Weekly E-News
November 9, 2017
Sundays in November
Meetings this Sunday, November 12th

*The RE Committee meets in Room 4 at noon.
Staff & Board News
From the Minister
Every Act a Prayer

The white 19th Century theologian Theodore Parker wrote in a popular essay, The Transient and Permanent in Christianity , a prayer that God would send us a real religious life where "Every Act was a prayer." On social media I've seen several comments about how prayers are not enough, that it's time to act in a country with statistics that tell us that our current gun laws are not sufficient. As legislators and politicians continue to send their prayers, more people are being killed. Las Vegas. A Baptist Church in Texas. And we ask ourselves, when will it end?

It will end when people of faith are willing to raise their prophetic voices and put their money where their mouths are, and organize their power to equal if not surpass the power of the gun lobby. Religious life is sometimes political, just as theology is shaped by the political movements of the day, as history or herstory reveals.

As we gather this month in worship around the theme of gratitude, I am grateful for the power and possibility we have as an organization and as Unitarian Universalists. How might we raise our voices? 

Rev. Allison Farnum
Music Notes
Musical Calendar

November 12: Rebecca Donlan covers Josh Groban's ballad  Thankful, and the Choir sings the heartwarming anthem  Rejoice and Be Glad

November 19: The Choir sings a new version of beloved UU hymn  We Give Thanks, and Angela Melton shares an offertory. 

November 26: Watch the weekly E-News for details. 

December 3: The Choir and Band team up for the rousing Gospel song,  Let There Be Peace

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. 

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
Religious Education News
I have returned from Denver, Colorado with loads of new ideas and resources to apply to our Religious Education program. It was especially powerful to learn from so many religious education professionals how the Family Ministry model was empowering their children, youth, and families and improving the quality of the programs they offer. It is so exciting to see revolutionary new ideas bringing about powerful results in our congregations nationwide.

One of the most exciting things we will be setting up now that I'm back is a UUA supported youth group. This will allow our youth to participate in youth cons across the state as well as other UU youth activities across the country. The youth group will be open to kids age 14-18 and will involve elements of worship, community building, and of course loads of free-form fun. Our youth group will be designed for youth empowerment and offer participants a chance to use their group to work for social justice, racial awareness, or any projects they see fit.

There are lots of other projects to be set up for our elementary and junior high youth as well, and I look forward to structuring a sustainable calendar of events to benefit the spiritual needs of these communities at our church as well. This is an exciting time in UUCFM's RE program as we look ahead to Family Ministry at our church and all the new opportunities that will bring. 

Jenn Blosser, Director of Religious Education
Special Events
Join the FUUn BUUnch for LUUnch after Church
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12th 12:30p at a different Perkins location:

PERKINS RESTAURANT
12300 S. Cleveland Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 936-1150

John E. Fischer, 267-992-6566 or silverfischstudios@gmail.com

DIRECTIONS:
From Shire Ln. at the Church, turn right and drive west on Daniel’s Parkway. Turn right onto 41 and drive south toward Crystal Drive. Perkins is just north of Crystal Drive on the West side of 41.
Kitchen Clean Up Time
On Monday November 13th at 9:00a, we will begin a wipe down and cleaning in the church kitchen. All are invited to come that morning to help. Stay for the Women's Circle Potluck Lunch at 12:00 noon. Our kitchen gets a lot of use during the year and it needs to be taken care of by all of us.

Thanks for your time,
Dorothy Van Howe
Baby Sprinkle
Join us for a Baby Sprinkle on Sunday, November 19th at noon in celebration of our Director of Music's Baby Girl arriving in late December. Sign up to bring food or help with potluck here:

The Laursens are registered at Amazon:
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.
The 3rd Annual Holiday Sing-Along!
Sunday, December 3rd at 1:00p

Come sing and enjoy Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs, solstice chants, and other wintry favorites. We’ll pass the Santa hat to benefit the South Fort Myers Food Pantry, a partner of the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Request a song by Friday, November 17th for a $25 donation. Please bring a friend and a holiday treat to share.

Questions? Contact Amy Laursen,  directorofmusic@uucfm.org 
December Shopping
The Arts & Crafts Fair and All Church Bake Sale is happening in Hobart Hall on Sunday, December
3rd, and Sunday, December 10th immediately following the service. Please mark your calendars and bring a friend. New this year is a "Next to New" booth for donations or 50/50 consignment. Teri Cooper & Barbara Mannix bsmannix@gmail.com are in charge. For an Arts Booth, contact Patricia Linhoff,  freckles345@comcast.net . To volunteer, contact  suzanneziemer@gmail.com .
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.
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
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. Limited advance tickets are for sale @ $20, includes $3,000 worth of playing chips. To volunteer contact Suzanne Ziemer at suzanneziemer@gmail.com  or  812-332-3450 .
Classes & Groups
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
Women's Circle
Attention UUCFM women: Don't miss our Women's Circle meeting at noon on Monday, November 13th. Bring a potluck item to share. The program following our lunch will be a discussion of "My Most Unusual Thanksgiving." See you then, and feel free to bring a guest.

