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New Mission and Vision Statements
In January the Governing Board shared a draft updated Mission statement and asked for your feedback. We’ve listened and we’re excited to share a second draft mission statement.
And we’re sharing a draft Vision statement.
View the proposed mission and vision statements and offer feedback HERE.
The current Mission statement was created ten years ago and last reviewed five years ago. Mission should be a concise, inspiring, and current statement of who we are and what we value. Vision should describe where we’re headed. Our updated Mission and Vision will become the springboard for a new Strategic Plan.
If you have feedback on the draft Mission or Vision you can
• Talk with Board members in the Fellowship Hall after Sunday services on April 2, 9, and 16, or
• Give online feedback before April 10
Both suggestions and affirmations are welcome! The Board will share any further Mission and Vision drafts and then request the Congregation’s approval at our June 4 business meeting.
Updated Mission and Vision will help us move forward together. Thank you in advance for all your thoughtful responses,
Governing Board - Dana Johnson, President, Jeff Miller, Pat Mitchell, Marie Rohrer, Beth Belmore, Beth De Stasio, Theresa Hannah, Greg Weaver, and Marti Wheeler
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Do You Want to Vote at the Annual Meeting?The deadline to join as a voting member is April 8th!
Maybe you have visited the Fellowship recently and are considering membership, or have attended for some time and have not yet joined. While all are welcome at the Fellowship regardless of membership status, membership holds some specific responsibilities and privileges.
One of which is the opportunity to vote at our annual meeting. Our bylaws state members are eligible to vote at congregational meetings and hold office after they have been members for a period of eight (8) weeks.
Our 2023 annual congregational meeting is scheduled for June 4, making the last opportunity to officially join as a voting member April 8, 2023. Please contact Rev. Christina at Christina@fvuuf.org or Rev. Hannah at Hannah@fvuuf.org, or visit our membership page for more information.
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Sunday, April 29:00 & 10:45 am CT - In Person and Livestream
Rest as Revolutionary: Resistance Lessons from Passover by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
Click HERE for Worship Service Zoom Information and the Order of Service
• Watch clips of our services on our Youtube channel.
• Upcoming Services HERE
• See our website HERE for information about all our religious education classes for children and youth.
• Share the Plate:
o The April Share the Plate organization is UU the Vote.
o In February, $1,108.51 was raised for the Diverse and Resilient. Learn about Share the Plate and past recipients HERE.
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April: Rise Up
As Unitarian Universalists, we strive to work toward a more just world, but we are not alone. Throughout time and across the world, people have worked together to resist injustice. As we continue to wrestle with the challenges of our day, we will focus this month on learning and being inspired by various faith traditions which have practiced acts of resistance against injustice.
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| | Religious Education - Youth
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Youth fUUn Night - No Gathering in AprilWe will be taking take a break from our usual monthly gathering on April 1 to focus our energies on planning upcoming spring events. Please plan to join us when we meet again on May 6.
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Abolition is about relationships! And so is the Spring Seminar!The 2023 Intergenerational Spring Seminar, Demilitarization & Abolition: Resist Policing and Empire, will be hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Association Office at the United Nations in close partnership with the Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice and the UU Service Committee. The event aims to instill in Unitarian Universalist youth and adults a commitment to global engagement and the skills to take action locally to address global issues. Adult online registration closes on March 30.
Join us online April 1-3. Registration rates are tiered to ensure everyone can participate, including a no-cost option. Details and registration HERE.
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Soup SaturdayApril 1, 5:00-6:30 pm
Join us at the Fellowship for an evening of soup, bread, friends, and conversation. We will need people to bring soup (including vegetarian and vegan), bread, maybe dessert… and to come hungry. Details HERE.
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Senior WondersSenior Wonders will meet Tuesday, April 4 at the Fellowship. Bring lunch if you like, wear your "I voted" sticker, and bring a friend if you can, as well. Looking for spring ideas to start meeting outdoors again.
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 | Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
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| Ecumenical Good Friday Service Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Appleton
April 7, 12:00 pm
11:00 am to participate in choir
Come to reflect and consider the lessons in story, scripture, poetry, and music of Good Friday. An offering for Pillars will be taken, and a combined choir will sing. Rev. Hannah will also be participating! All are welcome.
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Wellspring: Nourishing Spiritual Practices SeriesApril 12, 6:30 pm, in person
Practicing the Art of Deep Listening by Chris Wales
Deep listening starts with listening to ourselves. It means being open-minded and giving interested attention to others. It is listening from a deep, receptive, and caring place in oneself that is generous, empathic, and supportive. It is trusting that whatever others say comes from something true in their experience.
Join us as we explore practices that build deep listening skills through self-awareness, mindful awareness, empathy, focused attention, and being “other-centered”. It is a practice that quite literally allows for a deeper understanding of the world.
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Tell Me More! (UU Edition) – with Rev. ChristinaSaturday, April 15; 10:00 am, in-person
Join Rev. Christina for an informal introduction to Unitarian Universalism, our Fellowship, and a chance to get your questions answered! This is a wonderful session for newcomers, or long-timers who need a refresher.
