October 2018 Volume 35 Issue 10
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Sunday Worship Service
All Welcome to our Service at 10:30 am Sundays in the Miller Sanctuary
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Community Sharing in October: Visuality, Inc
The mission of Visuality is to enhance and sustain the health and well-being of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning communities and allies. They provide activities, programs, educational events, and services that create community, empower community members, provide essential resources, advocate for civil and human rights; and embrace, promote and support our cultural diversity. We strive to end violence, harassment and discrimination based on real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or sexual expression.
Visuality Website
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend.
The Humanist Forum on Sunday, October 7th will be on
The Future of Food.
There is no topic more central to whether human society can survive catastrophic warming in the decades ahead unless we come to terms with how to feed people sustainably. Two great talks address aspects of this looming realization. Think plants! Think regenerative methods of agriculture!
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Social Hour
Sunday's Social Hour happens after the service every week and is provided by volunteers from the Women's Circle on the first Sunday, CUUPS on the second Sunday, Humanist Forum on the third Sunday, Men's Group on the fourth Sunday and if there is a fifth Sunday, it is All Church. Any donations of food, snacks or cash are welcome.
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BURN, our High School Youth Group meets on Sundays at noon in Room 4. All youth, ages 14-18, are welcome! This Sunday we have a Theatrical Group Meet n Greet at 12:30. Contact Director of Religious Education, Jenn Blosser:
dre@uucfm.org
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IGNITE
, our junior youth group for ages 10-13, meets weekly from 12-1 pm in Room 3. Come join us for community, conversation, and finding your call to action! Questions about the group? Reach out to Stephanie Hoffman:
stephgator7@yahoo.com
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SPARK
is our newest youth group. Exclusively for children ages five to nine, Spark will meet weekly from 12-1 in Room 2 to explore Unitarian Universalism and learn more about our church and each other.
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From the Minister
When I first moved here, I remember being shocked about how "behind the times" Lee County was in terms of LGBTQA+ inclusion. Coming out was a real issue here that could have effects on one's livelihood, familial relationships, and even health care in ways I had not imagined coming from a big city like Chicago. Though PRIDE and Coming Out day in Lee County has grown from a smaller affair (hosted once on our campus many years ago) to the large event it is now, the systemic oppression of LGBTQA+ folks of all ages is still real here. So, we are preparing for PRIDE here at UUCFM, and this year partnering with volunteers to staff our church booth as well as to offer folks hugs. Why hugs? Well, Free Mom Hugs for those whose mothers rejected them. Free dad hugs for the people whose dads disowned them. Free minister hugs from the congregations that oppressed a person just for who they love. Hugs and love all around - for our inclusive faith teaches us that all are deserving who agree in Love!
I want to thank all those who are attending the training and who are staffing our UUCFM tent and the FREE HUGS tent. Special thanks to new member Anne Reed for her vision and coordination. Be sure to attend PRIDE this Saturday starting at noon at Alliance for the Arts, say hi to UUCFM volunteers, and then come our special PRIDE service Sunday.
Rev. Allison Farnum
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Music Notes
The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:45-8:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9-10 am in the sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Come join us in singing!
The UUCFM Band
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:00-6:45 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9-10 am in the Sanctuary. If you would like to play your instrument during a Sunday service, please email me to coordinate the details.
Come join us in making music together!
Suellen Kipp, Director of Music
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Religious Education News
BUU Fest
is coming on Friday, October 19th from 5-9 pm and we need volunteers and donations!
BUU Fest
is our annual Halloween party which offers fun for
everyone
in the congregation with stories, games, prizes, and performances - not to mention costumes and treats.
We need volunteers for...
- running games
- selling sweet & savory treats
- managing the prize table
- reading ghost stories
- AND MORE!
We are also collecting Halloween prizes!
Bring bags of NUT FREE treats and party favors to the Narthex and drop them off in the big pumpkin so we can hand them out to our little monsters at
BUU Fest.
Thank you!
Jenn Blosser
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From the Office
We are now entering "season" and church classes, meetings, and events will be in full swing soon! Please reserve your spaces and times for all upcoming activities. Most of our prime time slots are full already. (Sundays at noon & weeknights.) There are classrooms available for Wednesday & Friday eves, and Saturdays. Contact the office manager at the email below to reserve. Thanks!
Jill Carville, Office Manager
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Board of Trustees News
The Board would like to announce their Volunteer of the Month. It is Stephanie Hoffman!
Stephanie was chosen for the new OWL training organization and her continuing dedication to religious education/family ministry
.
The next Board meeting is Tuesday, October 9th at 6:30 pm in the Conference Room. All are welcome to attend.
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Social Justice & Outreach
Meeting
The Social Justice & Outreach Ministry meets Sunday, October 7th in C
lassroom 1 at noon.
