In years past, our church has hosted performances of The Vagina Monologues to raise funds for their Community Action and Outreach initiatives. Some of our members were in these casts, too. 

Our Mother’s Home (of Southwest Florida) provides a safe and nurturing environment for teen moms (ages 12-21) and their babies. Since opening in 2000, more than 200 mothers and children have benefited from this organization's Home Mentored Living Program at a 90% success rate of preserving families, transitioning foster mothers to self-sufficiency and saving the lives of children by avoiding their re-entry into foster care. Each teenage or young adult mother meets with the organization's case manager to discuss where they are at, individually, and to develop a plan for self-sufficiency and independence. Our very own, Dawn St. John is currently the organization's sole case worker. Thank you for your commitment to this organization! 

This is the only facility of its kind in Southwest Florida – the vision of foster parent Helen Coppage, who (in her late 70s) saw the need to find a way for teen mothers and their babies to be together. 

7 African Powers Workshop

January 22, 2017, Sunday 12:30-2:30p 

Venue: Covered Porch and Hobart Hall

Presenters: Alberita Johnson, Lily Nieves and Natasha Dvorak

Prerequisite: Have open minds, hearts, spirits and a willing voice to explore another way of honoring the Universe

Synopsis: Present the attributes, folklore, wisdom and powers of the Goddesses and Gods of the African Diaspora. We will explore the Spiritual common threads of Iife; Candomble; Santeria; and/or Orisha Voodun that honors and weaves into the everyday way of life.  Via different global practices, song, head wrapping, and the showing of the documentary film: Yemanja – Wisdom from the African Heart of Brazil; the participant will attempt to wrap her/his mind (pun intended) around tapestries of the 7 African Powers .

Fee: $10 per person (all materials are included) The picture shows a model wearing a head wrap. Each participant who attends will receive fabric and hands-on instruction on how to make one. diosadeluna99@gmail.com

Christ for Unitarian Universalists is an engaging and thoughtful inquiry into Christianity for Unitarian Universalists and other spiritual seekers―including skeptics, non-religious people, liberal Christians, and those who consider themselves “spiritual but not religious.” The book has several purposes. The first is to present Christ in an understandable and compelling way to the increasing number of people who do not consider themselves Christian. The second is to present liberal and progressive Christians with the non-dogmatic way that Unitarian Universalists have viewed Christ through the Bible and personal experience. And the third is to promote active dialogue between non-Christians and the nearly 80% of Americans who identify themselves as Christian.

Christ for Unitarian Universalists addresses frank questions with integrity and intellectual honesty yet also presents a sincere and genuine sense of love as embodied in Jesus that is so heartfelt, so unconditional, and so revolutionary that it will take your breath away.

We will met Jan 11th-February 22nd, weekly in the Library on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:30p.  The first session we will come prepared having read Introduction and Chapters 1 & 2.  The following weeks we will read two chapters per week.

WHAT SOME WOMEN WANT: FRIENDS AND PURPOSE 

What is the single most important reason for choosing a Unitarian-Universalist  Church and the UU Church of Fort Myers?   That question was recently put to several women during the December Women's Luncheon.  Here are their replies. 

"I needed to find a new tribe when we moved here," notes Gina Gottman.  She recently came from Bentonville, Arkansas.  She wants to meet new people and do some important things, like social justice.  "A church is a family,"  she explains. 

"Talking with thoughtful people," is important to Susan Forsyth.  "UU membership provides a source of potential friends with the same ideals as I have."   Susan hails from Los Angeles, California.  "Some new friends also recommended other liberal organizations to join," she adds. 

"Vibrancy and diversity," attracted Alice Forsyth.   "This congregation has a wide variety of ages and people from all over the country.  And,  the campus is beautiful and the minister is young."  Her original roots were in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. 

"A church with the same values as my union,"  was sought by Rose Klein.  "For example, a belief that we are all equal and connected, and the ideas of democracy."  Rose was active in Lapeer County, Michigan  "I first found out about UU when attending a union leader talk at UU church in Detroit, Michigan." 

"A liberal religion compatible with my secular Jewish background is important to me," explains Joan Hickok.  "I feel more comfortable in a church that does not consider Jesus to be a deity.  And, I believe in a universal God or force of energy.   I was also looking for a liberal community of friends."  Joan is from New York City. 

"A source of new liberal-minded friends," was the goal of Joy F. Sokeitous.  "When looking to relocate from the Philadelphia area, I compared the distance of potential new homes to UUCFM's location.  "Otherwise, it is difficult to find people to openly talk with in Conservative Lee County."