 |
|
|
Fifteen Years
by Marie Luna, director of congregational life
My 15th anniversary of working for the Fellowship is July 1st! There have been so many changes within this congregation, within my role, and within myself over the years. I started at 20 hours a week, but within a year we realized that this position needed to be full time. Many of you supported me through my pregnancy and birth of now 13 year old Nate. Both my title and my name changed twice (so many wasted business cards!). The first time I helped with a worship service, I was truly terrible. I now feel comfortable helping with and leading service. Most recently, I have had to continue to learn as we figure out how to be in community at a distance.
As the Fellowship has grown and evolved, what is at the heart of this congregation has never changed. The values we profess have gotten louder in some ways, but I believe they were always there. The growth mindset, something that many congregations don’t have, has always been there. This means that we are not just welcoming of newcomers, bit also that we allow newcomers to help change the culture of the Fellowship. This makes us strong.
I am so grateful to be part of this community! I love my job and I love the Fellowship community. Thank you for all of the love and support I have received over the years I have been here!
| |
|
UUA General Assembly Worship
Sunday, June 28 at 9:00 am CST
Link for the General Assembly Worship Service (9:00am) HERE
Link for the Fellowship discussion after the worship service (10:00am) HERE
Beyond the Water’s Edge by Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, Rev. Mykal Slack, and Benjie Messer -- These are times that call on us to work towards our collective liberation while also tending to our spiritual needs and caring for others. How do we ready ourselves for what is being asked of us? How do we keep moving even when we don’t feel ready? Join us for the largest annual gathering of UUs joining in worship!
Go to uua.org/ga at 9:00am to watch the livestream of the General Assembly Sunday morning worship service. Then come at 10:00am to our usual Fellowship Zoom link shared above for a chalice lighting and small group discussions on the service and the power and challenges of Unitarian Universalism in our current world. We will mix up the groups for a few different chances to connect. For more information on the GA service, click HERE.
Sunday Morning Connections for Children & Youth!
• Children’s Chapel (grades 4K-6) 9:00- 9:40 am
• Youth Connection (grades 7-12) 11:00-11:40 am Registration is required to receive the Zoom link for children and youth connections. Register your child(ren) HERE. If you have questions, contact director of religious education, Kim Hartman, at kim@fvuuf.org.
- Click HERE for information on future services.
- Listen to past sermons HERE.
| |
Summer Theme: Finding a Way
This summer we are focusing in worship and other ministries on the theme of Finding A Way. Our faith community, along with our wider world, is finding our way forward in complicated and often difficult ways. There is so much uncertainty, with the Covid-19 pandemic, ongoing need for physical distancing, and justice uprisings, but we know for sure that we will continue to be a community of love and hope that finds our way forward! We will be using the imagery of water this summer because even while we are gentle, we can be stronger than the hard things, and water can always find a way forward.
| |
Click HERE for more information on these offerings!
|
|
Adult Faith FormationThursday June 25
Sunday, June 28
9:00 am Worship Service HERE
Monday, June 29
Wednesday, July 1
12:00 pm Fall Faith Formation Preview with Marie Luna, director of congregational life bit.ly/UUFellowship password UU
| |
| Religious Education - Children and Youth
| |
Children and Youth Connections
We invite all young people to join us to share our time and hearts together!
Sunday Morning
• Children’s Chapel (grades 4K-6) 9:00- 9:40 am
• Youth Connection (grades 7-12) 11:00-11:40 am
Weekday Meetings
• Kid’s Connection- (grades 4K-6) Thursdays 4:00-4:30 pm
• Youth Connection- (grades 7-12) Wednesdays 4:30-5:00 pm and Fridays 6:00-6:30 pm
The Zoom link is the same for all children and youth gatherings. Registration acts as our directory for the year, so we ask everyone to register your child(ren) HERE.
Please contact director of religious education Kim Hartman at kim@fvuuf.org or religious education assistant Eve Rosera at eve@fvuuf.org with questions or concerns.
| |
Click HERE for details about all these groups.
|
|
- Fellowship Community Journal
Ongoing, submit your work to leah@fvuuf.org
More information HERE.
