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Sunday Morning Online Service at 10:30am
November 29
“Healing Hunger and Homelessness” - The past year has shown that anyone can experience homelessness and food insecurity. Research suggests that food and housing shortages have grown in the face of COVID-19, but many people struggled even before the pandemic. Using our intelligence and reason, how can we create a better life for ourselves and others? Scott McDonald from the LOVE Team will look into food and housing insecurity in the Tri-Cities area. Led by Fellowship member, Scott McDonald.
NEW ZOOM LINK
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/943984845?pwd=YTZUQ01RYzBXZ0hsREVNQjNZcFp2Zz09
Meeting ID: 943 984 845
NEW Password: 62201162
Dial In Phone Number: (312) 626-6799
For upcoming Sunday Services, click here.
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UUFoM YouTube Channel
Did you miss our previous services? You can see a replay (minus Joys and Sorrows) below and on our YouTube Channel. We invite you to subscribe to our channel to stay up-to-date with all videos.
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11/22/20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
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This Week at the Fellowship
All teams and groups have decided to meet via Zoom instead of face to face during this time. Please contact your team/group leader if you need further guidance. If you have any questions about upcoming events, please email the office or call 989-631-1162.
All meetings listed below are via Zoom unless noted otherwise.
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December Reflections by Rev. Eric Severson
 As we enter the winter holiday season, the pandemic is spiking again and resuming our normal in-person activities seems a long way off. Individuals and teams are, however, still meeting remotely and are taking care of fellowship business. Here are just a few examples:
As we bid a fond farewell to Heather Cleland-Host for her many years of service, a search is underway to find our next director of religious education. A DRE search team has been meeting, discussing needs, formulating a job description, and planning to publicize it. Under the pandemic restrictions, we have no idea what kind of response we might see, but we remain hopeful. If you have questions, please let me know.
The Engagement Team has launched a round-robin-style “share a story” activity among our new neighborhood groups, with each household building on a story together. (Watch for a little booklet to arrive in the mail in coming weeks and months.) The team also is planning to pilot a series of sessions around the UUA’s “New UU” membership curriculum, offering it initially to any members and friends who might want to take part. For details, contact Kathy Kinkema.
A new Health and Safety Team has been meeting to identify issues that need to be addressed. They’ll then look at solutions, procedures and policies that need to be in place to keep us all safe and healthy. If this area interests you, please contact Sandy Hay.
Finally, I want to offer my thanks and congratulations to members of the Worship Team and the Pastoral Care Team for receiving this year’s Unsung Hero award. They have gone above and beyond to keep us connected this year and deserve our appreciation. Thank you to them!
If you need extra support during the holidays (especially this year), my schedule is very flexible, so please reach out to me or to our monthly pastoral care contacts. Thank you!
I wish you all blessings in days ahead,
Rev. Eric
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NEW: Guest at Your Table
Guest at Your Table Collections
November 22 - December 13, 2020
Guest at Your Table is a UUSC fundraiser that helps families all over the world. The Guest at Your Table highlights four individuals - Guests - each year who are changing the world in a way that relates to that year's theme. This year's theme is The Meaning of Home. The UUSC is partnering with organizations aimed at protecting families from losing their homes or homelands. To learn about this year's "Guests" and those of previous years go to the GAYT website.
Our congregation is participating in the UUSC's Guest at Your Table Program from November 22 to December 13. Congregants are invited to collect money in a box or jar that is placed at your dinner table during the fundraiser. This year we are encouraging everyone to decorate their own box or jar for collecting their change. Donations can also be made by check if preferred. Contact Heather Cleland-Host for more information.
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Fellowship Virtual Office Holiday Hours
The Fellowship Virtual Office will be closed Friday, November 27 in observance of Thanksgiving.
The Fellowship Virtual Office will be closed Monday, December 21 through January 2, 2021. There will be no newsletters sent during that time. Please contact our minister, Rev. Eric Severson, if you have any questions during that time. Thank you!
