Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland
6220 Jefferson Ave., Midland MI 48640-2934
Phone number: 989-631-1162
Email: uufom@uufom.org
Tending the Flame: Reflections from Rev. David
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once defined faith as "taking the first step, even when you do not see the whole staircase". It feels to me as if we are taking some first steps at UUFoM, and that is requiring us to have a little "faith" in one another. Now, faith is a difficult word for many of us, and so I wanted to share that, to me, it means "sacred trust"… or the kind of trust that you invest so much of yourself in that if it were to be broken, it would hurt emotionally. Hence, taking first steps can be a bit frightening.
One of the things I shared with the congregation during the Annual Meeting is that we will be focusing this year on some interim ministry projects more than on the "Five Interim Developmental Tasks". You have spent so much time and effort on those these last two years, I could not ask you to do that again. Instead, we will be working on making sure our staff has everything they need to succeed, putting in place the next phase of a Governance system that is modeled for UUFoM, exploring how we relate to one another in our congregation’s life, and "standing up" a Committee on Ministry, to be the stewards of the health of all of the ministries of our congregation, lay and ordained alike.
A couple of things have fascinated me this last month, one of which is how many of my clergy colleagues have been contacting me, to ask me about different things we are doing at UUFoM. Some have been interested in our work around Governance, others around the integration of my role as a military chaplain with the congregation. In one case, a conservative Christian colleague contacted me to have a theological discussion, based on finding out about us from the UUFoM website! It shows that we are changing how connected we are at UUFoM with the wider movement of Unitarian Universalism.
In November, I will be beginning two Adult Religious Education Classes. On third Monday evenings, I plan to begin holding a "Minister’s Chalice Circle", were we will explore some pastoral issues that arise in the life of the congregation. It will run like a covenant group, but will be open to anyone each month. The first session will be at 7:00 PM, on Monday, November 15
We will also begin a study of the book "Governance and Ministry" by the Rev. Dan Hotchkiss. This will be a group exploration of the work the UUFoM Board has been studying for the last year. We will explore not only the governance model, but the Unitarian Universalist Theology that rests behind it. We will have an initial session on Sunday Morning, November 7 at 9:00 AM, and will then explore when it will be best to meet. Copies of the book have been ordered by the "Book Nook" and will be available soon.
It does feel like a time of "first steps" to me, and such times are always delicate. If there is anything the members of UUFoM have shown me over the last two months, it is that "sacred trust" is something you hold in one another, and I am honored to be with you in that trust.
Yours in faith,
Rev. David
|
Education as Ministry
RE Summit Outcomes
Children’s RE
Youth Activities
Halloween/Samhain
Guest at Your Table
|
What a wonderful annual meeting we had on October 24. The food was plentiful and so was the cheer! We had a good conversation about governance and ministry and the next steps forward. Thank you all for being so engaged with the topic during the "offer suggestions" portion at the end of the meeting. Your energy and passion are a delight to see. If you are interested to know more about the Governance Task Force (GTF) that we described and/or you’d like to be part of it, please let Rev. David and me know by November 10.
For those who could not make it to the meeting, next year’s Board members will be: Margaret Wilson, Peter Carlson, Donna Wedge, Jean Ramlow, Karen Treadway (Treasurer), Rob Maxwell (Secretary), Linda Rector (President-Elect) and Heather Cleland-Host (President). Next year’s Nominating Committee will be comprised of Judith Hill, Kyle Bagnall and Maxine Guettler. Also, there are extra Annual Report booklets in the Fellowship building. Please feel free to pick one up; they’re full of great information. (Thank you to everyone who turned in a report, Elaine in the Fellowship office for the arduous, annual task of producing the Annual Report booklets, and Rev. David and R. G. Converse for their help in assembling them.)
In accordance with by-laws changes made during Margot Hayne’s Board Presidency in 2009, a new Committee on Ministry is being formed. The members will be Scott Davis, Evelyn Lipowitz, Doro Hoffman, Lisa Drottar and Sara Clavez. When we had a Settled Minister, we had a Committee on Ministry (COM) that was based on a narrow model. During interim ministry, we use a Transitions Team that works with the minister. In anticipation of having a new Settled Minister in 2011, we are putting this committee in place. This new COM model takes a broad approach which involves evaluation and support of the ministry behaviors and activities that we use for each other, not just between ourselves and a minister. Over the next several months, the COM will work with Rev. David to establish policies and procedures for this important work.
