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At risk of repeating myself, this little note is just a final reminder that as of today, June 14th, I am wrapping up last minute items in the office and heading out on sabbatical. First, I will attend a UU Ministers Association conference in St. Louis, MO and then I will be traveling off and on, including doing some consulting ministry at our congregation in Manitowoc and attending a childhood friend’s wedding in Portland, OR. (You know how long it’s been since I’ve gotten to be just a wedding guest and not the officiant?!) Primarily, however, I will be staying Appleton. I might bump into you out and about. I might sneak into a service or two with my children simply so they don’t have to go so long without keeping up with their Fellowship community. As I mentioned in a recent service where I talked more about sabbaticals in general and mine in particular at the end of the sermon (you can listen here), one of my projects will be to work on my pottery. If you’d like, feel free to follow along on Instagram. I sometimes post pictures of my creations @leahcatecreates. Otherwise, I won’t be in touch. I won’t be reading email, sending cards, attending events, texting with congregants, or keeping up with Fellowship happenings. I won’t be responding to pastoral needs. I leave you in the capable hands of Rev. Christina and the rest of our amazing staff, joined soon by Rev. Jim Coakley, our part time assistant sabbatical minister for pastoral care. Rev. Jim will be available starting July 1st at jim@fvuuf.org. Please reach out to him any time you have a need. I head out on this adventure knowing what a rare gift this is, although if I had a magic wand everyone would be able to benefit from a time of paid rest and renewal. Thank you for this opportunity for recharge and self-discovery. I can’t wait to go, and I’m already looking forward to coming back refreshed. I will miss you all. See you on Christmas Eve!
Love,
Rev. Leah
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Upcoming Services Sunday at 10:00 am
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June 17 Leap of Faith by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
Rev. Christina will share with us the sermon that she preached when the Ministerial Search Committee first interviewed her over a year ago. Learn how a single flying trapeze class informed her understanding of our Unitarian Universalist faith and ministry. We will welcome Rev. Jim Coakley today as he prepares to serve as our part-time Assistant Sabbatical Minister. June 24 Exploring Empathy by Rev. Karon Sandberg
How do we "be" with folks that we love when they are going through difficult times? So often words do not feel like enough. Many of us offer sympathy but have no clue how to offer empathy. Many of us want to fix the unfixable and feel helpless causing us to withdraw from our loved ones during the very time they may need us most. Join us as we explore empathy and its powerful gift of love and grace when offered with a genuine heart.
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Come to P.I.T.! (Pizza, Ice cream and Talk) – Middle and High School Youth Welcome! Stay connected this summer, have meaningful conversation around important topics and eat! Please RSVP so w know thta you plan to come and to share your your pizza preferences with Theresa Spoehr at cmtheresa@gmail.com by Tuesday, June 19. June 20 – LGBTQ&A – all welcome to discuss issues around LGBTQ - 6:00-7:30 pm.
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Attention Breakfast Club students! Special Breakfast Club gathering on June 24!!!
We are planning a special, one day event during the service on Sunday June, 24. Do you know our youth witness and experience racism and racial prejudice in our community? Sunday, June 24th, in sacred space, for high schoolers, we will explore anti-racism with discussion & activities to encourage five of our guiding principles:
• The inherent worth and dignity of every person
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth in our congregations
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part Please let us know that you plan to attend by contacting Kim Hartman at kim@fvuuf.org. Hope to see you there!
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Attention High School Youth! Volunteer with the Essentials JAM:
• Monday, July 30th meal for Homeless Connections
• Homeless Connections (400 N. Division Street, Appleton
• 5 Servers—needed between 4:00 and 7:00 pm
At 4:00 pm we will be packing lunches for the next day and prep for serving the meal. Park vehicle in the lot south of the building, sign in at the front desk. Tasks will include warming the meal, making one pot of coffee, setting up meal for 5:30 to 6 dinner shift and 6 to 6:30 shift. We will clean up after the meal and should finish up about 7:00 pm.
• 3 Dessert providers
Drop off 24 servings of any dessert at the shelter or make arrangements with the lead to bring/drop off dessert. Bring dessert in a disposable container.
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Young Adult Happy Hour
Tuesday, June 26th at 5:00 pm
Pullmans 619 S. Olde Oneida Street, Appleton
Unwind and connect with others in their 20s and 30s, and especially if you don’t have kids. Come for a quick drink, or stay and watch the live music starting at 6:00 pm. Contact Cristi Burrill at cristina.burrill@gmail.com with questions.
