MEETING

Thanks to those who attended the Sept 2 monthly meeting!

Here are the minutes if you missed it.  In our efforts to increase transparency, help Mystic Grove friends and fans keep up, and assist forming CUUPS chapters and other groups, we’re making it a goal to make more of our documents “public access.”

The next meeting is October 7 at NOON in Room 1.

INSPIRATION PHOTO

This month’s photo is from the article by Trevor Fraser in the Orlando Sentinel for Leu Garden’s exhibit for “Enchanted Fairy Doors.”

For many of us, being out in nature and appreciating its gifts and beauty is spiritually uplifting.

We’re going to see the exhibit on Sept 15.  Meet at 11 AM in the gift shop and start exploring at 11:15.  Stay as little or as long as you like. (Wear your Mystic Grove shirt or a bright blue T-shirt so we can find each other.)

The exhibit will be open until Sept 30th. If you cannot make it with us or on your own check out the Orlando Sentinel gallery online.

If you want to share what lights your  spirit up email your photo to mysticgrove@orlandouu.org and tell us about it!

RITUAL

The next ritual is Mabon on Sept 22. Please being a non-perishable donation for the food bank or the pet food bank.  Mabon ritual is our annual food drive one.

CALENDAR

We are HOPPING in September with something going on each week!  Come on down and join us any time.  Facebook RSVPs help us plan for supplies, so please check in if you can.

BOOKS WANTED

We will be having a book table at Pagan Pride.  If you have books you have outgrown, considering donating them at any Craft Circle on 1st or 3rd Fridays or at the monthly meeting on 1st Sundays. If you cannot make it at one of these points, call the First Unitarian front office and see if you can bring them by at during business hours. (407) 898-3621.

We will be accepting them up to Sept 21.

MYSTIC GROVE LINKS TO KNOW

• Mystic Grove WordPress: https://mysticgrovecfl.wordpress.com/
• Mystic Grove Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysticgrovecfl/
• Mystic Grove 1U Page: https://www.orlandouu.org/groups/mystic-grove/
• Mystic Grove Calendar with PDF: https://mysticgrovecfl.wordpress.com/calendar/

Questions or more info?  Please email us at mysticgrove@orlandouu.org

Thank to all those who came out to this month’s meeting. We set some records today!

• Took the second ever photo with the group’s ribbon staff.
• Got almost all member dues turned in and forms done in a single day.
• Decided our new t-shirt color and got the t-shirt order ready.
• Held a mini ritual in the campus labyrinth to celebrate outgoing and incoming leaders, honor new and renewing members, and bless the campus.

Then most of us kept right on partying and went on to a cookout/pool party rather than a typical restaurant lunch. Whew!

Mystic Grove 2018-2019 is now open and looking forward to a great new church year together! (Minutes summary will be posted within a week.)

Thanks to those who attended the July 1 monthly meeting! Here are the notes if you missed it.

PHOTO

This month’s photo is from the Midsummer service taken by J. Leger who writes “Lovely service from all of you!”

If you want to share what lights you up email your photo to mysticgrove@orlandouu.org and tell us about it!

MIDSUMMER AND NEXT RITUAL

Thanks to the many volunteers who helped put this together!

The prelude slides were shared with CUUPs.

You can also look at the gallery pictures online.

The next ritual is on August 4 — a celebration of the Kemetic new year where we learn how beer saved the world!

CALENDAR & IMPORTANT DATES

The summer calendar is available online.

The teacher’s meet on July 12 to plan the programs we will offer in 2018-2019. We are having the annual CUUPs teleconference in the assembly room at 1:30 PM on July 14. Officers meet on July 21 to go over foundational documents.

LUNAR RITUAL

Registration for the new July – Dec block is full for “in person” students!   We will continue to take “long distance learners” until that list is full. Long distance learners get all the material over email.  The class slides, the ritual, and homework links.

We continue our study of various deities and esbat celebrations based on Gathering for Goddess by B. Melusine Mihaltses.  First class is July 27.  The topic will be orientation for the new block + Erzulie Freda and the finer things in life.