Thank you to Jim Falender for his help as Parliamentarian at the Annual Meeting. Thank you to everyone for setting up tables, serving food, cleaning dishes and helping to make this Annual Meeting a success. Despite 70-degree weather, everyone really pitched in. And, when you get a chance, please congratulate Evelyn Lipowitz who was recognized as our Unsung Hero.
Please note that Board Meetings are open and anyone is welcome to attend. We welcome your comments and input always. This month we will meet the second Thursday, November 11, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. We hope to see you there!
With peace and love, Lisa
Paraministry (November Contact: Gail Kantak)
Congratulations to:
- John and Dottie Mull‘s granddaughter who was married, recently.
- Tom Bailey’s son, who has received his B. S. degree and is on a trip to Europe.
- Pat Munt’s grandson who was married, recently.
- Samantha Schutz who has a new job and will be residing in the Kalamazoo area.
- Marjorie Bower who has had a good outcome with recent eye surgery.
Thank you to:
- Everyone who participated in the Annual Meeting: cooked, cleaned up, set up, spoke, or contributed in any other way.
- Everyone who prepared for the Annual Meeting, particularly, the Board.
- Everyone who contributed to the Annual Reports booklet by writing a report or preparing a budget.
- To the compilers and distributors of the Annual Meeting information: Elaine in the office, who gathered the reports, photocopied and set them up. Rev. David and R. G. Converse who helped her collate and put the booklets together.Pledge Committee for all their work in preparing materials for the Pledge Drive.
Concern for:
- Kevin King’s mother who has had some health concerns.
- Darla Iaquinta’s sister-in-law who had surgery, recently.
- Patty Raines’ mother who is recovering from surgery.
- Rowan Cleland-Host, who broke his toe.
- Anne Kelly Rowley’s mother who will be needing surgery.
- Rob Maxwell’s brother who is a caregiver for his wife.
- Marlene Hickman’s daughter-in-law who was hospitalized because of complications related to an insecticide exposure.
- The Lopez family, recovering from a bout with pneumonia.
- Bobby Johnson for health concerns.
- Kyle Bagnall’s grandmother, who continues to recuperate from recent surgery.
Sympathy to:
- Anne Kelly Rowley, on the loss of her cousin in September.
- Anne Wolfe, whose aunt died in September.
- Sara Clavez and Judith Hill. Sara’s mother, Rosalie died in October.
- Cynthia Clarke, who recently lost her mother.
- Josef Bicerano, whose sister passed away, recently.
- Jack Dickinson, whose cousin lost his wife, recently.
- Marjorie Bower and Lisa Catacosinos. Marjorie’s father (Lisa’s grandfather) passed away in October.
We invite all who feel ready to make a commitment to become a member of our fellowship. To do so, talk with Kevin King (Membership Committee Chair), Lisa Drottar (Board President), or any member of the membership committee.
Sunday Services
(Sunday Mornings at 10:30 AM)
November 7, 2010 "Known by our Groups"
Rev. David Pyle
One of the ways we humans come to know our own, individual identity is by the groups that we are a part of. We see this listed in an obituary when someone dies, that they were a member of a family, a community association, a church, a cause. So, how does our identity change because of our "voluntary association" with the UU Fellowship of Midland? How would we be different if our religious community were not here?
November 14, 2010 "They Just Fade Away"
Rev. David Pyle
As we commemorate the service of those who have served in our nation’s armed forces, let us look closely at the true costs in the lives of individuals and families and in the spiritual center of our nation from the wars we have chosen to fight. Rev. David will be in his alter ego for this service, as Chaplain First Lieutenant David Pyle, US Army Chaplain.
November 21, 2010 "Gratitude"
Sunday Services Committee
Coordinator: Rob Maxwell
This lay-led service will be an intergenerational service. The service will focus on themes of harvest and gratitude. This service will include congregational sharing, and our traditional cornbread communion.This lay-led service will be an intergenerational service. The service will focus on themes of harvest and gratitude. This service will include congregational sharing, and our traditional cornbread communion.
November 28, 2010 "Dreaming of a Simple Christmas"
Rev. David Pyle
Every year, Christmas seems to become more complex and complicated. From a time in the beginning of winter when families came together to share simple, often hand-made gifts around an evergreen and a fire, how did we arrive at this nightmare of consumerism? And how, pray-tell, can we get back to a time of year that is more Holiday?