Linda Jensen
Next Connection Circle Begins Sunday, November 19th
Come one, come all to the next Connection Circle beginning Sunday, November 19th! New members, long-time members, and visitors are welcome. In each of six sessions we'll discuss meaningful spiritual topics through the sharing of our personal stories and experiences. Participation in a Connection Circle is a great way for "potential", new, and old-time members to get to know each other on a deep level and to feel more connected to our church community. This facilitated 6-session group will meet from 12:15 to 1:45p on the following Sundays: November 19th, December 10th, December 17th, December 31st, January 14th, and January 28th. Participants are expected to attend all 6 sessions. For more information and to register, please contact Nancy Letts at  njletts@gmail.com or call at  401-741-2712.
The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays at 1:45p in Room 1.
Weekly Activities
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
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 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
Social Justice
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.
More!
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
Holiday Decorations
Kimberly Littleton is looking for some volunteers to help put up holiday decor in November. If you are interested, please contact Kimberly at: Jadenight@embarqmail.com
Shop for everyone on your gift list this holiday at  smile.amazon.com/ch/59-1160337  and Amazon donates to Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers.
Let's Keep UUCFM Clean!
Please be mindful when leaving trash around campus. This is what happens when bagged trash is not put into the.dumpster, making cleanup overwhelming.
Our Greater Community 
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.  
Cape Coral Teens Make Fertility Bracelets
Teacher Rachel Montrose shows Fertility Bracelets that her Ida Baker High School Key Club students made for the GRACE Project’s November trip to Guatemala.
Lifeline Screening at UUCFM

Why Get Screened?
Taking preventive steps such as making lifestyle changes and getting health screening may help you avoid a stroke or other serious health events in the future. Early intervention is important.

If you are over fifty, if you have diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or if you have a family history of stroke or heart disease, you may be at risk, even if you feel great. Actually four out of five people who suffer a stroke have no apparent symptoms and nearly 30% of strokes occur under the age of 65. The good news is that according to the National Stroke Association, 80% of strokes can be prevented. Life Line Screening will help you find out if you are at risk, so you and your doctor can take the next steps and be proactive about your health.

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers
When: Thursday, November 16, 2017

Pre-registration is required. The Wellness Package includes 4 vascular tests for $139 ($129 with our member discount). The screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1-888- 653-6450 or visit
www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle There are 2 free screening certificates in the Narthex. First to pick them up gets them.
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

For tickets contact swflgaychorus@gmail.com
Travel with UUs
The Gilded Age Meets Downton Abbey in England May 6-14, 2018  

The unique university town of  Oxford , with its amazing bookstores, eclectic museums, and historic pubs, is our home for 5 nights. While learning from a Blue Badge English Guide about the Victorian era and the American heiresses who married English aristocracy to save their estates, we visit  Highclere Castle  and  Blenheim Palace . In the Midlands, we visit  Althorp House  and have  High Tea  in Leamington Spa. For 2 nights we stay in  Ironbridge,  the symbol of the industrial revolution in England. A Victorian town shows us how people lived and worked in late 1800s. All of this is wrapped in the bow of Downton Abbey. We enjoy the film sites at Highclere,  Basildon Park , the charming  Cotswolds,  and in  London . The itinerary aims to be mindful, informative, and fun. Contact Beverly Carr for all the details:  beverlz@me.com

thank you!
Beverly Carr
Nov 17 Denis Jensen
Nov 20 Theresa Bahre 
Nov 21 Erin Everson 
Nov 21 Mary Murray
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
  Please send all news articles for the Weekly E-news to  weeklynews@uucfm.org
All Communicator articles may be emailed to newsletter@uucfm.org
Newsletter Editor: Jill Carville 
(239) 561-2700 
Board of Trustees

President              Steve Eisenberg        239-634-7367    golfconcepts@gmail.com
President Elect     Matt Hoffman          239-222-4836    mwaters106@yahoo.com
Secretary Theresa Bahre 843-472-0386 strawbahre_fields@yahoo.com
Treasurer              Jen Smith             630-881-0000    jenw930@gmail.com
VP Finance             Deb Lewis            239-313-5618    debL5784@hotmail.com
VP Programming Julie Ireland 786-348-5544 vpprogramming@uucfm.org
VP Ministerial Services   Susan Forsyth         239-424-8442    thecaperabbit@gmail.com
VP Operations           Bill Petrarca           239-454-2438    bill@petrarca.net
Member at Large Bruce Marble 239-596-2703 jcahoon@tellink.net
Youth Representative Madeline Wellman madelinewellman@gmail.com


Staff
 
Minister            Rev. Allison Farnum  239-561-2700x204    minister@uucfm.org
Director of Music   Amy Laursen        941-932-2353        directorofmusic@uucfm.org
Director of RE       Jenn Blosser       239-561-2700x208    dre@uucfm.org
Office Manager      Jill Carville          239-561-2700x202    officemanager@uucfm.org
Building Supervisor  Mickey Kellam       239-738-3473        buildingsupervisor@uucfm.org
Nursery Supervisor  Liza Kellam          239-314-6316         lhiz_sierra@yahoo.com