Weekly E-News
November 19, 2020
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Sunday, November 22nd
Please join us on Zoom this Sunday, November 22nd at 10:30 AM for our service, Values of Gratitude with special guest speaker, Gregory C. Carrow-Boyd
Join Zoom Meeting Sunday at 10:30am
Meeting ID: 891 5048 2747
Password: chalice
Or, follow the link on our webpage for audio only: uucfm.org
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Thank you to Sunday's Participants:
Gregory C. Carrow-Boyd, MEd, CRE–ML, Guest Preacher
Suellen Kipp, Director of Music
Alberita Johnson, Worship Associate
Mary Studer, Reader
Peter Golbitz, Musician
Walter Peterson, Lead Tech
Lesley Peterson, Tech Team Member
Mark Brandon, Tech Team Member
Jill Carville, Tech Team Coordinator
Carole Latino, UU Dialogues Host
Helen Dixon, UU Dialogue Host
About Today's Speaker:
Gregory C. Carrow-Boyd, MEd, is a Master Credentialed Religious Educator and Aspirant for ministry. He serves on the Board of Trustees of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). In this time of physical distancing, Greg misses hugs and movie theaters. Greg also works as the Coordinator for More Than Sex-Ed, a Greater LA-based sexuality education collective that brings the UUA- and United Church of Christ comprehensive sexuality education curriculum, Our Whole Lives, to schools, home school groups and the greater community.
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Community Sharing Partner for November: Alliance for Fair Food
The Alliance for Fair Food (AFF) seeks justice, dignity and respect for all farm workers as part of a broader vision of justice for all peoples. The AFF works in partnership with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), building a vibrant, diverse national network that takes action in pursuit of fair wages and working conditions for farm workers through the Campaign for Fair Food. More info can be found at www.allianceforfairfood.org
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UU Dialogues this Sunday
To participate in UU Dialogues, stay in the main zoom meeting after the service ends and do not accept the breakout room invitation that pops up.
We will greet newcomers, obtain contact information from guests and visitors, have a general Q&A session with guest speakers and musicians from the service, and most importantly, participate in intentional dialogue. All are welcome to attend this session.
If you'd rather join a breakout room for casual conversation, please accept the pop up invitation after the service. Thank you!
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When and How Will We Re-Open?
UUCFM’s “Opening-Up Phases” Plan for Members
Our Sanctuary doors have been closed since mid-March, 2020. We’ve adjusted to attending Sunday services via Zoom and our Board of Trustees, book clubs, meditation groups, Worship Associates, and Connection Circles continue to meet on the internet as well! But there is a plan to come back to our beloved campus and we are excited to let you know we have entered Phase II.
What was Phase I? Over the Summer months we were in complete shutdown, except for much needed maintenance. Mickey, our building supervisor kept working and we have a newly painted Sanctuary, while our campus sharing partner the Gulf Coast Symphony upgraded the sound and video streaming equipment in the Sanctuary. Hobart Hall has a new floor as well!
We are now in Phase II~ limiting indoor group sizes to 10, and outdoor group sizes to 25, (with continued mask wearing and social distancing). Sunday services will continue to Zoom stream from the Sanctuary with our talented Music Director, Suellen Kipp at the piano, but now Worship Associates and the Tech Team may also be present in the Sanctuary for the service. A small number of volunteers or small groups can be on campus during the week. Most Zoom groups have decided to continue using that format to meet for the time being.
Reminder to all groups or individuals wishing to use physical space on our campus. You need to coordinate reservations through the Vice-President of Programming, Toni Latino at [email protected]. Do not contact Jill Carville directly to reserve space.
What is Phase III and when will that happen? The estimated timeline for this step is for Fall 2020/Winter 2021. Indoor groups up to 50 people (still masked and socially distant). The Board will closely monitor the situation in Lee County and be assured we will not move forward unless safe to do so.
OK, so what will Phase IV look like? We can go back to Sanctuary services, still socially distanced. This will possibly occur in Winter/Spring 2021. We will continue to offer streaming services for those who do not feel comfortable gathering in person yet. The Board will ensure the safety of our congregation before we move into this Phase.
Phase V is Back to Normal Operations, estimated timeline: Spring 2021. This will occur when Covid-19 is no longer considered a health concern in Lee County.
Please Note: All timelines are estimates.
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UUCFM's Online Activities |
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The UUCFM Book Group
Beginning next week, the Book Group will change its meeting day to Mondays. We’ll begin meeting via Zoom at the usual time, 1:00 PM until 2:30 PM. Please update your calendar to reflect the change, starting Monday, November. 23. On that day, we’ll continue our discussion of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Our discussion will cover the section, Braiding Sweetgrass. If you’re joining for the first time, please email Mary Studer. She will send you the link to zoom. [email protected]
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UUCFM, Caloosahatchee Book Study
The title of our current book is Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World.
"A guidebook for how to use mindfulness to build our inner strength, find balance, and help create a better world."
We are now meeting on Wednesday from 10-11:30 AM on Zoom. For more information and to join, contact Helen Leddy [email protected].
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Social Issues Book Study
The Social Issues Study group meets via Zoom on Wednesdays from 1-2:30 PM. The group has completed the reading of Caste. On December 2, we will be starting "How To Be An Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi. Contact [email protected].
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Caring Network Workshop on Coping Strategies
Do you have Coronavirus anxiety? Build resilience during these times! Let's talk.
Join your Caring Team for a choice of two Zoom Workshop dates, Monday, December 14 or Monday, December 21, both at 1-2:30 pm. We will discuss ways to cope with enforced solitude, challenge your anxious thoughts, and feel better during this Covid-19 time. We'll share ideas and concerns about being isolated. UUCFM Caring Facilitators are Mary Cline Golbitz, Holley Rauen, Mary Tracy Sigman and Suzanne Ziemer.