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 | Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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| Plant Sale - May 21stThe Partner Churches and Green Sanctuary committees are sponsoring our annual plant sale on Sunday, May 21st, from 8:00 AM to Noon. Donations of perennials, vegetable seedlings, annuals, ornamentals, houseplants, and other garden/landscape items would be greatly appreciated. Donations (with plants labeled please) can be dropped off on the morning of the sale. Please contact Vickie Milde (vicmilde@hotmail.com) if you will be providing donations, would like to volunteer to help with the sale, or have questions.
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"Seeking Awen": A UU Adult Spiritual RetreatFriday, July 14th - Sunday, July 16th - Space is limited. Register soon.
Please join fellowship members Heather Westley, Todd Grimm, and Mary Ellyn Vicksta for an adult spiritual retreat in the Northwoods! This retreat will affirm our UU Principles of encouraging spiritual growth and respect for the interdependent web of all life. Awen is a druidic term for inspiration and blessing, which we will seek while diving fully into nature to uncover the great mysteries of the forest.
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UUA General AssemblyWant to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, meet UUs from across the world, and represent our Fellowship in important decisions? Our annual UUA General Assembly will be online and in Pittsburgh, PA from June 21-25. To learn more check out uua.org/ga or email Rev. Hannah!
Election of New Unitarian Universalist Association President
by Rachel Walden, UUA Communications Senior Manager for Digital & Marketing Strategy
It is an exciting time in Unitarian Universalism as we prepare to elect a new president of our Association. The UUA President is the primary public and spiritual leader of Unitarian Universalism, as well as the UUA’s Chief Executive Officer. They help to lead Unitarian Universalists on a path to Beloved Community, in which people of diverse backgrounds, identities, and theological beliefs can thrive. Voting will open in early June and presidential forums begin this weekend. We invite you to meet the candidate for UUA President. Learn how you can participate in the forums in the information and link below.
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2023 Annual Congregational SurveyThe Fellowship Governing Board and Executive Team are hoping that all members and friends of the Fellowship will participate in our annual congregational survey. The information gathered in this survey is of critical importance as we evaluate progress toward the Fellowship’s goals and identify areas in which we need to dedicate additional time and resources. Your opinion counts.
The survey includes 59 questions and may take around 15 minutes to complete. The questions are about Fellowship demographics, how we live, and our engagement with the Fellowship over the last 12 months. All responses are anonymous.
We will report on the survey results at the 2023 annual meeting. We administered the same survey last year and plan to continue asking the same questions every year so we can track our progress over time.
The survey will be available through March. Thank you so much for sharing your input.
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Care and SupportTo submit a Joy or Concern, fill out the form on our website or contact Rev. Hannah Roberts Villnave at hannah@fvuuf.org or 920-731-0849. For pastoral emergencies call 920-383-1565.
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Help with a Meal at Pillars Adult ShelterPlease join Essentials JAM by providing and/or serving a meal to the residents of Pillars Adult Shelter on Monday, April 3rd. Please click on the link to sign up to provide a portion of the meal or to serve the meal. Meal items will need to be delivered by 5:00 pm to Pillars Adult Shelter located at 1928 W. College Avenue, Appleton. Servers will serve the meal and clean up between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. If you have questions, please contact Angie Miller at 920.810.7968 or angela.miller@oneamerica.com. Thank you!
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Justice Action Ministry April ActivitiesJustice Action Ministry team members will be in the Fellowship Hall after services on Sunday to talk about April JAM activities.
Bread for the World Offering of Letters April 16, 12:30 pm, Taco casserole meal, presentation, and letter writing hosted by our JAM teams.
The Farm Bill is reauthorized every 5 years, $428 billion from 2018-2023, and touches the lives of nearly every person living in the U.S. and millions around the world. The letter campaign asks to add elements of nutrition, equity, and sustainability. Watch for more information to prepare for the April 16 lunch and letter-writing campaign.
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Rising Together: A Day of Renewal, Learning, and Connection for Justice-Seekers and Community-Builders
Saturday, April 29th
9:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Fellowship
Lunch Provided
Are you working to make the world a better place, professionally or as a volunteer? Do you feel isolated or burned out, wondering whether you’re really making a difference? Do you long to feel more connected, capable, and courageous in your community? Is social justice something that feeds your heart and spirit as well as your mind?
Then Rising Together is for you! Learn more and RSVP HERE.
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Click the image to read the Justice Hub
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Justice HubCheck out our Fellowship’s Justice Hub for the most up-to-date information about how to get involved in social justice in our community!
Feeling overwhelmed by our world? Check out our Fellowship Justice Hub for important ways to connect, learn, and serve in our community, including…
• UUA Trans Day of Visibility Family Event - March 31st online
• Brothertown Nation Powwow - April 1st
• ESTHER’s Madison Action Day (new information!) - April 27th
• CRUCIAL information for the April 4th Election
• Green Sanctuary Book Discussion- Braiding Sweetgrass - April 20th
• April 25-26: Toward One Wisconsin: A Conference on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Register by April 2 to take advantage of early bird pricing!
• And so much more!!!
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