Photo by note thanun on Unsplash

The Pandemic Through Our Students' Eyes
by Eve Rosera, Religious Education Assistant


The past year and a half have been fraught with challenges, disappointments, and losses. Our families and students have, especially, taken their fair share of struggles. In my role as a religious educator, I have had the opportunity to meet with our young ones and our older youth on zoom. I have gained insight into the pandemic from a student’s point of view.  I’ve seen the disappointment in their faces as they talk about isolation from extended family and friends, missed proms, sporting events, graduations, school plays, and more. I’ve heard the apprehension in their voices as they are unsure if life will ever return to the normal they once enjoyed. Many of the students were deprived of social interaction with peers. Our youngest will have missed a year of learning social and structural interaction in a classroom setting. Other students have thrived with online education offerings.
This past year on zoom, the RE classes have hosted Guest Stars to provide new and exciting topic materials. On March 28th, our RE Guest Star was Dana Johnson of the Fellowship Care Team. He asked and answered questions in a special large group of 4K-6th grades. Dana was able to generate questions that provoked interesting answers from our students. The time together with Dana allowed the students the opportunity to be seen and heard regarding their personal experiences during this pandemic.
Several of our students have returned to in-person learning with new guidelines and rules to keep them safe. Many of our parents rejoice that they have returned to school, but are ever vigilant for their student’s safety. Some of our students are continuing online learning until their parents feel it is safe to reintroduce them to in-person classrooms.
The most important lesson that has been reinforced in my mind; children are truly resilient. I commend the parents and families for educating their children about the need for the multitude of measures to keep them safe from COVID-19. Thank you families for doing the very best you can do in this time of ever-changing information and situations.

Sunday Service

10:00 AM Central
In Praise of Rest
by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy

Click HERE for Worship Service Zoom Information and the Order Of Service 
  • Listen to past sermons HERE.
  • Watch some of our past services on our Youtube channel.
  • Click HERE for information on hosting a traveling chalice in your home.
  • We are excited to welcome Special Guest Teacher Ali this Sunday for 2nd through 6th-grade Children’s Chapel at 9:00 am CST. We can’t wait to see all of our friends! See our website (here) for more information about all Religious Education classes for children and youth.

Fellowship Endowment Update

by Theresa Hannah
As we’ve been discussing our recommendation that Planned Giving and Stewardship be combined beginning next year, I want to assure you that our Endowment is strong and being well managed.
Fellowship members who have made or pledged contributions to our Endowment become members of the Acorn Society. While most of our current “Acorns” have pledged legacy gifts so that our fund will be enriched from their estate (that’s what I’ve done) there are also several members who have made cash donations over the years. Our records indicate that our endowment has received contributions of about $156,000, but the value has grown to over $326,000 as of March 31, 2021.
For almost 15 years Fellowship endowment funds have been combined with those of other congregations, and the national Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), into one large investment fund, the Common Endowment Fund (CEF). Combining our funds allows us to use professional fund managers selected by the UUA’s Investment Committee and overseen by their Socially Responsible Investment Committee. In fact, these days the Common Endowment works with funds from other religious organizations to use their combined financial strength to encourage corporations to make better environmental choices.  Watching this video from the UUA made me feel very proud that our endowment investments are being used to make the world a better place. Please take a look HERE.
Click HERE for more questions and answers about the Fellowship’s endowment.

Adult Faith Development

Fellowship Book Read with Intern Minister Ali Peters

See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love
By Valarie Kaur
A quote from the book jacket: “Tested, and tempered by suffering, but rising up with hope and joy, Kaur shows us how to love others, opponents, and ourselves in ways that will bring us closer to the Beloved Community.  This book will change your life.” - Parker J. Palmer

Wellspring: The Religious and The Secular with Ali Peters

Wednesday, May 12; 6:30-8:00 pm CST
The world around us seems to be carved up into categories of "secular" and "religious." How might these categories be helpful and how might they limit us? Join Intern Minister, Ali Peters, at our May Wellspring program to learn more about how "secular" and "religious" came to be and to consider them in new ways. Click here for login information.