Looking ahead to the Jan-June 2019 block, current teachers will be taking a break.  If you would like to lead moon circles, please let us know.

TEACHING CRAFT CIRCLES

This month on Friday July 20 we will learn how to make various origami patterns Some practical (envelopes and paper cups) and some decorative (various animals and a heart shape.)

Plan ahead:  On August 17 we explore beginner acrylic painting and do two dandelion designs.

Are you interested in hosting a craft circle? Tell us your idea!

MOVIE NITE

Movies are on summer break.  Do you have something you want to see? Email us!

PAGAN PRIDE

Mystic Grove is co-hosting Pagan Pride 2018 on Sept 29th at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando! If you want to help out contact either Orlando Pagan Collective or mysticgrove@orlandouu.org.

BOOKS WANTED

We will be having a book table at Pagan Pride.  If you have books you have outgrown, considering donating them at any Craft Circle on 1st or 3rd Fridays or at the monthly meeting on 1st Sundays. If you cannot make it at one of these points, call the First Unitarian front office and see if you can bring them by at during business hours. (407) 898-3621.

We will be accepting them all summer.

OFFICER ELECTIONS & MEMBERSHIP

July is election month. Welcome to this year’s slate of officers!

• Chair: Cat Rigby
• Secretary/ Treasurer: Paul Burdette
• Activities Coordinator: Lesley Horwarth
• Historian: Sarah Grant

August is membership month! Are you thinking about becoming a Mystic Grove Member or Friend? You can learn about the path to membership here.  The annual membership window is coming up in August-September at the monthly meetings.

MYSTIC GROVE LINKS TO KNOW

• Mystic Grove WordPress: https://mysticgrovecfl.wordpress.com/
• Mystic Grove Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysticgrovecfl/
• Mystic Grove 1U Page: https://www.orlandouu.org/groups/mystic-grove/

Questions or more info?  Please email us at mysticgrove@orlandouu.org

Thanks to those who attended Beltane on May 5.  Pictures are posted online.

Thanks also to those who came to the May 6th monthly meeting. Here’s the notes if you missed it.

This month’s photo is by P. Burdette of the main altar close up.  (Email or Facebook message if you’d like to submit one of your photos for the newsletter.)

CLASSES

The calendar has been updated again.  The May 12 session of “Circle of Song” is canceled due to illness.  We will take a break for the summer and see about bringing it back in the Fall.

The Odyssey four part series starts on Thursday  starts May 10.

Walking the Labyrinth continues on May 24.

Sometime in July is the annual “teacher meeting” at Fashion Square Panera for brunch and to map out the 2018-2019 list of ideas for classes and craft circles. Are you a teacher who feels called to contribute this year? A guest who wants to see how that works? Watch this space and come to the planning meeting!

ANNUAL REPORT AND MEMBERSHIP

The annual report was submitted to First Unitarian for the Annual Congregational Meeting on May 20th. Copies available to registered Members and Friends at the Yahoo! group file area.  Go to

Files > Grove Organizational Docs > 2018 Agendas, Minutes, Annual Reports

and you will see it there.

Are you thinking about becoming a Member or Friend? You can learn about the path to membership here.  The annual membership window is coming up in August-September.

(If you are a 1U member looking for the materials for the May 20 Congregational meeting, they are posted here. )

SOLAR RITUAL

Our next solar ritual is Summer Solstice Morning Service on Sunday June 24, 2018.  It will be held at 11 AM in the Sanctuary.  The general theme revolves around “reigniting the spark” in your spiritual practices.   There are many opportunities to volunteer on this one.

Do you want to be a read a short passage at the pulpit or help ring in a direction? Let us know.

Do you want to contribute to the slide show and share pictures of your home altar, your spiritual practices, your pagan artwork and crafts, attending pagan events elsewhere?

You can either respond to the “Submit Photos for Midsummer Slide Show” Facebook Event and leave your photo in a comment or email your submission to mysticgrove@orlandouu.org with “For the Midsummer Slides” in the subject line.

