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Having trouble viewing this message? Scroll to the bottom & click the link to view this email online. The newsletter is long and may get clipped. Please scroll down to the bottom and check for a "view entire message" notice to make sure you see all of the content.
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Donate Today to Help Us Shine Together!
The solar project is almost finished and we have raised over 3/4 of our goal, which will allow us to install the panels and fund important building maintenance needs and improvements. We have raised $154,180.00 of the $200,000 goal. Be a part of our Fellowship history and help us finish strong -- CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY.
For details about the solar project, click the button below.
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We need YOU to support our Religious Exploration progams!
As we plan our upcoming program year (beginning September 20!), we are still in need of several people to support our Sunday morning Children's Religious Exploration programs. Here are some details:
- Approximately once a month, flexible scheduling available
- Most R.E. roles are now during Middle Hour (10:00-10:50 AM). Help our programs and you can still attend your service of choice!
- Connect with a great team of adults! And learn from, and have fun with, our amazing kids.
- Learn more about our Fellowship and UU faith while supporting learning and connection for our young people.
- We also need helpers for our elementary program "UU in Action" which will be during the 11 AM service after the Time for All Ages. We need regular, monthly helpers as well as "Action Heroes" who bring their skills and passions to our kids (do you carve wood? do mime? sew? celebrate a unique holiday? come share it with our kids on ONE Sunday--that's all!).
TO VOLUNTEER, LET SETH (seth@fvuuf.org) or JILL (jill@fvuuf.org) KNOW ASAP. Thank you!
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Sunday Helpers Needed!
Interested in volunteering as a Sunday helper or already serving? Sign-ups are now live on Church Center! Whether you’d like to usher, welcome, or serve coffee, please head over and sign up.
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Bakers wanted!
Do you have a knack for making delicious cakes, cheesecakes, brownies, cookies, or other desserts? We need desserts for our Bring-a-Friend Sunday Fun Day dessert walk on Sept. 27th. If you'd like to donate an item, fill out the form at the following link: https://fvuufellowship.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1297253
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Sunday, September 6
10:00 am Central Time in-person & livestream
Get Back to the Well
by Rev. Allison Farnum, Sabbatical Support Minister
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New Banner in the Sanctuary
Water completes cycles as it transitions through vapor, rain, snow, ice, and rivers, before emerging in wells and up through roots of trees and into the atmosphere once more. The cycle parallels that of people who live, die, perhaps become ghosts or goddesses or skeletons in the sky, and then repeat. Created by Margaret Alexander, with help from Kira and Viv Panzer.
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Justice Ministry Meetup - September 6
For all those interested in talking more about our progress as we create a Social Justice Hub at the Fellowship, and how to amplify eachother's ministries while exploring thematic focus for the coming year (or two), please join us at 11:30 am this Sunday. All who are involved in the Fellowship's Social Justice ministries are welcome to join Rev. Allison (your sabbatical support minister while Rev Hannah is away).
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Music Ministry
Our music programs return soon.
If you are interested in participating in music ministry on Sunday mornings, please contact our Music Coordinator, Tam Masters (tam@fvuuf.org).
For information about our Music Ministries, click the button:
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| | Religious Exploration - Children & Youth
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Starting September 20, BLAST OFF with Middle Hour All-Fellowship R.E.
The past two years we have introduced the opportunity for learning and connection during Middle Hour, our 10 AM time between the Sunday services (9 AM and 11 AM during the program year). Starting this fall, we will continue the experiment by expanding Middle Hour to include all ages at the Fellowship.
The biggest change is that our age-segmented Religious Exploration (R.E.) programs for children will happen during Middle Hour, from 10:00-10:50 AM.
Option A) Coffeehouse Service + Middle Hour - If parents want to bring children to the 9 AM Coffeehouse Service, kids are welcome to join the service and conversation. Then, stay for Middle Hour – there will be programs for everyone, young and old.
Option B) Middle Hour + Traditional Service - Come first to Middle Hour then stick around for the 11 AM Traditional Service. After about 15 minutes and the Time for All Ages, elementary-age kids will be invited to a program for the remainder of the hour. Older children and youth are invited to stay in the service, or help out in a variety of roles in the sanctuary or in RE.
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Register Now for Religious Exploration!
As we prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 program year, our updated RE registration form is live! Every child or youth, ages 6 months to 18 years, should be registered regardless of which program(s) they plan to attend.
