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RIP Medical Debt CampaignSUCCESS! We eliminated over 1 million dollars in medical debt for our neighbors through our RIP Medical Debt Campaign, combining existing abundance from our Ministers' Discretionary Fund along with additional new donations to that fund and some donations directly to our RIP Medical Debt campaign page. The total amount we were able to donate was $11,569! Since RIP Medical Debt purchases the debt that has been sold to collectors on the debt market for pennies on the dollar, they are able to clear $100 for every $1 we donate, meaning our impact clears about $1,156,900 in crushing debt for those most in need of that relief. Thank you for your generosity. We can rejoice and take pride in this community effort! To see the article that the Post Crescent did on this campaign in January, click HERE.
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2023 Annual Congregational SurveyThe Fellowship Governing Board and Executive Team are hoping that all members and friends of the Fellowship will participate in our annual congregational survey. The information gathered in this survey is of critical importance as we evaluate progress toward the Fellowship’s goals and identify areas in which we need to dedicate additional time and resources. Your opinion counts.
The survey includes 59 questions and may take around 15 minutes to complete. The questions are about Fellowship demographics, how we live, and our engagement with the Fellowship over the last 12 months. All responses are anonymous.
We will report on the survey results at the 2023 annual meeting. We administered the same survey last year and plan to continue asking the same questions every year so we can track our progress over time.
The survey will be available through March. Thank you so much for sharing your input.
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Sunday, March 59:00 & 10:45 am CT - In Person and Livestream
Layers in Music by Dr. Stephen Sieck
Click HERE for Worship Service Zoom Information and the Order of Service
• Watch clips of our services on our Youtube channel.
• Upcoming Services HERE
• See our website HERE for information about all our religious education classes for children and youth.
• Share the Plate:
o The March Share the Plate organization is Even Start Family Literacy – Appleton & Menasha.
o In January, $824.18 was raised for the UUA Disaster Relief Fund. Learn about Share the Plate and past recipients HERE.
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March: Peeling Back the Layers
We come to the Fellowship to be known and loved in our fullness. But in order to be known in such depth we must be willing to share ourselves with honesty and learn from others with openness. Join us this month as we set down our armor and peel back layers, revealing and celebrating hidden complexities and truths.
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| | Religious Education - Youth
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 | Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
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| Zen Out With Us at Youth fUUn Night!Join us on March 4! We have a special opportunity to meet with Soto Zen Priest and Fellowship member Tai Alford as he helps us understand more about the Buddhist faith.
1. Learn about the Soto Zen Buddhist Faith
At 3:00 pm we will meet 1:1 with Tai Alford to learn about Soto Zen practice. Additionally, Tai will lead us through the traditional Soto meditation practice of shikantaza. Finally, we will engage in our spiritual practice of curiosity by taking time to ask questions with open hearts and minds.
2. Youth fUUn Night!!!
At 4:30 pm we will enjoy a chill afternoon of “Zenning Out” with one another. Come to hang out with old friends, make new friends, enjoy a vegan and vegetarian meal in true Buddhist style, be creative in the open craft room, and play games (bring a game to share!).
Special Activity:
Join in to better understand the Buddhist concept of impermanence by creating and destroying (!!!) a group Sand Mandala!
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Soup SaturdaySaturday, March 4, 5:00-6:30 pm
Join us at the Fellowship for an evening of soup, bread, friends, and conversation. We will need people to bring soup (including vegetarian and vegan), bread, maybe dessert... and to come hungry. Please direct questions to Angie or Matt (angiebaby826@yahoo.com or matthew_demers@yahoo.com). If you’d like to bring a game to share, feel free! It’s a low-key evening of fun. Hope to see y'all there!
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Wellspring: Nourishing Spiritual Practices SeriesMarch 8, 6:30 pm, in person
The Art, Mystery, and Power in Asking Beautiful Questions
by Dave Wallace
When we’re born into this world, we arrive from some divine mystery — mind and body foundationally inquisitive. In time, with the ability to express ourselves in ever more complex ways, inquiry is fundamental to the sense-making of all we experience.
As adults — societal, cultural, and educational forces have a way of influencing the way we’ve become accustomed to asking and answering questions. Often, the result is a degradation of sincerity, depth, and integrity of our inquiry.
Yet we often experience situations or personal encounters that call for more elevated, thought provoking, generative questions.