Do you want to display your items on the community altar?  You can email that you want to place your item on the community altar and will be bringing it to the June 3rd monthly meeting or on the day.  (Ahead of time preferred so we have enough table space planned.)

LUNAR RITUAL

The Jan – June block of Moon Circle is CLOSED, but registration for the new July – Dec block will open July 1. We will continue our study of various deities and esbat celebrations.

TEACHING CRAFT CIRCLES

This month on Friday May 18, we learn to make silhouette light boxes.

Plan ahead:  June 15th, we make God’s eyes.  We will take sticks and yarn for this craft if you want to bring it by any other craft circle or monthly meeting.

MOVIE NITE

Come join us each month on 3rd Sundays for movie night fun. It’s BYO dinner, watch, and discuss! This month we watch Something Wicked This Way Comes (PG)

Based on the Ray Bradbury novel. See what happens in a small American town when a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on the townsfolk…

Next month, we screen… TBD! Email us if you have a suggestion that you want to bring in. We keep an idea list so even if your suggestion doesn’t make it this month, it might later on!

PAGAN PRIDE

Mystic Grove is co-hosting Pagan Pride 2018 on Sept 29th at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando! If you want to help out contact either Orlando Pagan Collective or mysticgrove@orlandouu.org.  The next planning meeting is on May 20  from 12 PM – 2 PM over at Smashburger (3162 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32803).

BOOKS WANTED

Mystic Grove was given several collections of pagan interest books from folks who are moving away and from a dear member, Mary Ellen Mayo, who passed away.  We will be having a book table at Pagan Pride.  If you have books you have outgrown, considering donating them at any Craft Circle on 1st or 3rd Fridays or at the monthly meeting on 1st Sundays. If you cannot make it at one of these points, call the First Unitarian front office and see if you can bring them by at during business hours. (407) 898-3621.

We will be accepting them all summer.

SUMMER FIELD TRIP TO GUANG MING TEMPLE

Mystic Grove is taking a field trip to visit Guang Ming Temple in July. Founded in 1992, Guang Ming Temple is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Central Florida. In Mandarin Chinese, “Guang-Ming” means “bright light.”

Are you interested in coming along with us? Plan to come to the June 3 monthly meeting to vote on the best Sunday to go meet up. It will either be July 8 or July 22. We plan to do the 11 AM Tour, and stay for the 12:30 PM Vegetarian Lunch.

If you cannot make it with the Mystic Grove, you can attend one of their other Sunday tours. 

SUMMER “HOUSEKEEPING” DATES

Mystic Grove aligns its business year with the First Unitarian business year.  Summer on our “Typical Calendar” is the time for doing all of the “winding it down/cranking it back up” work of our group.  While you can see the details on the PDF, the big summer highlights are

May:

• We already started talking about who feels called to serve as an officer at the monthly meeting.  Is this you? Email the chair at mysticgrove@orlandouur.org. You must already be a voting member to hold office.

June:

• Midsummer Service
• Renew our CUUPS chapter membership.  You can also be an individual member of CUUPS.
• Start getting ready for the officers to change smoothly.

July:

• Officer Elections.
• Annual Teacher Meeting to plan out 2018-2019 offerings
• Start preparing PR materials and membership drive materials.

Aug/Sept

• Classroom Clean Up
• Annual Member Dinner to welcome back old members/greet new ones

• The Fall gem show by Central Florida Mineral & Gem Society CFMGS is October 5, 6, 7, 2018.  It will be at the National Guard Armory (2809 S Ferncreek Ave, Orlando, FL 32806)
• The Fall Gathering theme for UU WomanSpirit is “Like the Phoenix We Rise…..Strong, Fierce and Wise.”  It will be on October 10-14, 2018

NEXT MONTHLY MEETING

The next 1st Sunday Monthly Meeting is June 3 at 12:30 PM in Room 1. This is a great way to get to know us and how we work. Guests welcome to attend.

Here we discuss how the past ritual went, plan for next ritual, classes, craft circles, and more. Lunch at a nearby restaurant follows for those wanting to enjoy fellowship after the meeting.

