Fellowship hires new Business Administrator
Phyllis Schmitt joins the Fellowship as temporary Business Administrator, and will be filling the role previously held by Siri Witt. She has an Associate Degree in Accounting from Lakeshore Technical College and brings many years of finance, accounting and business administration experience. Prior to joining the Fellowship, she held positions in the manufacturing and restaurant industries, and also served as a member of the senior management team of a Green Bay not-for-profit. She has a proven record of being very dedicated and professional, and enjoys being a “Jack of All Trades” when it comes to handling the needs of the organizations she serves. Former Business Administrator Siri Witt will be remain with the Fellowship on a limited basis, serving in the Bookkeeper role, and helping to ensure a smooth transition of duties. Phyllis comes to us from Robert Half Employment Agency. Please email Phyllis with any communication at Phyllis@fvuuf.org. We're so glad to have her! Welcome!

Upcoming Services
Sunday 9:00 and 10:45 a.m.

 

November 27
The Mystery of Our Pain
by Rev. Hope Engeseth, Community Minister
Reflections of a life's journey of learning lessons from Nigerian poet and novelist Ben Okri when he wrote, "There are things that burn us now which turn golden when I am happy. Do you see the mystery of our pain?"
December 4
Waiting for a Miracle by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz
Thomas Jefferson famously excised any mention of "miracles" from the Bible. Ralph Waldo Emerson rejected the notion of miracles apart from human agency. Yet, about 80% of Americans believe in miracles. How does science-minded Unitarian Universalism understand miracles and where, at the beginning of the holiday season, might we find them today?
Religious Education News
BREAKFAST CLUB NEWS
CALLING ALL CRAFTING HANDS--YOUTH AND ADULT ALIKE!
This Sunday we can again use as many hands as possible to help make one-of-a-kind cards for the upcoming Holiday Art & Craft Fair on Saturday, December 3. The Breakfast Club is fundraising for money to purchase breakfast foods for each Sunday. We can use your help on Sunday, November 27, from 10-12 in the Brown Room to continue to create cards.
The Religious Education Program is Now Hiring!
We are thrilled to announce that the Fellowship’s Religious Education Program will be hiring a Religious Education Assistant for the months of December 2016-April 2017. This 12 hr/week position includes four hours on most Sunday mornings (8:15 -12:15) a minimum of three Sundays/month. Please contact Kim Hartman for more details.

