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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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STAFF EMAIL
The fvuuf.org email server went down Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2. If you sent an email to one of our staff members on these dates and have not yet received a reply, this outage is the reason. Please resend your message. We appreciate your patience.
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VOTE!
Vote in this Tuesday's Wisconsin Primary Election! More information from your UU the Vote team, below.
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Tornado Relief: How Can We Help?
We have had many people reach out to our Fellowship office asking if we are coordinating any relief projects for those affected by the tornados in the area last week. It is wonderful that our community is so generous and caring!
WHAT WE'RE DOING:
Your Fellowship staff have been extremely busy tracking the needs of our members and friends, meeting pastoral needs and offering support from our Ministers Discretionary Fund, as well as supporting an immigrant family that was affected and is currently in crisis. Due to the sensitive nature of immigration justice in our country right now, we cannot share any details about the support we have been offering, but please know that your Fellowship is living our values! Our September share-the-plate recipient is slated to be the United Way Fox Cities Tornado Relief Fund, listed below.
WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING:
We have received requests from some local organizations to help offload some of their overstock of donations-- so many are coming in that coordinators can't keep up. This is one reason we're not doing any supply drives at this time. We WILL organize relief support once the initial crisis phase slows down and organizations are clearer about what would be helpful.
Additionally, we know that the needs and opportunities for helping are changing rapidly, and we are trying to post up-to-date information, but if you see an error, please be understanding of the ever-changing landscape, and just let us know how to correct our information.
(See the message that we sent on Tuesday, by clicking HERE.)
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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.
What about Babies, Teens, and Adults? Nursery care for our youngest friends (6 months to 4 years) will be available each of the three hours. Programs for our teens will continue on Sunday afternoons and weeknights. Middle Hour will continue to have opportunities for teens and adults, too!
Two Hours?? - For parents who are concerned that 2 hours is a lot of time on a weekend, feel free to come to only one hour; your child will still benefit. However, the likelihood is that your family is already at the Fellowship for 90+ minutes on a Sunday (but now, your children are running around, and eating too many cookies). An extra 20-30 minutes will mean that your child will have quality RE programs to enjoy while you attend service and have some adult time!
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It's Here! Connect to Our New Fellowship Portal
You have heard about it, seen emails, and maybe even attended an info session... Now it’s time to set up your profile and start using our new Fellowship portal, accessible in Church Center.
Two Ways to Access:
1. Online (like a website) - CLICK HERE
2. Smartphone App - Download ChurchCenter from Google Play for Android, or the iPhone App Store.
To Connect:
• Log in with your email address or phone number.
• If you don’t already have an account, you will be prompted to create one (don’t worry, it’s simple).
• Add or update your profile info. Privacy is excellent on ChurchCenter; almost everything on your profile is visible ONLY to staff who have permission to view certain information.
• Be sure to add other members of your household, including partners or kids who live at home.
• If you want to update your profile information using a simple, all-in-one form, CLICK HERE.
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Sunday, August 9
10:00 am Central Time in-person & livestream
The Ripening Harvest: Honoring the gifts that are growing within us and among us
by Rev. Allison Farnum, Sabbatical Support Minister
• 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 August, we share the plate with the Fellowship's Immigration Justice Ministry and Partner Churches Committee.
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Social Justice Listening Circle - This Sunday
Please join sabbatical minister Rev. Allison Farnum (she/her) for a listening circle about social justice at the Fellowship this Sunday, August 9 at 11:30 am. This listening circle serves as a way for Rev. Allison to get to know folks who are working in or interested in social justice at the Fellowship, as well as a way for folks to build community together.
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Music Ministry
Our music programs pause for the summer and return in the fall.
We will still need music support on Sunday mornings — Please contact our Music Coordinator, Tam Masters (tam@fvuuf.org), if you are interested in offering music as a soloist or in a small ensemble.
For information about our Music Ministries, click the button:
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As the summer is nearing its end, it is time to start thinking about returning to two services. On Sundays August 16th & 23rd there will be a training held for all of those who are currently working as Sunday Helpers, as well as those who are interested in joining the effort! More help is always welcome! It is important that our helpers attend one of these trainings, as we are going over the positions as well as scheduling with our new software, Church Center. Contact Program & Volunteer Coordinator Seth Gillespie at seth@fvuuf.org with questions. Please join us!
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Blood Drive - August 16
Our Fellowship is sponsoring a blood drive! On Sunday, August 16, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, The Community Blood Center (CBC) will bring its bloodmobile to our parking lot. Our previous blood drive in February resulted in 18 donations! There is no substitute for human blood--your donation saves lives. CBC supplies blood and blood products directly to local hospitals, so your donation stays in our local community. By donating, you directly support those in our community with cancers, traumatic injuries, or other conditions that require blood. To sign up, click HERE, or speak to either Rafe School or Willow Gallagher, or call CBC at 800-280-4102 and ask to be scheduled for our drive.
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Community Fun Night & Auction
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Thriving Together: Community Fun Night and Auction
Sponsors Needed: We are looking for businesses to partner with us as a sponsor for our annual fall fundraiser on Saturday, November 7, 2026, where we hope to raise $25,000.
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.
Note: We are not looking for donations at this time. The official ask for item/activity donations will be announced in the newsletter on August 27.
For more information visit the sponsorship information table in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, August 9 and Sunday, August 16 to connect with members of the auction team or contact the auction team at auction@fvuuf.org.
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Primary Elections Matter!
Primary Elections Matter. The important Primary Elections for Governor, U.S. Congress and the Wisconsin Legislature will occur on Tuesday, August 11th. Early voting has ended but you can still vote in person at your local voting location.
This Sunday, before or after the 10:00 am service, stop by the Fellowship Hall. UU the Vote team members will be available to provide voting information OR you can go to myvote.wi.gov.
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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.
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| | Religious Exploration - Children & Youth
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Summer 2026 Religious Exploration for Kids
Throughout the summer, children are exploring our faith’s values, building friendships, and enjoying hands-on lessons and fun activities each Sunday. Click the orange button to see the schedule.
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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.
Step 1) CHILD & YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FORM: CLICK HERE to complete this information form for each child, which requests specific safety, behavior, and support needs. 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. This form only needs to be completed once, or updated as needed.
Step 2) R.E. REGISTRATION FORM: CLICK HERE to register your child(ren) for the RE programs they will participate in this year. Registration is required annually. Fee is $30/ child, max $75/ family. If this fee is prohibitive, use the discount codes in the form.
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Where in the World is Rev. Christina?
Cue the 1980s-90s computer game and TV show ("Carmen Sandiego") theme song! Rev. Christina had back surgery in early June and was out for a few weeks, recovering. Now that the summer is in full-swing, she is all over the place.
Since she hasn't been present at our Sunday Services as often as usual, we thought we'd update you on her globetrotting (or, Wisco-trotting). Part of our ministers' role is to serve our larger UU faith by offering services to local UU congregations, especially those who have part-time, or no, ministerial leadership.
- July 26 - Christina was at the Fellowship, but was teaching Improv to our Religious Exploration kids, in the RE wing
- Aug 2 - Preaching for the Open Circle UU Fellowship in Fond du Lac
- Aug 9 - Officiating the morning wedding of a Fellowship kid-turned-adult
- Aug 16 - Leading service: Question Box -- Bring your questions!
- Aug 23 - Preaching for the Lakeshore UU Fellowship in Manitowoc
- Aug 30 - Leading service: All Ages Pet Blessing! (And Backpack Blessing)
- Sept 6 - Off for the holiday weekend
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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
For pastoral emergencies, call 920-268-4512.
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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