You will be prompted to log in to Church Center and then choose which children to complete the form for. If you have no children connected to your household, please add them first.
Step 1) CHILD & YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FORM: CLICK HERE to complete this information form for each child, which requests specific safety, behavior, and support needs.
Step 2) R.E. REGISTRATION FORM: CLICK HERE to register your child(ren) for the RE programs they will participate in this year. Fee is $30/ child, max $75/ family. If this cost is prohibitive, use the discount codes in the form.
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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.
UU the Vote recommends using Action as the Antidote to Despair. These days many of us feel despair with increased health care expenses, economic uncertainty, the Iran War and the impact of ICE deportations on our immigrant community. Our UU the Vote team recommends that UU members take action and get involved in promoting candidates that support our values.
Cancelled Understanding Your Mental Health series, Sept 3, 10, 17, 24, 6:30 - 8:30 pm at First Congregational UCC, 724 East South River, Appleton. Presented by Grace Christensen, MSW, LCSW, CSAC. Hosted by First Congregational UCC and ESTHER.
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New Tree Planting - Save the Date: April 30, 2027
Solar panels are being installed on the Fellowship building (over the RE wing), and we're excited! The Green Sanctuary JAM team made the decision to cut down a crabapple tree to avoid shade on a section of the solar panels. Mother Nature made the decision about when it should come down when it was damaged during the recent storm. We were sad to make this decision since a mature tree is a valuable asset, so we vowed to replace it, but spring is a better time to plant.
Join us on Arbor Day, Friday, April 30, 2027, to plant the new tree and hold a gratitude ceremony for the former tree, led by Gary Crevier, at the time of the planting.
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| | Thriving Together Auction
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Thriving Together: Community Fun Night & Auction
The Fellowship is excited to offer both an online and in-person auction in November. Help us reach our goal of $25,000 by either donating items to the auction or attending the in-person auction.
Donations are being accepted now through September 27th. Looking for ideas on what to donate? Do you have a special skill? How about a vacation home? Would you like to donate a basket for a coffee lover, date night, or spa day? This year the Fellowship Auction team has a goal of 75 basket or silent auction items with an average value of $150-$200. The team will combine items in order to create fun and interesting baskets or groups of items.
Please use this link to donate items. Submissions must be completed online. We plan to host a laptop station to help anyone submit their items in person.
Note: We are not ready to collect and store items at the Fellowship at this time. Someone from the Auction Team will contact donors when it is time to drop off items at the Fellowship.
The online auction site will be live starting October 31st at 3:00 pm and will close on November 7 at 7:50 pm. Get ready to bid on items. The in-person auction items will also be available for preview.
The in-person auction will be on Saturday, November 7th, 3:00 - 8:30 pm. More information will be coming, so please watch the newsletter or check the Auction Page of our website for details.
If there are questions, please feel free to contact Angie Miller at auction@fvuuf.org.
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DIRECTORY COMING SOON!
We need your help!
One of the features of our new Fellowship Portal (Church Center) that we are so excited about, is the ability to opt in to an online directory. We know the ability to contact people within the Fellowship is a high priority for many of you!
We plan to open the directory feature in mid-September, but prior to that step we need you to ensure your information is correct, and that you have a picture on your profile. When we unlock and begin to share the directory, you will have the chance to opt in or set your security preferences. Don't worry, we won't share anything you add without your permission.
To create, or update, your profile, VISIT CHURCH CENTER, HERE.
Be sure to always use the same phone number and email address for your login to avoid creating duplicate accounts. If your other family members or children need to be added, you can add them there. A super-easy way to update a lot of information at once is by completing THIS FORM.
Finally, please add a photo to your profile-- we need it to be clear, with your face visible (no emojis or animals, please). That way we will be able to find each other easily.
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Rev. Hannah Roberts Villnave's Sabbatical
Rev. Hannah is on sabbatical through November 14, 2026. Please click the button below for more information.
Don't forget to pick up a sabbatical BINGO card in the entry lobby (adults & kids) to play for a chance to win some great prizes. Click HERE to see the cards online.
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Care and Support
When you share your Joy or Concern, you can choose to share privately with the ministers or care team, request contact, or share with the wider congregation. It's your choice!
For pastoral emergencies, call 920-268-4512.
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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