MYSTIC GROVE LINKS TO KNOW

• Mystic Grove WordPress: https://mysticgrovecfl.wordpress.com/
• Mystic Grove Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysticgrovecfl/
• Mystic Grove 1U Page: https://www.orlandouu.org/groups/mystic-grove/

Questions or more info?  Please email us at mysticgrove@orlandouu.org

Thanks to those who attended Ostara on March 24 and the April 1st monthly meeting!  Here’s the notes if you missed it.

This month’s photo is by M. James of the 1U labyrinth at sunset.

CALENDAR

The calendar has been updated with a new class! We will be offering the Odyssey of Homer on Thursdays starting on May 10.  For more info about new and ongoing classes visit these links:

• Labyrinth Walking (4th Thurs, starts Feb 22)
• The Iliad (Thurs, starts April 5)
• The Odyssey (Thurs, starts May 10)

RITUALS

Our next solar ritual is Beltane on May 5, 2018. Come as you are or dressed in colors of the season: Red, white, green, yellow, etc in bright tones. Floral headbands encouraged. Ritual begins at 7 PM.  Potluck to follow at 8 PM. As a kindness to others, please be sure your dish is labeled with name of dish, name of cook, and any allergenic ingredients.

The Jan – June block of Moon Circle is CLOSED, but registration for the new July – Dec block will open July 1. We will continue our study of various deities and esbat celebrations.

TEACHING CRAFT CIRCLE

This month, we learn to make calendula salve. Cost is  $5.

MOVIE NITE

Come join us each month on 3rd Sundays for movie night fun. It’s BYO dinner, watch, and discuss! This month we watch “My Neighbor Totoro.(G)” This is a 1988 award winning Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten.

In post-war rural Japan,  two young girls, Satsuki and her younger sister Mei, move into a house in the country with their father to be closer to their hospitalized mother. Satsuki and Mei discover that the nearby forest is inhabited by magical creatures called Totoros. They soon befriend these Totoros, and have several magical adventures.

Next month, we screen “Something Wicked This Way Comes. (PG)”

PAGAN PRIDE

Mystic Grove is co-hosting Pagan Pride 2018 on Sept 29th at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando! If you want to help out contact either Orlando Pagan Collective or mysticgrove@orlandouu.org.

BOOKS WANTED

Mystic Grove was given several collections of pagan interest books from folks who are moving away and from a dear member, Mary Ellen Mayo, who passed away.  We will be having a book table at Pagan Pride.  If you have books you have outgrown, considering donating them at any Craft Circle on 1st or 3rd Fridays.  We will be accepting them all summer.

FIELD TRIP

Mystic Grove is thinking about taking a field trip to visit Guang Ming Temple.  25 years ago a group of Monks came to Florida only to discover that there was no place to honor the Buddha’s teachings. Today we have the Guang Ming Temple. Founded in 1992, Guang Ming Temple is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Central Florida. In Mandarin Chinese, “Guang-Ming” means “bright light.”

Are you interested in coming along? Plan to come to the May 6 monthly meeting as we pick the Sunday that works out best for those wanting to go.  We plan to do the 11 AM Tour, and stay for the 12:30 PM Vegetarian Lunch.

If you cannot make it with the Mystic Grove, you can attend one of their other Sunday tours. 

NEXT MONTHLY MEETING

The next 1st Sunday Monthly Meeting is May 6 at 12:30 PM in Room 1. This is a great way to get to know us and how we work. Guests welcome to attend.

Here we discuss how the past ritual went, plan for next ritual, classes, craft circles, and more. Lunch at a nearby restaurant follows for those wanting to enjoy fellowship after the meeting.

MYSTIC GROVE LINKS TO KNOW

• Mystic Grove WordPress: https://mysticgrovecfl.wordpress.com/
• Mystic Grove Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysticgrovecfl/
• Mystic Grove 1U Page: https://www.orlandouu.org/groups/mystic-grove/

Questions or more info?  Please email us at mysticgrove@orlandouu.org

Thanks to those who attended Imbolc on Feb 3 and the Feb 4th monthly meeting!  Here’s the notes if you missed it.