Religious Education - Children and Youth

Youth Led Credo Service May 23

Join us for our annual Youth Led Credo Service. All of the young people who participated in our brand new Being A Teen (BATs) program will host this special service. The youth who completed the Coming of Age track of the program spent the past year working with a mentor towards creating a personal credo, a Latin word that means “a set of fundamental beliefs or a guiding principle.” They will share their personal statements that address the question, “What do I believe?”  as the centerpiece of this popular and inspiring service.
Our virtual Sunday programs for young people meet at 9:00 and 11:00 am. We are excited about our classes which have been designed to be fun and engaging with online learning in mind. Don’t miss connecting with our Fellowship friends and family this year!

Program Year Format for Registered Students:
•  Pre-K through 1st grade meets the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month at 9:00 am CST
•  2nd through 6th grade meets the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 9:00 am CST

*All students are invited to attend all classes; however the classes will be geared for the target ages.
•  7-12th grade meets each Sunday at 11:00 AM CST
Please visit our website for more information about our classes. Contact director of religious education, Kim Hartman, at kim@fvuuf.org with questions.

Justice Action Ministry

Understanding the Root Causes of Immigration

The Fellowship is currently supporting 2 people seeking asylum in the US who live locally. One is from Guatemala and one is from El Salvador. Most of us did not get a comprehensive or even accurate education in US and world history when it comes to immigration. Most of us are unaware of how extensively the United States has been involved in Central American politics, and that the impact of that involvement is a main reason why people migrate here.
To highlight just a few points regarding US intervention in Guatemala:
• 1920: The US sent an armed force to ensure the new president remains amenable to US corporate interests.
• 1952: Eisenhower authorized the CIA to overthrow the democratically elected President, ending 10 years of democratic rule.
• 1965: The CIA issued Green Berets to aid the authoritarian government in its repression of justice movements. They committed war crimes that were later compared to the Nazi extermination camps.
• 1981: Entire villages in Guatemala were bombed and looted using military equipment from the US.
• 2006: 70% of employers violate minimum wage and overtime standards because of free trade with the US. 
These dates were from “A Century of U.S. Intervention Created the Immigration Crisis,” an article by Mark Tseng-Putterman, which also shares information about El Salvador and Honduras and recommends further reading. 
Learn more about the Fellowship’s immigration justice team and read the past articles in this series HERE.
Photo by Jackie DiLorenzo on Unsplash

The Plant Sale is almost here!

The Partner Church Committee will be hosting a socially distanced plant sale on Sunday, May 23rd, from noon to 2:00 pm CST outside at the Fellowship. We will post a list of available plants on the Partner Church web page and accept pre-orders from May 13th - May 22nd. Payment can be made by cash or check upon pickup. Specific pre-order instructions will follow in the May 13th Scroll.

Justice Hub Webpage

The Justice Hub webpage has information about our JAMs, justice groups, justice events, and opportunities here at our Fellowship and out in the community right there at your fingertips any time you need it.
This week: Read more about each of these on the Justice Hub webpage!
•  May 5th Action for Healing and Justice: Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit. Learn how to participate and sign this petition.
•  ESTHER interfaith community organizing information
•  May 8th, 1-3 pm CST, League of Women Voters John Lewis Voter Advancement Day "Votercade"
•  Job opportunity! ESTHER seeks a part-time (10 hrs/week) Communications Coordinator

If you want to share something on the Justice Hub webpage, please do so by completing this form by Thursday to be posted when the page is updated each weekend. Submissions may be subject to staff approval and editing.

Notable

We are thrilled to announce that our website has a new design and we are featuring our new logo designed by Cassidy Mulvey. Make sure you check it out! fvuuf.org

Staff Summer Schedules

As is the custom, staff members take time off in the summer. Please be mindful of the following staff schedules with notable changes. Feel free to reach out to us directly with questions and other needs!
•  Ali’s last day of her internship will be May 23rd and then she will start as our Assistant Minister on September 1st.
•  Marie will work part-time hours in June and July.
•  Leah will be off May 6th to 30th and June 7th to 30th. Starting July 1st, she will work half-time through November and then end her ministry with the Fellowship.