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The Weekly Candle Flame Fall/Winter Editions
During the fall and winter months, the weekly Candle Flame will be circulated on Fridays. If you wish to submit an article, please email it to Wendy Altmeier by Wednesday at 5:00pm to have it included in the upcoming issue.
Holiday Season - The last newsletter for 2020 will be distributed on Friday, December 18. If you wish to submit an article for the FINAL 2020 issue, please email it to Wendy Altmeier by Wednesday, December 16 at 5:00pm.
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Website Team
The Fellowship Office is creating a website team to start meeting in January 2021. We are looking for people with many different talents. We would love people who have technical, creative, media, communications and/or any type of life experience. We are very interested in people who have been members for a long time, newer UUs and anyone in between! Please click here if you are interested in joining the team.
If you are not able to join the website team, we have created a form for suggestions and recommendations. While we may not be able to implement all of them, we are grateful for all of your responses. Please click here to offer a suggestion or recommendation!
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UUFoM & You
Considering Membership?
How do people of diverse beliefs become part of one congregation? “UUFOM and You,” virtually led by Rev. Eric Severson, Linda Rector and Amy Rogers will be held via Zoom.
UUFoM & You 2020-2021
Led by Rev. Eric Severson, Linda Rector and Amy Rogers. If you think you have found a spiritual home at UUFoM and are considering becoming a member, we invite you to take part in our orientation, “UUFoM and You.” COVID-19 has moved these sessions online.
Zoom Session Two: “About Us Together”
Friday, December 18 - 7:00-8:30 pm Unitarian Universalism’s “heretical” history is long, rich and complex. Join us in discussing who and what brought us to where we are today, how people of diverse beliefs thrive in a single congregation, how things work around here, and what it means to become a member.
Pre-Session Assignments: Watch Unitarian Universalist history video
Bring all the questions you have wanted to ask!
If you are interested in joining the classes, please contact Rev. Eric Severson.
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November 2020 Theme - "Healing"
November 29
“Healing Hunger and Homelessness” - The past year has shown that anyone can experience homelessness and food insecurity. Research suggests that food and housing shortages have grown in the face of COVID-19, but many people struggled even before the pandemic. Using our intelligence and reason, how can we create a better life for ourselves and others? Scott McDonald from the LOVE Team will look into food and housing insecurity in the Tri-Cities area. Led by Fellowship member, Scott McDonald.
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December 2020 Theme - "Stillness"
December 6
"Light in the Darkness" - The last nine months have been tough; tough on us as individuals, a nation and the world. How do we find light and hope in such a time as this? Led by guest speaker, Rev. Pamela Buchholz.
Rev. Pamela Buchholz is a United Methodist minister. After serving 20 years as a lay person in children’s ministry, she went to seminary, answering a call to extend the table to those who have been excluded because of who they are or what they believe. Now retired, Pam is part of the Midland United Church of Christ faith community.
December 13
"The Practice of Stillness" - When we take time to be still, to connect deeply with the present moment, we gain understanding, acceptance, love, and the will to relieve suffering and bring joy. Led by members of the Three Jewels Sangha: Beth Sperry, Marsha McDonald, Patricia Calahan, and Dani Fillmore.
December 20
"A Blue Holiday" - While there can be much joy in this season, the winter holidays aren’t always “cheery and bright,” especially with the challenges of a pandemic. This gentle service will offer a space of holding, with music, spoken word, and ritual, to provide support for all those who are unsettled or have experienced loss. Led by our minister, Rev. Eric Severson.
December 24 at 4:30pm Christmas Eve Service
"Treasuring the Radiance" - Join us for a service of word and music celebrating the hope and promise marked by the stars and the sparks within us. Led by our minister, Rev. Eric Severson.
December 27
"Treasuring the Dark" - Join us for a simple service honoring the quiet dark inherent in hibernation and the fallow season, offering us nurturing rest and regeneration. Led by our minister, Rev. Eric Severson.
