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How do you want to Belong? by Marie Luna, congregational life coordinator I was looking at the building calendar recently to add a group I was leading, and there wasn’t a room available in the entire building! Many nights are like this. Fellowship Secretary, Cyndi Polakowski, has the fun job of juggling all of the various groups’ needs. Fun fact: we have 46 different Fellowship small groups, action teams and committees at last count! As I looked more closely at the calendar for that particular week, I was reminded with how many amazing opportunities we have to grow in mind and spirit, connect to others, and just have some fun! That particular week alone offered: Growth:
• 4 weekly meditation opportunities
• A class on learning to treat your body better
• A program on planning for a good death
• Fabulous Sunday services
• Journey Groups for people to dig deeper Connections:
• Book group
• Social Justice Action Teams
• Two women’s groups (our men’s group meets twice a month at different times) Fun:
• Dance group
• Choir
• Crafty Sisters
So how do you want to belong to the Fellowship? Are you looking to make friends? Learn a new spiritual practice? Build a better world? We have opportunities in all of these things! Let me know if I can help connect you to something that would be meaningful for your life right now. Let me know also if you have considered joining the Fellowship. Becoming a member can be an important part of belonging for many people.
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Upcoming Services Sundays 9:00 & 10:45 am
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February 25 Gather Yourself by Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg
All signs point to loneliness as an increasing problem in contemporary US society. Lately it’s even been heralded as a public health epidemic. Neuroscience, psychology, and political analysis offer clues as to how we might understand, treat and prevent chronic loneliness. This service will explore resources from a variety of sources, as well as consider the spiritual task of persevering in times when solitude feels unwilling. Join us especially if you need a reminder that there are ways of gathering yourself and moving out of a state of loneliness! March 4 Living in Two Worlds by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
Two Worlds - As a religious community, we constantly strive to balance our work between two worlds: The spiritual (or ideal and visionary), and the material (or real and physical). We also try to support each of these worlds enough to allow the other to flourish. How can we align our work to balance these two worlds well?
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Pay it Forward Fun
Last Sunday, everyone at both services was given an envelope containing either a 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100 dollar bill. We were asked to pay it forward to build a better world. Share what you did with your money by posting on the Facebook group or by emailing payitforward@fvuuf.org. If you weren’t here, check out the page on what others are doing with their money—and come to the March 4th service when we will share how our congregation paid it forward.
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We will have our first-ever Ostara Pageant for services on Sunday, March 25. Calling all drama-inclined youth who want to participate! Ostara is a neo-pagan festival of springtime and new life, and this myth is where the “Easter Bunny” comes from! We need, at minimum, the following speaking roles to be filled for each service: Narrator, Goddess Ostara, Child, Bird and Bunny. More speaking parts can be created if there is interest, and we are hoping to have a “chorus” of woodland creatures and flowers without lines, for our younger kids. Participants with a speaking role must commit to attending rehearsal from 9:00 am to noon on Saturday, March 24 for practice and costume making.
Non-speaking “chorus” members can attend that rehearsal, or, they can come at 8:00 am on Sunday, March 25, for a drop-in practice, if they have their own mask or costume made at home. Please contact Kim Hartman, Director of Religious Education, at kim@fvuuf.org with questions and if you are interested in participating.
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Thanks for a Successful Cabaret!
Thanks to one and all who helped put on this year’s Cabaret, especially Beth Wilde and Julie Martin for their organizational skills. It was a fun night of entertainment and refreshments and we even brought in $1,483 for the Fellowship.
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Pop Up Choir! – Sunday, February 25
Are you looking for a safe and positive opportunity to sing with others with a minimum of time commitment? You are in luck, because our first Pop Up Choir at the Fellowship is happening this Sunday! A pop up choir is an informal group singing event that anyone – regardless of experience or perceived musical ability – is welcome to be a part of. There are no auditions. The emphasis is on enjoyment, not perfection. And commitment is kept to an absolute minimum: we show up an hour before a service, we practice and have fun, we sing during the service, and then we go home. The music is simple, easily learned, and most importantly, fun to sing! All I ask is that you have the ability to listen and a willingness to take direction. So, let’s make a pop up choir! On February 25, pop up participants can meet in the Legacy Room at 8:00am for a 45 minute rehearsal. I’ll supply the music; you just bring your lovely selves. That gives us 15 minutes to grab coffee and visit with our friends before we sing for the 9:00 service! Can’t make this Sunday? No worries! A second Pop Up Choir will happen on April 29! Contact Jay Thomas, Music Director, at jay@fvuuf.org with questions.
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Fellowship House Parties There is still time to sign up to attend a house party! Did you know that when the Fellowship was smaller, we would do one on one meetings with all members every year? Many wish we had more opportunities to get to know each other in smaller group settings, and so we are inviting you to attend a house party to meet others and share how the Fellowship has made an impact in your life, and hear other’s stories. We have amazing hosts who are opening up their homes for some fun! Sign up here.