Meals Needed!

We always offer support through our Ministry Meals team to people who could use nourishing help. Right now we have two more extensive needs, and would greatly appreciate your help!
Marie Luna, director of congregational life, has a short video explaining these needs, so click the play button to learn more. 
Click on the mealtrain links below for more information about these requests and to sign up to help. If you would like to be on our Ministry Team meals list to help out more often, please contact Marie Luna at marie@fvuuf.org.
Boushele-Walter Family: HERE
Molly McCarty: HERE
Thank you for your loving support!

UU Women's Connection "Tea & Talk"

Saturday, May 15th, 2:00-3:30 pm CST
Link HERE or call 312-626-6799, enter 828 3688 174
We've missed all of you so much! Bring your beverage of choice and come join us for a chat on Zoom! We will all say "Hello" in the Main Room and then move to Breakout Spaces for a bit to allow everyone to get a chance to catch up in small groups.

Virtual General Assembly 

General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct the business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. Virtual GA allows us to retain our dedication to community and make our experience more accessible and more environmentally sustainable. 
More information and registration available HERE. If you are planning on attending and would like to be credentialed as a delegate, please email marie@fvuuf.org
2021 WARE LECTURE: STACEY ABRAMS AND DESMOND MEADE
The UUA President invites a distinguished guest each year to address the General Assembly as the Ware Lecture. Please join us Saturday, June 26 at 6:00 p.m. CDT. General Assembly registration is required to view.
More information about the Ware Lecture HERE.

Healthy Online Communication

by John Duffin
After a year of pandemic restrictions on in-person social life, the Healthy Congregation Team sends its wishes that Fellowship members are well and feeling more hopeful. Given the strain of spending so much time isolating from others, including not being able to congregate in person at the Fellowship building, we thought this would be a good time to encourage healthy online communication.
One effect of interacting with each other primarily through email, Zoom discussions, and social media posts is that we don’t get the immediate feedback of facial expressions, voice inflection, postures, and other nonverbal signals. Without such in-person responses, it seems to make it more likely that we might engage in more critical or negative behavior than usual. The social distance of online statements also seems to increase polarization of views.
So, as I (we) write online comments or opinions, it is especially important to be positive and compassionate as much as possible. When reading digital communications, remember to consider the source. The writer may have implicit biases and assumptions that lead to the stated views. If some comments are inflammatory, try to understand the other person’s stress level or different perspective rather than allowing oneself to be hurt deeply. Calm, constructive feedback to them might help the other person realize they have said hurtful things.
As always, the Healthy Congregation Team encourages direct, respectful communication and active listening to each other. If you have positive examples or constructive concerns for us, please tell us by using the Fellowship’s “Feedback Form,” always accessible via the Fellowship Forms link at the very end of the Scroll.

Images Needed

 “Flourishing” Theme 
Take a photo of something that means Flourishing to you. 
Our preferred method for submission is via this Google Form. You need a Google account to use the form, but if you’ve ever used Google Docs, you might already have one! Google accounts can be created with your current email address, a Gmail address is not required.
If you do not have a Google account, please email your submissions to photos@fvuuf.org.
click the image for current information

Small Groups

Click HERE for details about these groups.
  • Gathering Circle - Fourth Mondays, 6:30-8:00 pm CST
  • Joyful Mind Zen Sangha; Saturdays, 7:00 am CST
  • Men's Group, First Wednesdays & Third Tuesdays, 7-9:00 pm CST
  • Music-Making Online - Click the small groups link for information
  • PoC, Email PoC.global.majority@gmail.com for meeting information
  • Senior Wonders - Contact Janet Hughes for information
  • Smiling Dandelion Sangha, Sundays, 6-7:30 pm CST
  • Spill it Sister, Second Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:00 pm CST. Contact Kate Hancock-Cooke at rugbykate@new.rr.com with questions.
  • Third Thursday Book Club, Third Thursday of the month, 2:00 pm CST. Contact CyAnn Martin at cmartin25@new.rr.com for meeting information.
  • UU Parenting Support Group, Contact Erin Vandenlangenberg for information at vand0379@umn.edu
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