Happy Thanksgiving! The UUCFM Office will be closed tomorrow and Friday.
There will be no Community Wednesday tonight.
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Worship in November: Gratitude
Gratitude is a cornerstone of living a meaningful life. The spirit of gratitude can dwell in our hearts regardless of the external realities of our lives. Let us join in worship and cultivate this gratitude together.
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum regularly meets every Sunday at 9:15a in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend.
The Humanist Forum this Sunday is a post Thanksgiving reflection entitled
Finding Yourself – A Poet’s Take
.
David Whyte is an English poet of Irish extraction. His book
The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America (1994) topped the best-seller charts in the United States. He’s a deeply philosophical writ, and has a lovely message of Daoist intent for us all.
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Community Sharing in November: Alliance for Fair Food
The Alliance for Fair Food (AFF) seeks justice, dignity and respect for all farmworkers 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 farmworkers through the Campaign for Fair Food.
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Sunday Coffee Hour
Sunday's Coffee Hour 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.
Dorothy Van Howe
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Gifts for Quality Life Center
The Social Justice Committee is sponsoring Holiday Gift Giving for the Students at the
Quality Life Center.
On Sunday, pick up a "gift tag" or two with the age and gender of a student. Please bring an unwrapped gift with the tag attached to the Sanctuary or Hobart Hall . We suggest a minimum amount of $10. Please no guns, action figures, barbie dolls or battery-operated toys. Please bring all unwrapped gifts by December 17th.
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Meetings this Sunday, November 19th
*
Rissho Kosei-kai
will be held in Room 1 at 1:45p.
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Music Notes
Thank you! What a wonderful baby sprinkle! Thanks to all who came to celebrate, brought delicious potluck dishes, and showered my family with your generosity. It's one of those big life events I will always remember with fondness. And thank you for the most wonderful gift of all, maternity leave. -Amy
Musical Calendar
November 26: Amy Laursen plays a piano solo version of Henry Smith's song
Give Thanks and the jazzy
Great Pumpkin Waltz by Vince Guaraldi.
December 3: The Choir and Band team up for the rousing Gospel song,
Let There Be Peace and Haris Blackwood shares her talents.
December 3: 1:00pm HOLIDAY SING-ALONG! See article below for more details.
December 4: Please welcome Suellen Kipp as Amy's maternity leave begins. Suellen will work with our Choir and Band from December through March while I am enjoying time with my newborn. She is a talented pianist, singer, and conductor who currently serves as the Director of Music at Temple Beth El here in Fort Myers, and previously served in the same role at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne, Indiana for 11 years. She has also taught vocal music and dance in schools for 17 years and holds a degree in Vocal Education. This is a wonderful opportunity for us and I hope you enjoy getting to know her.
The next
Music Committee meeting will be in January, 2018.
The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:45-8:15p, and on Sunday mornings from
9-10a 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 6:00-6:45p, 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, Director of Music
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From the UUCFM Office Manager
The UUCFM Office will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24. Have a great Thanksgiving and see you on Sunday, November 26th. We will be having a regular service.
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Games and More!
Saturday, January 27th, our church sponsored Scouts present a Casino Night for our UUCFM general budget needs. Hobart Hall will be a festive environment of Casino Tables and a Buffet Supper. Doors open at 6:30p. Bring friends.
Casino Night tickets will be on sale in Hobart Hall after services, beginning November 26th
. Each $20 ticket includes a sumptuous buffet meal and $3,000 in playing chips. Our Boy Scouts are volunteering their Casino services. All proceeds go to the UUCFM Budget. More later on the menu. For advance tickets, contact Suzanne Ziemer,
239-463-9020
or
suzanneziemer@gmail.com
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Come Join The FUUn BUUnch For Dinner
Saturday, December 2nd at 6:00p
La Grotta
(under new management)
9520 Marketplace Road
Ft Myers 33912
239-332-5500
DIRECTIONS:
Drive E/W on Daniels Parkway toward 75. Turn North on Danport Way (Just east of Denny’s). Turn Right (East) on Marketplace Road (first road). La Grotta is on the right across from the Marriott. If you miss it, go round the circle, head west. La Grotta is 500’ west of the circle on the left.
Please call John E. Fischer, 267-992-6566 Or email
SilverFischStudios@gmail.com by Sunday, November 26, to reserve your place. Management needs exact numbers to schedule staffing.
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The 3rd Annual Holiday Sing-Along!
Sunday, December 3rd at 1:00p
Plan to stay after church for festive fun!
• $3 chili lunch includes cornbread and beverage
• Shop our craft fair and bake sale
• Sing Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs, solstice chants, and other wintry favorites
• We’ll pass the Santa hat to benefit the South Fort Myers Food Pantry
• Request your favorite song by Friday, November 17th for a $25 donation
• Bring a friend!
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Calling All Bakers and Cooks
Don't forget the All Church Bake Sale After Church December 3rd & 10th.
Please bring wrapped and priced items to Hobart Hall before the Service.
Items will compliment the Chili Lunch on the 3rd before the Sing-A-Long and munching while shopping the Arts and Crafts Member Booths both Sundays. All proceeds go to UUCFM General Fund.
