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BATs Bake Sale - May 17
The BATs youth at the Fellowship are hosting a bake sale to raise money for new toys in the nursery! Come enjoy a delicious selection of homemade treats, including vegan and gluten-free options, so there’s something for everyone. Every purchase helps create a fun and welcoming space for the little ones—stop by, grab a treat, and support a great cause! Please contact Angie Miller at starlight54302@yahoo.com with questions.
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Calling all gardeners!
Partner Churches Plant Sale
Sunday, May 17, 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
The Partner Churches committee will be selling native plants, perennials, ornamentals, houseplants, herbs, vegetable seedlings, and garden accessories in the Fellowship parking area on May 17th, from 8 AM to 12:30 PM. We hope you will be able to join us! Proceeds will benefit our partner churches in Deva, Romania and Banaybanay, Philippines. We will need, and greatly appreciate, your donations of plants and related items, which can be dropped off at the Fellowship between 7:00 and 8:00 am on the day of the sale. For more information, or to volunteer to help with the sale, please contact Vickie Milde at vicmilde@hotmail.com.
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Sunday, May 17
• 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
Rituals of Resistance
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 May, we share the plate with Wisconsin Unitarian Universalist State Action Network (WUUSAN).
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Music Ministry
May 17 - Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal (10:10 am) and offering (11:00 am)
After May 17, 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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Middle Hour
Learning, Connection & Fun for All Ages at 10:10 am on Sunday Mornings.
Sunday, May 17:
- Meet the New Planning Center software! – Join our Program & Volunteer Coordinator Seth Gillespie, for an orientation, Q&A, and a chance to get some help with our new software and app. This program is designed to help us connect, communicate, and schedule easily among our many Fellowship programs.
After May 17, Middle Hour will be on hiatus for the summer and will return again on September 20, 2026. Middle Hour takes place during the program year between the two Sunday services as an opportunity for learning, connection & fun for all ages.
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| | Take Flight Together in 2026
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|  | We're Almost There — Taking Flight Together!
Two-thirds of our households have already shared their annual giving commitments for 2026–2027, and we are so grateful. Together, you've committed over $644,000 to our 2026-2027 operating budget — that's 92% of our $700,000 goal. What an incredible flock we are!
If we haven't heard from you yet (either with a giving commitment form or an ongoing EFT), someone will be reaching out in the coming weeks — not to pressure you, but just to connect, share a little about what's ahead, and hear what the Fellowship means to you.
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Fellowship Work Day - Sunday, May 31
Join us for a Fellowship Work Day as we come together to care for our shared space! We’ll be tackling a variety of projects both inside and outside the building, including cleaning, organizing, and general handy work. Whether you can lend a hand for a little while or the whole time, your help makes a big difference. Lunch will be provided to keep everyone fueled and connected.
Sign up HERE to participate.
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Join us at Fox Valley Pride on June 13!
The Fellowship is excited to host a booth at this year’s celebration on June 13, and we’d love for you to be part of it. Volunteering at the booth is a great way to connect with the community, share our values, and help create a welcoming presence for all.
We hope to see you there!
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| | Religious Exploration - Children & Youth
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Summer 2026 Religious Exploration for Kids
Our Summer Religious Exploration (RE) program for current Pre-K through 5th grade children begins on May 24! Throughout the summer, children will explore our faith’s values, build friendships, and enjoy hands-on lessons and fun activities each Sunday.
If your child(ren) was registered for RE during the 2025–2026 program year, they are already registered for summer—no need to sign up again until registration opens for the 2026–2027 program year.
If your family is new to RE, we’re excited to welcome you! Please register your child(ren) using THIS LINK. There is no fee for summer participation.
Registration for the 2026–2027 Religious Exploration program year will open in late summer. At that time, all families will need to complete a new registration, and program fees will apply.
We look forward to sparking curiosity and spending meaningful time in community with our young learners this summer. Come join us, won't you!
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We need your help!
Sign up to support our Religious Exploration program this summer.
- No experience necessary
- Training provided
- Requirements: enjoy spending time and learning with and from kids, pass a background check, attend the Fellowship 6+ months
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No Address Film Screening
May 17, 1- 3:30 pm at the Appleton Public Library. "No Address", movie inspired by true events, the film follows the harrowing journey of Lauren, a young woman pushed onto the streets and forced to survive against all odds. No charge. Advance registration appreciated HERE. Co-sponsored by ESTHER Mental Health Task Force and other community agencies working to address the housing crisis.
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Help Create a Community Garden on Saturday, May 23
Zion Lutheran Church is creating a community garden on their property for our Hmong neighbors as they begin this growing season, and help is needed to get the land ready. Free BBQ lunch for all volunteers. Click HERE for all the details.
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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.
May 26, 5:15 - 8pm at First Congregational UCC, 724 E. South River, Appleton. Networking with other faith communities: Opportunity for education and action. Next steps for Path to Palm Sunday hosted by ESTHER. Join members from area faith communities for a meal and program which includes learning about how county government works, effect of the Big Budget Bill on our community and next steps for advocacy. Meal Registration Closes on May 23. Register HERE.
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Check out the Events & News website page for all of our upcoming events:
- May 17 - Partner Churches Plant Sale
- May 17 - BATs Bake Sale
- May 24 - Return to one service @ 10:00 am
- May 31 - Fellowship Work Day
- June 7 - Annual Meeting
- June 13 - Join us at Fox Valley Pride!
- August 2 - Fellowship Picnic at Smith Park
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New Art Show: "Let Your Light Shine"
We will be hanging our next art show at 1:00 pm on Sunday, May 17. If you would like to help hang it, you are more than welcome to join us. We will be accepting framed, ready to hang art up to that time. Each piece needs to have the title and artist listed on the back. Late submissions will not be accepted. If you need to drop off your art early, please contact the office to make arrangements. This is a great opportunity to let your art talents shine and be part of beautifying the Fellowship Hall. If you currently have art on display, please remove it on the 17th. For more information, contact Mary Gerlach (gerlachmz@gmail.com).
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Special Mental Health Awareness Month Event on Zoom
Sunday, May 31, 5:00 pm CT
with UUA President Dr. Sophia Betancourt
To register to attend this special online service, please go to www.uumentalhealth.org.
The Unitarian Universalist Mental Health Network (UUMHN) will host an online worship service titled “Our Faith Calls Us to Embrace Mental Health,” featuring the inspiring voices of UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt and UUA Director of Congregational Life Natalie Aguila Briscoe, to uplift and motivate us.
UUMHN’s mission is to create a supportive Beloved Community that honors each individual’s mental health journey towards wellness. For more information, click HERE or email the UUMHN’s Board President, Reverend Barbara Meyers, at bfkmeyers@gmail.com.
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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.
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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| | UU Summer Camps in Wisconsin
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Bayside 2026 will be held June 28 - July 4
Bayside UU Family Camp is a family summer camp held at Wesley Woods Retreat Center in Williams Bay, WI. Click the image for details.
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