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This Sunday! Bring your bag & your pet!
This Sunday, August 30, we are celebrating the many ordinary and extraordinary blessings of our lives and our world. It will be a special all-ages service with various ways for everyone to participate.
Bring with you:
- Your backpack for school, your briefcase for work, your bag for carrying stuff for your family, or whatever container you use for your daily life. We'll be blessing the bags and handing out charms to bring a little piece of the Fellowship with you into the world.
- Your PET! Any well-behaved pets, on a leash or in a crate, are welcome to join the service and then afterwards we'll head outside (weather permitting) to bless them. We ask that if your pet makes a mess, you clean it up right away. If you can't bring your pet, bring a photo or memento for blessing. We'll also have a moment to remember any beloved pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge.
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Donate Today to Help Us Shine Together!
The solar project is almost finished and we have raised over 3/4 of our goal, which will allow us to install the panels and fund important building maintenance needs and improvements. We have raised $154,180.00 of the $200,000 goal. Be a part of our Fellowship history and help us finish strong -- CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY.
For details about the solar project, click the button below.
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DIRECTORY COMING SOON!
We need your help!
One of the features of our new Fellowship Portal (Church Center) that we are so excited about, is the ability to opt in to an online directory. We know the ability to contact people within the Fellowship is a high priority for many of you!
We plan to open the directory feature in mid-September, but prior to that step we need you to ensure your information is correct, and that you have a picture on your profile. When we unlock and begin to share the directory, you will have the chance to opt in or set your security preferences. Don't worry, we won't share anything you add without your permission.
To create, or update, your profile, VISIT CHURCH CENTER, HERE.
Be sure to always use the same phone number and email address for your login to avoid creating duplicate accounts. If your other family members or children need to be added, you can add them there. A super-easy way to update a lot of information at once is by completing THIS FORM.
Finally, please add a photo to your profile-- we need it to be clear, with your face visible (no emojis or animals, please). That way we will be able to find each other easily.
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Sunday, August 30
10:00 am Central Time in-person & livestream
Blessings Ordinary & Extraordinary
by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
• Watch past sermons on our YouTube channel.
• Services details HERE
• See our website HERE for information about religious exploration programs for children and youth.
• Share the Plate: In August, we share the plate with the Fellowship's Immigration Justice Ministry and Partner Churches Committee.
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Music Ministry
Our music programs return in the fall.
If you are interested in participating in music ministry on Sunday mornings, please contact our Music Coordinator, Tam Masters (tam@fvuuf.org).
For information about our Music Ministries, click the button:
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Sunday Helpers Needed!
Interested in volunteering as a Sunday helper or already serving? Sign-ups are now live on Church Center! Whether you’d like to usher, welcome, or serve coffee, please head over and sign up.
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| | Religious Exploration - Children & Youth
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Starting September 20, BLAST OFF with Middle Hour All-Fellowship R.E.
The past two years we have introduced the opportunity for learning and connection during Middle Hour, our 10 AM time between the Sunday services (9 AM and 11 AM during the program year). Starting this fall, we will continue the experiment by expanding Middle Hour to include all ages at the Fellowship.
The biggest change is that our age-segmented Religious Exploration (R.E.) programs for children will happen during Middle Hour, from 10:00-10:50 AM.
Option A) Coffeehouse Service + Middle Hour - If parents want to bring children to the 9 AM Coffeehouse Service, kids are welcome to join the service and conversation. Then, stay for Middle Hour – there will be programs for everyone, young and old.
Option B) Middle Hour + Traditional Service - Come first to Middle Hour then stick around for the 11 AM Traditional Service. After about 15 minutes and the Time for All Ages, elementary-age kids will be invited to a program for the remainder of the hour. Older children and youth are invited to stay in the service, or help out in a variety of roles in the sanctuary or in RE.
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Register Now for Religious Exploration!
As we prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 program year, our updated RE registration form is live! Every child or youth, ages 6 months to 18 years, should be registered regardless of which program(s) they plan to attend.
You will be prompted to log in to Church Center and then choose which children to complete the form for. If you have no children connected to your household, please add them first.
Step 1) CHILD & YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FORM: CLICK HERE to complete this information form for each child, which requests specific safety, behavior, and support needs.
Step 2) R.E. REGISTRATION FORM: CLICK HERE to register your child(ren) for the RE programs they will participate in this year. Fee is $30/ child, max $75/ family. If this cost is prohibitive, use the discount codes in the form.
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Senior Wonders
Senior Wonders will meet Tuesday, September 1st at noon at Telulah Park, weather permitting. The Fellowship is our regular location if there's a storm. Come prepared to enjoy our lively conversation and a treat or two. Contact Janet Hughes at janet.ahma@yahoo.com with questions.