CALENDAR

The calendar has been updated with new classes.  We now have more Labyrinth Walking sessions and “The Iliad” series will be starting in April.  You can download and print the updates here:

• Spring 2018 Monthly Calendar

Our Google Calendar now has events posted out to June 1st.

SOLAR RITUALS

Our Ostara ritual will be on Mar 24 and there will be opportunities to volunteer. Email us if you feel called to help with set up, call a corner, pass out cake and ale and similar.

If you feel called to lead Beltane, please email mysticgrove@orlandouu.org.  If you need help, we can pair you with an experienced leader.

LUNAR RITUALS

The Jan – June block of Moon Circle is now full.  No more students will be taken. We are trying something new and providing some info for the “at home players” who wish to study along with us. January was “Skadi.”

Our next block will be July – December and email registration will open June 1st.  We will continue our exploration of various deities.

CLASSES 

Decoding the Secrets of Egyptian Hieroglyphs continues.  Please note date changes on the calendar as we accommodate the new Labyrinth Walking Sessions.

Circle of Song continues in the Spring term on  2nd Saturdays from 1 PM – 3 PM.   This is “easy choir” for the non-singers and experienced singers wanting to play!  Bring your smartphone or tablet to access lyrics if you do not have the book. Kids welcome.

Walking the Labyrinth starts this month on Feb 22, 2018.  This theme will be on 4th thursdays.

The Iliad is a 4 session DVD course that begins April 5, 2018.

CRAFT CIRCLE

This month’s topic is “Coiled Bowls.” Get an introduction to the world of yarn basket coiling with this $5 kit. This kit is ready to go for any crafter, even for someone at a beginner skill level.This type basket can be made in a single weekend. The finished project makes one complete basket which measures roughly 5 inches (12.7 cm) round and 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall.

We also have the coiling if you opt to choose your own colors for your bowl. Please bring 120 yards of acrylic yarn or Lily “Sugar and Cream” cotton yarn.
MOVIE NITE

Come join us each month on 3rd Sundays in Room 9 for movie night fun. It’s BYO dinner, watch, and discuss! In February we are watching Maleficient (PG).

“Maleficent is a 2014 American dark fantasy film directed by Robert Stromberg from a screenplay by Linda Woolverton, and starring Angelina Jolie as the titular character with Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manvillein supporting roles.

Loosely inspired by Charles Perrault’s original fairy tale and Walt Disney‘s 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty, the film portrays the story from the perspective of the eponymous antagonist, depicting her conflicted relationship with the princess and king of a corrupt kingdom.^[4]”

NEXT MONTHLY MEETING

The next 1st Sunday Monthly Meeting is Mar 4, 2018 at 12:30 PM in Room 1. This is a great way to get to know us and how we work. Guests welcome to attend.

Here we discuss how the past ritual went, plan for next ritual, classes, craft circles, and more. Lunch at a nearby restaurant follows for those wanting to enjoy fellowship after the meeting.

Questions or more info?  Please email us at mysticgrove@orlandouu.org

Thanks to those who attended the Jan 7th monthly meeting!  Here’s the notes if you missed it.

EVENTS

The Spring Term Brochure and calendar are available! Download and print yours and keep up with what’s being offered.

• Spring 2018 Term Brochure
• Spring 2018 Monthly Calendar

SOLAR RITUALS

Our Feb 3 Imbolc ritual will be guest led by the Twisted Oak Coven in the Alexandrian tradition. Ostara on  Mar 24 has a leader. If you feel called to lead Beltane, please email mysticgrove@orlandouu.org.  If you need help, we can pair you with an experienced leader.

LUNAR RITUALS

Moon Circle returns on January 26, 2018 and will be inspired by Gathering for Goddess by B. Melusine Mihaltses.  Both men and women can attend as we study different deities each month.  There will be a main deity plus a few extra for homework reading. Handouts are digital.  There is still space in the Jan- June block.  We meet 4th fridays for study and lunar worship. Learn more here. 

