Spaghetti Dinner 2012 Coming Sunday, Feb. 12th

The GPUC Juniors are sponsoring their annual Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, February 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. This a fundraiser for the junior/senior fund, which will help us afford the trip to Boston in June of 2013.  The cost is $10 for adults and $7 for children 10 and under. It will be held in the Olympia Brown Fellowship Hall.  The servers for the evening will be our 14 extraordinary junior students.

The meal will include spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, dessert, coffee and tea.  Valentine flowers will also be available for purchase.

Board Names New President and Vice President

 The GPUC Board of Trustees has accepted the resignation of John Owens as our President as of January 10, 2012. They affirmed their personal support for John and his strong leadership and dedication while he served in this important role in our congregation. The Board also named Vice President Janet Peplin as their choice to serve the remainder of the current term of Board President, ending June 30, 2012. In accordance with our By-Laws, the Board appointed and affirmed Ann Helm to serve as the Vice President for the remainder of the current term, also ending June 30, 2012. We are grateful to Ann for stepping up to offer her experience and guidance in this important time of transition.

Volunteer at Crossroads East / New Location

Crossroads East is moving to a new location, Salem Memorial Lutheran Church at 21230 Moross , in Detroit, one block east of I-94. They hope to resume seeing clients in the first week of February.  In anticipation of increased need for client services, they will be hosting a training session on Saturday, January 28th. Volunteering at Crossroads can be a rewarding opportunity that offers flexible, accommodating hours to fit your schedule. For more information, contact Janet Peplin at the number in the church directory,  or email her : janetleighp "at" gmail.com.

-- Janet and Larry Peplin for the Outreach Committee

New UU Classes Offered Through March 11

The Rev. Shelley Page has announced that she will be leading a new series of classes on Unitarian-Universalism beginning on Sunday, January 8th and continuing on January 15, February 5, February 19, March 4, and March 11th. These classes will be held at noon after the regular services, with a light luncheon provided for a $3 donation. Children's lunches and child care will be provided at no charge. These classes are mainly for those who are new to our faith, as well as for those who simply want to learn more about Unitarian Universalist history, theology, social justice, denominational matters, and exactly what it means to be a UU. It is important to sign up in advance at the table in the church foyer.

Pathways to Membership Workshop on Feb. 11

 

A half-day session for those considering membership in GPUC will be held on Saturday, February 11th from 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Rev. Shelley Page and volunteers from the Membership Committee will conduct the workshop to define and illustrate what steps are necessary for membership. The agenda will include: sharing stories of spiritual paths and backgrounds,  information about “growing, and being an explorer in religion”, understanding  UU history, principals and purposes, as well as GPUC expectations for time, talents and stewardship.  Lunch will be served. Please call the church office to sign up:  (313) 881-0420.

-- Jane Hoey, Chair, Membership Committee 

Crossroads East Food Donations Hit New Record Level in 2011

 

We’re happy to report that GPUC has set another new food sharing record by delivering 13,044 pounds of food to Crossroads East Foodbank in 2011. This topped our 2010 total of 10,204 by 2,840 pounds. Simply amazing.

Here are a few highlights: We continue to be  the largest supplier of fresh protein-rich foods, having delivered 294 dozen eggs and 150 gallons of milk.

Our Saturday morning pick-ups of day-old bread and baked goods from Kroger  (46 in all) added 3,631 pounds to our total.

Two special collections held by the Grosse Pointe Music Academy at their recitals held in our chapel brought in another 465 pounds of canned goods.

The giving spirit at GPUC seemed to have reached  ‘epidemic’ levels this year with cash and check contributions, as well as all of the non-perishables dropped off on our First Sunday Food Sharing shelves.

A very special thank you must go to Juli Moore and our generous and compassionate team of Resale Shop volunteers who, in the fourth quarter of the year, put us on their radar and began providing significant monetary contributions from Resale Shop proceeds. This action played a major role in those final ‘over-the-top’ pounds we were able to purchase.

Our food-sharing model was  presented in detail at a MUUSJN conference and distributed state-wide to all UU congregations. You may view that document by clicking  HERE.

SO…where do we go from here? UP! We're hopeful that at this time next year, we will be submitting news that once again we have broken our old record, as we have done for six consecutive years. The generosity and caring that exists at GPUC makes that a highly probable possibility.

THANK YOU, everyone who has participated, for doing what you can to make this happen, and for your trust in our efforts to put GPUC Outreach into action in your name. We promise to always make the most of what you have given. Our mantra continues to be: EVERY PENNY goes to buy REAL FOOD, and EVERY ITEM donated is appreciated by some of our neediest neighbors.

-- Janet and Larry Peplin, for Crossroads East and GPUC Outreach

REPORT: A Season of Service, Sharing, and Action

The generous donation of time, goods, and money from  Grosse Pointe UU's created a wonderful holiday season for many Detroit families and children.  Twenty-three families plus the Resale Shop donated enough children's books to give both Clark School and Merit Academy  five big boxes of otherwise unattainable reading material.  The schools were also thrilled with the extra large gift bags of mittens and hats from our Mitten Tree, which were immediately distributed  to children who had none. Huge thanks go to the twenty-nine families for their donations.

Grosse Pointe Winter Blood Drive Donors Needed Feb. 2nd

The Winter Blood Drive, sponsored by the Grosse Pointe Community Blood Council, will be held on Thursday, February 2nd, from 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms.  If you are able and willing to give blood, please contact Pat Freiwald at her number in the church directory, or pfreiwald "at" aol.com. 

Rev. Shelley to Return January 31st: HURRAY!

Rev. Shelley is traveling in California and will return to Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church on Tuesday, January 31. During that time, she will not be checking emails or keeping up with goings on here at GPUC. However, if an emergency arises, Candy Dunn in our office will know how to reach her.

Defibrillator Training and CPR Skills Class Offered

Beaumont EMS technicians will hold one more class on using the new automatic defibrillator that is now on the wall in the church foyer. It is critically important for as many of us as possible be taught how to use this life-saving device, and to be knowledgeable about the latest CPR techniques as well. One never knows when you might be able to save a life, or when your own could be spared by quick-thinking, trained church members. Please don't put this off; YOU really could save someone's life!

This is an especially good opportunity for babysitters to learn CPR, so teenagers are welcomed.

Thanks to Beaumont Hospital, There is no cost to participants.

Please email or call our Administrator Candy Dunn in the church office to sign up, and see or call Jo Ann Kelly (313-821-0467) if you have questions.

This class will be held on Tuesday, January 17th, 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. IN THE GPUC GALLERY.