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Room on the Broom by Marie Luna, Director of Congregational Life
The all ages service at the end of the month highlights a wonderful children’s story called Room on the Broom, where various animals ask the important question: "Is there room on the broom for me?" Many of us may wonder if there room for me in your community? Is there room for me in this place?
The Fellowship has grappled with these questions in various ways throughout its history. We have overcome physical constraints and have always worked at being welcoming of newcomers. One of my favorite stories of our history is when the long term members would sit in the lobby of our old building and peer around the corner to try to see the service, so the newcomers could sit inside the meeting space.
What can we do to keep making space on the broom? What does that need to look like?
• Is there room for someone with physical limitations? Do we sit in the middle of the aisle and allow them to sit in the armchairs on the ends?
• Is there room for someone with scent sensitivities? Do we choose to skip the perfume, cologne and scented lotions? (20% of people have this kind of sensitivity!)
• Is there room for someone who feels strongly about a justice issue? Do we listen with an open heart and mind or do we try to avoid them?
Who is welcome and who do we make room for? Our Welcomers do a wonderful job as people walk in the door, but we all need to be friendly and welcoming of those we don’t know—offer a smile, introduce yourself and ask them a simple question. Let’s all show the next person who walks in the doors that our broom has room for them!
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Upcoming Services
Sunday at 9:00 and 10:45 am
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October 13
All Bodies Are Beautiful by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
Rev. Christina has a sign on her door at home that says, among other things, "All bodies are whole, holy, and beautiful." What does that mean in a world that tells us our bodies are never (tall, small, big, thin, strong, attractive, whatever) enough? As part of our yearlong theme of healing, let's explore together what healing our relationship to our bodies might look like!
This Sunday we will be having a special collection to benefit Diverse & Resilient, a local organization that supports health and safety initiatives for LGBTQ people in our community. Bring your checkbook or cash if you want to donate!
October 20
Healing Amid Pain by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
By definition, pain is no fun. It is at best unpleasant, and at worst debilitating. The Buddhist concept of Tonglen invites us to be present and honor our pain (both physical and emotional), and thus allow ourselves to learn from it and let it pass. Might this be one path to healing our bodies? Come, let's consider Tonglen together.
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Emergency Evacuation Drill This Sunday, October 13!
We will be having an Emergency Evacuation Drill on Sunday, October 13 at the end of each service. There will be detailed written instructions handed out that day, but here are some important things you need to know.
Everyone should bring their jacket or coat into the sanctuary or classroom with them because when the fire alarm is rung, everyone will need to immediately head to the exits. Those sitting in the front of the sanctuary will exit out one of the side exit doors and those in the rear of the sanctuary will exit out the main sanctuary doors and proceed through the side door near the Legacy Room. Those with mobility limitations will have the option of sitting in chairs outside near those exits. All other adults will gather in the overflow parking lot in the office building next to the Fellowship. This might involve walking in rain or on unpaved ground, so please wear appropriate shoes! We will assist those who are mobility challenged or have other access needs.
Please know that we will NOT be discussing intruder, shooting, violence, or kidnapping concerns. This is just a safety drill in case of fire, weather, or another emergency that requires us to leave the building quickly. Nursery kids will leave early to avoid the loud alarm. All children and youth will gather by the little free library on Philip Lane once the alarm is sounded. Parents/guardians should NOT pick kids up from the classrooms.
Once the all clear is sounded, parents/guardians can meet their children and youth by the little free library and MUST SIGN THEM OUT with a religious education volunteer. After the all clear, everyone is welcome to the return to the building for coffee and conversation
This will be timed, so let's see how quickly and calmly we can evacuate the building. Thank you in advance for your participation!
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5th and 6th grade RE students- class location change
Due to large class numbers, the 5th and 6th grade class has moved to the Legacy Room during the 10:45 service. Please be sure to remember to sign out your child from this room as you leave the sanctuary.
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New Elementary Level Our Whole Lives!
We are excited to announce that we are launching our very first Our Whole Lives elementary level class in February 2020. This class for current 5th and 6th grade students will be capped at 15, so if you are interested in adding your child to the class list, please contact Kim Hartman by November 3rd.
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Did You Know?
Did you know that the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles* shares that there are heath benefits in holding a young child for both child and adult? Among them are…
• Creating a healthy sense of personal boundaries
• Encouraging calmness and relaxation
• Improving muscle tone and circulation
• Improving pulmonary and immune functions
• Improving sleep patterns
• Lowering anxiety and stress
• Strengthening digestive, circulatory and gastrointestinal systems
We are currently looking for loving individuals to help in our nursery during services. Please contact Kim Hartman, Director of Religious Education, for more information.
