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Auction Fever
The Fellowship is stoked to offer both an online and in-person auction in November. Help us reach our goal of $20,000 by either donating items to the auction or attending the in-person auction.
Donations are being accepted now through October 20th. 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? For additional basket ideas, please visit this website. The options are endless. Please use this link to donate items.
The online auction site will be live starting November 1st and will close on November 8th at 7:15 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 8th. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Bring your good vibes and enjoy heavy appetizers, beverages, and desserts before and during the event. The live auction begins at 6:30 pm. There is no cost to attend; however, we encourage you to purchase a paddle to participate in the fun of the live auction. Paddles will be available to purchase in advance soon or at the door on the day of the event. The cost is $15 per paddle. Please watch the newsletter or check the Auction Page of our website for details.
We also welcome your generosity by donating food and/or beverages for the night of the auction or your time to make the auction successful. Please see the link to the Signup Genius for ways to help.
Please feel free to contact Angie Miller at starlight54302@yahoo.com with questions.
Auction Donation Open - Click the Button Below
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Moving Forward, Together
The governing board is grateful for our talented staff, dedicated and generous community members, and our charming building, which make our gatherings and events possible. We are also excited about our engagement and generosity teams gaining more helping hands as they expand to a new Hub-and-Spoke model. We think this will lead to even better program offerings in the future. We have a healthy community, with meaningful engagement and several ways to support each other through small groups and a devoted care team.
Last year, the congregation voted to call Rev. Hannah as a settled minister and committed to what that would mean financially. Unfortunately, we fell $52,633 short of our budgeted contributions last year, and coupled with not enough new contribution commitments for this year's budget, we had to make some difficult decisions by cutting staff hours and spending.
This year we are undertaking a staff assessment, which will help us better align job duties with our community’s needs. We are also refinancing our mortgage, taking out an additional $100,000 to help with growing capital needs and to replenish reserves spent in recent years. The original portion of our building requires additional reinvestment as aging systems and structural elements reach their end of life. Our recent building reserve study estimated that we will need $64,119 for building improvements and major repairs in the near future, and additional funds of between $37,500 - $125,000 per year to fund ongoing replacement needs. Check out our governance page for more information about our Strategic Plan and current financial statements.
We hope you feel welcome and at home in our community. If you are finding these turbulent times in our wider world difficult to stomach, consider taking action by getting involved in the Fellowship’s Justice Action Ministries(JAMs). If you are feeling down or overwhelmed, know that we are here for you. We are not alone when together! Thank you for choosing the Fellowship as your faith community.
With love,
Your Governing Board
Justin Fisher, Gary Crevier, Beth De Stasio, Erin Vandenlangenberg, Jerry Behrendt, Beth Belmore, Ligia Rivera, Christine Wales, and Marti Wheeler
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Sunday, October 12
• 9:00 am Central Time in-person
informal coffeehouse-style service with conversation
• 11:00 am Central Time in-person & livestream traditional service with sermon
Digging Up Our Past: An Indigenous People's Day Service by Rev. Hannah Roberts Villnave
• 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 October, we share the plate between the Fellowship and Fox Valley Pride.
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Music Ministry
Hello friends, old and new! Our music programs have kicked off, and we hope you'll join us! If you have questions or want to see the schedule of rehearsals, you can look at our Music Ministry page HERE or contact Tam Masters at tam@fvuuf.org - they'll point you in the right direction. If you want to be involved, let us know, HERE.
- October 12 - mUUse Rehearsal, 10:00 am, perform at 11:00 am service
- October 19 - Camp Singers Rehearsal, 10:00 am, perform at 11:00 am service
For information about our Music Ministries and the upcoming schedule, click the button:
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Middle Hour
Learning, Connection & Fun for All Ages on Sunday Mornings.
This Sunday:
- Indigenous People’s Day connection and conversation with members of the Green Sanctuary Team.
- Let’s Get Engaged! Engagement Hub Team Meet-and-Greet: Get to know the members of our Engagement Hub team who are responsible for helping everyone find their place at the Fellowship, and find the right fit here for your interests and skills.