Unlike any previous time in human history, we now have nearly immediate access to huge amounts of information on a bewildering array of topics, thanks to the media, phones, and especially the internet. Though some pine for simpler days, I would think that nearly any person from the past would have been happy to be offered this access to information. The sheer volume of choices we now have gives us the ability to greatly enrich our celebration of Samhain. In the past, many of our Ancestors gratefully commemorated their Ancestors (either in the fall or at some other time in the year, depending on their culture), without knowing much about the lives of those Ancestors. We, however, can learn so much, even without lengthy investigation.
For instance, even if you only know your basic ethic ancestry, you can learn about your Ancestors. This is even easier if you realize that because of simple math and the occasional long-distance traveler, it only takes a few thousand years to expand your ancestry to millions of people living in widely-separated areas on Earth. For instance, if you have any European ancestry, you have many great great great ggg….grandparents who were ancient Greeks who knew Plato, were Pharaohs, were soldiers who fought in the Battle of Marathon, worked to build Stonehenge, were Popes, labored in the dark to paint at Lascaux, discovered agriculture, and many, many more. As we approach Samhain, if you are taking time every night or otherwise to remember those millions of humans and non-humans who worked hard, resulting in your life today, a few moments online can open you to the wonders of your heritage. This is even more wondrous when you remember that none of those you remember had access to that kind of easy knowledge. This Samhain, as always, we have much to be grateful for.
—Jon Cleland Host
Ye hungry for justice, Ye weary of hate, Ye passionate for action, please come.
Hot Topics
Discussions start at 9:15AM and end promptly at 10:15AM, before Sunday service. The topic is selected by the Hot Topic Host who will provide a 1-2 page article from an expert on the topic a week before, give a short introduction at the beginning of the discussion, and will send everyone on his/her way on time for the service . Topics and hosts:
November 7 - Open discussion on elections, Host: Heather Cleland-Host
November 14 - How we support our veterans, Host: Anne Wolfe
November 21 - GMO’s—Genetically Modified Organisms, Host: Margaret Wilson
November 28 - Legal polygamy: Pros and Cons, Hosts: Joelle O’Bryan and Anne Wolfe
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Sweater Drive
We'll be a drop off site for the sweater drive this year! There will be a container for gently-used sweaters available from around October 9 to December 15. This program is sponsored by the Midland Center for the Arts and WCMU Public Television. Questions? See Linda Rector.
Sharing Tree
UUFoM will participate in the annual event to help others. The Sharing Tree Program will begin. Tags will be available at the Fellowship starting on Sunday, November 14. Collection will run through Sunday, December 12. (Follow the directions on the tag you take as to the gift itself and how it is to be wrapped.) Bring the gift back and place it under the tree. This is a firm deadline, as we drop off all the gifts very early on Monday morning, December 13.
November 2010 Calendar Online (Print Version)
Search Committee Update
Your Search Committee has been busily updating the packet we are preparing to send to potential ministers. While at first glance that may sound simple, there are many parts that we are updating to include events in the past year, such as the arrivals of Rev. David Pyle and the new DRE Vicki Wiltse, the vision and mission statements from the Board, and so on. The "Congregational Record", which is a short summary of our congregation, is being prepared for posting on October 31, the first day this is allowed. After that, we will receive communications from interested ministers, from which we will select a subset to interview by phone. From those interviews and other information, we will shorten the list down to those we will pre-candidate, and if we find one who is a great fit for us, invite him/her for candidating week. I’ll keep everyone up to date as that process moves forward. If you have any questions, feel free to ask any of us on your Search Committee (Judith Hill, Jim Ham, Darla Iaquinta, Michael Malecki, or me.)
Jon Cleland Host, Search Committee Communicator
Pledge Drive
Have You turned in your pledge, yet?
Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day (November 25)
Are you wishing a whole feast could magically appear at your table, with half the work, but double (or triple) the good company? It’s time for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner! Come and join your friends and neighbors for our traditional holiday dinner. Sign up—all you have to do is bring one dish to pass and pay a small fee ($2.00 for adults, $1.00 for children) to cover the cost of the turkey and other refreshments. There is a sign up sheet in the lobby. Mark your calendar, invite your family, and sit back and relax. Come for Appetizers about 4:00 PM and we’ll serve dinner 4:30-6:00 PM. . Anita Frye is the contact person for any questions you may have.