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Ladies Craft Circle
Ladies, grab your scissors, paint brushes, knitting or whatever you're working on and join us for a fun and relaxing time as we get CRAFTY!
This group is for anyone who identifies as a woman. Adults only, because YOU deserve some ME TIME!
Bring a snack to share and join us from 3:00-7:00 PM on the following Fridays: October 23rd and December 11th (future dates TBD).
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 | Click the image to view the Justice Hub
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Justice Hub
Check out the Justice Hub, featuring an easy-to-use calendar! Each event on the calendar includes time, location, and program details to help you learn more about how to get engaged with our wider community.
When you click on an event, at the bottom of the description, you can click “Copy to my calendar” to add the event to your calendar and never miss a chance to act courageously for justice in our world.
UU the Vote: Help prepare for the midterm elections. The November 3rd election is only 10 weeks away. As members of our UU Fellowship, this election will provide an opportunity to vote for candidates that may align with our values. Our UU the Vote Group recommends that you also consider getting involved with organizations promoting candidates that support our values. An organization like Citizen Action of Wisconsin is a good advocate for access to health care services and the Wisconsin Conservation Voters’ organization supports candidates that work to protect our environment.
Understanding Your Mental Health series, Sept 3, 10, 17, 24, 6:30 - 8:30 pm at First Congregational UCC, 724 East South River, Appleton. Presented by Grace Christensen, MSW, LCSW, CSAC. Hosted by First Congregational UCC and ESTHER. Registration and details HERE.
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New Tree Planting - Save the Date: April 30, 2027
Solar panels are being installed on the Fellowship building (over the RE wing), and we're excited! The Green Sanctuary JAM team made the decision to cut down a crabapple tree to avoid shade on a section of the solar panels. Mother Nature made the decision about when it should come down when it was damaged during the recent storm. We were sad to make this decision since a mature tree is a valuable asset, so we vowed to replace it, but spring is a better time to plant.
Join us on Arbor Day, Friday, April 30, 2027, to plant the new tree and hold a gratitude ceremony for the former tree, led by Gary Crevier, at the time of the planting.
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| | Thriving Together Auction
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Thriving Together: Community Fun Night & Auction
The Fellowship is excited to offer both an online and in-person auction in November. Help us reach our goal of $25,000 by either donating items to the auction or attending the in-person auction.
Donations are being accepted now through September 27th. Looking for ideas on what to donate? Do you have a special skill? How about a vacation home? Would you like to donate a basket for a coffee lover, date night, or spa day? This year the Fellowship Auction team has a goal of 75 basket or silent auction items with an average value of $150-$200. The team will combine items in order to create fun and interesting baskets or groups of items.
Please use this link to donate items. Submissions must be completed online. We plan to host a laptop station to help anyone submit their items in person.
Note: We are not ready to collect and store items at the Fellowship at this time. Someone from the Auction Team will contact donors when it is time to drop off items at the Fellowship.
The online auction site will be live starting October 31st at 3:00 pm and will close on November 7 at 7:50 pm. Get ready to bid on items. The in-person auction items will also be available for preview.
The in-person auction will be on Saturday, November 7th, 3:00 - 8:30 pm. More information will be coming, so please watch the newsletter or check the Auction Page of our website for details.
If there are questions, please feel free to contact Angie Miller at auction@fvuuf.org.
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Bakers wanted!
Do you have a knack for making delicious cakes, cheesecakes, brownies, cookies, or other desserts? We need desserts for our Bring-a-Friend Sunday Fun Day dessert walk on Sept. 27th. If you'd like to donate an item, fill out the form at the following link: https://fvuufellowship.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1297253
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Rev. Hannah Roberts Villnave's Sabbatical
Rev. Hannah is on sabbatical through November 14, 2026. Please click the button below for more information.
Don't forget to pick up a sabbatical BINGO card in the entry lobby (adults & kids) to play for a chance to win some great prizes. Click HERE to see the cards online.
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Care and Support
When you share your Joy or Concern, you can choose to share privately with the ministers or care team, request contact, or share with the wider congregation. It's your choice!
For pastoral emergencies, call 920-268-4512.
Fellowship members who want to be included on a weekly joys and concerns email list may contact Cyndi at cyndi@fvuuf.org.
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Fellowship Office Hours
Fellowship Office Hours:
8:00 am - 1:00 pm Sun., Mon., Tues., Thurs.
Office closed Wed., Fri., Sat.
If you have a group meeting or event that occurs outside of office hours, those will continue as scheduled.
To meet with individual staff members, please contact them directly to schedule an appointment. Contact information can be found at https://fvuuf.org/contact/.
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