- Joyful Mind Zen Sangha
Saturdays, 7:00 am
- Men's Group
First Wednesdays and Third Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm
- Pollinate (BIPoC)
Email pollinate.BIPoC@hotmail.com for meeting information.
- Smiling Dandelion Sangha
Sundays, 6-7:30 pm
- Spill it Sister
Second Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:00 pm
- Third Thursday Book Club
Third Thursday of the month, 2:00 pm
- UU Parenting Support Group
First Monday of the month, 6-7:30 pm
| |
Ask Your College CampaignIntroducing "Ask Your College" campaign shared with us from Susan Leslie of UU the Vote Team. Which college(s) do you have a strong connection to? The "Ask Your College" campaign is working with ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (AICDC) in a program to help get full student participation in the November 3, 2020 election. The role of the "Ask Your College" Campaign is to connect with colleges, and ask their presidents/chancellors to use the resources of AICDC in committing to a goal of full student voter participation. Please consider sending a letter to either the Chancellor or Dean of Students at your alma mater. See sample letter HERE. Additional questions can be answered HERE.
| |
Building a Sustainable FutureOne unexpected consequence of the ‘sheltering-at-home’ practices during the global pandemic has been the decreased carbon footprint seen all over the world and the resurgence of wildlife in areas less busy with humans. Another unforeseen result of increased takeout orders and sanitary practices at grocery stores has been the
explosion of plastic and other disposable products. We on the Green Sanctuary team have reflected on how Fellowship members and everyone in the community can continue showing love for the Earth and practice green values. It has been heart-warming to see so many of us spending more time gardening and exercising outdoors.
Ideas for saving our climate and environment while sheltering at home:
• Promote policies that serve to decrease burning of fossil fuels (such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, HR 763, pending before Congress) by
talking about it, writing letters, and contacting your Representative and Senators
• Register to vote and sign up to vote my mail
• Plant trees and bushes
• Cut down on meat and dairy
• Decrease driving
• Compost
• Make sure you know what your area accepts for recycling, as each community is different.
• Buy fewer new products, especially those that use a lot of fossil fuel to make
• Insulate your home to improve energy efficiency
• Learn from climate scientists
• Take a look at the City of Appleton Creating a Sustainable City document
• Check out UU Ministry for the Earth, a program hosted by the UUA
| |
Fiscal year pledge reminderWith the current fiscal year coming to an end on June 30, I want to encourage anyone with an outstanding 2019-2020 pledge balance to consider making the final payment by that date.
We understand that some people may be experiencing financial challenges related to job losses or reduced employment during the pandemic. However, we ask that you make your final pledge payments if you are able. If you find you will be unable to fulfill your 2019-2020 pledge, or have any questions regarding your outstanding balance please contact me at phyllis@fvuuf.org or at the Fellowship office 920-731-0849. I will reply to your message as soon as I can.
All contribution payments received in the office or postmarked June 30th will be applied in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. All payments received after June 30th, and marked as 2019-2020 pledge will be applied as completion of the 2019-2020 pledge. Please be specific when completing the memo section on your check. This year you may also make your pledge payments or contributions via one of the new online options on our giving page. When making an online payment for 2019-2020 please select current year operating, or Oper if you are make a payment via text to give, on or before June 30. Any contributions will be applied to your outstanding pledge balance as appropriate, or as an unpledged gift if no pledge balance is outstanding.
We are grateful for your continued financial support of the Fellowship!
Phyllis Schmitt – Director of Finance and Operations
| |
New Adult Education Opportunity: Anti-racism Fellowship Facebook GroupWe have started a separate Facebook group for people affiliated with our Fellowship who want to learn about racism, anti-racism, and how to be better allies in the struggle for racial justice. This group is for sharing and learning, but think of it like a “class;” there will be topics of focus in a particular order to allow for scaffolded education to understand racism, anti-racism, and become better allies. The work of examining these issues requires commitment, so please engage the work of this group if you choose to join. This group is primarily focused for white people. Black/Indigenous/People of Color are always welcome, though this group might be a place where, as people learn, missteps are made that could be hurtful or harmful. In order to join the group you need to be willing to abide by our Principles for a Healthy Congregation and the ground-rules as stated in the first post on the group page.
