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The Ordination of Stephen Sieck
On Saturday, May 31, at 4:00 pm, we will have a service of Ordination for Steve Sieck, our former music director who served our Fellowship from 2018-2023. Every UU minister is ordained only once in their career, and in our polity, it is the responsibility of the congregation to ordain the clergy. At that service, there will be a sermon by our minister emeritus Rev. Roger Bertschausen, as well as guest speakers and a ritual of laying on of hands to empower Steve with the mantle of ministry.
The service will be in-person at the Fellowship or on Zoom (visit www.fvuuf.org/upcoming-services to find the link as the date approaches), followed by a heavy hors d'ouvres reception.
To RSVP click here: tinyurl.com/OrdainSteve, or to sign up to help provide food or help for the reception, click HERE. We hope to see you there!
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Plant Sale - Sunday, May 18
8 AM to 12:30 PM
The Partner Churches Committee will be selling native plants, perennials, ornamentals, houseplants, herbs, and vegetable seedlings in the Fellowship parking area on May 18 from 8 AM to 12:30 PM. If you are contributing plants, please bring them to the Fellowship between 7 and 8 AM on Sunday, May 18.
Please contact Vickie Milde (vicmilde@hotmail.com) for additional information or to volunteer. Proceeds will benefit our international partnerships with Deva, Romania, and Banaybanay, Philippines. Thanks, Happy Spring, and Happy gardening!
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Sunday, May 18
- 9:00 am Central Time in-person
informal coffeehouse-style service with conversation - 11:00 am Central Time in-person & livestream traditional service with sermon
Human Creativity: The Power of Art to Create a New Reality
by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
• Visit fvuuf.org/middlehour/ to learn more about middle hour.
• Watch past sermons on our YouTube channel.
• Upcoming Services HERE
• See our website HERE for information about our Sunday religious exploration classes for children and youth.
• Share the Plate: In May we share the plate between the Fellowship and Fox Valley Literacy.
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10:10 AM Middle Hour
Middle Hour offerings this Sunday:
- Pop-Up Membership Joining Session, led by Rev. Christina. Have you been wanting to join the Fellowship as a member, but keep forgetting to contact the ministers to do it? Now’s your chance!
- Fellowship Financial Outlook, led by members of our Governing Board and Long-Tem Financial Planning Team. Join Board members to learn about some of the long-term financial planning work we are doing and the impacts it has!
This will be our last Middle Hour until the Fall! Thanks to all who have made it a success this year!
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Spring has Sprung and A New Fiscal Year is Around the Corner!
Though the official first day of spring was a couple of months ago, the weather is finally catching up and starting to match the calendar. This has us all looking forward to the promise of new beginnings but always starts with all the tasks to cross off your list before summer begins - spring cleaning, landscaping, cleaning out the garage, etc., you get the idea.
The Fellowship is no different. Our annual tasks before summer and the start of the new fiscal year on July 1 include following up on annual giving for the current fiscal year that ends on June 30, 2025. This fiscal year giving is trending down from previous projections. While there is much uncertainty in the world right now which may be affecting giving patterns, we also know people that sometimes people just need a reminder.
We need your help! If you are an annual giver and have not yet made your gift to the Fellowship operating fund for this fiscal year, are a new member who hasn’t yet started giving, or if you give consistently and are secure in your financial position and can give a little extra, we encourage you to send your contributions before June 30. You can send your contribution in a few ways:
- A check - this can be a check written by you or processed through your bank’s online bill payer system, directly from your IRA, or Donor Advised Fund. Checks should be made payable to FVUUF, with operating in the memo, and mailed to 2600 E Philip Lane, Appleton, WI 54915, or put it in an envelope and drop it in the collection basket on Sunday or in the drop box (envelopes are on the side of the drop box) located next to the office wing. Checks dated and postmarked on or before June 30 will be allocated to the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
- Our online payment portal for payments via debit or credit card. Go to https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZD59/home and select current fiscal year operating. Contributions processed by June 29 will be included in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
- Call your broker to transfer stock directly to the Fellowship. If you are new to making stock donations to the Fellowship, please call or email Phyllis@fvuuf.org to receive our brokerage information. Please initiate any stock transfers with your broker on or before June 23 to be received and processed by the Fellowship in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
Please contact me via phone 920.731.0849, or email phyllis@fvuuf.org if you have questions about your current giving or wish to set up ongoing monthly contributions via the Fellowship’s Electronic Fund Transfer option. Completion of an EFT Authorization form is required. These monthly contributions are processed in batch on the 5th and 20th of the month directly by the Fellowship through our financial institution and are different from any contributions processed through the online payment portal.
