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Learning Together
by Marie Luna, Director of Congregational Life The Fellowship is part of the MidAmerica Region, which is part of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We had our Regional Assembly last weekend in St. Louis, which brings together hundreds of UUs from 13 states. The UUA President, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, was the keynote, and she talked beautifully on how Unitarian Universalism is a living tradition – we as people, and as a faith, need to be continually learning from our experiences and, as Maya Angelou tells us, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." This lesson has come up for me as I parent my 12 year old son, with people at the Fellowship and through justice work. Sometimes these lessons are hard to learn (especially the parenting ones!) but I always look back and appreciate opportunities for my own personal evolution. The theme of the assembly was learning about intersectionality, and if you haven’t seen Kimberlé Crenshaw speak about this topic that she named, watch her excellent TED Talk HERE. Content Warning: There are a couple moments of physical violence. I so appreciate being part of a faith and community that gives me these opportunities—let’s keep learning together!
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Upcoming Services Sunday 9:00 and 10:45 am
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April 14 Beyond Doom and Gloom; Rooting Justice Work in Joy
by Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg
No matter where we might place ourselves on the political spectrum, it seems like there is always so much overwhelming bad news! It’s hardly fun or sustainable to try to make the world a better place when we are fueled primarily by sorrow and suffering. After all, beauty and hope do exist. Could joy be a resource in the work of justice? Judaism, one of our Unitarian Universalist source traditions, can offer us some insight about moving past doom and gloom. In particular, the Festival of Passover might be able to help us root ourselves in something more positive, even as we face hardship. April 21 Leaders and Followers by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
The Easter story is one of tragedy and celebration, but it's also a story of leaders and followers. What does it mean to be a powerful follower? How can we help raise leaders as allies? And what the heck does Easter have to do with it? Come find out.
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Keep Moving Forward Together! We still need your help to reach our pledge goal! In order to continue moving forward together and fund our mission… please return your 2019-2020 pledge form as soon as possible! We are grateful to all of you who have submitted your pledge forms. However, there are many that have not yet submitted a 2019-2020 pledge form. The Fellowship operates on a fiscal year of July - June, and requests pledges from our membership on an annual basis, even those members who are participating through EFT. We do not need you to pay anything right now. Pledges help the Fellowship plan ahead for the upcoming fiscal year, and prepare a viable operating budget; which includes all personnel and administrative costs, program expenses, and building and grounds maintenance. All of which are needed to enable the Fellowship to Keep Moving Forward! Click HERE for more information and for an online pledge form. You may also find blank pledge forms and envelopes in the Fellowship Hall. Please contact Phyllis Schmitt, Business Administrator, at phyllis@fvuuf.org or 920.731.0849 with questions about your pledge.
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Bridging Service
May 12, 2019, 9:00 and 10:45 am
We will honor our graduating high school seniors as they take a large step in their transition from childhood into adulthood. The centerpiece of the service will be a bridging ceremony honoring this transition and hearing from them about how they plan to carry their Unitarian Universalist values into the world. We will end with a ritual to show our Fellowship’s support of these young people. Please contact Kim Hartman at kim@fvuuf.org by April 28, 2018 if your child plans to participate in the Bridging ceremony.
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Spill It Sister Monthly Meetings
2nd Thursday of the month, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
All female identifying people are welcome to join us anytime! Don’t worry if you can't attend all the time; we just want to create a circle of intentional sisters who know each other more deeply then time at services allows. Topics vary by month, no homework is required, and chocolate is usually present. Please come if you want more women in your life. Contact Kate Hancock-Cooke at Rugbykate@new.rr.com if you have questions or want to join the facebook group.
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This Sunday’s offering will be taken to benefit ESTHER, a network of faith communities in the Fox Cities working for social justice. ESTHER partners with people who are impacted by the issues. Their stories tell the impact of current policies and the urgency for prison and immigration reform, better investments in public transit and reform of systems that continue to oppress people of color. An ESTHER JAM team has been formed to bring greater awareness of ways that the Fellowship can more deeply engage with ESTHER in social justice. Sunday's offering is the Fellowship's annual investment in ESTHER's work, your partner in social justice.