You can find the group and ask to join by clicking HERE.
| |
The Votes Are In! A total of 111 of the 146 registered voting members attending our virtual annual meeting on Sunday, June 14, and 2 members voting via absentee ballots, cast their ballots for the approval of the 2019 annual meeting minutes, month-to-month budget proposal, and 4 governing board & 2 leadership development committee candidates. All were overwhelmingly approved.
Thank you for your participation in this essential part of the Fellowship’s democratic governance process!
| |
Fellowship Pen Pals: you asked, we answered! Inspired by the Question Box service, and in answer to, “Are there any ideas of how to keep our children engaged while socially isolating?” we are excited to launch our Fellowship Families Pen Pals program.
Any family or individuals who would like to connect over UU values and lifestyle the old fashioned way- through letters are welcome to participate! In order to comply with our Safer Congregation policy, this will be a family activity. Letters are to be written to and from families. There can be no direct contact between individuals and children.
Contact director of religious education Kim Hartman at kim@fvuuf.org or director of congregational life Marie Luna at marie@fvuuf.org to participate. They will work together to match your family to another family or individual. Once you are matched, we will send writing prompts to help pals to begin to get to know one another and to inspire deeper conversations.
| |
Black Lives Matter Lending Library Delivery!The Fellowship has had a Black Lives Matter Lending Library for several years now. Since we can't visit the building, we are happy to drop off a book for you! Check out this Google sheet and put your name and email address in the column of the book you would like to borrow (limit of 2 books at a time). If you can't access the Google form, contact Marie Luna at marie@fvuuf.org. You will be contacted in order of when you sign up HERE.
Contact Marie if you have a gently used or new book to donate to the Black Lives Matter library.
| |
Virtual Engagement and InvolvementWhile it is hard to connect in meaningful ways while physically distant, we want to try to do what we can to help. We ask everyone who reads this article to fill out this short 5 minute survey to help us see how people are engaging with the Fellowship while we are not able to be together in person. SURVEY
| |
New to Zoom?All of our online Sunday services and most of our activities will be happening via zoom. Go to http://zoom.us/test for guidance on how to connect and visit www.tinyurl.com/zoomUU for a tutorial video about how to use it. If you are still having problems, email Marie Luna at marie@fvuuf.org and she will find someone to talk you through it.
| |
Masks Available at Fellowship Little Free Library If you have need for a home-sewn mask, we are attempting to make them available in our little free library on Philip Lane in front of the Fellowship. People without masks are encouraged to get and wear them. People who sew or have extra are encouraged to offer them. Please use caution when visiting the library by using a wipe or plastic to touch the handle and/or using sanitizer directly after contact. Also make sure to wash anything you take. We are also accepting donations of cleaning supplies, non-perishable food items, and toilet paper. If masks have all been claimed when you get there, please email leah@fvuuf.org and we will try to get more. Please feel free to spread the word about this resource.
Need a sewing machine to make masks? Contact Marie Luna at marie@fvuuf.org.
| |
Blessing for Healthcare Workers
Click here for a special blessing from Rev. Leah for those who work in healthcare these days, or know someone who does.
| |
|  |
Click the image to give online.
| |
| | |
 Click HERE for our mailing address and staff email addresses or call 920.731.0849.
|
| A Note About Fellowship Activities and Staff Though the Fellowship building remains closed, our virtual doors are open and accessible! Your ministers are available to provide pastoral care and support via phone, email, video conferencing, and social media. Program staff is working to deliver meaningful worship and creative opportunities to engage with the Fellowship community in a variety of ways.
Your administrative staff continues to provide support with limited office presence. All core staff will continue to monitor their voice and email messages and respond to you as promptly as they can.
We will continue to communicate any significant or urgent changes to the Fellowship’s operational status via all Fellowship emails. Normal (or new normal) offerings and activities will continue to be communicated via the Fellowship’s Weekly Scroll. Announcements and events will be posted on our Facebook page and all are welcome to share in our Facebook group.
| |
Click here for the current financial report.
Click here for the June Governing Board meeting agenda.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