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Worship & Music Ministry
Our meetings are held in the Sanctuary on the third Sunday of each month from 12:15 - 1:45 pm. Join us if you are already or wish to be involved in this ministry that includes all things service related including the following:
-Choir and Music Team
-Worship Associates
-Audio Visual
-Décor
All are welcome and we hope to see you there! Contact Board Co-Liaisons Theresa L. Bahre
strawbahre_fields@yahoo.com
and Lesley Peterson
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From the Village
If you would like to volunteer for the Halloween party, contact us at
Village@uucfm.org
to sign up. We would love your help!
Attention Knowledge Seekers
: We are looking for people interested in leading classes during our Sunday second hour (12:00-1:00 pm). There are hundreds of prepared curricula available from the UUA. Contact us at
Village@uucfm.org
if you would like more information about offering a class. We are here to support you.
Stephanie Hoffman
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Something's Rotten in the State of Florida!
What has happened to our beautiful rivers and beaches? Is it Climate Change, Big Sugar, Over Development? Come to our October 10th panel discussion and hear what our panel of experts have to say about what is wrong and how to fix it.Space and parking are limited. If you are in town and plan to attend, please RSVP to this email. Also, be kind to the environment and share rides if you can!
Members and Friends are invited to join us for our October 10, 2018 meeting from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church,
13411 Shire Lane
(off of Daniels Parkway), Fort Myers, FL.
Our panel of three local women scientists will bring their perspective on the health and environmental impacts of the recent plague of harmful algal bloom and red tide. The panel will be moderated by David Holden, Congressional Candidate for District 19, who will add the legislative policy implications of dealing with this situation between federal and state govenments.
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Dreamwork Group
Please RSVP if you are interested in participating in the next Dreamwork group led by Debra Leigh. We will meet six Sundays after church, beginning at 12:00 pm and ending around 2:00-2:15, depending on how many participants are in the group. We skip the 3rd Sunday of each month. The dates are: Nov. 11, 25, Dec. 2, 9, 23, 30. I will have the room number when you RSVP to:
dreamrookery7@gmail.com
or call Debra at (831) 818-1418.
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Arts and Crafts Fair Returning
Sundays, December 2nd and 9th, from 11:30-1:30, we will be hosting Members & Friends for Arts & Crafts Booths and the All-Church Bake Sale. Mark your calendars to enjoy Christmas shopping, Christmas cookies to freeze, Next-to-New items, Joy's Chili lunch, and to see what our people create.
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UU Women's Retreat
Celebrating Sacred Places
9th Annual Florida Unitarian Universalist Women’s Retreat
April 5-7, 2019
DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center Ellenton, FL.
The retreat begins Friday at 5:00pm and ends Sunday. DaySpring Conference Center is conveniently located off I-75 just north of Sarasota on Florida’s West Coast. The beautiful campus nestled under ancient oaks and located on a cove of the Manatee River offers a serene setting for our annual retreat. Take a look.
$220 per person covers expenses for a semi-private room and meals. 8 women share a cozy cottage with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, a screened porch and common area. A limited number of single rooms are available at $292 each.
A non-refundable deposit of $15 for a semi-private room or $25 for a private room will reserve your place. Final payment is due January 15, 2019. Come join us for an enriching and memorable weekend. Any questions? Contact Helen Leddy
helen.leddy@gmail.com
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Book Study
Join us at Book Study on Wednesdays at 1:00 pm. We are reading the book
Sapiens
by Yuval Noah Harari. Come having read the first few chapters. We meet in the Church Library.
From Amazon.com:
"One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one—homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us?
Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas.
Dr. Harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. We are acquiring the ability to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where is this leading us, and what do we want to become?"
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Mindfulness Meditation
Join us on Monday evenings to explore the very simple and satisfying practices of mindfulness and meditation. You don’t need experience with meditation, nor do you have to be a Buddhist. Do please bring an intention to quiet the mind and the body in a supportive group of UU members and friends with a similar intention - people who want to carry mindfulness into their daily lives.
We meet Mondays from 6:30-8:00p in the Sanctuary. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Robbins at
pachamamaelder@gmail.com
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Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays in Room 1. All are welcome to join us. We have a new meeting time- 2:00-4:00 pm.
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It's Time to Think "Connection Circle"
Come one, come all to the next 6 sessions of the Connection Circle beginning after church on Sunday, November 11th! New members, potential members, visitors and long-time members all are welcome. As we discuss meaningful spiritual topics by sharing our own life experiences as guided by a trained church-member facilitator, we get to know each other (and sometimes ourselves!) on a rich and deep level. We will meet every other Sunday, ending on January 20th. Participation in all six sessions is expected. For more information and to register, please contact Nancy Letts at
njletts @ gmail.com
or call at 401-741-2712.
Thank you.
