All are welcome to join our small groups!

Fellowship Community Journal
Ongoing, submit your work to leah@fvuuf.org
More information HERE.

Fellowship Pen Pals – Click HERE for information.

Joyful Mind Zen Sangha
Saturdays 7:00 am CST, Zoom link: HERE
We will start with 30 minutes of meditation, followed by a service, dharma talk, and discussion. Please consider joining us as we find fellowship in this time of uncertainty. Contact: Jim Bowker, jtbowker@yahoo.com or Brian Looker, blooker@gmail.com.

Men’s Group
Open to all who identify as male
First Wednesdays and Third Tuesdays; 7:00-9:00 pm CST
Although we miss meeting with each other in person, at least we can stay comfortably at home and have the snacks we prefer. (Alcohol and other substances are not allowed when attending one of our meetings.) Those in attendance share an update, and then we discuss a topic such as “Sheltering at Home” or “Favorite Movies and Why We liked them.” Contact John Duffin at japple51@gmail.com for Zoom information or with questions.

Music-Making Online
Please contact music director Steve Sieck at steve@fvuuf.org if you are interested in:

• Singing with the Fellowship Choir (online, most Wednesdays at 7:00 pm)
• Discussing music (online, occasional Wednesdays at 7:00 pm CST)
• Putting together small-group special music, i.e. mUUse (online, scheduling TBD)
• Offering an audio or video musical contribution for prelude music

Remember, there’s a difference between physical distancing and social distancing. Even while we’re apart physically, let’s connect with one another socially in song.

Pollinate (BIPoC)
We recognize that as a majority-white congregation, it can often feel isolating for People of Color/Brown & Black folx who love our theology but might not identify with some other aspects of the community. Join the Pollinate (BIPoC) small group once a month or more as we gather to have fun and discuss topics that we can identify with. This is a great way to meet and connect with people and avoid isolation. This is a group for BIPoC only. At this time, we are focusing on unlearning the harm that has affected BIPoC. We are not focusing on educating nor spending time with white-led organizations.

PoC/Brown & Black folx of all ages are more than welcome to join us! We also encourage young people to get involved. Email pollinate.BIPoC@hotmail.com for more details and for meeting information.

Senior Wonders
All senior adults are invited to share in conversation and social time. Contact Janet Hughes at janet.ahma@yahoo.com for meeting information.

Smiling Dandelion Sangha
Sundays, 6:00 – 7:30 pm CST, Zoom link:  HERE
Our usual format is sitting meditation for 25 minutes, brief introduction of ourselves, then reading and discussion. We are currently reading You Belong: A Call for Connection. The author Sebene Selassie is a meditation teacher who draws on her personal experience as an Ethiopian immigrant and cancer survivor in addition to her extensive academic and Buddhist training.

A description of the book:
You are not separate. You never were. You never will be. We are not separate from each other. But we don’t always believe it, and we certainly don’t always practice it. In fact, we often practice the opposite – disconnection and domination. From unconscious bias to “cancel culture”, denial of our inherent interconnection limits our own freedom.

In You Belong, much-admired meditation expert Sebene Selassie reveals that accepting our belonging is the key to facing the many challenges currently impacting our world. Using ancient philosophy, multidisciplinary research, exquisite storytelling, and razor-sharp wit, Selassie leads us in an exploration of all the ways we separate (and thus suffer) and offers a map back to belonging. To belong is to experience joy in any moment: to feel pleasure, dance in public, accept death, forgive what seems unforgivable, and extend kindness to yourself and others. To belong is also to acknowledge injustice, reckon with history, and face our own shadows.

We are looking forward to exploring these ideas and welcome anyone else who is interested to join us. You do not need to be a Buddhist or have meditation experience. We start our meetings with a 25-minute period of silent meditation and then begin the reading and discussion. You can join us for the meditation or link in after that. If you have questions, email smilingdandelion@gmail.com.

Spill It Sister
Second Thursday of the month 6:30-8:00 pm CST
Zoom link: HERE; Or call in: 312.626.6799; Meeting ID: 837 2525 5634; Password: 642200
This group meets to share our stories and help each other as we walk through this life’s journey. All who identify as women are welcome! Contact Kate Hancock-Cooke at rugbykate@new.rr.com with questions and contact Suzanne Marnocha at marnocha@uwosh.edu to be added to the Facebook group.

Third Thursday Book Club
Third Thursday of the Month, 2:00 pm CST
To join the discussion the meeting number is 652 961 2573 and the passcode is 556394. For more information contact Cyndi Polakowski at 920.731.0849.

• September 2020 – The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes
• October 2020 – Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
• November 2020 – Jet Girl by Caroline Johnson
• December 2020 – Educated by Tara Westover
• January 2021 – The Overstory by Richard Powers
• February 2021 – Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
• March 2021 – State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
• April 2021 – Peyton Place by Grace Metalious
• May 2021 – Liberty’s Torch by Elizabeth Mitchell

UU Parenting Support Group
First Monday of the month; 6:00-7:30 pm CST
Zoom link: HERE
Meeting ID: 375 437 8082; Passcode: UxG80Q
People who are parenting or preparing to serve in a parental role, and/or taking care of children as a guardian, grandparent, etc. don’t always get the support they need. Do you long for time to debrief the joys and woes of life with littles? Do you wonder how to manage the day-to-day responsibilities of children? Do you wish for space to talk to other parents about parenting? If so, this is your group! Led by Fellowship members with professional expertise, this peer support opportunity is a wonderful way to get help with all aspects of parenting, including learning how to support kids without ignoring one’s own needs, accessing community resources when necessary, and talking to kids about social development, spirituality, behavior choices, and more.