Our Theme for April: Salvation
Service at 10:30 am Sundays in the Miller Sanctuary
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Community Sharing in April: Minister's Discretionary Fund
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Our Community Sharing partner this month is the Minister's Discretionary Fund. The Minister uses this discretionary fund to pay for groceries, gasoline, utility bills, rent, and other emergencies inn the lives of our members. As there is not a line item in the budget to fill this critical need, our contributions are the only source available. Please be generous and help our church members during times of financial need.
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The Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum regularly meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall.
All are welcome to attend.
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Youth Group
Burn! Youth Group-
Youth age 14-18 are invited to join us in Room 4 on Sundays from noon to 1:00 pm each week for an inclusive and kick-butt-awesome good time.
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Coffee Hour
Sunday's Coffee Hour happens after church 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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From the Minister
Next Thursday, April 12th, at 1:00 pm our congregation will be hosting a Sacred Circle for female-identified folk who wish to share #metoo stories. If the collective wisdom of the group wishes, after sharing stories and listening, we may perhaps make plans for how to move forward and keep the momentum of the #timesup and #metoo movements alive in our congregation and in the larger community. Please know this is a welcoming space for trans and non-binary folks who have experienced the world at one time or in the present as a woman.
The gathering will be held in our Sanctuary, a symbol that we will be creating Sacred Space for deepening and sharing together.
Also know that our congregation can make space for #hetoo conversations for male-identified members who wish to organize. Contact Rev. Allison if interested.
Please RSVP to uuchurch@UUCFM.org so we can plan for set up and refreshments. Another evening time will be set up if there is interest. Keep on moving forward!
Rev. Allison Farnum
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Music Notes
Musical Calendar
Saturday, April 7:
See Helen Avakian in concert at All Faiths UU! (See the flyer below!)
Sunday, April 8:
Helen Avakian, International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion, wows us here at UUCFM along with singer/guitarist Dave Irwin.
Sunday, April 15:
The Choir sings the beloved UU chant,
Circle Round for Freedom
, and the Band plays an uplifting offertory.
Sunday, April 22:
Join us in celebrating Earth Day as our Classical Quartet plays Vivaldi's Spring and the Choir harmonizes
This Pretty Planet
. You won't want to miss Peter Golbitz' offertory.
Sunday, April 29:
Haris Blackwood covers Nancy Griffith's
Trouble in the Fields
, and the Choir and Band team up for the rousing gospel song,
The Storm is Passing Over
.
The next
Music Committee
meeting is TBA.
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. Please email me in advance so that a music folder can be prepared for you. Come join us in singing!
The UUCFM Band
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:00-6:45 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9:00-10:00a 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!
Amy Laursen
d
irectorofmusic@uucfm.org
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Special Events
Wizard Camp
Sign up for Wizard Camp! This year's summer camp will start on June 11th and finish Friday, June 15th with a banquet in Hobart Hall. You can register here:
uucfmwizardcamp.webs.com
Future wizards and soothsayers can partake in a Sorting Hat Ceremony, become Quiddich players, make cloaks and wands, send out Wishes for the World, take classes on Incantations, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Muggle Studies, and more! Alchemy, potions, and divination await them at the School of Wizardry Summer Camp,
June 11 through June 15th from 9:00 am -4:00 pm.
(with optional before and after care). Prices range from $175-200. Also, there will be a feast on Friday at 6:00 pm as a culmination of our week of wizardry!
Be sure to register soon! Once a certain number of campers is reached, registration will be closed. Feel free to Contact Us on our web page with any questions you might have! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
We are also seeking volunteers!
Whether it's
teaching a class, assisting with those who teach, or any of the prep work - email Krista at
kriserta@gmail.com
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Book Group
The book group will be reading
No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are
by Jack Kornfield. The group welcomes anyone who is interested in the book and will meet in the Library (next to the office) on Wednesdays from 1:00-2:30 pm.
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Women's Circle
Our next Women's Circle Potluck is Monday, April 9th. We begin with a potluck at noon and a conversation topic at 1:00 pm. In these troubled times it seems a day doesn't go by where we hear on the news or read in the paper of some terrible tragedy has happened. In a world that seems to have gone mad, what do we, UU women, do to keep sane? Is it reading poetry, practicing meditation, reading a book, or simply just holding those we love closer? What can we share in our group to help one another cope with life? Bring your thoughts, insights, and ideas as we share a meal together.It is with great pleasure to announce that Phyllis Brewer is coming to our next Women's Potluck on Monday, April 9th at Noon. For those of us who don't know her this will be a great opportunity to meet her!
Rose Klein
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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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Optimal Living Group
The Optimal Living Group is open to all and does not require attending every session. We meet in the Sanctuary on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 4:00-5:30 pm. We discuss how to live optimally, including practical ways to cope with life's challenges and issues. Helping others and developing maturity in ourselves is part of our quest. We explore many paths and techniques for enriching our lives and making a difference for others. For more information, fill out a blue card found in the pews or email Neil Yesu:
dbny79@aol.com
.
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UUCFM Athletics Club
The UUCFM Athletics Club is dedicated to preserving and practicing a variety of historical martial arts for entertainment and fitness purposes. We meet at various times (determined by interest) most often at 12:00 pm after the service on Sunday to practice archery and tomahawk/axe throwing. Other activities and times can be found on our facebook page of the same name. All are welcome to join us.
