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|  | Our annual giving campaign is underway. Turn in your form by April 26 for a chance to win a basket of chocolate or a porch goose.
If you haven’t received your annual giving packet, you can find the materials HERE. If you have questions about how to give, please contact finance manager Laura Kallio at laura@fvuuf.org. If you want to connect with a member of the annual giving team, contact Rev. Hannah at hannah@fvuuf.org.
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Beltane Celebration This Sunday!
Sunday, April 26, 1:00 pm
Celebrate the pagan festival of Beltane with the Gathering Circle small group. There will be Maypole dancing and a potluck feast. Join us on the patio if the weather cooperates, in the Fellowship Hall if it's raining. Please label the ingredients of your potluck dishes for allergies/gluten-free/vegan.
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Did you get emails from Seth Gillespie? Here's why!
One of the projects that Rev. Christina and our new Program & Volunteer Coordinator Seth Gillespie are working on, is a rollout of a new church management software. It's a robust and user-friendly program to help organize and connect our congregation, including features like groups, texting, and an online directory! Christina and Seth are rolling it out piece-by-piece and slowly, adding people one by one to groups.
Q: I have been getting emails, what am I supposed to do?
A: Nothing yet! Ignore anything you see, and we'll be in touch soon with more details.
Q: I have NOT seen anything about this, is something wrong?
A: No! You just haven't been added yet, everything is fine.
Q: How does it work?
A: Planning Center is the "back end" software and the user-interface is a website or an (iPhone or Android) app called Church Center. It will, eventually, allow you to update your own profile, communicate with your groups, use an online directory, and register for events seamlessly through your profile.
It's easy to use, but there is a learning curve, so Seth is going to offer two Middle Hour sessions to show you around and answer questions on May 10 & 17, but even then we will likely not be fully operational with the new software yet.
Q: Why are we doing this?
A: Our communication, record-keeping, and organizing systems are very out of date, and we are so excited that Church Center will help us work together better! Their motto is, "so no one falls through the cracks" and that's exactly why we want this software. We hope to have most of the systems operational by summer and will be in touch with details about how to use it. In the meantime, do not worry about it! Feel free to log on or play around if you want, but if it feels stressful, then just ignore it for now!
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Sunday, April 26
• 9:00 am Central Time in-person
informal coffeehouse-style service with conversation
• 11:00 am Central Time in-person & livestream traditional service with sermon
What If the Earth Won't Give Up on Us?
by Rev. Hannah Roberts Villnave
• 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 April, we share the plate between the Fellowship and Menīkānaehkem Community Rebuilders. See their Facebook page for information.
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Music Ministry
Hello friends, old and new! Our music programs are rolling, and we hope you'll join us! If you have questions or want to see the schedule of rehearsals, you can look at our Music Ministry page HERE or contact Tam Masters at tam@fvuuf.org - they'll point you in the right direction. If you want to be involved, let us know, HERE.
- April 26 - Fellowship Choir Rehearsal (10:10 am) preparing for offering on May 10
- May 10 - Fellowship Choir Rehearsal (10:10 am) and offering (11:00 am)
For information about our Music Ministries and the upcoming schedule, click the button:
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Wishing Brian Well!
Our accompanist Brian Hutzell's last Sunday with the Fellowship will be this Sunday, April 26th as he prepares to embrace a new professional opportunity on Sundays. We will miss Brian's good humor and excellent piano skills, and we hope you'll take this opportunity to thank him for his time with us! We'll acknowledge our gratitude during both services and have an opportunity to write down well-wishes for Brian after the services. If you have a farewell to share with Brian but won't be here on Sunday, you can share it via email with Rev. Hannah (hannah@fvuuf.org) by Saturday, April 25th and we'll pass it along.
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Middle Hour
Learning, Connection & Fun for All Ages at 10:10 am on Sunday Mornings.
Please note, last Sunday at the second service, we shared incorrect information about the Middle Hour progams for this week during the verbal announcements.
The correct information for this Sunday is below.
Sunday, April 26:
- Earth Day: The Rights of Nature – Join members of the Green Sanctuary Team and Bill Van Lopik, with the group Rights of Nature Wisconsin, to learn more about this concept and how we can support environmental stewardship. Rights of Nature Wisconsin was founded by WISDOM (the statewide interfaith organizing group of which our local ESTHER is a part) with a lot of indigenous involvement, and the support of the international organization, Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights.
Click the button to see what's coming up.
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Last Chance to Complete Your Check-In
Our Membership Team is concluding follow-ups for this year's Connect & Commit process, which is a chance for everyone-- newcomers, members, friends, everyone!-- to let us know how you're doing and how we can best support your involvement at the Fellowship. The Connect & Commit form is not related to your financial giving -- for that, check out the Giving page of our website! We simply want to be sure we are in touch with our whole Fellowship community in ways that feel supportive.
If you haven't yet completed your Connect & Commit check-in form, you can do so, HERE! The form will close on Sunday, April 26.