Thank you for your support of the Fellowship’s mission to welcome seekers, build loving community, and act courageously for justice.
Phyllis Schmitt – Director of Finance and Operations
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| | Religious Exploration - Children & Youth
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Childcare Assistance on May 31
We are looking for two caring and responsible individuals to help supervise our youngest members during Steve Sieck’s ordination on Saturday, May 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. If you're interested in helping or want to know more, please reach out to Kim Hartman (kim@fvuuf.org) as soon as possible.
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Summer Religious Exploration for Kids
SUMMER RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION BEGINS MAY 25
Our summer religious exploration classes for current kindergartners-5th grade children will begin on May 25, 2025. Children will learn about our faith’s values and make friends through participating in our hands-on lessons and fun activities. If your child(ren) participated last summer, they may remember the fun activities planned for each Sunday
If your child(ren) is already registered for the 2024-2025 Program Year, summer is included, and there is no need to re-register your child(ren) until the 2025-2026 Program Year.
If your family is just joining us, you will need to register your child(ren) for the summer. There is no fee for summer RE. This is the link to the 2025 Summer RE Registration form.
The 2025-2026 Religious Exploration Registration form will be available in late summer. All children attending the new 2025-2026 RE Program Year will need to be re-registered at that time, current fees will apply.
We look forward to engaging curiosity and spending time in community with our young learners this summer! Come join us, won't you?
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Mark your calendar - June 1 Bridging Ceremony
On Sunday, June 1, we will welcome our high school seniors to the life of our community as brand-new adults! Don’t miss participating in this important rite of passage for the young people who have grown up in our midst. We will help them celebrate this milestone by enjoying cake after the service.
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| | Adult Connection Opportunities
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LGBTQ+ Support Group (New Small Group)
Sundays starting June 22, 11:30 am
future dates: June 29, July 13 & 27
Contact Karon Sandberg at karonsandberg@att.net with questions.
Are you in need of a safe place to find support during these challenging times? We will offer space to unload fears and stress as well as offer support, and advocacy opportunities while finding connection and joy within this multigenerational community.
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The Gathering: Rooted in Love, Rising for Justice
What is The Gathering?
Throughout history, people of faith and conscience have come together to resist injustice and build a better world. Now, it’s our time. The Gathering is a monthly virtual event from Side With Love designed to equip Unitarian Universalists and justice-seekers with the spiritual grounding, political analysis, and collective action needed to rise to the challenges of this moment.
Each month, participants will:
• Strengthen their hearts and spirits through spiritual grounding
• Gain a deeper understanding of the threats to democracy and justice
• Organize with others to block anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world
Join us every Second Monday of the month at 7:00 pm CT.
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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.
- June 7 - Appleton's Juneteenth celebration hosted by African Heritage, Inc. 1:00 - 4:00 pm at Fox Cities Exhibition Center. Details HERE.
- June 10 - Rights of Nature Film Screening and Community Dialogue, "Does Nature Have Rights", 6:30 pm, Appleton Library, Meeting Room C, hosted by Rights of Nature Wisconsin, ESTHER, and others.
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- May 31 - Ordination of Dr. Stephen Sieck (details above)
- June 8 - Annual Meeting, 11:15 am (details coming soon)
- July 27 - Summer Picnic (details coming in June)
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Empty to Full Pan Collection Delivers More Than Just Delicious Meals
Essentials JAM thanks everyone who so generously filled a pan or more during our recent E2F pan collection. Our friends at Pillars and Apricity appreciate the 70 pans we filled with nutritious meals and love. As expressed in a letter of thanks from Apricity, “Because of you, individuals in our residential treatment program for substance use disorders are receiving not just meals, but a sense of comfort and care. Your kindness helps restore dignity, provides encouragement, and reminds our clients that they are not alone on their path to recovery.”
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Care and Support
To submit a Joy or Concern, fill out the form on our website or contact Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy, Co-Minister, at christina@fvuuf.org or 920-731-0849. For pastoral emergencies call 920-383-1565.
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