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Helping Hands: Family Community Service Group Potluck
Sunday, April 14th; after last service
Has your family been trying to find the time or opportunity to give back to our community? Do you want to have deeper, more meaningful connections with the families in our Fellowship? Maybe you have found great volunteering opportunities but the littlest of your littles are not allowed to attend. Well look no further! The Fellowship is starting a service group oriented towards people of all ages where our children can help to make our community a better place. Come for some fellowship and to learn more at the Family Community Service Group Potluck. All are welcome! Please contact Julie Handwerker (julie4602@new.rr.com) or Amanda Kramp (amandapkramp@gmail.com) with questions and to sign up to bring a dish.
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People of Color Small Group
We recognize that as a majority-white congregation, it can often feel isolating for People of Color/Brown & Black folx who love our theology but might not identify with some other aspects of the community. Join the UU People of Color (UU PoC) small group once a month or more as we gather to have fun and discuss topics that we can identify with. This is a great way to meet and connect with people and avoid isolation. We usually meet every second Sunday of the month. PoC/Brown & Black folx of all ages are more than welcome to join us! We also encourage young people to get involved. Email UUPOC@hotmail.com for more details and for meeting time and location.
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Oshkosh Satellite Future Plans
Wednesday, April 17, 5:30 pm All are welcome to join us for a formal discussion about next stages for our group. We will begin by remembering what prompted the formation of the group, and then share ideas about how to move forward. For example, would we like to have a fall and spring potluck picnic? Would we like to meet in small groups, similar to the circle dinners? Would we like to agree that this group has been important but is no longer as meaningful and so should be disbanded? Debbie Wagner, a member of the Healthy Congregation Team, will facilitate the conversation. Please consider attending to share your suggestions and help direct the next steps. If you cannot attend but have suggestions to share, please email Fran Garb at fgarb@new.rr.com. We will meet for dinner at 5:30 pm at B’Nai Israel Congregation Social Hall, 1121 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh. Parking is available next to the building and across the street at Read School. Please RSVP for dinner before Monday, April 15 at 9:00 am, using this link: http://tinyurl.com/okdinner.
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Annual Community Good Friday Service
Noon, Friday, April 19, First Congregational UCC Appleton at 724 South E. River St., Appleton Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy will be participating for the second year in the annual ecumenical Good Friday service. This year she will be offering a reflection on the message of Good Friday from the perspective of considering the pain of the world. Several congregations come together each year for this day of reflection, song, and lament, exploring the themes of this somber Christian holy day through the lens of modern social justice. It is held at different congregations each year at noon to allow people to come on their lunch break. Come join us!
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Fellowship Passover Seder
Join us for our annual community Passover Seder at the Fellowship on Saturday, April 20 at 5:00 pm. A traditionally Jewish celebration open to people of all ages and religious backgrounds, this festive evening of music, worship, fellowship, and feasting will celebrate freedom, spring, and the story of the Exodus through an interactive service and shared meal. This year's special collection will be be taken to support Harbor House, a local domestic violence shelter. Contact Cyndi Polakowski at cyndi@fvuuf.org or sign up on the sheet in the Fellowship entry lobby by Wednesday, April 17. Volunteer to donate food, help, or read at the seder by signing up at bit.ly/FVUUFseder2019. Contact Marie Luna, director of congregational life, at marie@fvuuf.org for more information.
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Flower Pot Essential Needs Drive
The Shared Sanctuary Ministry Team and Essentials: Food and Shelter for All Justice Action Ministry are once again partnering with Unidos por un Futuru Mejor, a local immigrants rights and education group. Our April Flower Pot Essential Needs Drive will be a follow up to the Fellowship Mitten Wreath project in December, which supplied warm winter gear and holiday gifts to over 30 families supported by Unidos por un Futuru Mejor, and was a great success! From April 7 to April 21, we will have flower pots set up in the Fellowship Hall with blooming paper “flowers." Please plan on picking one or more paper flowers, which will request gift cards for specific retailers to help immigrant families purchase essential personal supplies. Buy gift card(s) with a $10 or more value at Aldi, Woodman's, Kwik Trip, Festival Foods, Pick n Save, Target, Big Lots, Walmart, Dollar General, or Family Dollar. Donated gift cards are due at the Fellowship by April 28. The Flower Pot Essential Needs Drive is replacing our participation in the annual Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive operated by The Family Radio, partly because we’ve learned that while the items collected support a wide range of people in our community, The Family Radio is an explicitly anti-GLBT organization. Contact Marie Luna, director of congregational life, at marie@fvuuf.org with questions.
