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Having trouble viewing this message? Scroll to the bottom & click the link to view this email online. The newsletter is long and may get clipped. Please scroll down to the bottom and check for a "view entire message" notice to make sure you see all of the content.
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Donate Today to Help Us Shine Together!
The Solar Project is almost finished (hurrah!) and we will have our final payment due soon. While the mini-capital campaign is going well, we’ve had some wonderful large pledges to the campaign that can’t be paid until December. If you can help us make our upcoming payment with a gift, please consider donating today. Thanks for helping to make this dream a reality for our beloved community!
For details about the solar project, click the button below.
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Water Mingling
Sunday, September 13, 10:00 AM
Join us for our annual Water Mingling service to celebrate the end of the summer (this is our final 10 AM service) and the start of our Program Year on September 20 (with Sunday services at 9 AM and 11 AM). Bring a small vial of water from your summer travels, from a nearby lake, stream, or fountain, or simply from home– we will mingle them together to symbolize the ways we come together in our beloved community.
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Sunday, September 13
10:00 am Central Time in-person & livestream
Water Mingling
by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
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New Banner in the Sanctuary
Water completes cycles as it transitions through vapor, rain, snow, ice, and rivers, before emerging in wells and up through roots of trees and into the atmosphere once more. The cycle parallels that of people who live, die, perhaps become ghosts or goddesses or skeletons in the sky, and then repeat. Created by Margaret Alexander, with help from Kira and Viv Panzer.
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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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Music Ministry
Our music program is back!
Please send healing wishes to our Music Coordinator, Tam Masters, who is recovering from illness.
If you are interested in participating in music ministry on Sunday mornings, please contact Mary Gerlach (gerlachmz@gmail.com), who is supporting our music ministries in Tam's absence.
For information about our Music Ministries, click the button:
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| | Religious Exploration - Children & Youth
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We need YOU to support our Religious Exploration progams!
As we plan our upcoming program year (beginning September 20!), we are still in need of several people to support our Sunday morning Children's Religious Exploration programs. Here are some details:
- Approximately once a month, flexible scheduling available.
- Very little prep work: the program structure will "frame" the activities which will be provided to you in advance.
- Most R.E. roles are now during Middle Hour (10:00-10:50 AM). Help our programs and you can still attend your service of choice!
- Connect with a great team of adults, and learn from & have fun with our amazing kids.
- Learn more about our Fellowship and UU faith while supporting learning and connection for our young people.
- We also need helpers for our elementary program "UU in Action" which will be during the 11 AM service after the Time for All Ages. We need regular, monthly helpers as well as "Action Heroes" who bring their skills and passions to our kids. Do you carve wood? Do mime? Sew? Celebrate a unique holiday? ... Come share it with our kids on ONE Sunday--that's all!).
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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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 | Click the image to view the Justice Hub
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Justice Hub
Check out the Justice Hub, 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.
From UU the Vote: We hope you enjoyed and celebrated Labor Day this past weekend. Years ago, the labor movement and progressive legislators from Wisconsin brought us the 40-hour work week, overtime pay, the “weekend”, unemployment compensation and the long Labor Day weekend. Candidates that support working people are running for office this fall. Please take some time to learn more about these candidates, consider supporting their candidacy and vote for them in November. Assembly District 53 has a candidate forum at Neenah City Hall Council Chambers on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 pm. A recording will be available. Check this link for a recording of this and also a recent forum about the WI county sheriff election.
Wider Community Justice Events
• Sept 12, 8:30 am to 1 pm Rhythms of the World, Houdini Plaza, Appleton
• Sept 12, Noon to 4 pm, World Peace Festival Fox Cities, Pierce Park, Appleton
• Sept 12, 2 to 6 pm Neenah Menasha Intertribal Pow Wow, Shattuck Park, Neenah
• Sept 19, 11 am to 5 pm Latino Fest, Pierce Park, Appleton
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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.
Sponsors Needed: We are looking for businesses to partner with us as a sponsor. Financial sponsorship helps cover our event hosting costs, ensuring every dollar raised goes directly into our core work. Partnering with us as an event sponsor shows your commitment to a vibrant local community. A sponsoring business will be recognized at the event, in event materials, through our online auction, and via social media both before and after the event.
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. Ticket sales will begin on September 17. The community fun night and auction will include carnival games provided by TCT Concessions with Christman Amusements, food from Osorio's Latin Cuisine and desserts from Sweet Jules Bakes. 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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Unitarian Universalist Association President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt shares gratitude and care for all Unitarian Universalists as we move into this new congregational year, as well as details about some exciting new programs now available from your UUA.
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Bakers NEEDED!
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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Last call for updates before Directory is live!
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 next week, 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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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.
For pastoral emergencies, call 920-268-4512.
Thank you to Care Team chair, Megan McLachlan, for "staffing" the emergency line and supporting the Care Team from now until the end of November to support Rev. Christina during Rev. Hannah's sabbatical.
Fellowship members who want to be included on our 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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