Fired Up!  By Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
Last Sunday we held our 3rd annual fire drill at the Fellowship after each service, and we’re getting good at it! This year, it took less than a minute to completely evacuate our building after both services. Great job everyone!
In the event of an emergency at the Fellowship, if you’re in the sanctuary, go out the emergency exit doors at the front of the room or the side doors by the Legacy Room. This is not what we would normally do, so it is important to practice. Then, keep going until you reach the Little Free Library on Philip Lane, staying out of the way of incoming fire trucks. Don’t stop to chat, and please don’t move your car until the all-clear is sounded and the parking lot is clear of the crowd.  Do NOT go through the building to the Religious Education wing. The children will evacuate quickly with their teachers out the side doors.
Our hope for next year will be to continue improving our practices, including holding the drill in September to further reduce the likelihood of bad weather (I’m starting to think it will snow every time we have a drill! Seriously, Wisconsin?) and to adjust our meeting location to avoid mingling around the parking lot. 
Thank you to our staff and our Safety Team members who helped support this year’s drill (Todd McKenzie, Jeff Miller, and Eric Knapp) and to everyone for making it work well. We realize these things aren’t much fun, but they help us continually improve our practices to be in line with best practices for congregational safety.    
Upcoming Services
Sunday at 9:00 and 10:45 am
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.
October 27
Room on the Broom
Special Halloween all-ages service, costumes welcome!
by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy

Special Halloween all-ages service! Children and adults of all ages are welcome to wear your costume and join us for a rollicking service of story and celebration! Children can stay in the service and enjoy the quiet sensory activity area, or childcare will be available for children who need it (as deemed appropriate by guardians, up to about age 8). This story about a witch and her many animal guests reminds us to be truly welcoming to all. How might our welcome of others help us heal ourselves and our world? 

At last weekend’s services, we collected $818.55 for Diverse & Resilient, a local organization that supports health and safety initiatives for LGBTQ people in our community. If you missed the opportunity to contribute please drop off or mail a check payable to Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship with Diverse & Resilient noted in the memo field, no later than Friday October 25, 2019. Your contribution will help support the ongoing work of Diverse & Resilient. Thank you for your support!
Religious Education
Breakfast Club is Back!
Welcome to all who are in high-school, (or were in OWLs 2018-2019 and current UU Identity students) and recent high school grads. We'll meet in the Legacy Room from 10:00-10:45 each Sunday. This group will work on practicing our UU values in the real world!
 
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.
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. With a holistic approach, Our Whole Lives provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and decision making skills, guided by our values and principles. 

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.
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
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
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.
Upcoming Programs
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.

New Member Joining on Sunday, October 20th at 10:45 am
All are welcome to attend the next new member joining with Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg and director of congregational life, Marie Luna this Sunday. Email marie@fvuuf.org if you would like to attend or would like more information.

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.
Family Friendly Halloween Party!
Come enjoy some family friendly fun at the Fellowship on Sunday, October 27th, in celebration of Halloween! Event will take place between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. Games, crafts, gift bags, and, best of all, candy! Come in costume and have some fun!
Volunteers for set up, take down, and running of various games/stations would be great! Meet at the Fellowship after the second service. E-mail Matt Demers (matthew_demers@yahoo.com) or Angie Demers (angiebaby826@yahoo.com) to volunteer or if you have questions..
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.

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)
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. 
New Small Group
4 Spiritualities and Associated Spiritual Practice
Led by Mary Ellyn Vicksta
Monthly gatherings from November 2019 - May 2020
First meeting is Sunday, November 3 at 12:15 pm  
To encourage the development of spiritual practices based upon the four spiritual pathways developed by Peter Tufts Richardson, a retired UU minister. We will take an in-depth look at each of the four spiritual pathways so you not only understand your own pathway but those of others as well. We will deeply explore spiritual practices that are aligned with each pathway and discuss how each person can incorporate these practices into their everyday life. Contact Mary Ellyn at mev500@yahoo.com with questions.
Sound Meditation Event
Thursday, November 7; 6:30-8:00 pm
Led by Chris Kuck; kuckart2112@gmail.com
We all have times of triumph, and times of tragedy and stress. No one is excluded from the challenges in life, and Chris has found meditation and mindfulness to be very helpful. Therapy Of Sound is a program Chris put together to give people the opportunity to take time out to relax to sound recordings that are meditative and fun, and include sounds of ambient noises and textures as well as some avant-garde sounds. His goal is to perform a sound journey that will be entertaining, create curiosity, and provide relaxation all in one event. The sound journey will last for 20 minutes and then we will come together to talk about our experiences. All are welcome, including children. You may sit on a chair, on provided cushions, or bring a blanket to lay on the floor. Contact Chris for more information.
All are welcome!
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.

Justice Action Ministry
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!
Noteworthy
Fellowship History Tidbits
Our Fellowship has been in existence in the Fox Valley for a long time. Do you know when its first meeting was? (See next week's Scroll for the answer!)
New Bookstore Offerings!
Pagan and Earth-Centered Voices in Unitarian Universalism
For Praying Out Loud: Interfaith Prayers
Breathe: A Letter to my Sons
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States (A UUA Common Read book: HERE)
Potential Email Scam
A couple people have noted that they received a suspicious email from Rev. Christina from a non-Fellowship email address. This is a common scam technique, to email people pretending to be a trusted friend or congregational employee. Please do NOT respond to any email that says it’s from a Fellowship staff person unless it is coming from an “FVUUF.org” email address. If you have received an email that you are unsure whether it’s coming from a staff person, please call the Fellowship office at 920.731.0849.

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
Click here for the current financial report.
Click here for the current Governing Board meeting agenda.
Thank you for reading The Weekly Scroll, and pardon any typos. 
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.

Weekly Calendar  

Thursday, October 17
7:00pm UU Book Club
7:30pm Fellowship Choir
Saturday, October 19
6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha
10:00am Spanish Charla
10:00am Mindfulness Day
Sunday, October 20
9:00 & 10:45am Worship Service 
6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha
Monday, October 21
9:00am Goddess Group
6:00pm Essentials JAM
Tuesday, October 22
6:00pm Partner Churches
Wednesday, October 23
6:30pm Fellowship Choir
Click the image for our mailing address and staff email addresses or call 920.731.0849.
powered by emma
Subscribe to our email list.