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Women's Circle
Ladies: put on your holiday hats and join the Women's Circle on Monday, December 11th for the annual holiday get-together. We'll meet in Hobart Hall at noon for a potluck lunch, followed by a white elephant gift exchange. If you aren't crazy about your gift, we go a step further and play take away, which provides lots of laughter and fun. We'll also feature a holiday topic for discussion. Don't miss out on this.
Linda Jensen
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Dinners Go Round for 2018
Dinners-Go- Round are now forming for January through April 2018!
Denis and Linda Jensen are organizing Dinners Go Round for January through April of 2018. These monthly potluck dinners offer you a chance to get to know your fellow UUCFM Members on an informal basis. One dinner is held each month at a host UUCFM member’s home on a date determined by the host and participants.
If you didn’t participate last year and would like to do so this year, please email Denis Jensen by December 15th at
dalanjensen@gmail.com and let him know. Please include your names, telephone numbers, addresses, and email addresses in your email to Denis and also let him know if you would consider being a host for one of the four monthly dinners, or if there is one or more of the four months where you would not be able to participate. Also advise Denis if you will require wheelchair accessible dinner sites.
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Rummage Sale
Save your gently used items for our UUCFM Rummage Sale! The sale will happen over 3 days- Friday, January 19th, Saturday morning, January 20th, and Sunday afternoon, January 21st. Contact Deb Lewis for details
debL5784@hotmail.com
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UUCFM Book Group
The UUCFM Book Group meets each Wednesday from 1:00 to 2:30p in the Library. We are now reading a book by international peace-maker, Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD, (forward by Deepak Chopra),
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, (3rd Edition) Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships (Nonviolent Communication Guides)
. Over 1,000,000 copies of this book have been sold and it has been translated into over 30 languages.
"Nonviolent Communication shows us a way of being very honest, without any criticism, insults, or put-downs, and without any intellectual diagnosis implying wrongness."
--- The Author
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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 4:00-5:30p. 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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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
ggleasonr@live.com
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The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays at 1:45p in Room 1.
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UUCFM eBINGO
We will be selling eBingo cards for the 2
nd round this Sunday after the service in Hobart Hall. Don’t forget to get your play cards. The more participants, the bigger the jackpot! Buy an extra set of cards for your friends and family. Join in the fun every time you open your email.
uuebingo@gmail.com
Bill Petrarca
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Community Wednesday
There is no Community Wednesday tonight, November 22nd
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 November:
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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South Fort Myers Food Pantry
Urgent need for canned goods! If you have a lot of canned goods left over from your hurricane stock, please consider donating them to the Food Pantry this week. There is a collection basket in the Narthex by the middle door.
If you have questions or are interested in volunteering, email
Fran Rose at
francrose@centurylink.net. Put "Food Pantry" on the subject line of your email.
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UUCFM members! Our Gordon Woodworth III is now in boot camp. Their sibling shared their address on social media, and invites you to write letters during this time.
Please copy the address as it is written below to be sure Gordon receives your letters.
Sr. Woodworth III, Gordon
SHIP 12, DIV 047
RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND
3515 SAILOR DRIVE
GREAT LAKES IL 60088-3515
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Bed & Breakfast Volunteer Opportunity
We are preparing for another year of UUCFM’s Bed and Breakfast program. Through the generosity of host families within our congregation, we have raised $3000 to $5000 a year for the church operating budget for many years. We provide this service to UUs and/or their friends from around the country. This
program cannot happen without volunteers and we need your help!
What’s needed to be a host? The host provides one bedroom and bathroom and a basic breakfast each morning of the guests’ stay. The guests are usually one or two people. The breakfast can even be a “do it yourself” if your guests are early risers or you have to go to work and they want to sleep.
Do I have to entertain the guests or take them places?
No! They will have their own transportation. If you have favorite restaurants to recommend, or other local travel tips, they are always appreciated. You are not expected to provide entertainment, transportation or extra food. For the most part, guests are off
doing their own thing most of the day and evening.
When and for how long? Guests stay from one to seven nights during the months of January through April. (Most stay only two or three nights.) You choose when and for how long you can host and then your requirements are matched with those of the guests. Even if you can only host for two nights in March, for example, that is a big help. February and March tend to have the biggest demand.
All money received from the guests as they stay in your home goes directly to the UUCFM operating budget. I haven’t even mentioned how interesting and fun this experience can be for the hosts. We have met so many great UUs through this experience!
Please consider being a host! Before you say no, talk to me. Just try it once…
Mary Nies, Program Coordinator
239-466- 7933
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See Us from the Air!
Click on this link to see a brief video fly-over of the Holton Eco-Preserve and the Bill Brewer Family Gardens.
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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 each Wednesday for publication in the Thursday
E-news.
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SWFL Gay & Lesbian Chorus
SWFL Gay & Lesbian Chorus with
Tropical Storm present
There's No Business Like Snow Business
2017 Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 9th in Hobart Hall
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Concert
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Nov 23 Mary Dryden
Nov 26 Carolyn Thompson
Nov 28 Bob Krieger
Nov 28 Jennifer McFadden
Nov 29 Liz Taggart
Nov 30 Amy Laursen
Nov 30 Bob Nies
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Newsletter Editor: Jill Carville
(239) 561-2700
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