*cuddling-does-kids-and-parents-good
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Religious Education Registration Open
All children will begin in the service with their families and be excused to their Religious Education classes after the Wonder Box. Classes for 7-8th graders and high school youth are during the 10:45 service only.
Registration forms are available HERE.
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"I want that on a shirt..."
Deadline Soon!
The Fellowship Apparel store is in its final days! Start by reviewing the 'logo' options HERE and then click through to the online store. Have your orders submitted by October 13th. If you see a design offered, but not on the shirt type you want let us know. Talk to an Outreach Team member (Amanda Kramp, Andrew Kramp or Eric Verhagen) or email Eric at fvuuf@verhagen.us.
Sample shirts are in the Fellowship Hall to try on.
The Outreach Team would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their feedback on our shirt designs, including those with special requests, and a special thank you to Liv Herrick for her “Celebrate our Differences” design that will be available for all ages.
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Gun Responsibility Forums
A public conversation about gun responsibility: Each fall, The New Voices Choir uses music to frame discussions about important social issues. They present a live choral concert in conjunction with a series of public discussions about an issue facing our community. This year we tackle the topic of gun violence in our society--what some have called an American epidemic. Their concert on October 26 will feature music inspired by recent tragedies, but prior to the concert we will feature two public forums.
Public Forums: Both held at the Fellowship
October 10, 7:00 pm featuring Nancy Jones from the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort (WAVE)
October. 15, 7:00 pm featuring expert panel discussion with representatives from the Appleton Police Department, WAVE and others.
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Mindfulness Day
The Smiling Dandelion Sangha invites you to share a day of meditation with us on Saturday, October 19 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Fellowship. There will be guided meditations and instruction in different types of practice, with plenty of time for discussion on what meditation actually is and what benefits it can provide.
This is a good opportunity for deepening your meditation practice, renewing a lost spiritual connection or learning about meditation for the first time. We would like it to be particularly welcoming and helpful for beginners, so please invite friends and family who might be interested.
You do not need to be a member of the Fellowship to participate; all are welcome. There is no charge for this event, although donations will be accepted, and no need to register ahead of time. If you can bring a vegetarian dish to share for lunch, that will be appreciated. Chairs and meditation cushions will be available for you to use.
If you have questions or need more information, email smilingdandelion@gmail.com.
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UU101 – October 26; 9:00 am—2:00 pm, lunch included
Facilitated by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy, Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg and Marie Luna, Director of Congregational Life
This class is especially helpful for newcomers to the Fellowship and new members, though anyone who hasn’t taken it before is encouraged to attend. We offer information about our history, governance, programs, and liberal faith. This class is a wonderful opportunity to engage with new people, learn about the Fellowship and get to know others in the Fellowship community. Contact Cyndi Polakowski at cyndi@fvuuf.org to sign up. Please let us know if you have dietary restrictions.
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Sufi Dancing
Come join us for an hour of UU style Sufi Dancing, Tuesday, October 29, at 7:00 pm at the Fellowship. We will learn simple circle dances that let us interact with each other in calm, affirming ways. No experience needed. These are dances that we learned at the UU Summer Assembly in Lake Geneva and have come to love. Join us! Contact Mary Gerlach at 920.734.5888 or gerlachmz@new.rr.com with questions.
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Connect @ Home! A new Fellowship offering to stay connected
One of our biggest challenges is to provide meaningful ways for you to connect to this Fellowship, to each other, and to the topics we explore. That is particularly hard given the reality of busy schedules, worry about nighttime or winter driving, or needing to get a babysitter. This year we’re offering a way to Connect @ Home! Notice the “@” symbol? It will be a primarily online connection, allowing you the option of connecting from the comfort of home, with a warm drink and your slippers on!
These offerings will take place once during each theme series this year—watch the Scroll for details on upcoming Connect @ Home sessions. The focus of each session will be to discuss the impact of the theme that we’ve been in for a while, and prepare for the theme that will be coming next. We’ll begin with a chalice lighting and reading, and then have some open-ended thought questions to prompt deeper conversation. These sessions will last one hour.
Each time, there will be two chances to connect—once at noon with an option to come to the Fellowship in person or join online (maybe on your lunch break), or that same evening at 7:30pm online only (after the kids are in bed, or dinner is done). The online portion will be a simple Zoom link – To do that, click on the link and you will be prompted to download the software. You may also wish to create an account, but that is not required to participate in a Zoom meeting. You will need a computer or device with a webcam and microphone to participate in a Zoom session.
ZOOM LINK: https://zoom.us/j/5632592019 or call (646) 558-8656 with ID# 563 259 2019
Tuesday, October 29th -- To conclude “Healing Our Bodies” and prepare for “Healing Our Histories”
- 12:00 noon at the Fellowship (BYO lunch) or online (see Zoom information above)
- 7:30pm online only (see Zoom information above)
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Shared Sanctuary Expands and Changes Name!
