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Membership and Planting Roots
by Marie Luna, Director of Congregational Life
Officially becoming a member of the Fellowship is a relatively easy process. You start attending for a while, you meet with Rev. Leah and me, we talk about history and programs and stewardship, you fill out a pledge form, and you sign our membership book. But as Phillip Hewett says, “It does not make you into a Unitarian Universalist by the mere fact of joining; you become on by the slow process of thought and life experience.”
People are welcome to join at any time that they are ready, which may mean they have been attending for a few months or many years. They may not be involved at all, or they are already very involved. In a new ritual, we will be handing out flowers for people to attach to their nametags when they are formally welcomed into membership, to signify they have chosen to plant their roots here, so to speak. When they feel they are fully planted, they will give the flower back so we can pass it on to the next new member.
If you see someone with a flower, ask they how they are connecting and planting their roots. Share your story about finding the Fellowship and making connections. Let’s help each other find the community we all need!
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Upcoming Services
Sunday at 9:00 and 10:45 am
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November 24
Roots and Wings
by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy & Rev. Roger Bertschausen
The UU hymn "Spirit of Life" reminds us to let our "roots hold us close and wings set us free." We'll be celebrating one of our Fellowship's strongest roots-- Roger Bertschausen-- at this celebration of his status as our emeritus minister and to honor his 26 years of service in ministry to our Fellowship. We will also be celebrating the Fellowship's 64th birthday this month, the stories of our past, and the possible future stories that might yet be written as we let our "wings set us free."
Click HERE for future services.
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| Religious Education
RE registration form HERE
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The children of the Fellowship have spoken! The 2019 Greater Good recipient will be the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's migrant justice program. Donations will be accepted to this worthy cause through January 5th. Please make your checks out to the Fellowship with "Greater Good 2019" on the memo line. For more information about UUSC, check out their presentation on the Fellowship's website HERE.
The Greater Good is a movement to re-focus on our core values and engage in social action with the children and youth of the Fellowship by reducing the materialism of the holiday season.
Here's how:
1 Add up your typical holiday season expenses (gifts, travel, entertainment, etc).
2 Divide the total in half.
3 Fund your holiday celebrations with 50% and donate the other 50% to the Greater Good.
For more information on Greater Good and ideas for how to implement the project in your family, check the Fellowship website or reach out to the Greater Good Committee (anne.sieck@oshkosh.k12.wi.us).
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Rev. Roger Bertschausen was the senior minister of the Fellowship from 1990 until 2015. He guided the Fellowship through years of transitions in staff growth, service schedules and practices, building construction, relocation and expansion. This title is honorary and given for his dedication and care of this Fellowship. We also celebrate the story of 64 years of the Fellowship existing in the Fox Valley and the countless lives we have changed. Snacks, drinks, and unstructured activities for kids will be available.
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Bertschausen Teaching Ministry Fund
We are honoring the legacy of former senior minister Rev. Roger Bertschausen and the future of the Fellowship by establishing the Bertschausen Teaching Ministry Fund to help support a teaching ministry program and to move the Fellowship in the direction of a sustainable internship program for future UU ministers. READ MORE
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Storyholders:
Capturing Our History, One Story at a Time
By Deb Andrews
Ever wonder how the Fellowship came to be what it is today? On Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24 (the weekend we will celebrate the installation of the Rev. Roger Bertschausen as minister emeritus), we will launch a new Storyholders project to record stories from members and friends about their experiences and memories of the Fellowship. READ MORE
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Inquirer's Series: Will continue on Dec. 1
Visitors, newcomers, and new members are invited to participate in the Inquirers Series! The Inquirers Series meets from 10:45-11:45 am on Sunday mornings in the David Room. It is a series of eight conversations that offer a general introduction to our congregation and Unitarian Universalism. The series is ongoing, so you are welcome to participate in the sessions in any order, as you’re able and there is no need to sign up. Contact Marie Luna, director of congregational life, at marie@fvuuf.org with questions.
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Partner Churches Quilting Party!
Happy News! Zoli, the minister of our Partner Church in Deva, and his wife, Julia, have welcomed Abel to their family. To help give him a warm welcome, we are planning to make a baby quilt for little Abel, and invite all who would like to be part of its creation to join us. Whether you can give artistic guidance, sewing and quilting advice, would like to contribute fabric, or admire the work as it progresses, we would love to have you join us. We will meet at Margaret Alexander's Studio MA, which is located at 910 Westfield Lane, Neenah on Thursday, November 21, at 5:00 PM. Please contact Vickie Milde (vicmilde@hotmail.com) or Tina Main (velo.biker@gmail.com) with questions or to let us know you plan to join us. Many warm thanks!
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Thanksgiving Open Chair
Will you have an open chair at your table on Thanksgiving that could be filled by a Fellowship member or friend who would otherwise spend the day alone? Or Are you without plans for the holiday? Please let Marie Luna, director of congregational life, know if you fall into either of these categories.