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LIVING OUR VALUES EVERYDAY
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Sharing Tree 2020
 Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2020 virtual Sharing Tree! All of our tags have been claimed!
All gifts should be either unwrapped or placed in a gift bag, with the gift tag taped to the outside. (all boxes must be unwrapped so they can be checked before the gift is delivered) You can return the gifts to the large bin on Maxine’s front porch, 2614 St. Mary’s Drive.
If you are unable to deliver it to Maxine, please call her at 989-492-4413, and she will arrange to pick it up. You can also deliver it to another Sharing Tree location, or directly to the Salvation Army. Please return all gifts by Wednesday, December 2. Thank you again for your generosity, it makes such a difference to so many people! |
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NEW: Donations for Food Pantry Network
Monetary donations for the Thanksgiving Baskets may be made directly with checks payable to Midland County EFPN and mailed to: Midland County EFPN, PO Box 2521, Midland, MI 48641-2521 or online by credit card to https://midlandcountyefpn.org/ . Please note on the check or online that you are giving on behalf of UUFoM. The Food Pantry is a non-profit 501c(3) organization with all monetary gifts being tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
There are a couple of options for making food item donations to the normal operations of the Food Pantry.
• Drop off donations in the box outside of EFPN SAMS Pantry, 503 S Saginaw Rd (enter off Cambridge). The box is on the side of the building facing Cambridge.
• We can pick up food donations from your house. Email your pickup address and date of pick up to Vicki Reidelberger.
Thank you for helping those in need in Midland County (including Midland, Bullock Creek, North Midland County, West Midland County, Sanford, Coleman food pantry locations).
The Fellowship LOVE Team.
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Our Mission
We are a multigenerational, liberal religious community in the Tri-City region. We offer a beacon to the religious seeker, supporting and nurturing the individual and collective pursuit of spiritual fulfillment.To achieve this mission, we:
- Empower members, friends, and the surrounding community to think freely, live ethically, and grow spiritually through lifelong learning, as we explore our values, live the principles of Unitarian Universalism, and search for truth and meaning.
- Assemble in supportive and beloved community, sharing life’s joys and sorrows, and embracing all of our wondrous diversity.
- Gather for stimulating worship experiences and rites of passage that inspire and provide opportunities to examine, clarify, and strengthen our personal value systems.
- Create a more just, peaceful and sustainable world through our words of influence, constructive deeds, and engaging love.
We focus on these four social issues in order to improve the community and demonstrate our commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of all people.
- Global Climate Change
- Racial Justice
- Homelessness
- LGBT Rights
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copyright Unitarian Universalist Association
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Previous Newsletter Articles
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Fellowship Building
For everyone's safety, the Fellowship Building is closed to everyone except: staff, Sunday musicians, Vicki Rothhaar, and Pete Carlson.
To ensure that the most vulnerable are not put at risk, new locks were placed on the entrance door. Sandy will communicate to those who will need a key when one will be available. Please contact Sandy Hay if you have any questions.
Thank you!
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Shannon Sonoras, President
Beth Sperry, President-Elect
Marsha McDonald, Secretary
Vicki Rothhaar, Treasurer
Chris Nakamura, Member-At-Large
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Pastoral Care Ministry Team
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November Contact
Donna King 989-488-2886
December Contact
Beth Sperry 415-419-1747
Our Pastoral Care Ministry Team is here for you. We can provide a meal, a ride, some respite or a supportive ear and a cup of coffee.
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Fellowship Office Hours
Fellowship Office is currently closed due to Governor's Whitmer executive order.
Rev. Eric Severson - Minister
[email protected]
(608) 738-2694
Unavailable Mondays, except in emergencies.
Heather Cleland-Host - Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Office Hours by appointment only
[email protected]
Wendy Altmeier - Office Assistant
[email protected]
(989) 631-1162
Unavailable Mondays, except in emergencies.
Sandy Hay - Sexton
[email protected]
(918) 698-0311
In case of building emergency, call anytime
Melanie Willison - Accompanist
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