Upcoming Programs, Activities & Events
Mark Your Calendars for these upcoming events.
Thanksgiving Meditation
Tap into the Joyful Mind with Kishin Zen Sangha for a simple meditation on Thanksgiving morning at the Fellowship.
6:25 a.m. Be on your cushion or chair ready to meditate
6:30-6:50 a.m. Zazen (Seated Meditation)
6:50-7:00 a.m. Kinhin (Slow walking Meditation)
7-7:20 a.m. Zazen
7:20-7:45 Sharing Meeting
Mitten Wreath is back!
The Fellowship is having a Mitten Wreath collection to supply Christmas gifts to people in need in the area. Lutheran Social Services organized the collection for people living in crisis who need short term help through the Eastwood Program,  as well as individuals dealing with mental illness who live in Progressive Apartments or rely on In-Home Recovery Services. These are all people in need who can look forward to very little holiday joy. The wreath will be set up in the Fellowship Hall starting Thanksgiving weekend. If you are able, please take a mitten, put your name on the matching mitten and place that one in the basket. Buy one or more items listed on the mitten you take. Bring the gifts back wrapped WITH THE MITTEN ATTACHED by Sunday, December 18. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. Contact Mary Gerlach with questions.
Lunchtime Poetry with Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg
Wednesday, November 30th, 11:30 a.m.
Bring your own lunch and a favorite reading, quote or poem. Let’s gather while we eat and share inspiring readings in an informal format. We’ll provide warm beverages and cookies. RSVP to Cyndi@fvuuf.org or just show up!
Calling all bakers! We could use your cookies, cakes, bars, candy, pies and more for the Holiday Art and Craft Fair bake sale. Let Marie Luna know if you can help out by emailing her at marie@fvuuf.org.
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.”
Reigniting a tradition started years ago, we will be continuing our Soup Saturdays, 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 December 3 at 5:00 p.m. No need to RSVP, just join us in the Fellowship Hall for delicious homemade soups, fresh bread and the finest conversation.
Over Your Dead Body: Planning Your Own Memorial Service
Thursday, December 15, 2:00-4:00 p.m.   
Facilitated by Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg
Ever thought about what your funeral or memorial service will be like? Maybe you have a favorite song...or you know something you definitely don't want. Leaving information is helpful for loved ones and increases your chances of being remembered in ways that will be meaningful to you. This practical workshop will discuss funeral arrangements and their many options. Participants will be invited to complete a form indicating personal memorial preferences. If you like, the Fellowship will keep this information on file (and you can change or update it at any time). Members and friends in any stage of life are welcome! Contact cyndi@fvuuf.org to sign up.
Thank You from Essentials: Food and Shelter For All Action Team
Thanks to all who donated to the 2016 CROP Hunger Walk. The Fellowship gave a total of $1316.57 to fight hunger in our community, our country and the world. Our small but energetic group from the Fellowship joined people from other area churches and had a great walk on a beautiful fall afternoon.
The Essentials team would like to thank the congregation for their efforts in feeding the hungry in our Fox Valley community through the E2F project. We had 80 pans returned, which will provide approximately 800 meals for the residents of Homeless Connections, the homeless shelter near downtown Appleton. Our efforts go a long way to decrease the shelter's food budget and are greatly appreciated.  For those who participated, spread the word to your friends about how easy this pan was to prepare, and maybe we can do 100 pans next time! A big "thanks" to all.
Greater Good
Are you wondering when Greater Good will be starting up? Greater Good is our Fellowship program that helps families with their holiday spending. Families who participate in Greater Good divide their holiday spending in half and give one half to the Fellowship to be donated to an organization voted on by the children of the Fellowship. In past years, we have donated money to the bike program at Riverview Gardens and to support a girls' domestic violence prevention program.
Last year, the decision was made to make Greater Good happen every two years, so the program will resume in the fall of 2017. These off years are a great opportunity for families to do their own Greater Good program! Choose a local organization and donate your portion to them. Perhaps by researching organizations, you will discover new programs that could be nominated for Greater Good next year! Please see Anne Sieck or any member of the Greater Good committee if you have any questions.
Women and Men United for Women's Justice Action Team
Holiday giving season is upon us. In my family, we appreciate the opportunity to give to the greater good. But with many birthdays and holidays around this time of year, goods need to be purchased. The Women and Men United for Women's Social Justice wants to suggest a gift (or treat-yourself) idea that empowers women in India who have escaped from slavery and sex-trafficking. Check out the awesome pants (and other fun items) at https://www.sudara.org and learn more about their mission to support freedom and justice for women. -Cathy Thompson, Action Team Chair
Click here for the current financial report.
The office will be closed Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25.
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 click here.

Weekly Calendar

Thursday, November 24
6:30am Kishin Zen Sangha
office closed
Friday, November 25
office closed
Saturday, November 26
6:30am Kishin Zen Sangha
Sunday, November 27
9:00 & 1045am Worship Service
10:00am U-Youth Choir Rehearsal
10:00am High School Breakfast Club
6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha 
Monday, November 28
9:00am Goddess Group
3:00pm Crafty Ladies
7:00pm Green Sanctuary Task Force
Tuesday, November 29
6:30pm Kishin Zen Sangha
Wednesday, November 30
11:30am Poetry Lunch with Leah
Thursday, December 1
6:30pm First Thursday Book Club
7:00pm Choir

Book Club Books

First Monday Book Club
My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor
Walden by Hendry David Thoreau
First Thursday Book Club 
December: Black Widow by Daniel Silva
January:Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
UU Book Club 
November: The Fight to Vote by Michael Waldman
December: The Quartet by Joseph J. Ellis
powered by emma
Subscribe to our email list.