The Shared Sanctuary Committee has changed our name to Immigration Justice to better reflect our expanded work. We will continue to offer sanctuary if someone is in need, but there is much more that we have been doing and could be doing. In the last couple of years since the Fellowship voted to be a Sanctuary Congregation, we have made connections with the immigrant community by holding potlucks, education sessions, and helping individuals. We have accompanied people to Milwaukee for ICE appointments and helped pay bills when there was a need. The Fellowship community purchased Christmas gifts for over 30 immigrant families last year, and this spring purchased gift cards to help families with groceries or other needs they might have.
Currently we are exploring what if would look like to support asylum seekers. Rev. Dottie Mathews, our former Associate Minister, is helping us with our discernment. We will all have an opportunity to hear from her on November 2nd before Soup Saturday (see below for details).
As we move forward there will be many opportunities to get involved! Let us know if you would like to join in this work of seeking justice for our neighbors. Marti Wheeler, Co-Chair, mwheeler@new.rr.com
Asylum Seeker Congregational Sponsorship
Saturday, November 2; 3:30-4:30 pm
The Immigration Justice team invites everyone to attend this important informational session to learn about how the Fellowship as a congregation can sponsor an asylum seeker in the Fox Valley. Former Associate Minister, Rev. Dottie Mathews, will join via video chat to explain the process and answer questions.
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Rev. Roger Bertschausen was the senior minister of the Fellowship from 1990 until 2015. He guided the Fellowship through years of transitions in staff growth, service schedules and practices, building construction, relocation and expansion. This title is honorary and given for his dedication and care of this Fellowship. We also celebrate the story of 64 years of the Fellowship existing in the Fox Valley and the countless lives we have changed. Snacks, drinks, and unstructured activities for kids will be available.
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Volunteer at Pillars Adult Shelter on October 26th
You are invited by the Essentials JAM to assist with the meal preparation and/or serving the evening meal at Pillars Adult Shelter on Saturday, October 26th. We will be hosting an Italian themed meal and need assistance with the following:
• 1 Leader—coordinates meal prepares and servers. Also serves meal between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm
• 4 Servers—serves prepared meal between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm
• 4 Meal Preparers—Spaghetti from Heaven. Recipe will be provided. Each person will provide three hot 9 x 13 pans to the shelter by 5:00 pm.
• 2 Meal Preparers—Mixed Greens Salad. Each person will provided mixed greens salad for to shelter by 5:00 pm
• 3 Meal Preparers—Crusty Bread. Each person will provide crusty bread for 30 people to the shelter by 5:00 pm
• 3 Meal Preparers—Dessert—each will provide 24 servings to shelter by 5:00 pm
Pillars Adult Shelter is located at 1928 West College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54914. To sign up click on the link. Please contact Angie Miller at starlight54302@yahoo.com or 920.810.7968 with questions. Thank you!
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Upcoming Child Dedication Ceremony Dates
Dedicating a child at the Fellowship is a powerful and precious ritual, designed to welcome your young one into life and into the loving embrace of our community. Any member or committed friend of the Fellowship may request a child dedication by contacting Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy.
Rev. Christina and Rev. Leah will both be officiating at these services.
December 22 4:00 pm Solstice service – sign up by November 22
April 26 9:00 and 10:45 am services Earth Day – sign up by March 27
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| Click here for the current financial report.
Click here for the current Governing Board meeting agenda.
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Thank you for reading The Weekly Scroll, and pardon any typos.
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| Quick Links
Anti-racism Learning (for home, or groups)
Characteristics and antidotes of white supremacy culture
October: Sense of Urgency and Defensiveness- click HERE
Joys and Concerns
As your faith community, we want to celebrate your joys with you and support you through times of concern.
To share a joy or concern with our ministers and/or at services, please email Rev. Leah at leah@fvuuf.org.
To be added to the Joys and Concerns email list, contact Cyndi Polakowski at cyndi@fvuuf.org.
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Weekly Calendar Thursday, October 10
6:30pm Spill it Sister
7:00pm Responsible Gun Ownership
Saturday, October 12
6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha
10:00am Spanish Charla
7:00pm UU Dance Group
Sunday, October 13
9:00 & 10:45am Worship Service
6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha
Monday, October 14
9:00am Goddess Group
6:00pm Essentials JAM
Tuesday, October 15
6:00pm Governing Board Meeting
7:00pm Men's Group
7:00pm Responsible Gun Ownership
Thursday, October 17
7:00pm UU Book Club
7:30pm Fellowship Choir
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Click the image for our mailing address and staff email addresses or call 920.731.0849.
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