Worship in October: Unity and Diversity
As we have begun more intentional programming in the church around multicultural awareness and facilitating healing conversations on race and ethnicity through Beloved Conversations, this month we explore the tensions with the theme of Unity and Diversity. Come and join us for our annual multigenerational
Honoring the Beloved Dead
service December 29th. Bring trinkets/photos of beloved dead to place on the altar in the sanctuary before the service and bring a family dish to share that reflects your ancestral roots for the potluck feast following.
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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.
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Community Sharing in October: Visuality
The mission of
Visuality
is to enhance and sustain the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning) community and allies through programs, educational events and services.
Visuality
was originally a youth and young-adult only program. Recently, the community center became a center offering services for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum regularly meets every Sunday at 9:15a in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend.
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Meetings this Sunday, October 29th
*The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets at 1:45p in Room 1.
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Potluck this Sunday, October 29th
After our
Honoring the Ancestors
service on October 29th, there will be a community gathering in Hobart Hall. Please bring something to share with all, maybe a traditional family favorite. Drop it off in the kitchen before the service and we will take care of it. Let's make this a time for our blossoming and diverse UU community. We are grateful for so many things.
Joy Purcell
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From the Minister
I'm looking forward so much to returning back into our community and into my shared Ministry with you all. I have such love and gratitude in my heart for the time that you have given to me to be with our son. Joey is an absolute delight, and he will certainly be gracing the halls of our campus. My three-year-old daughter Charlotte also looks forward to returning, to see her friends aged one to 95! She loves being in the nursery and will be thrilled to be back and Hobart Hall, the place with all the good food and nice people. If not busy with baby care, you will likely still find my husband hidden in the sound booth or chasing our toddler after service.
I won't lie, coming back to work will be hard after maternity leave. But I can honestly say, it is so worth it. I am so fortunate to serve a church Community like you and to be here, in this moment, when our larger Community needs our courage and our compassion. What a privilege it is, this homecoming. Surely, we'll have some catching up to do. Meanwhile, their church year rolls on and we are called to live lives of meaning in which we love grow and serve.
This Sunday is our service which honors our beloved dead. I invite you to bring pictures, mementos, small objects of your beloved dead to place on the altar table before worship begins in the sanctuary. This is always one of my favorite Services, filled with the bitter sweetness of Life, Love, and Death. The hope is that all will leave with full and lifted hearts. Those wrapped up in the arms of grief might feel held by something larger, whether we know that as the God or goddess or simply the love of our church community.
I look forward to seeing you this Sunday!
Rev. Allison Farnum
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Music Notes
Musical Calendar
October 29:
For our service honoring our beloved dead, Karen Feinan and Keith Hamlin pair up for folk song,
This Love Will Carry,
by Dougie MacLean and Kathy Mattea, and the Choir shares the mystic pagan round,
The Gates,
by Reclaiming. Lesley Peterson and Amy Laursen also play a violin duet based on the spooky
Danse Macabre
by Saint-Saëns.
December 3:
Save the Date: HOLIDAY SING-ALONG! 1:00p, Sanctuary, Free.
The next
Music Committee meeting is Wednesday, November 8th at 3:00p in Room 7.
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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Event Request Forms Available
Our calendar is filling up for the season! All church group chairs who would like to hold a special event or fundraiser can pick up an event request form in the office. There is a blue binder located on the volunteer desk in the front office which you can access through the library on Sundays. Please fill out the form and put it into the office manager's mailbox. Alternatively, you can call or email the office manager during business hours. Thanks!
Jill Carville
Office Manager
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Come Join The FUUn BUUnch for Dinner at Perkins
Perkins is on the Southeast corner of Route 41 and Six Mile Cypress.
This Saturday, October 28th at 6:00p
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
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.
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Pachamama Game Changer Gathering November 2nd
Join Pachamama Alliance SWFL on Thursday, November 2nd as we continue our exciting speaker series:
Game Changer Gatherings.
Our Special Guest Speaker is Cyndy Nayer, who we are happy to reschedule after Hurricane Irma.