CLASSES 

Decoding the Secrets of Egyptian Hieroglyphs class got off to a good start.  The students learned how to write their first names and began learning the rest of the alphabet.  You can drop in at any of the other sessions!

Circle of Song continues in the Spring term on  2nd Saturdays from 1 PM – 3 PM.   This is “easy choir” for the non-singers and experienced singers wanting to play!  Bring your smartphone or tablet to access lyrics if you do not have the book. Kids welcome.

CRAFT CIRCLE

This month you can learn how to make crochet slippers with a flip flop bottom. We will be using this tutorial:
https://makeanddocrew.com/free-crochet-slippers-pattern-flip-flops-sole/

MOVIE NITE

Come join us each month on 3rd Sundays in Room 9 for movie night fun. It’s BYO dinner, watch, and discuss! This month we are watching “The Witches of Eastwick.”

“Three single women in a picturesque village have their wishes granted, at a cost, when a mysterious and flamboyant man arrives in their lives…”

NEXT MONTHLY MEETING

The next 1st Sunday Monthly Meeting is Feb 4, 2018 at 12:30 PM in Room 1. This is a great way to get to know us and how we work. Guests welcome to attend.

Here we discuss how the past ritual went, plan for next ritual, classes, craft circles, and more. Lunch at a nearby restaurant follows for those wanting to enjoy fellowship after the meeting.

Questions or more info?  Please email us at mysticgrove@orlandouu.org

Thanks to those who attended the Dec 2 monthly meeting.  Here’s the notes if you missed it.

WINTER SOLSTICE

It is time to get ready for our biggest ritual of the year! You can download the PDF schedule as a 2-up here.  Come for it all or just the bits you like best. Cut it in half and share one with a friend.  We really do go all night!

Yule Schedule OOS Insert 2017

VOLUNTEERING FOR YULE

Are you interested in helping out ? There are several opportunities.

As always, bring your instruments, readings, poems, games, movies, camp chairs or tents if you want to nap, etc.

NEXT RITUAL

Imbolc:  Twisted Oak will be our guest ritual leaders for this event.  It will be done in the Alexandrian tradition.  Details and  RSVP info here. 

CLASSES 

Tarot 2: Minor Arcana has its class party on Thursday Dec 14.   Guests welcome to come see student works, explore the study hall centers, play games, and swap.  Bring your tarot decks, books, and other goodies that you are done with and wish to pass on to another student. Maybe you will find something that calls to you?

Requiem Study Group CANCELED until Jan 12,  7:00-9:00 pm, Gore Hall 

Dec 8th session has been canceled so students can enjoy a holiday break in December. We will resume on January 12. If you wish to keep working on your planners over the break, consider filling out your “Key Contacts” tab. This is the “address book” section. (If you wish to join class in January, you are welcome to just jump in. Bring one of the suggested planners and start working on your tabs. ) More info here. Enjoy the holiday season!

Circle of Song is a new “drop in” friendly class on 2nd Saturdays from 1 PM – 3 PM if you would like to learn to sing in a family friendly environment.  This is “easy choir” for the non-singers and experienced singers wanting to play!  Childcare is provided on the coop model.  If you are bringing a child or grandchild, please RSVP over email with your name and ages of children so we can have enough supplies in the Kid’s Club.  The next session is Dec 9. This is our Holiday edition.

3rd Sunday Movie Nite

Our 3rd Sunday movie nite will come back in the Spring Term now that we are settling into the newly remodeled spaces.  We are taking suggestions for the Spring Term movie list.  If you have ideas? Email us! 

OTHER UU NEWS

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Here’s what is coming up in the next month until the next meeting.

NEXT MONTHLY MEETING

The next 1st Sunday Monthly Meeting is Jan 7, 2017 at 12:30 PM in Room 1. This is a great way to get to know us and how we work. Guests welcome to attend.

Here we discuss how the past ritual went, plan for next ritual, classes, craft circles, and more. Lunch at a nearby restaurant follows for those wanting to enjoy fellowship after the meeting.

Questions or more info?  Please email us at mysticgrove@orlandouu.org