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| Scene: Fellowship staff meeting
Location: Legacy Room
Time: Wednesday morning “What?” I gasped. “This is my week to write the Scroll article?! After the meeting, I realized that there was actually a note on my to-do list (in my own handwriting, no less) reminding me to write something and submit it in a timely fashion. So…why didn’t I see it? Well, here’s what happened: I woke up cranky yesterday, tired and with a low level cold that I just haven’t been able kick for the last week. One of my little darlings finished up breakfast by poking the left over toast bones (that’s what we call bread crusts at my house) down the dining room heating grate for no earthly reason. By the time everyone had been dropped off at elementary school, 4K and daycare in the slippery slush and snow, I was even more irked. Time to re-center, I told myself. I called the Fellowship office to take beverage orders from staff. It lifted my spirits a little to show up with warm paper cups for my hardworking coworkers but I was still a little out of sorts. And then I experienced a flash of bright brilliance: as soon as I sat down at my desk, I pulled out a fresh stack of beautiful cards. Without even turning on my computer or glancing at my long to-do list, I thought of a handful of people whose assistance or attitude had greatly benefited me lately. I jotted notes thanking them. One went to a regional colleague who talked me through a tricky situation. Another to a Fellowship community member who went above and beyond. A third to a friend of a friend, whose behavior I often admire from afar. I felt so much better! Heading into staff meeting (blissfully unaware that I was about to be confronted with an impending deadline), I felt great; calm, centered and peaceful. My advice for you this week—or whenever you might need it—is to simply ignore whatever you have previously decided you must do and focus instead on what settles and soothes your soul. You'll get more done anyway in the long run. And see? I still managed to come up with something to write for the Scroll after all! Love, Rev. Leah
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Upcoming Services
December 24 (4:00, 7:00, and 10:00 p.m.) Christmas Eve at the Fellowship with Rev. Kathleen Rolenz and Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg
Join together with family and friends for a Christmas Eve service that features special music, stories, carols and the traditional Transylvanian communion (10 p.m. only). We'll light candles against the darkness of night and reflect on the meaning of this special evening. This is a service for all ages. Religious Education classes and nursery care not available. No Services December 25 January 1, 201 (9:00 and 10:45 a.m.) Turning of the Year by Deb Andrews, Fellowship Member
Where does the old year go when the new year comes? Join us on Sunday, January 1 for a traditional service that helps us reflect on the significant events in our lives in the past year and look forward to whatever may come in the new year. Religious Education classes and nursery care available at both services.
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| Message from the Stewardship Committee
During the holiday season (which seems to get extended every year) we are bombarded with messages of commercialism and a culture of "buying and giving" to secure our happiness and show how much we love others through gifts and things. Our Stewardship Committee has had deep and meaningful dialogue about how our spending in a way reflects our values. Many of you participate in our giving beyond our walls (which totaled more than $14,000 so far in 2016) and have participated in the past in our Greater Good initiative which seeks to channel typical holiday spending into our community to support those in need. How does your spending reflect your values? This year, the Stewardship Committee hopes to inspire community conversation about how we can live our values through our spending and giving, including through supporting our Fellowship with the gifts of time, talent, and treasure. Each week, you see a link at the bottom of the Weekly Scroll to our Fellowship's financials. Our finances are directly linked to our ability to fulfill our mission, whether it's staffing for growth, ensuring we have enough supplies for Religious Education, or expanding programming to meet a growing membership. Although our congregation is one of the largest in the country, our total budget falls behind what could truly support a vibrant congregation. During this season of giving, we invite you to think of the meaning of the Fellowship in your and your family's lives, and how you can translate that meaning to ensuring we can reach toward our mission and vision as a faith community. End of year donations would be gratefully received if you and your family would like to share your giving spirit with the Fellowship. Please e-mail Phyllis Schmitt at the email below for more information about the opportunity to give. We are grateful for each and every person who walks through our doors and enriches our community and hope 2017 brings an opportunity for all of us to reflect on how to best give back to our Fellowship community which gives so much to each of us! - From Karen Riggers, Member of the Stewardship Committee. A note from our Business Administrator: If you have not yet made your monthly, quarterly, or annual contribution to the Fellowship it is not too late to make a contribution for the 2016 tax year. The office will be closed for general business during the week of December 25th - 31st. However, I will be in the office and available Monday-Thurday, December 26th-29th between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to receive your contribution payments. All contributions received in the office by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 29th or received in the mail postmarked December 31, 2016 will be credited to tax year 2016. Any contributions received after that time will be credited to tax year 2017. If you have any questions about your current 2016-2017 pledge, please contact me at the Fellowship office, 920-731-0849 or Phyllis@fvuuf.org. Thank you for your generous support! -Phyllis Schmitt
