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The heart that gives, gathers
By Samantha Zinth, Governing Board President
Last Saturday, Ben and I had the pleasure of hosting 18 Fellowship members and friends for a stewardship house party. Truth be told, I love a party. I love planning the menu, polishing the glasses, arranging the furniture, lighting the candles. For me, the joy exists in the act of hosting; in making sure my home is comfortable and welcoming for all who enter. As folks started to arrive, my primary concern was the comfort of my guests. Does everyone have a glass? Does anyone need an introduction? How’s the volume of the music? But once the group was settled, I was able to sit back and take it all in. I listened as everyone introduced themselves and shared a treasured memory from their time at the Fellowship. Our guests shared stories of child dedications, meaningful sermons, coffee conversations, and more. In listening to these unique and beautiful experiences, I was struck by the sense of community and depth of connection that is cultivated within, among and beyond our walls. We have a chalkboard by our front door that I write quotes and messages on. Usually something inspirational that fits an upcoming event, milestone or celebration in our family. For our stewardship house party, I wrote this quote by Chinese philosopher and author Tao Te Ching: “The heart that gives, gathers.” If you’ve read the Scroll, attended a Sunday service, or opened your mail recently, you know that this is stewardship season. We’re asking for your pledge by this Sunday, March 11 so we can plan our budget for the 2018-19 program year. Your pledge is not an immediate payment, but a promise; a commitment of what you plan to donate in the year ahead. If you can give $5/month, wonderful! Please do. Your gift is important and appreciated. If you can give $500/month, wonderful! Please do. Your gift is important and appreciated. Whatever your personal circumstances, we ask that you mindfully consider your budget and make a pledge at an amount that is meaningful to YOU. Your pledge makes a difference. No matter the amount, your generosity helps sustain our beloved community. Your generosity gives so much back in return. Pledge forms are available online here and in the Fellowship Hall.
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Upcoming Services Sundays 9:00 & 10:45 am
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March 11 Living Connected by Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy
There are wonderful advantages to social media, as well as challenges! Come today to engage in this dialogue about balancing these competing joys and drawbacks to being truly connected in our world. We'll offer fun ways to participate both "high tech" and "low tech." We'll have a photographer taking great photos today for our Fellowship's social media presence. If you can't, or don't want, your image taken for this purpose, there will be a designated "photo free zone" in the sanctuary. March 18 Chosen By Complexity; A David and Goliath Story
by Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg
It’s popular in Unitarian Universalism to think about our religious movement as a “chosen” faith. But what does that really mean? Chosen by whom and from among which options? When we focus only on personal choice, we can inadvertently hide and even devalue some of the ways our world helps us decide how to live. If we take a broader and more intentional view, we can celebrate the rich complexity of our individual journeys and even learn how to sustain and strengthen Unitarian Universalism.
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Daylights Savings Time Begins on Sunday, March 11. Rememder to set your clocks ahead one hour.
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Attention Parents of Fellowship Girl Scouts
Please see a message below by Rebecca Hansen and Tracy Haberland, two of our RE volunteers who are also Girl Scout leaders...
On March 12, 1912, Juliette Low began the Girl Scouts by registering the first 18 girls. 106 years later, the Girl Scouts (now 1.8 million girls strong) still celebrate that day. For the whole week around March 12th, we encourage our Girl Scouts to get out in their communities and celebrate being a Girl Scout. On Sunday, March 11th we encourage any Girl Scouts to wear their uniform to service. We will have the Girl Scouts involved in greeting, passing out flyers and lighting the chalice. We are excited for our Girl Scouts to be involved in our Fellowship service. The Girl Scouts’ vision is to "build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place" which matches wonderfully with our UU values.
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Spill It Sister
Friday, March 9, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Topic: Best Friends. All Sisters Welcome!
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Spring Music Social
Saturday, March 10, 4:00 pm
The Music Social is an informal gathering of adults sharing music in a supportive, risk-free setting. It is an outlet for those who are learning a new instrument, rediscovering a musical skill, or facing the challenges of performance anxiety. All are welcome to attend the Social and enjoy listening to the music.
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People of Color Small Group
The people of color group will meet on Sunday, March 11. Contact uupoc@hotmail.com for more information.
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Senior Social
Tuesday, March 13 at noon. Bring your lunch, and we'll have a green surprise. As usual, bring your great stories to share. Maybe bring a friend, as well. Join us, it's fun!