Gratefully,
Rev. Christina & Your Fellowship Membership Team:
Nan Middleton (chair), Amanda Conner, Scott Peeples, and Penny Robinson
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You Are Not Alone (2nd edition) Dinner & Event - Please RSVP
Wednesday, April 29, 6:00-8:00 pm
Join members of the Care Team for a dinner and event to provide space for all the challenges in our lives: illness, grief, caregiving, stress, addiction, mental health challenges, political anxiety and strife, and more. There will be some centering time, a chance for sharing and listening, and some skill-building. Participants who attended our January event reported feeling significantly calmer, more hopeful, and more empowered at the end of the session. You are not alone!
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Empty to Full Pans
Please remember to bring full and frozen pan(s) back to the Fellowship on Sunday, May 3. The frozen pans will be taken to Pillars Adult and Family Shelter to be used for their evening meals.
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Calling all gardeners!
Partner Churches Plant Sale
Sunday, May 17, 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
The Partner Churches committee will be selling native plants, perennials, ornamentals, houseplants, herbs, vegetable seedlings, and garden accessories in the Fellowship parking area on May 17th, from 8 AM to 12:30 PM. We hope you will be able to join us! Proceeds will benefit our partner churches in Deva, Romania and Banaybanay, Philippines. We will need, and greatly appreciate, your donations of plants and related items, which can be dropped off at the Fellowship between 7:00 and 8:00 am on the day of the sale. For more information, or to volunteer to help with the sale, please contact Vickie Milde at vicmilde@hotmail.com.
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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.
- May 1: ESTHER is hosting a bus to Madison to participate in state wide rally for Immigrant Justice. 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Registration and more information HERE.
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Check out the Events & News website page for all of our upcoming events:
- April 26 - Beltane Celebration
- April 29 - "You Are Not Alone" Supportive Dinner & Event
- May 2 - Soup Saturday
- May 17 - Partner Churches Plant Sale
- May 24 - Return to one service @ 10:00 am
- June 7 - Annual Meeting
- August 2 - Fellowship Picnic at Smith Park
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| | Religious Exploration - Children & Youth
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Everyone's Invited to our 2026 Bridging Youth Celebration!
We're excited to celebrate our high school seniors who are graduating this spring at our special Bridging service on June 7. Let’s gather to recognize this big milestone and help them get ready for the next chapter of their lives.
If your high school senior would like to be part of this celebration, please contact Ms. Jill Williams at jill@fvuuf.org by Sunday, April 26.
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Discovery and Friendship Happen Every Week! Join us in our Religious Exploration Classes
Our Religious Exploration programs spark curiosity, friendship, and spiritual growth. Each week, kids and teens explore big ideas, make friends, and practice living with compassion and purpose as they grow into our UU values — together.
There’s a place for every young seeker to connect and grow! Click here for information about each of our programs, including nursery, children’s Sunday Religious Exploration, and our teen programs: Crossing Paths, Being a Teen, and Our Whole Lives.
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New Art Show: "Let Your Light Shine"
We will be hanging our next art show at 1:00 pm on Sunday, May 17. If you would like to help hang it, you are more than welcome to join us. We will be accepting framed, ready to hang art up to that time. Each piece needs to have the title and artist listed on the back. Late submissions will not be accepted. If you need to drop off your art early, please contact the office to make arrangements. This is a great opportunity to let your art talents shine and be part of beautifying the Fellowship Hall. If you currently have art on display, please remove it on the 17th. For more information, contact Mary Gerlach (gerlachmz@gmail.com).
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Kim's Parting Gift: Origami Cranes
As we approach the middle of April, we would like to take a moment to remind you of the origami cranes Kim Hartman, our former director of religious exploration, left as a parting gift for the congregation. Please make sure you pick one up on your way out of the service or any time you are in the building. The cranes are in a basket on a table in the sanctuary lobby.
Words from Kim:
It is time for me to step aside, just as my predecessor once stepped aside for me—a gift for which I remain deeply grateful. I leave knowing that our new staff will be welcomed with the same warmth and generosity you extended to me.
I have left origami cranes for you at the Fellowship. In Japanese tradition, the crane is a symbol of peace, long life, and good health—these cranes carry my wishes for the same in your lives. More simply, they are a small token of the love I leave here with you.
Thank you for the ways you have helped me grow.
Thank you for the love and support you have shared so generously.
Thank you for the privilege of walking this part of the journey with you
And so, I share the simplest prayer I know: thank you.
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Hug Me! or Don't Touch Me! Stickers Now Available
Each person has their own preferences about touch-- some people love to be patted on the back or given a hug, others really don't want to be touched without consent. Many of us are somewhere in the middle. If you want to make your preference known, stop by the Welcome Table in the entry lobby to add a sticker to your nametag — the green ones say "hug me" and the red ones say "please don't touch." As always, please respect other people's boundaries of body, and spirit.
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This 39-minute video from President Sofía Betancourt offers an unprecedented view into programs and planning happening at the UUA, with an invitation into deeper partnership. The message is a reflection on this moment in the faith, the challenges and possibilities that lay ahead, and what it means to hold the heart of Unitarian Universalism today.
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Care and Support
To submit a Joy or Concern, fill out the form on our website or contact Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy, Co-Minister, at christina@fvuuf.org or 920-731-0849. For pastoral emergencies, call 920-383-1565.
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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| | UU Summer Camps in Wisconsin
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Bayside 2026 will be held June 28 - July 4
Bayside UU Family Camp is a family summer camp held at Wesley Woods Retreat Center in Williams Bay, WI. Click the image for details.
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