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| Racial Justice Opportunities at the Fellowship
As Unitarian Universalists, we believe in “justice, equity, and compassion in human relationships.” What does that phrase mean in our current environment? Many people interpret the results of recent elections to mean that our country may be moving toward embracing white nationalism and a return to a more racist, homophobic, and misogynistic society. Members of the Fellowship seek advice and training on how to speak out and act according to our belief in justice: how to be an advocate and an ally to stand up against hatred and violence directed at marginalized peoples. The Racial Justice Action Team (RJAT) is one of the Fellowship’s four Action Teams. The others are: Climate Justice; Essentials: Food & Shelter for All; and Women & Men United for Women’s Justice. The RJAT offers programs each month to help members and friends to engage in thoughtful dialogue. Moreover, on occasion the RJAT offers ways to take direct action to counter oppression, racial injustice, and white privilege.
This fall the RJAT made an important decision that we wanted you, the congregation, to know about. Over the years, we’ve struggled to coalesce around one mission, with one plan of action. Consequently, the Racial Justice Action Team will have periods of “open enrollment,” and periods when it is closed to new members. We believe that this open/closed approach will allow us to build the trust, cohesiveness, and focus necessary to do this work. We also will be able to form a shared understanding about words like race, microaggressions, and white fragility. So, we made a commitment to each other this past September that we would make team attendance a top priority in our lives. The team knows there's passion around this issue and interest among congregation members in joining them. We wanted to personally invite you to join members of the RJAT Team for three opportunities that are coming up this January, February & March: They include: a face2face conversation in January, a February Friday Night Film Series on Race, and/or the Waking Up White book discussion, which will be held on four Wednesday evenings in March. Books are now available in the book store. If, after attending either Beloved Conversations or the four sessions of Waking Up White has inspired you to want to join the Racial Justice Team, then please, let one of us know! (Note: A few slots for Beloved Conversations have opened up since the closing deadline of December 15th. IF you are interested in participating in Beloved Conversations, please contact Rev. Kathleen Rolenz (kathleen@fvuuf.org) by December 30th.)
The next opportunity to join the Racial Justice Team is during April/May when the team is seeking new team members to build the Racial Justice Action Team which will then be presented and affirmed at the Annual Meeting in June. We hope that by providing regular opportunities for engagement with Racial Justice issues that you feel included, welcomed and encouraged to go deeper into the hard work of racial justice. You will find information about the programs offered this winter in upcoming newsletters and on the Fellowship bulletin board. We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these events this year! With deep appreciation, members of the Racial Justice Action Team:
Brian Looker, Connie Kanitz, Connie Raether, Jennifer Levenhagen, Marie Liddell, Penny Robinson, Suzie DeBeers, Tina Main, Wendy Sieja, Margaret Alexander, Chair, Kathleen Rolenz--Minister and Staff Support
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| Attention Breakfast Club!
Due to many members and leaders being unavailable to meet, Breakfast Club is cancelled for Sunday, January 1st, and we look forward to seeing you again on January 8th.
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| Upcoming Programs, Activities & Events
Mark Your Calendars for these upcoming events.
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| Joyful Mind Zen Sangha
The Joyful Mind Zen Sangha, formerly know as Kishin Zen, is excited to announce a new time for Zazen (seated meditation) 6:00-7:00 a.m. on Fridays starting this Friday, December 23. Normal Friday Schedule:
5:55 Seated on your cushion
6:00 Zazen meditation
6:20 Kinhin walking meditation
6:30 Zazen meditation
6:50 End This will be very informal and there is no prior experience necessary. If you would like an introduction, please come 15 minutes early. Joyful Mind Zen Sangha's other meeting times are Saturday mornings at 6:30 a.m. and Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening is informal. Saturday's Zazen is followed by a short service and Dharma talk by a member of the Sangha. We work to be an inclusive and safe space for people to sit in community and explore their relationship with the world.