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Appleton Wellspring Wednesday
March 14; 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Gender and Sexuality Spectrums
with Reiko Ramos and Shannon Kenevan
Reiko is the LGBT Partnership Program Leader. Shannon has worked with Voices of Men and Harmony Café. They will discuss some of the personal and societal nuances of gender & sexual orientation spectrums. Sign up here.
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Funds are Available to Take Your #PowertothePolls
The Fellowship doesn’t have a group tackling this issue, but if you are interested in forming one, contact Marie Luna at marie@fvuuf.org and she will connect you to others. The Fund for UU Social Responsibility is pleased to announce that grants of up to $500 are available for your 2018 Get Out The Vote projects! Unitarian Universalist congregations frequently support the democratic process in a nonpartisan manner by participating in voter registration drives, providing nonpartisan educational materials or forums for voters, or by volunteering to help registered voters get to the polls on election day. The deadline is rolling and you can apply between March 15 and November 1, 2018. Grants will be available until the fund is depleted. Applications and more information are available online. You can also contact us at uufunding@gmail.com or 617.971.9600.
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Welcoming, Accessibility and Privilege
I have been thinking about privilege a lot lately. I have been on an elimination diet, and while it has gone well, I have struggled with being at people's homes and not being able to eat the delicious- looking foods they have provided. I realize that not eating these foods is a choice I am making, and that there are many people who are always limited in this way. That choice is my privilege. With this in mind, I wanted to share some ways we can all be more aware of accessibility - in wider ways that we normally would have thought about it. • There are people at the Fellowship who have severe sensitivities to fragrances. Consider skipping your perfume, lotion, soap and any other fragrances that you normally wear before coming to the Fellowship.
• Wear your nametag to help those of us (me included!) remember your name.
• Label your potluck items with ingredients, especially those that are the biggest allergens.
• Don't bring alcohol to your events unless it is specifically welcome.
Thanks for helping the Fellowship be welcoming of everyone!
--Marie Luna, congregational life coordinator
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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 Fellowship is participating in the Help for the Homeless hygiene collection which runs through 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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Shared Sanctuary Ministry
This past Thursday, March 1, members of the Fellowship's Shared Sanctuary Ministry Committee, including Rev. Christina, traveled to the Milwaukee Immigration and Customs Enforcement office to support an immigrant family from the Fox Valley, as their father presented himself for a routine immigration check in. The family had considered, but ultimately chose not to pursue sanctuary at the Fellowship, despite there being a strong possibility that the father could be detained and deported at the check in. The father was joined by his daughter and their attorney in the appointment, while his wife and son waited outside. We were joined by members of many different groups and congregations including Appleton SURJ, ESTHER, Winnebago Presbytery, Voces de la Frontera/New Sanctuary Movement, Milwaukee Quakers, UU Church West, First Unitarian Society, and Olympia Brown UU. As we waited for nearly two hours, we held a Jericho Walk, a silent, prayerful vigil while walking in a circle on the sidewalk outside the building. Amazingly, the family was reunited, and the father was granted a short stay of deportation, with the ability to work towards a green card and possibly a driver's license. They have a significant amount of work ahead of them, and each subsequent check in will hold risk of detainment and deportation. But for now, he is home and the family is together. At these "routine" check ins, there is no way of knowing if someone will be checked in and quickly sent home or detained and deported. And it turns out, in this case, our group holding vigil had no impact on the outcome of the meeting. It was always the intention to send him home that day. But it could have easily gone in the other direction. Our impact was still significant. While we could not have shifted the outcome of the check in, we sent a strong message of support and love to the family and to every immigrant who walked into that building that morning: we stand with immigrant families. -Katie Reiser
Shared Sanctuary Ministry Committee
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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 - 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 CalendarFriday, March 9 6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha 6:30pm Spill it Sister
Saturday, March 10
6:30am Joyful Mind Zen Sangha 4:00pm Music Social
Sunday, March 11
9:00 & 10:45am Worship Services 10:00am U-Youth Choir
10:45am Breakfast Club 6:00pm Smiling Dandelion Sangha Monday, March 12
9:00am Goddess Group 6:00pm Essentials Action Team
Tuesday, March 13 12:00pm Senior Social 1:30pm Crafty Sisters
6:30pm Joyful Mind Zen Sangha Wednesday, March 14 6:30pm Appleton Wellspring Wednesday
Thursday, March 15
7:00pm UU 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. UU Book Club
March: Motherest by Kristen Iskandrian
April: The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
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