The Workshop is open to anyone. To register and get the Zoom link, contact Mary Tracy Sigman, 239-313-5993, email, [email protected].
Also, If you or another member of the Congregation needs some extra attention during this time, your Pastoral Care Committee is here to help as much as we can while keeping us all safe and protected. We can connect with you individually by phone if you are feeling isolated and offer other assistance. Please contact Mary Golbitz [email protected] 207-479-4082 (phone or text) or Holley Rauen [email protected] 239-464-6556.
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Thanksgiving Day with the Caring Committee
The Caring Committee invites you to drop in to a zoom call on Thanksgiving Day at 11 AM-noon.
Since many of us will not be having our “typical” Thanksgiving this is a time for you to drop in and greet your friends, share your gratitude and/or what you are missing this Thanksgiving. If there is a quote or poem that is meaningful to you please bring to share if you wish. You may drop in for a short time or stay for the hour. We are looking forward to sharing a part of Thanksgiving Day with you.
Please contact Mary Cline Golbitz at 207 479-4082 (phone or text) with any questions. Please join by zoom or, if you prefer to call in use the numbers on the bottom.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 663 030 1437
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,6630301437# US (Washington D.C)
+13126266799,,6630301437# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
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UU Holiday Parade of Gift Giving
Join our UU Holiday Parade of Gift Giving! Bring a gift or two to our UU campus between 1 and 3pm on Sunday, December 6th. The Quality Life Center has students from infancy to teenagers.
If you cannot attend our Drive By Parade, please drop off gifts at the bench in front of the Administrative Office between 8:30 and noon Tuesdays through Fridays.
When gift shopping please remember that we prefer no battery-operated toys, no Barbie dolls, no combat figures and no weapons.
You could shop at Amazon and have the gifts delivered to our church
address. The deadline for bringing toys to our campus is Tuesday, December 15
as volunteers will deliver the gifts to The Q on Wednesday, December 16.
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What’s up with LIFE?
Lee Interfaith For Empowerment - Doing Justice in Lee County
Remember KOKO?! Keep on Keepin' On?
UUCFM has been part of the county-wide coalition of churches that, through LIFE, every year since 2012 seeks to hold elected officials accountable on a vast variety of social issues. Where are our LIFE members? We are missing from the table this year and our voice is not being heard!
Current Issues
Housing for All
LIFE is currently working to have the city of Fort Myers adopt an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to create $3 million of revenue to use each year for housing for those making less than 60% of Area Median Income.
Affordable Housing Trust Funds are used in thousands of cities and counties across the country and leverage between $6-8 for every dollar invested.
We are working to get the city to adopt this reasonable request with some urgency.
A few weeks ago the homeless encampment at Centennial Park was unceremoniously removed to make way for improvements. Chain link fences went up, the homeless and their belongings went out. This issue is front and center this year.
The LIFE meetings are being held via Zoom for now, but we have been noticeably missed. Please contact Chelsea Baker, [email protected] for information on to be put in the loop and get our LIFE Team up and visible again.
Remember:
Life for Justice, Justice for Life
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry
The board and volunteers at the Food Pantry say thank you for the food that you have dropped off during these very difficult months.
The best times to drop off food are 9 AM or 4 PM on Monday at the pantry itself, located at 8260 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers in the back of the Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church. Any size donation will be accepted. Most needed foods are peanut butter & jelly, cereal, breakfast bars, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta and tomato sauce, protein-rich soups and beans. Please, no glass containers.
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November Birthdays
Nov 1 Barbara Moreland
Nov 2 Miriam Jones
Nov 6 Carolyn Thompson
Nov 11 Nancy Hutchins
Nov 21 Mary Murray
Nov 23 Mary Dryden
Nov 28 Bob Krieger
Nov 28 Jennifer McFadden
Nov 29 Liz Taggart
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Amazon Smile donates to UUCFM when you do your online shopping by following this special link
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Want to Become a Member?
If you are interested in becoming a new member of UUCFM, please email [email protected].
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The SWFL Reset Center is delighted to announce we have signed a facility sharing agreement with the UUCFM Board that includes office rental on the campus, use of other facilities (when safe and available), and installing and maintaining a food forest and other permaculture projects on the eco-preserve. We will invite all UUCFM members to zoom presentations about the SWFL RESET Center mission, vision, initiatives, and people. We welcome any questions you may have. Informational ZOOMS next week TBA. |
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Gulf Coast Symphony
Here are some upcoming GCS shows! The Screen Pavilion is our own Screen Porch! The other shows are at Barbara B. Mann. Please call 239-481-4849 for tickets. UUCFM Members receive a discount.
Upcoming performances:
November 19 7pm Screen Pavilion "Jazz by Moonlight"
November 21 7pm Barbara B Mann "Rock Symphonies: The Mark Wood Experience"
December 5 7pm Barbara B Mann Highlights from "The Nutcracker"
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Board of Trustees
President Lesley Peterson
President Elect Lane Cook
Secretary Ruth King Fotovat
Treasurer Pati Maier
VP Ministerial Services Keith Hamlin
VP Operations Dorothy Van Howe
VP Programming Toni Latino
Member at Large Genelle Grant
Staff
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Please send all newsletter articles by Wednesday at noon for publication in Thursday's newsletter. Send articles to [email protected].
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UUCFM
13411 Shire Lane
Fort Myers, FL 33912
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Office Hours:
Tues-Fri 9-2
Please wear a mask and call
or email for appointment so
we can social distance.
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