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Announcing the 2020 Men’s Retreat
Join us for a midwinter retreat diving deeper into the topic of Rethinking Masculinity: How to Live Outside the ‘Man Box’ in 2020. Our camaraderie at retreats is enhanced by outdoor activities together and by indoor discussions made more open and trusting by the safe circle for anyone who identify as men. We will gather at Camp Helen Brachman at 6:00 pm on Friday, January 17 and depart after lunch on Sunday, January 19. More information will be forthcoming, but please add your name to the list as soon as you know you can attend. Contact John Duffin to sign up and with questions (japple51@gmail.com).
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4 Spiritualities and Associated Spiritual Practice
led by Mary Ellyn Vicksta
Monthly gatherings from November 2019 - May 2020
Next meeting is Sunday, December 8 at 12:15 pm
To encourage the development of spiritual practices based upon the four spiritual pathways developed by Peter Tufts Richardson, a retired UU minister. We will take an in-depth look at each of the four spiritual pathways so you not only understand your own pathway but those of others as well. We will deeply explore spiritual practices that are aligned with each pathway and discuss how each person can incorporate these practices into their everyday life. Contact Mary Ellyn at mev500@yahoo.com with questions.
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Soup Saturday - December 7
Soup’s On! Join us from 4:30-7:00(ish) on the first Saturday of the month (October – April) for soup, bread, games, and conversation. Enjoy a hot bowl of soup while you mingle and meet new people, catch up with old friends, play games, or just sit and relax. Jerry Behrendt has agreed to continue hosting a Dungeons & Dragons table for anyone interested in playing. You don’t need to bring anything but your appetite, but if you’d like to bring a crock of soup to share, please let Angie or Matt Demers know so they can plan accordingly email angiebaby826@yahoo.com or matthew_demers@yahoo.com. Breads and desserts are welcome as well. As always, if you’d like to stay behind and help with clean-up, it would be greatly appreciated. Hope to see you soon!
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Sound Meditation Event
Thursday, December 12; 6:30-8:00 pm
Led by Chris Kuck; kuckart2112@gmail.com
We all have times of triumph, and times of tragedy and stress. No one is excluded from the challenges in life, and Chris has found meditation and mindfulness to be very helpful. Therapy Of Sound is a program Chris put together to give people the opportunity to take time out to relax to sound recordings that are meditative and fun, and include sounds of ambient noises and textures as well as some avant-garde sounds. His goal is to perform a sound journey that will be entertaining, create curiosity, and provide relaxation all in one event. The sound journey will last for 20 minutes and then we will come together to talk about our experiences. All are welcome, including children. You may sit on a chair, on provided cushions, or bring a blanket to lay on the floor. Contact Chris for more information.
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Rev. Christina Working Reduced Schedule Until January 6
I have been open about sharing my recent health challenges with the congregation in sermons, and I am so grateful for the support of the staff, board, and volunteers who have helped during these various illnesses and recoveries. I am pleased to report that no new issues have arisen! But I have found, and my doctors have recommended, that in order to fully regain my energy and health, I need to reduce my work schedule to allow for more rest. I will be taking some vacation time in order to work a half-time schedule starting Monday, November 25 through January 5, to increase my ability to rest. I will be in the office and responding to email on Tuesdays and a little bit on Wednesdays, will be at a few regularly-scheduled meetings, and some Sunday mornings. Thank you for your patience and understanding as I navigate this journey.
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Office Closed
The Fellowship office will be closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29.
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Fellowship History Tidbits
The previous Fellowship history question was: Who is the only remaining member of our first meeting of people from Nov 1955? ANSWER: Donna Weis is that person. So if you see her, thank her for helping to start the Fellowship and for being involved over the years. The question for next week is: After the first organizing meetings, where did the Fellowship meet over the first years of operation? Watch for the answer in the next Weekly Scroll.
Fellowship History Tibits provided by Dave Gerlach
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| Click here for the current financial report.
Click here for the current Governing Board meeting agenda.
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Thank you for reading The Weekly Scroll, and pardon any typos.
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| Quick Links
Anti-racism Learning (for home, or groups)
Characteristics and antidotes of white supremacy culture
November: Quantity Over Quality- click HERE
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 email Rev. Leah at leah@fvuuf.org.
To be added to the Joys and Concerns email list, contact Cyndi Polakowski at cyndi@fvuuf.org.
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Weekly Calendar
Thursday, November 21
7:00pm UU Book Club
Friday, November 22
10:00am Photography as a Spiritual Practice
Saturday, November 23
6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha
10:00am Spanish Charla
2:00pm Celebrating our minister emeritus and the story of the Fellowship
Sunday, November 24
9:00 & 10:45am Worship Service
10:00am High School Breakfast Club
6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha
Monday, November 25
9:00am Goddess Group
Thursday, November 28
Office Closed
Friday, November 29
Office Closed
6:00pm Acoustic Jam
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Click the image for our mailing address and staff email addresses or call 920.731.0849.
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