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Senior Fun & Games
Tuesday, July 3, 1:00-3:00 pm
Join us for fun at the Fellowship playing light-hearted, word games like Apples to Apples and Balderdash. Bring a friend.
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Save the Date!
Multigenerational UU Camping Trip
Hartman Creek; August 24-26
Interested adults, couples, or families with kids or youth please email Anne Sieck anne.sieck@oshkosh.k12.wi.us or Theresa Spoehr cmtheresa@gmail.com for more information as we gather it.
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A note from our Business Administrator: Contribution statements detailing your contribution activity for the current fiscal year were mailed out on June 7. These contribution statements reflect all contributions received in our office from July 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018. With the current fiscal year coming to an end on June 30, 2018, we ask that everyone take a look at your current pledge and payments toward it to be sure it is up-to-date. All contribution payments received in the office or postmarked June 30th will be applied in the 2017-2018 fiscal year. All payments received after June 30th, and marked as 2017-2018 pledge will be applied as completion of the 2017-2018 pledge in the next fiscal year. If you find you will be unable to fulfill your 2017-2018 pledge, note any discrepancies or have any questions please contact me at the Fellowship office 920.731.0849 or Phyllis@fvuuf.org. Thank you for your continued financial support of the Fellowship! ~Phyllis Schmitt
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Oshkosh Wellspring Wednesday Survey
The Oshkosh Wellspring leadership team put together a survey about the Oshkosh Wellspring Wednesday program to get feedback on the 2017-2018 program year, as well as obtain input about potential programming for 2018-2019. You can find the survey by clicking here. Your input is very important to ensure that the Oshkosh Wellspring programs reflect what YOU would like to see! The survey will be open until June 22nd, so please click the link above and submit your feedback soon. Thank you for your time! We look forward to hearing from you.
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The Goals of Art at the Fellowship
The Art Committee is currently rewriting its vision and goals and would like input from Fellowship members. This Sunday we will be asking for your ideas on how we can make art at the Fellowship more inclusive, reach a broader audience, use it to provide meaningful interaction on social issues or any other suggestions you have for the place of art in the life of the Fellowship. Also, if you would like to participate in the Art Committee, we are looking for more members and fresh new ideas. If you won’t be at church this weekend, please email your ideas to Mary Gerlach at gerlachmz@new.rr.com. Thanks!
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Rev. Christina’s Community Office Hours were a success!
This year as I was trying to get to know this community, I offered weekly Community Office Hours on Thursday afternoons at rotating coffee shop locations around the Fox Valley. I offered about 27 of these (off when I was away or sick), and all but two had people come visit me! I had a few repeat visitors, but mostly different people every time. Sometimes one visitor came, often two or three, and a few times even five or six stopped by! We had no agenda, and had all kinds of interesting conversations getting to know each other, talking about books, theology, the Fellowship, and life. My favorite week was when two Fellowship members who didn’t know each other prior to meeting at the coffee shop, ended the time by setting up a time to go golf together! This week is the end of my Community Office Hours for this program year; I’ll be taking a hiatus during the summer. Starting next fall, I plan to offer them again twice a month, with a new format: once a month morning (8-10:00 am), and once a month late afternoon (2-4:00 pm). I will continue to rotate around the Fox Valley to come closer to you, and these different times will hopefully provide a better chance that these times work for your schedule. These will continue to be drop-in, no need to come the whole time, no RSVP required. The conversation topic will be guided by whoever shows up! I hope to see you at one of these in the coming program year… -Rev. Christina
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Black Lives Matter Lending Library
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle
Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement
by Angela Y. Davis • Newly collected essays, interviews, and speeches that illuminate the connections between struggles against state violence and oppression throughout history and around the world.
• Facing a world of outrageous injustice, Davis challenges us to imagine and build the movement for human liberation, and in doing so reminds us that “freedom is a constant struggle”.
• Vintage Angela: insightful, curious, observant, and brilliant, asking and answering questions about events in this new century that look surprisingly similar to the last century. —Mumia Abu-Jamal
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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 CalendarFriday, June 15 10:00am Photography as a Spiritual Practice Saturday, June 16
6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha Sunday, June 17 10:00am Worship Service 6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha Monday, June 18 9:00am Goddess Group 6:00 pm Partner Churches
Tuesday, June 19 6:30pm Joyful Mind Zen Sangha 7:00pm Men's Group Thursday, June 21 6:30pm Spill it Sister 7:00pm UU Book Club Saturday, June 23 6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha
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Book Club Books First Monday Book Club
Contact Chris Wales at kcrark@new.rr.com for the current book. UU Book Club
June: Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil by Lezley McSpadden
July-August: Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
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