My best,
Nancy Letts
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Community Wednesday
Community Wednesday Dinners are back! Please join us for Chef Joy's Dinners at 6:00 pm. We will be serving salad, soup and entree. The price is $5.00. The meal is vegetarian, but every other week will feature a meat item alternate.
Community Activities for October:
6:00-6:45
Band Rehearsal in Sanctuary
6:45-8:00
Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary
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Free Hugs at PRIDE SWFL!
We're seeking volunteers to spread love and information about our awesome church! Inspired by the Free Mom Hugs movement, new member Anne Reed is coordinating volunteers to staff two tents at PRIDE SWFL on Saturday, October 6, 2018. Volunteers can sign up to help staff the church display table and tell people more about UUCFM and/or sign up to staff the FREE HUGS tent. Link to the volunteer sign-up form:
A volunteer orientation meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 4 at 6:30 pm. To volunteer or get more information, please email Anne Reed
annekreed@gmail.com
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Pachamama SWFL Thursday Night Game Changer Gathering!
From Social Activism to Electoral Victory
Thursday, October 4th 6:30 pm Hobart Hall
Unitarian Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers • Shire Lane, Fort Myers, 33912, FL
Meet activist Cynthia Odierna, who co-founded the
SWFL Justice4All Coalition
along with Suzanne Cherney, and hear about their Moral Monday Meet-ups in Naples. Cynthia and Suzanne, along with the other core group members, Carol and Holden Waterman, have been working to help groups put their talents and strengths together through their networking hub. She will bring along student activists who are committed to work together, now more than ever, to affect cohesive, positive change in the realms of safer gun laws, LGBTQ matters and other issues of social justice. Cynthia will be joined by these students, Michaela O'brien and Zac Vega, who will talk about their efforts and successes at organizing students and stimulating them to take part in shaping their futures by Marching on the Polls in 2018 and 2020. We will also meet Tamara Paquette who will tell us about the upcoming candidates forum in Naples.
The
SWFL Justice4All
Coalition now has over 50 affiliates, ranging from political organizations to totally non-partisan groups. Cynthia Odierna will explain how and why they founded the Coalition in the wake of the explosion of political and social activism in southwest Florida following the November 2016 election. The burning question now is, what next? How do we continue to strengthen the Coalition and make our work even more goal-directed? How do we keep our eyes on the prize despite the distractions emanating from the constant scandals in the White House? How do we maximize our impact on legislation? And - now that the 2018 mid-term elections are drawing closer - how do we balance our other activist priorities with the unglamorous work of getting like-minded people elected? A Q&A session will follow this brief presentation.
Pot luck desserts and beverages encouraged. Tables available for your organization to share information, as always.
To read more about our speakers and to register online click on the
Event link here
Or, just show up! You can join our online Pachamama SWFL Community from this link.
I hope to see some of you Thursday night. There are many exciting upcoming events and opportunities to find out about!
For all our Relations,
Holley Rauen
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Changes to the Food Pantry re: Donations
The support that UUCFM has shown to our pantry over the years is greatly appreciated and along with other coalition members' support it has helped the South Fort Myers Food Pantry (FMFP) to feed 23,000 people in need during 2017. The Harry Chapin Food Bank is vital to our mission, to feed the needy of South Fort Myers, at a very modest cost. They are however, making some changes at Harry Chapin.
In the past, members of our congregation have financially supported the pantry by donating directly to the pantry or by sending checks to the Harry Chapin Food Bank with the stipulation the funds were to support the SFMFP. The Food Bank would then place the funds in a "Designated Grant" account for our use to purchase food. They are eliminating these accounts. As of August 1, 2018 any checks they receive in support of one particular pantry will be returned to the sender. Therefore, our pantry is requesting that any monetary donations be sent directly to and made out to:
The South Fort Myers Food Pantry
If you feel strongly about your donation being only for food and not for operating expenses, write "for food only" on the memo line. The pantry relies on the support of the coalition churches for the funds and the volunteers needed. There are no paid positions and it takes hundreds of volunteer hours and thousands of dollars each month to accomplish our mission. If you have questions call Fran Rose and leave a message at 617-750-0470 and Fran will return your call.
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LIFE News
Big things are happening! We asked the commission to form a children's service council and while they are still refusing to even allow it on the ballot- they have increased the budget for children's services by $1.7 million. Should this budget pass we will be able to celebrate dental care for thousands of more children as well as hundreds of children getting access to full day preschool. It is still not a victory but it is a sign that work for justice is never done in vain.
2018-2019 Dates. See below for the newly announced dates for the upcoming year.
Annual Assembly
Monday, October 29, 2018
Rally
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Nehemiah Action
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Celebration
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Community Forum
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Caring News
If you have any caring concerns, please contact Neil Yesu at
dbny79@aol.com
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Art in the Narthex
The Art in the Narthex for October features Mary Richey's- "A Retrospective." Check it out!