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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.” Soup Saturdays are 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 March 3 at 5:00 pm. 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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What If God Is Ceremony? (My People Are Free) with Sangodare
Monday, March 5; 6:30 – 8:30 pm
We stand on the shoulders of those that come before us. How can these elders and ancestors be resources for our individual and collective growth and transformation? Sangodare will facilitate an interactive workshop on ancestral reverence through character development that draws from the Black Feminist Film School curriculum. The workshop will also include sermonizing and activities where we align our voices. This workshop will be an opportunity to honor Harriet Tubman’s ascension day (March 10th) and engage March’s theme, balance. Sangodare (Julia Roxanne Wallace) is the Visiting Artist in Film at Lawrence University and Artist in Residence at UMN-Twin Cities in the Art Department. Ṣangodare brings a transformation, evolution and love-filled approach to filmmaking, composing, interactive sound and visual art practice and preaching. As co-founder of Mobile Homecoming, a national experiential archive project, Ṣangodare along with Sista Docta Alexis Pauline Gumbs, amplifies generations of Black LGBTQ brilliance.
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UU Night Out
This small group of the Fellowship meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm at restaurants around the Fox Valley for conversation and good food. There is no set agenda. The restaurant changes monthly. Please friend Cindy Darling on Facebook to be added to the UU Night Out group—or send an email to Cindy at kitsudarling@gmail.com for more information. March 6 we will be at Stone Cellar, 1004 S. Olde Oneida St, Appleton. Please let Cindy know you will be attending so we can give the restaurant an accurate reservation.
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UU101
March 8, 15 & 22; 6:00-8:00 pm
Facilitated by Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg and Marie Luna, congregational life coordinator
This class is especially helpful for newcomers to the Fellowship and new members, though anyone who hasn’t taken it before is encouraged to attend. We offer information about our history, governance, programs, and liberal faith. This class is a wonderful opportunity to engage with new people, learn about the Fellowship and get to know others in the Fellowship community. Contact Cyndi Polakowski at cyndi@fvuuf.org to sign up.
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Spring Music Social
Saturday, March 10, 4:00 pm
Whatever your skill level, you'll find a supportive, engaged audience at this informal hour-long gathering. Please sign up here to reserve a performance spot (typically 5 minutes or less), or sign up in person at the Music Social table in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Joanne Klinkert (klinkertj@juno.com) if you have questions. Listeners are also very welcome!
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General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Everyone is welcome to attend. Click the image for more information.
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The Essentials Action Team is providing the meal at the Warming Shelter on Sunday, March 4 at 5:00 pm. Please sign up to help here. If you have questions, contact Sue Sawyers (ssawyers1@new.rr.com) or Marsha Dawson (mdawson907@gmail.com.
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The Fellowship is participating in the Help for the Homeless hygiene collection which runs February 18 to March 11. Collection bins are located in the Fellowship lobby. Most urgently needed items include cleaning supplies, laundry products, dental products, diapers, soap, shampoo, garbage bags and paper products. A full list of needed items is here. Everything collected will stay in our community and be distributed to people in need here in the Valley. Thank you for helping!
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Need a Ride to Fellowship?
People need help getting to the Fellowship for services or other activities for a variety of reasons- your car may be in the shop, you may not want to drive after dark, you may have a health concern that doesn’t allow you to drive, the list can go on and on. It is important to our ministry that everyone is able to make it to the Fellowship if they want to be here! Please don’t hesitate to ask - your presence is important to everyone! Contact Marie Luna, Congregational Life Coordinator, at marie@fvuuf.org or 920.731.0849 if you need assistance.
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Black Lives Matter Lending Library Highlight
Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis Activist and scholar Angela Davis illuminates the connections between struggles against state violence and oppression throughout history and around the world. Davis challenges us to imagine and build the movement for human liberation.
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Rev. Christina's Community Office Hours
Most Thursdays (unless otherwise noted), 1-3:00 pm, drop-in, no RSVP required! If you'd like to make an appointment to chat with Rev. Christina aside from these times, contact the Fellowship office. March - 1, 8, 22, 29 (not on the 15th)
Shellattes - 330 N. Commercial St., Neenah April - 5, 19, 26 (not on the 12th)
Caramel Crisp & Cafe - 200D City Center, Oshkosh May - 3, 10, 17, 31 (not on the 24th)
Lou's Brew - 233 E. College Ave., Appleton
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Upcoming Child Dedication Ceremony Dates
9:00 and 10:45 a.m. Services
March 25th (with Rev. Christina)
June 10th (with Rev. Leah)
Dedicating a child at the Fellowship is a powerful and precious ritual, designed to welcome your young one into life and into the loving embrace of our community. Any member or committed friend of the Fellowship may request a child dedication by contacting one of the ministers.
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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 CalendarThursday, February 22 7:00pm Fellowship Choir Friday, February 23
6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha Saturday, February 24
6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha 10:00am Photography as a Spiritual Practice
Sunday, February 25
9:00 & 10:45am Worship Services 10:00am U-Youth Choir 10:45am Breakfast Club
6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha Monday, February 26
9:00am Goddess Group 7:00pm Green Sanctuary Task Force
Tuesday, February 27 6:30pm Joyful Mind Zen Sangha Thursday, March 1
6:30pm First Thursday Book Club
7:00pm Fellowship Choir
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Book Club Books First Monday Book Club
Contact Chris Wales at kcrark@new.rr.com for the current book. First Thursday Book Club
March: The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
April: Miracles on the Water: The Heroic Survivors of a World War II U-Boat Attack by Tom Nagorski UU Book Club
March: Motherest by Kristen Iskandrian
April: The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
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