UUCGT Flash  
   April 15, 2021   
           

Aaannd . . . we're halfway to May!
Quick note from Guy
SUNDAY 4/18: EARTH DAY
Music and Religious Education
Ministerial Search Team
State Theater Update
Stewardship Committee
Financial Committee Summary
UUCGT Calendar
Last Call?
Original Voices Vol. 5!
Bulletin Board
Community Needs News
END NOTE: Can we make it a new beginning?
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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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Good morning, all - 

Quick note: I have had to leave town unexpectedly and will be out of the office today (Thursday), and back sometime Friday; I'm not sure when - probably early afternoon. I am working on this Flash and a few other things remotely and will be checking the e-address office@uucgt.org from time to time though not as regularly as usual. If you have a situation that requires my help immediately, you can call my cell at 231-735-0180 (but know that I go to bed early!).

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
                                            

 
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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                  
                                            4.18.2021
EARTH  DAY
and the long culture of this land

A lay-led Service coordinated by Mary Van Valin and T. Michael Jackson, with a message from a very special guest.

Our Earth Day service will feature a teaching by JoAnne Cook, an Anishinaabe attorney, former tribal judge, former Tribal Council Member, and Vice Chair of the board at FLOW, and a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The inherent worth of every person, our interconnected web of existence, and the proposed 8th principle will provide a foundation for the service.
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Again, the Zoom link for SUNDAY SERVICE is

You may read and/or download the Order of Service here.
It's also posted on our website homepage at uucgt.org


The Service of Sunday April 11, including a video introducing Alex Jensen, invited as new Ministerial Candidate, was recorded; you can access that recording here
You will need the passcode @@i=1W1s

 
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MUSIC & RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
from Claire Crandell
Continuing with the theme of "Becoming" - 

Last week we talked about Becoming: older, wiser, kinder, and so on. Our conversation today continued in wondering? "Who are we meant to become?" "What are our gifts?" "What unique gifts can we share with the world?" First we talked about how we all are born with the gift of special talents and personality traits. These gifts might be imagination, wisdom, laughter, and bravery. They might be hope, joy, and courage. They might be something else. But each one of us has these and other gifts right from birth. In our journey of life, we open these gifts and find out what they are. And how great it is that for our whole life we can continue to open gifts about ourselves as we grow and let go. 

However, growing into what is special and unique about us isn't always easy. Frequently we are pressured to become something we're not. We talked about how our UU faith guides us into being "a people of Becoming"? It tells us, "Resist what others want you to be and become your true and unique self!"

Since everyone has seen the movie "Frozen", Arial kindly and sweetly sang the theme song, "LET IT GO", which has become an anthem for becoming your true self. . We all hummed along if not singing aloud:) For those of you who don't know the song here is a link: 

 Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU
and sing along with Idina Menzel!



We closed with reminding ourselves to honor and love yourself.AND honor and love others for EVERYTHING THEY ARE TOO! 


...and from Renée Russell
A Few Notes

I look forward to our service this Sunday that opens the conversation about Earth Day and those who first cared for and called this beautiful land home. I thought I'd share one of my favorite songs, Bird Song, that celebrates welcoming nature into your life, with the wonderful harmonies of The Wailin' Jennys along with a few videos celebrating Earth Day: The Earth TurnsTogether in This; and the National Geographic's Earth Day Celebration and Concert. And an amazing song by the incomparable Buffy Sainte-Marie. 


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MINISTERIAL
SEARCH TEAM REPORT
An MST "Q&A"



DO WE HAVE A SETTLED MINISTER?
No. Not yet, because you haven't had your say! Until and unless a vote by a quorum of our membership says yes to calling Alex Jensen, what we have is a candidate. The vote will be taken after everyone has had a chance to see & hear our candidate during candidating week. You will get Information regarding how the vote will be taken in the days ahead.

WHAT AND WHEN IS CANDIDATING WEEK? Candidating week with Alex Jensen will be May 8 - May 16. It is intended to be an opportunity for our candidate to spend time with congregational leaders, staff, and members. Because of Covid limitations, personal contact will not be possible although Alex plans to come to T.C. Meetings will be virtual, and he will lead virtual Sunday Services May 9 & May 16 from the minister's office just as Rev. Cathy does. The vote to call will be taken right after the May 16 service.

WHY ARE WE NOT CALLING OUR CANDIDATE "REVEREND"? Alex has not yet been ordained. His ordination will take place June 6 in the First Parish UU Church in Wayland, MA where he presently serves as intern minister.

IF WE VOTE TO CALL ALEX JENSEN AS OUR SETTLED MINISTER, WHEN WILL HE BEGIN HIS MINISTRY WITH US? AND WHAT ABOUT REV. CATHY?!  Rev. Cathy will use her vacation time to transition to her new interim assignment. There will be a celebration of our treasured time with her before she leaves at the end of June. Our new settled minister will begin his ministry with us in August.