Click the button to see what's coming up:
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| | Religious Exploration - Children & Youth
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Kids Camp Counselors Needed! Seeking Those Who Are Young at Heart!
We are hosting a fall camp for kids on the weekend of October 18 and 19, and are looking for fun-loving adults to join us!
If you would like to help our young people between the ages of 4K-5th grade create community through exploring our UU faith and having fun together, we would love to have you!
Please contact Kim Hartman at kim@fvuuf.org for more information.
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A New Year of Discovery Awaits! Our 2025-2026 Religious Exploration Program Year Has Begun
We’re excited for a year filled with curiosity, fun, friendship, and meaningful exploration. Together, we’ll engage in lessons and activities that nurture personal and spiritual growth, spark big questions, and encourage our young people to live into our UU values. It’s going to be a year of discovery, connection, and growth, and we can’t wait to begin!
There is a place for every young seeker to connect and grow. Click here for information about each of our programs, including nursery, children’s Sunday Religious Exploration, and our teen programs: Crossing Paths, Being a Teen, and Our Whole Lives.
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| | Adult Learning Oportunity
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Brain Health Program
Tuesday, Oct 21, 6:30- 8:00 PM
Preventing & Reversing Cognitive Decline
by Rick Menet MD, MPH
Cognitive decline can be a preventable and potentially reversible condition.
Please join this informative program with updates on:
• New lab testing for Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
• How the Alzheimer’s Disease prevention programs might affect those with Parkinson’s Disease.
• The factors or potential root causes for developing cognitive symptoms.
• A variety of interventions, like brain-healthy nutrition and lifestyle changes that show progress.
Dr. Rick Menet practiced medicine in Appleton for 36 years. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He completed studies with the Institute of Functional Medicine and is certified in the Dr. Dale Bredesen ReCode Protocol™. He is retired and does not actively take patients, but engages in education of Brain Health and preventing and reversing cognitive decline as a public service. The Fellowship host is Ligia Rivera.
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Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who helped at the Fellowship's Build Days for Willow and Brianna Gallagher's house. The photo is the crew from Saturday, October 4.
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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.
- Oct. 12 and Oct. 26: LGBTQ+ Support Group, 12:30 - 1:30 pm at the Fellowship
- ESTHER fundraiser and social on November 2, 11:30 to 3:30 pm at First Congregational UCC, Appleton. Come enjoy a family-friendly Packer Tailgate Party in the Big Tent provided by Fox City Flix! Support Cheer on the Packers and help support ESTHER while enjoying chili, hot dogs, and snacks. Register HERE.
- Hope and Help Together needs: Help a newcomer learn about our driving laws or find other ways to volunteer at Hope and Help Together. HHT Contact: 920-215-1806 or sarah@hopeandhelptogether.com
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Check out the Events & News website page for all of our upcoming events:
- October 12 - Tell Me More
- October 21 - Brain Health Program
- October 26 - Drag Queen Dress-Up Sunday, Story Time, and Event
- October 30 - November 19 – Youth Group Pie Fundraiser
- November 1 - Soup Saturday
- November 1 - Auction Fever Begins - Online Auction Kicks Off
- November 8 - Fellowship 70th Anniversary Celebration - Celebrate our 70 years in 70's style at our Auction Fever LIVE auction!
- November 16 - Tell Me More
- November 16 - Navigating the Holidays: An LGBTQ+ Workshop for Keeping Your Sanity
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Sensory Support Station Update
Did you know that we have a Sensory Support Station at the Fellowship for people of all ages? It's located between the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary and includes earmuffs for the noise-sensitive, assistive listening devices for the hearing-impaired, magnifiers for those with low vision, lots of fidgets, coloring pages, and all-new easy embroidery kits
Use an empty bin to borrow what you need, and please return everything when you're done with it after the service. Please do not put other things or trash on the station. Thanks for helping us keep the station clean and accessible for everyone!
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Care and Support
To submit a Joy or Concern, fill out the form on our website or contact Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy, Co-Minister, at christina@fvuuf.org or 920-731-0849. For pastoral emergencies, call 920-383-1565.
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