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Dear Beloveds,
As we wrap up our “Community of Embrace” worship theme, I am left thinking back to election day last week. I know many of us were feeling the stress of the day and of the entire election season in our hearts and in our bodies -- feelings that have been totally compounded by the isolation and heartache of the pandemic. When Rev. Christina, Rev. Leah, and I were discussing how to minister to our Fellowship community and to ourselves on that day, we chose to host an open Zoom room for those who felt moved to connect. That evening, a handful of us gathered virtually and read poetry, shared our feelings, cried a little, listened a little, laughed a little, and breathed together. It was simple and it was lovely. To me, it felt like an embrace I didn’t know I needed.
I hope you remember that the Fellowship continues to be here to offer these spaces of connection and embrace as best we can during this challenging season of life. In particular, I’d like to highlight a few opportunities that we welcome you to join in:
- Chatting Before Sunday Services
Each Sunday morning, we have begun to open our worship Zoom room 15 minutes early in order to give us time to informally chat and check-in with each other. It’s such a joy to say hi to all the warm Fellowship faces (both humans and pets!) as each person logs in. All are welcome to click our Zoom service link at 9:45 am CST on Sundays in order to enjoy this time together.
- Monthly Evening Service
Join us for a new worship service! On the last Wednesday of each month, we will begin holding an informal evening service to re-center ourselves during the week, connect more deeply with one another, and hold each other in community. These simple services will include a reading that is related to our current worship theme, a centering practice, and an opportunity to reflect and to share joys and concerns with each other. All are welcome to join us for our first service on Zoom at 7:00 pm CST on Wednesday, November 25. Hope to see you there! Zoom information can be found in the services section below.
- Our Youtube Channel
If you do not have the time or energy to take part in the many programs or live connection opportunities with the Fellowship, no worries at all! We understand that it can be challenging to add things to your calendar these days. You may instead find that checking out our Fellowship youtube channel is one way to nourish your soul and keep connected for now. We post recordings of all of our services and even some of our special programs on Youtube so you can enjoy them at your leisure, in whatever way works for you! A link to our Youtube channel can be found at the bottom of this message and on the homepage of our website. Like and subscribe to our channel.
If you are looking for more opportunities for connection with our Fellowship community, please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of our staff! There is always plenty going on!
With love,
Ali Peters, Intern Minister
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Sunday Service10:00 am CST
Enough
by Ali Peters, intern minister
Click HERE for Worship Service details
Call in: 312-626-6799
with meeting ID 176 319 484
- Click HERE for worship service Zoom link, Passcode UU
- Listen to past sermons HERE
- Watch some of our past services on our Youtube channel
- Click HERE for information on hosting a traveling chalice in your home
- Pre-K through 1st Grade Children’s Chapel meets at 9:00 am via Zoom this week! See our website (here) for more information about all Religious Education classes for children and youth.
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Monthly Evening Service
Wednesday, November 25 at 7:00 pm CST
Join us for a new worship service led by our intern minister, Ali Peters. On the last Wednesday of each month, we will begin holding an informal evening service to re-center ourselves during the week, connect more deeply with one another, and hold each other in community. These simple services will include a reading that is related to our current worship theme, a centering practice, and an opportunity to reflect and to share joys and concerns with each other. The theme for our November service will be “Cultivating Sufficiency.” All are welcome to join us! If you have any questions, please reach out to Ali at ali@fvuuf.org. We hope to see you there.
Zoom link HERE, passcode UU
Call in: 312-626-6799, meeting ID 827 7074 7192
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Click the image above for details on all these events.
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- November 12 - UU History: A Question of Experience with Ali Peters, intern minister
- November 17 - The Healing Power of Poetry with Colleen Prendergast
- November 19 - UU History: A Question of Resilience and Courage with Ali Peters, intern minister
- December 2 - Anti Racism Learning Group Discussion with Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
- December 3 - UU History: A Question of Identity with Ali Peters, intern minister
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| Religious Education - Children and Youth
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Fellowship Stuffie Sleepover!Even though we humans aren’t able to gather during this time of social distancing, stuffed animals still can! There will be a Stuffed Animal Sleepover at the Fellowship on the weekend of Nov. 20. Stuffed animals of all kinds and dolls are welcome. Details HERE.