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| Mitten Wreath Wrap-Up
The Mitten Wreath was a fantastic success! Lutheran Social Services were very impressed with the response. In fact, it took TWO vanloads of gifts which was an astonishing amount to distribute to those whose holiday will be brighter. Thanks to Mary Gerlach and others for their volunteer work and a special thanks to everyone who took a mitten, bought a gift, wrapped it up and brought it to the Fellowship. Happy Holidays indeed!
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| Soup Saturday
One of our Founders, Len Weis, told us once that “food and fellowship both begin with the same letter and are properly united.” Reigniting a tradition started years ago, we will be continuing our Soup Saturdays, a wonderful opportunity on the first Saturday of each month to gather around a simple meal and to share fellowship. The next Soup Saturday will be on January 7, 2016. No need to RSVP, just join us in the Fellowship Hall for delicious homemade soups, fresh bread and the finest conversation.
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| Appleton Wellspring Wednesday
January 11, 2017, 6:30-8:00 p.m. When You Haven't Got a Prayer
Led by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz
Unitarian Universalists have often resisted the word and the practice of prayer because of a narrowly-defined understanding of a private conversation between oneself and a deity. However, prayer can take many shapes and forms. This month's Spiritual Practice will seek to broaden both our understanding of prayer as an act of deep listening, and as part of a rich spiritual tradition of contemplative practice. Contact Cyndi Polakowksi at cyndi@fvuuf.org to sign up.
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| All Ages Winter Beach Party!
Saturday, January 14; 2:00-3:30 p.m. Winter got you down? Are the kids ready to play in the sand rather than the snow? Join us for a Winter Beach Party! We’ll have crafts, beach ball games, sand box treasure hunts, bean bag toss and beach themed snacks available. Sign up at the Sign Up Spot in the Fellowship Lobby or by emailing cyndi@fvuuf.org.
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| THE INDIAN STORYSTICK: An Experiential Workshop
With its roots in ancient, tribal teachings, this adult-oriented workshop encourages participants to explore their past as they embark on this life altering experience. While adorning their sticks with ribbon, shell, beads, sweet grass and feathers, participants are guided on a journey of spiritual renewal and self-discovery. In the culmination of this activity, the people come together in the Sacred Circle to share their stories All adults are invited to be part of this deeply moving experience as the Indian Storystick takes you on your Earth Walk of reflection, healing, and self-care. Participants are invited to provide their own stick/branch 2.5ft X 1.5 inches in diameter. Additional will be on site.
Saturday, January 21st -- 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Sign up at the Sign Up Spot in the Fellowship lobby or by emailing cyndi@fvuuf.org. There is a maximum of 16 adult participants.
For more information contact Debra Morningstar at dawest@centurytel.net or 920-915-4154.
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| Men's Group Annual Retreat
The Men's Group will be holding its annual retreat at Camp Helen Brachman, near Almond, from Friday evening January 27th to lunchtime Sunday the 29th. All men are invited. Our theme will be "Building Male Friendships". We will ask men to speak from the heart about their past friendships and what we can do to have better ones in the future. There will be time for indoor or outdoor winter recreational activities. The cost will be $85 including meals. We have some scholarship funds available. Please reply to us by 1/15/17 if you plan to attend. Contact John Burke (920-284-4679) or Bill Carlson (920-750-9911 C or 920-738-0950 H) for further information and/or to register.
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| December 24 Christmas Eve services- 4:00, 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. No services on December 25
The office will be open on a limited basis Monday, December 26 through Thursday, December 29 and closed on Friday, December 30. January 1 Turning of the Year services - 9:00 am and 10:45 a.m.
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| Click here for the current financial report.
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| Quick Links
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 click here.
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| Weekly CalendarFriday, December 23 6:00am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha
Saturday, December 24 4:00, 7:00 and 10:00pm Worship Services
6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha Sunday, December 25 No Worship Services
6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha
Monday, December 26 Tuesday, December 27 6:30pm Joy Mind Zen Sangha
Wednesday, December 28 Thursday, December 29 Friday, December 30 6:00am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha
Saturday, December 31 6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha Sunday, January 1 6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha
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Book Club BooksFirst Thursday Book Club
January:Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
February: The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian UU Book Club
January: Forty Autumns by Nina Willner
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