Committee Changes: Adult RE and Social Justice
Both the Adult RE and Social Justice Committee Chairs have stepped down. Rev. David Pyle will be acting as coordinator for these committees. Additionally, several generous volunteers have committed to be contacts for the main areas of Social Justice activity. The contacts are as follows:
Green Sanctuary: Kyle Bagnall
Hot Topics: Anne Wolfe
Homelessness and Accessibility: Rod Martin
Mindful Eating: Samantha Schutz
Welcoming Congregation: T/B/A
Our Sixth Annual Santa Parade Entry!
Yes, our Fellowship will be represented in the 2010 Midland Santa Parade! If you’d like to help by being in the parade or otherwise helping, let Linda Rector or Jon Cleland Host know. The parade is November 20. We will have two meetings, one before that date, and one that morning. We especially need donations of candy to hand out. After Halloween, do you have some candy to donate?
Choir at Dow Gardens
The choir will sing at the Dow Gardens Christmas Walk on Friday, December 10 at The Barn at 6:10 PM. Midland hosts this event each year on three nights in December. The Gardens are lit by lumineria and choirs from Midland churches sing at designated locations throughout the gardens. The choirs at each location change every 40 minutes. Come out and support our choir and stay to listen to other choirs and visit the poinsettia tree in the Greenhouse. It will be December, so dress for the weather.
Children’s Pageant
There will be a Holiday Pageant on December 19 with rehearsals on December 5 and 12 after the service, and on December 18 at 2:00 PM. There will be a meeting of parents and participants on a Sunday in mid-November to help get organized.
Christmas Gifts Basket
The drawing for the Annual Gourmet Gift Basket Raffle will be on December 12. We need your help to make this fundraiser a success. So, please donate goodies! We need cookies, crackers, jam, wine, chocolates, and any other gourmet treats you think of. We also need volunteers to help sell tickets each Sunday from November 14 until just before the drawing.
Tickets will go on sale in Mid-November.
Hanging of the Greens
We will get together in early December after the morning service to share some goodies and decorate the Fellowship building for the holiday season.
Christmas Eve Services
December 24: Come for an evening of storytelling and ceremony, where we will mark together not only the birth of a great prophet and teacher, but also will acknowledge that the celebration marked by Christmas is connected deep into the human spirit and soul… long before the time of Jesus
Endowment Fund Support
Twenty new hymnals have been ordered for our Unitarian Universalist Midland Fellowship. The request came to the Endowment Committee in September and the committee agreed to purchase the hymnals with endowment funds. The cost of the hymnals was approximately $600 and fits well within the endowment fund guidelines for funds to be dispersed. Other 2010 endowment fund distributions have been $500 for the purchase of a new slide projector and a $250 donation to the Midland Area Homes fund raiser. In 2009, funds were distributed for the Lobby Renovation ($1,510.18) and OWL leadership training ($500).
The Endowment Fund was created by generous donations of members and friends of the Midland Fellowship. Funds are distributed each year. If you are interested in contributing to the Endowment Fund with a current donation or by estate planning, please feel free to contact one of the Committee members.
Jim Falender, Committee Co-chair Tom Bailey, Committee Co-chair, Karen Treadway, Jon Lipowitz, Roy Wedge
Ancient Shores CUUPS
Ancient Shores Covenant of UU Pagans: Ancient Shores meets monthly on the third Sunday of the moth following the service. Our next meeting will be November 21 at 12:15PM. Bring a sack lunch and join us for discussion and fellowship. We will also begin setting our calendar for 2011. Be sure to visit our Facebook page for current happenings and items of interest. By the Celtic calendar we are now beginning a new year. The harvest has been brought in and nature enters into slumber until spring. This is a time to reflect inward on all that has happened over the last year and to begin looking toward the new.
Ancient Shores Covenant of UU Pagans Celebrates Samhain: With Samhain falling on Sunday this year, Ancient Shores will hold its ritual and potluck on Saturday, October 30. The ritual will begin at 6:00 PM, with the potluck to follow. Weather permitting we will hold the ritual outside, so dress accordingly. Bring a dish to pass and your own table service for the potluck. All ages are welcome and costumes are encouraged. Samhain is a celebration of the last harvest but more importantly it is a time to look back at those who have gone before us and to honor their contributions to our lives.
Home | Sunday Services | About Our Fellowship | Religious Education | Minister's Page | UU Religion FAQs | Related Links | Our Location | Contact Us | Site Map
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland is recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Welcoming Congregation. We welcome, affirm, promote and celebrate the full participation of all persons in all of our activities without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, race or any other such category of exclusion.
Please feel free to contact us with any feedback, corrections or questions at jaham1729@gmail.com.