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Do you have something to offer, trade, or sell? Are you looking for something? Free ad space here for personal items only. Will run ad for 4 weeks. Email
uuchurch@uucfm.org
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Free Singing Lessons!
If you have occasionally said to yourself,
“Gee, it would be fullfilling to sing with the UU choir if only I knew how.”
Well, believe me, everyone can sing. All most of us need is a little encouragement and a few lessons. Here’s your chance. Join several us UU’s and take these free lessons taught by an expert. No obligation to join the choir. . None of us are “great” singers. We just love to sing and contribute to the beauty of our Sunday services. But if you do, you’ll find our director, Suellen a very supportive and inspiring director.
Glenn Siebert
, UU choir member
(440) 572-5558
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If you are a UUCFM Community Sharing Partner, a regular Facility User, or have UU related news to share, you are welcome to submit announcements for publication in our Greater Community section of the newsletter. Please send announcements in by Wednesday for publication in the Thursday E-news.
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UNITED WAY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
FORT MYERS, Fla
. (September 20, 2018) – The United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee is seeking volunteer tax preparers, interpreters, and greeters to help our
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA
) sites during the 2018 tax season. With the support of trained, IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers, VITA sites provide free tax preparation to individuals and families earning less than $66,000 per year throughout the five county area of Lee, Hendry, Glades, Okeechobee and Charlotte Counties.
Volunteers of all ages and levels of experience are welcome, though all volunteers need to be comfortable working with a computer. There is a special need for bilingual Spanish speakers. Flexible hours are available January through April. Volunteers will receive specialized IRS certified training including learning how to prepare basic tax returns, using online tax preparation software, and learning about tax deductions and earned income tax credits that benefit eligible taxpayers. In addition, experienced agents, certified financial planners, and non-credentialed tax return preparers can earn continuing education credits when volunteering as a VITA tax preparer.
“For the past eleven years, VITA volunteers have made a real difference in the lives of people in our community,” said Cliff Smith, President of United Way. “Volunteers who come back year after year tell us the VITA program is very rewarding because they connect with members of our community and empower families to achieve economic success.”
Last year, 150 volunteers helped file nearly 5,000 federal tax returns, bringing over $6.7 million dollars in federal tax refunds back to the local community through the United Way VITA program. In addition, United Way VITA clients saved the cost of tax preparation by a commercial service which totaled over $1.2 million.
An orientation and training class for
new
volunteers will be offered
November 17
th
at Florida Gulf Coast University. For tax professionals or experienced volunteers, an online training and certification tool is available. Interested parties can register online at
https://www.unitedwaylee.org/become-vita-volunteer/
, contact Patrice Cunningham at
Patrice@UnitedWayLee.org
, or call 239.433.7557.
The United Way Volunteer Center connects individuals and companies to volunteer opportunities throughout our community. You can find additional volunteer opportunities by visiting the United Way website at
www.UnitedWayLee.org
.
Louise Hawthorne
Communications & Marketing Manager
United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades & Okeechobee
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Lee County Election Deadlines
The following deadlines apply for the General Election on Nov. 6, 2018:
- Register to vote – Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018
- Request Vote-By-Mail Ballot – Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018
Early voting will occur as follows:
- General – Oct. 22 thru Nov. 3, 2018
If you are voting by mail and you will not be at the address provided, contact Lee County Elections. Your ballot will not be forwarded to a different address. For more information call 239-533-8683 or on-line at
www.Lee.Vote
.
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Oct 11 Roady Blosser is 15!
Oct 11 Jeff Hutchinson
Oct 12 Karen Feinen
Oct 13 Deep Ford
Oct 14 Vanda Barnes
Oct 15 Ted Brown
Oct 17 Holley Rauen
Oct 18 Doc Gatto
Oct 18 Jane Petrarca
Oct 23 Ruth Fotovat
Oct 23 Gordon Woodworth III
Oct 27 Sima Robbins
Oct 30 Peter Golbitz
Oct 30 Jersey Blosser
Oct 30 Sue Magee
Oct 31 Don Burget
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Board of Trustees
President
Matt Hoffman 239-222-4836
mwaters106@yahoo.com
President Elect
Secretary
Alison Carville 239-634-0487
alisoncarville@gmail.com
Treasurer
VP Finance
VP Programming
Cathy Snow 239-896-3693 cm
snow23@gmail.com
VP Ministerial Services
Lesley Peterson 239-839-4434
unicorn@cyberstreet.com
VP Operations
Mary Alice Pierce 239-267-4429
piercemaryalice@gmail.com
Member at Large
Don Ehat 239-947-8143
don.ehat@gmail.com
Staff
Minister
Director of Music
Director of RE
Office Manager
Building Supervisor
Nursery Supervisor
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