Cyndy Nayer is founder/CEO of the Center of Health Engagement, balancing the health value to patients and health systems. An award-winning and slightly irreverent author, speaker, producer and gerontologist, her awards in benefit design and payment reform have influenced value and quality-based care for 25 years. Nayer is a subject matter expert for The Health Care Blog, Managed Care Online, Health Insurance Exchange, Disruptive Women in Healthcare, and more. As former chair of the Missouri Governor’s Council on Health, Nayer led the strategy to establish the Office of Women’s Health. She guides legislative health agendas on Capitol Hill and at the state level. She has won awards for producing worksite health strategies for Fortune 100 companies.
Her remarks,
Weaving It All Together
, will help us
connect the dots between health care rights, educating girls, and climate change.
"Making the world better, and renewing hope in our country can often seem a heavy burden. That's why no one person must do all the work. Let's talk about it together. Let's build the world we want and be the change we want to see. Join me on November 2nd.”
Cyndy Nayer
Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear a great speaker, get updates from the SWFL Pachama Community and the Pachama Alliance around the world, and enjoy Potluck desserts.
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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
.
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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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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
.
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8th Annual Florida Unitarian Universalist Women’s Retreat
April 13-15, 2018
DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center Ellenton Florida
The retreat begins Friday at 5:00p and ends Sunday at Noon. 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.
http://Dayspring.dioswfl.org. $220 per person covers expenses for a semi-private room and six 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 $20 for a semi-private room or $30 for a private room will reserve your place. Final payment is due January 15, 2018. Come join us for an enriching and memorable weekend. To register contact Helen Leddy
helen.leddy@gmail.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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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
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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.
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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’re in the home stretch for our first eBINGO round. Some lucky friend soon will walk with the $150 jackpot! We will be selling the cards for the 2
nd round starting this Sunday after the service in Hobart Hall. Don’t forget to get your play cards. We’ll sell them for 2 Sundays then start the second round. 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
Community Wednesday is held in Hobart Hall. 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.
Regular Activities for October:
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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A gesture of love
When some felt excluded by his lyrics, Jason Shelton chose to re-imagine ‘Standing on the Side of Love.’ Our own Reverend Suzanne Fast is quoted in this article:
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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
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Yarn
Because of the generous gift of Judie Marble and a previous gift from Patricia Linhoff, UUCFM has a fabulous supply of yarn and some knitting needles. The intention is for this yarn to be used for the making of Comfort Shawls that the Caring Network distributes to members. You can find further information about the shawls at this link
www.shawlministry.com . The yarn can be found in the boxes inside the door of the office. The office may be accessed Sundays through the Library door, which will be unlocked.
When you have completed a shawl, contact Diane Buckley at
Dineby@aol.com. Your efforts will be greatly appreciated as the shawls are treasured by their recipients.
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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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Alliance for Fair Food Wendy's Demonstration October 28th
This Saturday, join the CIW and their SWFL allies for a lively demonstration to call on Wendy's to end violence in the fields!
This weekend, FGCU's Student/Farmworker Alliance chapter is hosting a Boycott Wendy's picket in Ft. Myers for the “Wendy’s You’re Failing Farmworker Women” National Week of Action! This week of action is the first national mobilization in this season's
Harvest without Violence campaign
, just launched by the CIW Women's Group to highlight the sexual violence endemic in Wendy's supply chain and call on the fast-food holdout to do its part to secure human rights for farmworkers by joining the Fair Food Program.
Harvest without Violence: Boycott Wendy's Protest!
Saturday, October 28 at 11:00am
(Please do not park in the Wendy’s parking lot)
Raising our voices together, we'll declare that farmworkers should not have to surrender their dignity for the right to put food on their families' tables. Together, let's bring the message to Wendy's that CIW and their allies will keep up the pressure until they commit to protecting farmworkers' human rights!
See you soon,
The Immokalee Crew
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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
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Oct 27 Sima Robbins
Oct 30 Peter Golbitz
Oct 30 Jersey Blosser is 17!
Oct 30 Sue Magee
Oct 31 Don Burget
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Newsletter Editor: Jill Carville
(239) 561-2700
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