emotionally mature, who are skilled at working within the Congregation, who are knowledgeable and well respected, and who are both able and motivated to make the commitment to serving on a Search Committee. For the committee as a whole we are looking for a diversity of age, gender, length of membership, and geographical location within the region. We are also looking for a balance of experience and fresh perspective.
With love and faith,
Cathy
231-301-3177
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Sunday Service - Join us on Zoom
April 19 - 10:30 AM - "A Tribute to Earth - Celebrating Earth Day"
Mary Van Valin, Misty Sheehan
, B
etsy Hammerberg, coordinators
Our Earth is restoring itself during this time of sheltering at home. Are we listening?
Please join local musicians and poets for A Tribute to Earth as we celebrate 50 years of Earth Day. Our service will be celebratory! Musicians include Jimmy Olson, Crispin Campbell, Ruby John, and Seth Bernard with poetry by Terry Wooten and others read between the music offerings. A brief but inspirational message will be given by Skip Pruss, a local environmental attorney who specializes in articulating economically sound routes to a livable future, sustaining our Earth. Please join us!
Start signing in at 10:00 AM
For security purposes you will first enter a 'waiting room' and
then be 'greeted' into the service.
Meeting ID:
970 2508 8048
Phone: 1 646 876 9923
Check our UUCGT website -
www.uucgt.org
- for information and links on how to connect with Zoom.
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Religious Education - Children
& Youth
Sunday Morning RE via Zoom - 9:45 AM
It was wonderful to check in with each other last Sunday and learn about everyone's spring traditions!
This upcoming Sunday we will celebrate Earth Day together by building with recyclable materials, so hold on to your egg cartons and cereal boxes this week!
For our check-in, we will share things that we collect. Collections can be made of physical objects, but they don't have to be. :)
I'm really looking forward to seeing you all soon!
Betsy
Note:
A Zoom meeting link for Sunday Morning RE will be sent to families in a separate email. If you have a child who would like to attend the RE gathering and you did not receive the link, please contact Betsy at
dre@uucgt.org
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UUCGT Online Giving
Check out an informative video and links
here
Thank you for your generous contributions of support
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2020 UUCGT Annual Meeting
Sunday, June 21 ~ 12:00 PM
The UUCGT Board of Trustees has set Sunday, June 21 at 12:00 pm as the date and time for the Congregation Annual Meeting.
This is two weeks later than our normal Annual Meeting, but gives us extra time to prepare for a meeting that will not be routine. We will likely hold the meeting using Zoom since we expect social distancing to still be the norm even if other restrictions have been lifted.
This will be a very important meeting in that we will be electing four members of the Search Team for our new Settled Minister.
Mike McDonald, Board President
Board meetings in May via Zoom
Wednesday, May 6 at 7:00 PM
Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM
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UUCGT Calendar -
Stay Up to Date!
Sunday Services, meetings and classes are
hosted on Zoom
until further notice.
Need help with Zoom? Click on Zoom links below.
If you would like a personal visit with Rev. Cathy via Zoom or phone, please contact her via text or email:
231-301-3177;
revharrington@mac.com
Thursday, April 16 - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Zoom Drop-in Office Hours with Rev. Cathy
Thursday, April 16 - 3:00 PM
Small Group Experience with Rev. Cathy and Mary Van Valin
Friday, April 17 - 8:00 PM **
Come early for social time @ 7:30 PM
Vespers - A quiet time to connect with others, relax, breathe
Sunday, April 19 - 9
:45 AM
Religious Education for Children
Sunday, April 19 - 1
0:30 AM
** Sign in after 10:00 AM
Sunday Service - "Tribute to Earth - Celebrating Earth Day"
Look for an Order of Service in your email on Friday!
Meeting ID:
970 2508 8048
Phone: 1 646 876 9923
Monday & Wednesday - April 20 & 22 - 10:00 AM
Stretch & Strengthen Class - Stay Fit at Home!
Tuesday, April 7 - Community Lunch
Wednesday, April 22 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Zoom Drop-in Office Hours with Rev. Cathy
Wednesday, April 22 - 5:30 PM -
Wednesday Happy Hour on Zoom!
The Wednesday Supper group is continuing to meet for Happy Hour at 5:30 PM every Wednesday via Zoom!
All are welcome!
Bring your beverage of choice and share in fellowship! P
lease contact
Mike and Sandra McDonald
for the weekly Zoom invite.
Thursday, April 23 - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Zoom Drop-in Office Hours with Rev. Cathy
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New to Zoom?
Check out these Zoom introductory videos & FAQ's
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We are a beloved community...
reach out to one another, stay connected, stand steady
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RE Classes for Adults & Families via Zoom
Mandala Art Adventure - All Ages
Tuesdays 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Meets 4/21, 4/28, 5/5
Mandala patterns are evident from our cells to the universe. A brief power-point of photos will begin each session, depicting patterns from nature, designs from various cultures, and the universe. Participants will then design and create their own mandalas. Materials will be whatever you have at home - they can be as simple as a piece of paper and a pen or as involved as paint and multimedia!
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Black and White Me - All Ages
Thursdays 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Meets 4/23 & 4/30
Learn 4 easy movements of T'ai C'hi, which is sometimes called a sacred dance. After practicing the movements we will draw or paint, using only black and white, what we experience or understand about this dance of spiritual energy.
Classes facilitated by RE teacher Claire Crandall
To sign up for Mandala Art Adventures or
Black and White Me
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New information on COVID-19 surfaces daily.
As we learn more,
updates and
recommendations will be shared
here.
Donations to Goodwill Northern Michigan
are appreciated.
S
upport individuals and families in our
community
who are experiencing food insecurity and/or homelessness
:
https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=meLyVz
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In light of the US pulling out its support for the World Health Organization, the organization responsible for raising the alarm and helping every nation fight this pandemic, you may want to personally support their continual good work by donating here:
https://covid19responsefund.org/
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Face Masks at UUCGT
Face Masks have been lovingly hand-crafted by several UUCGT Peace- maker Needleworkers and Friends. Masks and a donation box are in the front entryway of the UU building. All donations will support the Ministerial Search Committee and are appreciated.
Masks have been placed in individual plastic bags to guard against hand-to-hand contamination. Please simply choose a mask - please do not rummage through them and wash or sanitize your hands.
If you would like to have a mask(s) mailed to you, please contact Sandra McDonald at 231-935-3759.
Stay informed, be safe, save lives
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UUCGT Bulletin Board
Soul Matters Monthly Packets are available by request
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End Note...
Everything...
that is in the heavens, on earth, and under the earth
is penetrated with connectedness,
penetrated with relatedness.
~ Hildegard of Bingen
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UUCGT office will be closed until further notice
Stay up to date on Facebook & UUCGT website
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