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Partner Churches Plant Sale is coming! From 8:00 am until 12:30 pm on Sunday, May 19th, the Partner Churches Committee will be selling herbs, wildflowers, perennial plants, veggie seedlings, house plants, and fresh flowers. We’ll set up in the parking lot and provide plant and planting tips as well as information about our Partner Churches activities! Don’t miss this fun event and the opportunity to take home great plants at very affordable prices! On Wednesday, May 15th, we will have a Pot(ting) Party from 2:00 pm until 5-6:00 pm. We’ll enjoy a pot luck dinner after spending the afternoon potting up perennials. This is a fun afternoon of working together and all plant and people lovers are invited to join us. You are encouraged to bring your extra perennial clumps, veggie seedlings, herbs, and houseplants to the party for repotting, bring them to the sale on Sunday, or let us know when we can pick them up if you are unable to attend. The Pot Party will be at the home of Tony and Jane Salsich. If you would like to contribute plants for the sale or work at the sale, please contact Vickie Milde (vicmilde@hotmail.com), Tina Main, (velo.biker@gmail.com), or sign up at our display in the Fellowship Hall.
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UU University - rescheduled
May 29, 6:30 pm
UU THEOLOGY: WHAT WE BELIEVE – We are not a creedal faith, which means we have no set statement of beliefs that you must adhere to in order to belong. However, that doesn’t mean we are without common themes and guiding ideas for what supports our beliefs. In this class we’ll cover James Luther Adams’ “Five Smooth Stones of Liberal Theology,” the 7 Principles, the 6 Sources of UU Inspiration, and some theological grounding from modern UU theologians. Sign up for childcare online HERE or at the Sign Up Spot at the Fellowship. We need at least one child signed up 24 hours in advance in order to have childcare.
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Driver's Licenses for Undocumented People Teach IN
Join the Fellowship Shared Sanctuary Team and ESTHER's Immigration Task Force for a Driver's License Teach In on April 23rd, 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the Fellowship. Voices of Hope Reader's Theater will begin the evening, followed by information and a discussion of driver's licenses for people who are undocumented. A free will donation will be taken for Unidos, our local immigrant advocacy organization.
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Volunteers for Pillars Adult and Family Shelter
Please join the Essentials JAM by volunteering to provide a meal to the residents of Pillars Adult and Family Shelter f/k/a Homeless Connections:
Monday, April 29th evening meal feeding approximately 60 residents
Pillars Adult and Family Shelter at 400 N. Division Street, Appleton
• 2 Servers—needed between 4:00 and 7:00 pm. Park your vehicle in the lot south of the building and sign in at the front desk. Tasks will include packing lunches, warming up dinner, making coffee, and setting up for dinner for 5:30 to 6:00 pm dinner shift and 6:00 to 6:30 pm shift. We will clean up after the meal and should finish up about 7:00 pm.
• 1 Dessert provider 30 servings. Drop off dessert at the shelter or make arrangements with the lead to bring/drop off dessert. Bring dessert in a disposable container.
• 1 Mixed Vegetable provider 30 servings. Please contact Angie Miller to make arrangements to provide mixed vegetables.
• 1 Canned Pear provider 30 servings. Contact Angie Miller to make arrangement to provide canned pears.
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Welcome New Members
Hannah Riggle and Peter Weck
Ben Leasum
Nicole Cyphers
Lydia and Steven Rhoads with Griffin, Sabine and River
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Community Office Hours
Join Rev. Christina for her bimonthly Community Office Hours at local coffee shops throughout the Fox Valley! Rev. Christina will have two each month. No RSVP needed, come for part of the time or stay the entire time! Topics of conversation will depend on who joins us; there is no agenda. Come enjoy coffee and conversation!
April – New Moon Cafe, 401 N. Main St., Oshkosh
18th – 8-10:00am
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Click the image for our mailing address and staff email addresses. | |
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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
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, April 11 6:30pm Spill it Sister
Saturday, April 13
6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha 10:00am Spanish Charla 7:00pm UU Dance Group
Sunday, April 14
9:00 &10:45am Worship Service 10:00am U-Youth Choir 10:45am High School Breakfast Club
12:00pm Family Community Service Potluck
6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha
Monday, April 15
9:00am Goddess Group Tuesday, April 16 6:00pm Governing Board Meeting 6:30pm Tuesday Night Meditation 7:00pm Men's Group
Wednesday, April 17
5:30pm Fellowship Choir Thursday, April 18 7:00pm UU Book Club
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Book Club Books UU Book Club
April: The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
May: Educated by Tara Westover
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