WHEN AND WHERE WILL OUR NEW MINISTER'S INSTALLATION BE HELD? An installation service formally celebrates the covenantal relationship between a minister and the congregation. It usually occurs within the first year. The timing of this celebration will be dependent on several factors including our ability to be together in our congregational home.

Your team - 

Mary, Geoff, Charles, Dusty, Jim, Chris, Jan
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With the Photo that I Should Have Shared Last Week...

I am happy for several reasons to share again that the Men's Group raised over 1800 dollars in the ongoing work of keeping The State and Bijou Theatres solvent while we wait out the pandemic.  The Group is grateful to all who contributed!  

The Group also sent a terrific photo of The State's marquee as it thanked and honored them, and I completely missed the chance to share it here.  To wit:



From the Stewardship Team...

The Stewardship Team wants to thank the 103 pledging units who have currently turned in their pledge forms. The total of these pledges amounts to $213,654 which is 71% of our goal of $300,000. Nearly 50% of you have increased your pledges this year for which we are very grateful.

We would still love to hear from those of you who have not sent your pledge forms back yet. If you misplaced it and need another copy, Guy can provide it to you. This beloved community depends on all of you pitching in with your time, talent and financial resources to ensure a successful New Beginning.





FINANCIAL SUMMARY
As of March 31, 2021 - 75% of fiscal year

                                               Current Year (2020-2021)      Prior Year (2019-2020)
Budgeted Inc. Rec'd YTD     $213,660*     78.8%              $241,083*     91.6%
Budgeted Exp's P'd YTD      $200,998       72.8%               $189,420       71.9%
"For Those in Need" YTD    $ 10,076                                  $ 8,432

*Income for 2020-2021 is less than 2019-2020 due to an accounting change that recognized prepaid pledges for 2020-2021 in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Approximately $32,000 in excess income for 2019-2020 is on the balance sheet in our operating account and can be used to offset future losses, should they occur.

Budgeted income includes the total of all pledged and unpledged donations and miscellaneous income including building rent, etc. "For Those in Need" collections are in addition to Budgeted Income Received and are disbursed quarterly to worthy causes, including Congregational Care, Tuesday Community Lunch and other Community needs outside our congregation.   The percentage reflects the portion of the total amount of income or expense budgeted for the fiscal year.

Please note that we have had a slight fall off of current year pledge payments and a significant fall off of rental income for the past year due primarily to the Coronavirus pandemic. We need your continued help. If you can, send your pledge payments and "for those in need" contributions to the office or contribute on-line at uucgt.org.

You can find more detailed information on the "Board Packets" page of our website; that page is being updated and finding your way to this and other information is about to get muc easier! In the meantime, questions can be directed to your Finance Committee which includes:

Dusty Culton, Nancy Doughty, Karl Keinath, Mike McDonald and Jim Walworth.
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UUCGT CALENDAR
You can access the entire calendar online HERE;
here again are the links for our Services:

Fri   04.16.21 8:00 PM Vespers
     Begin signing in at 7:30 for the 8:00 PM Service, a time of music,
      poetry, prayer, meditation, and contemplation.

Sun  04.18.21 10:30 AM  Regular Sunday Service
    Begin signing in at 10:00 to visit before the 10:30 AM Service, and plan
      to visit again in "Breakout Rooms" after!
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LAST CALL!
 - Sign up for Reading and Writing Whiteness (RAWW) using the text White Fragility to examine ourselves and the wider society.
   When: 6 Wednesdays, starting April 21, 6:30 - 8 p.m
  Why:
- The list of driving while black men accosted by police continues.
- Last chance to start a new discussion group with our Rev. Cathy
- Leaders are lifelong learners, and you are a leader.
 
Email Alison at awa2write@gmail.com by Saturday if you want to join this group for some challenging and enlightening discussions. 

  





UUCGT's ORIGINAL VOICES, VOL 5:
Click within the image to enjoy the latest chapters in the creative journey of these talented friends...


  





UUCGT BULLETIN BOARD
There are always opportunities to work for Social Justice.
And they don't necessarily take long...

Please call Senator Schmidt 517.373.2413 and Representative Roth 517.373.1766 and tell their nice phone people to tell them not to support voter suppresion! And tell them you want them to release the $3.3 billion of Covid Relief funding that is being stymied in the legislature. - Emmy Lou Cholak

  



 

Please continue to give to  For Those in Need
in our virtual "collection baskets".

 



  
End Note:
  
Could we make it another "New Beginnings" note?

  
The UUCGT building is closed until further notice;
however the office is again staffed (at least) Tuesday-Friday, 9am-3pm.