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UUCFM Gaming Group
The UUCFM Game Group is the club for you. We do our best to meet in Room 7 on Sundays after church from 1:00-4:00 pm. Those of us with children can't always make it so please check the Facebook group page (UUCFM Gaming Group) to see if games are scheduled.
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Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays at 1:45p in Room 1. All are welcome to join us.
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Community Wednesday
Community Wednesday is held in Hobart Hall. All are invited. Bring friends and neighbors, too. Join us each Wednesday for a delicious meal prepared by Chef Joy for a small donation. After the fellowship and fine fare from 6:00- 6:45p, join your favorite programming event, committee meeting, or social activity. Child care is provided until 8:30p.
Community Wednesday Activities for April:
4:00-5:30
Optimal Living Group (1st & 3rd Wed)
6:00-6:45
Community Meal
6:00-6:45
Band Rehearsal in Sanctuary
6:45-8:00
Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary
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Be Smart! Be Prepared! Be Safe!
As hurricane season approaches we need to begin preparing. Having a plan gives us time to purchase necessary items, prepare your home, check insurance coverage, and collect important documents. Please access the Emergency Operations Center at:
www.leeeoc.com
A wealth of information is available on their website.
This public safety message is brought to you by your Pastoral Care Network.
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South Fort Myers Food Pantry
The response for food donations has been consistently good over the last year. The need is still there and UUCFM has been a strong supporter of the pantry. I have not been able to post the pantry newsletter but there is one at the Social Justice table listing the number of people fed by the pantry for the last year. Easter is early this year which means many people will be heading north earlier too. Consequently, many people will lose seasonal jobs and the need for food donations and volunteers will be just as great as it is now. Keep that in mind. Remember to bring at least one can each week and consider volunteering during the summer months. Questions? Email Fran Rose:
francrose@centurylink.net
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers.
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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
I have a
4 drawer file cabinet
that needs a good home. It measures 53h x 42w x 19d and is beige/tan in color. It was in our garage during hurricane Irma, so it was in a few inches of standing water for several days and has a bit of rust at the base, but otherwise is in perfect working order. I can send photos if anyone is interested in it. We could probably deliver it with our horse trailer if someone could help with the loading and unloading.
Recorder:
Enjoy the beautiful sound of this wooden tenor recorder: Rottenburgh Nr. 449 in rosewood. New ones cost $900-$1200. This one is yours for only $399, or better yet, donate $100 to UUCFM and you can have it for only $299 cash. See Frances Pake. Call
330.329.1129
, or email her at
fpake@juno.com
.
Items for sale
:
•Indoor/outdoor wicker-look, glass-topped dining table w/ 4 chairs, 49“ diameter. Dark brown. $50 OBO.
•Two outdoor mesh chairs, light brown. $10 OBO.
•Entertainment center, 8 shelves, 6 drawers, dark brown $40 OBO.
Pictures upon request.
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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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Lee OFA Indivisible Invites You
Maintaining a FREE & UNBIASED Press
"Stop the Presses: Are Journalists Still Relevant"
April 12th at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers
Panel at 7 pm.. Come at 6:30 for time to socialize.
Lee County OFA lndivisible invites you to bring your questions and concerns about this important and timely issue to be addressed by these knowledgeable journalists, Dr. Robert Hilliard, a Purple Heart recipient and World War ll Army veteran who witnessed the results of Fascism firsthand. His and a friend's actions saved the lives of thousands of Holocaust survivors. He has worked professionally in radio, television, theater and journalism. Many of his 35 books and 20+ plays deal with political and social issues; Roger Williams, a Florida resident since 1994 who has written for the News-Press and currently writes for the Florida Weekly. He is an award winning journalist who won the Jon A. Roosenraad Award for defense of the first amendment. The panel will be moderated by Barb Griffith author of the "Swamp Report" and a recent anicle "A Crammar Lesson on the 2nd Amendment".
Please join us to show your interest and support for this pressing issue and
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2018 GRACE Project Work-Study Trip
La Antigua and Lago Atitlán, Panajachel, Guatemala.
April 29 to May 9, 2018
11 days for $1,250
Women’s Health Workshops in Univ. of San Carlos Medical School, Belén Teachers’ College for Indigenous Women, Mixco High School, and in Santiago Atitlán.
Deliver and teach about Days For Girls menstrual
management Kits and the Fertility Bracelets,
Land transportation in private vans,
Breakfast provided daily,
Shopping in La Antigua and Panajachel.
Transportation includes: travel to and from airport, hotels,
academic and workshop sites in private vehicles and boats.
Airfares from USA to Guatemala City and El Petén are not included.
$150 additional fee for single room.
To save your space, please send $100 deposit in a check, by March 15 2018, to: The GRACE Project,
UUCFM, 13411 Shire Lane, Ft. Myers, FL 33912
Dec. 1 – 9, 2018 GRACE will go to El Petén and Tikal and deliver workshops for
Maya womens’ cooperatives and the Guatemalan Ministry of Education.
9 days for $1,000. Reservations being accepted now! Limited to 8 participants.
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April 11 Cindy Gustafson
April 20 Shirley Fox
April 27 Jeff Letts
April 27 Nancy Letts
April 28 Mickey Kellam
April 30 Audrey Brown
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Newsletter Editor: Jill Carville
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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 cmsnow23@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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