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Introducing “The Scoop”We have a new Religious Education calendar and informational source calledThe Scoop. All families whose children are registered for our Religious Education classes will receive it via email at the end of each month. The scoop is your source for all things RE.
If your children are registered, but you have not received November’s edition, please contact Kim Hartman, director of religious education, at kim@fvuuf.org. Need to register your kids for RE this year? Click HERE.
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Our virtual Sunday programs for young people meet at 9:00 and 11:00 am. We are excited about our classes which have been designed to be fun and engaging with online learning in mind. Don’t miss connecting with our Fellowship friends and family this year!
Program Year Format for Registered Students:
• Pre-K through 1st grade meets the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month at 9:00 am CST
• 2nd through 6th grade meets the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 9:00 am CST
*All students are invited to attend all classes; however the classes will be geared for the target ages.
• 7-12th grade meets each Sunday at 11:00 AM CST
Please visit our website for more information about our classes. Contact director of religious education, Kim Hartman, at kim@fvuuf.org with questions.
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It’s time to Donate your time and/or talent to the Fellowship Auction!We're raising money to purchase video equipment, cameras, lighting, and more -- all the technology we need to help make our virtual services and programming a better quality experience for all.
To help us reach our $13,000 goal, we need YOU! Please consider a creative donation to our online auction. Tangible arts, crafts, and physical gifts, as well as services are needed. Details and donation ideas HERE. To submit an item for the auction, complete this form by November 15.
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The Justice Hub webpage has information about our JAMs, justice groups, justice events, and opportunities here at our Fellowship and out in the community right there at your fingertips any time you need it.
• UU the Vote will continue its work even now, after the election. Watch the post-election vigil if you missed it.
• Essentials Empty-to-Full pan drive (if you picked one up, fill it and drop off on November 15 at 4:00 pm CST).
• The Anti-racism Facebook group (or email) is still going. Final Zoom conversation December 2, 7:30 pm CST.
• ESTHER (interfaith organizing) information: Taskforces and updates.
If you want to share something on the Justice Hub webpage, please do so by completing this form by Thursday to be posted when the page is updated each weekend. Submissions may be subject to staff approval and editing.
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Notable Extras
- Black Lives Matter Lending Library
- Zoom Guidance
- Masks Available at the Little Free Library
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Smiling Dandelion Sangha Update
The Smiling Dandelion Sangha is beginning a new book in our weekly meetings, You Belong: A Call for Connection. The author Sebene Selassie is a popular teacher on the Ten Percent Happier meditation app. In this book, she draws on her experiences as an Ethiopian immigrant and cancer survivor in addition to her academic and Buddhist training to examine the ways we try to separate instead of belong... READ MORE
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Spill it SisterSpill it sister meets tonight (November 12) at 6:30 pm CST. Zoom information and details HERE.
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Click HERE for details about these groups.
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- Anti Racism Fellowship Facebook Group
A group for people affiliated with our Fellowship who want to learn about racism, anti-racism, and how to be better allies in the struggle for racial justice ongoing, find the group and ask to join by clicking HERE.
- Fellowship Community Journal
Ongoing, submit your work to leah@fvuuf.org
More information HERE.
- Fellowship Pen Pals - Click HERE for information.
- Journey Group Facebook Group - Click the small groups link for information
- Joyful Mind Zen Sangha; Saturdays, 7:00 am CST
- Men's Group, First Wednesdays & Third Tuesdays, 7-9:00 pm CST
- Music-Making Online - Click the small groups link for information
- Pollinate (BIPoC), Email pollinate.BIPoC@hotmail.com for meeting information
- Smiling Dandelion Sangha, Sundays, 6-7:30 pm CST
- Spill it Sister, Second Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:00 pm CST
- Third Thursday Book Club, Third Thursday of the month, 2:00 pm CST. Click the link above for the reading list.
- UU Parenting Support Group, First Monday of the month, 6-7:30 pm
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