When it comes to matters of the heart and soul:
“…Questions elicit answers in their likeness. Answers mirror the questions they rise, or fall, to meet. It’s hard to transcend a combative question. But it’s hard to resist a generous question. We all have it in us to formulate questions that invite honesty, dignity, and revelation. There is something redemptive and life-giving about asking better questions…” — Krista Tippet
In our time together we’ll explore, share in, and practice The Art, Mystery, and Power in Asking more Beautiful Questions.
Bring yours.
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Half Day SitCome experience the joy of zazen with Joyful Mind Sangha on March 25, 7:00 am - 12:00 pm in person and on Zoom at the Fellowship. Potluck lunch to follow.
We will be doing zazen (sitting meditation), a short zen service, followed by a dharma talk. For the rest of the morning, we will alternate between sitting and walking meditation. We will end the formal retreat with a closing circle followed by a vegetarian potluck. If you bring a dish to pass, please make sure it’s vegetarian. For more information, please contact Taizan Alford at taizan.alford@gmail.com. All levels of experience are welcome.
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Bayside UU Family Camp Looking for a great summer experience? Join us at Bayside UU Family Camp held at Lutherdale Camp on the shores of Lauderdale Lakes in Elkhorn, WI. This year, camp will take place July 2nd to 8th. This special week includes adult workshops, activities for children, free time for family fun and relaxation, and intergenerational activities. For more information visit our website at baysideuu.org or contact baysideuu@gmail.com.
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 | Photo by Rosie Kerr on Unsplash
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| A Personal Update from Rev. Christina
Dear ones, I have shared from the pulpit and many of you have realized that I have been having issues with pain lately. I had surgery in late October and it is unclear what exactly happened, but I was left with nerve damage that resulted in nerve pain. That outcome made walking and sitting difficult. Since the cause is still unclear, the prognosis is likewise a mystery. However, thanks to lots of treatment options I am glad to report that I am feeling significantly better! I wanted you to know this because many of you have asked about me or how I'm feeling. I deeply appreciate your care and support. I also want you to know that I am here for you. I am still working full time and I love this ministry and all of you. I'm still working from home a couple of days a week, to reserve my energy for in-person meetings, events, and Sunday services, but even on those days, I am still available-- perhaps by Zoom or a phone call, but still here. Some people have told me they're worried they will "bother" me but please know that is never the case. If you want to reach out, I want to hear from you. In fact-- connecting with you is the best thing for my mental and physical health-- it keeps me moving in the right direction. All of our staff are here for you! If you have a question or concern, big or small, please let us know. Call the Fellowship office at 920-731-0849 or email us at firstname@fvuuf.org (for me, that's Christina@fvuuf.org).
With lots of love and gratitude...
-Rev. Christina
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Reviewing Our Mission and VisionWe’ve been asked why the Governing Board is reviewing our Mission statement right now. Great question! Our bylaws direct the Board to “ensure that the Fellowship has up-to-date Mission, Vision, and Ends.” So why did the Fellowship make that the very first bylaw assignment to the Board?
Mission, Vision, and Ends are like a map that travelers share on a journey together. As time passes the travelers, the road, and our description of the destination may all change. With your input, the Board reconsiders Mission, Vision, and Ends to keep the map updated and inspiring, helping us move forward together. The current Mission and Vision statements were created 10 years ago and last reviewed 5 years ago. A lot has changed since then.
A heartfelt thank you for your review and responses to the draft Mission statement. Stay tuned for the revised Mission and draft Vision based on your feedback.
Governing Board - Dana Johnson, President, Jeff Miller, Pat Mitchell, Marie Rohrer, Beth De Stasio, Theresa Hannah, Amanda Stuck, Greg Weaver, Marti Wheeler
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Care and SupportTo submit a Joy or Concern, fill out the form on our website or contact Rev. Hannah Roberts Villnave at hannah@fvuuf.org or 920-731-0849. For pastoral emergencies call 920-383-1565.
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Book DiscussionWhat does the Earth ask of us? Read the book Braiding Sweetgrass and then join Green Sanctuary on April 20 at the Fellowship from 6:30-8:00 pm for a discussion.
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Click the image to read the Justice Hub
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Justice HubCheck out our Fellowship’s Justice Hub for the most up-to-date information about how to get involved in social justice in our community!
Teasers:
- JAMs tabling in the Fellowship on Sunday
- Help get out the vote with postcards on March 12 and 1
- Make your plan for voting at the April 4 election of Supreme Court Justices
- Braiding Sweetgrass book discussion on April 20
- March 7 - 10 Leopold Week webinars available
and more . . .
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