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Final Town Hall for Annual Meeting Preparation, 5/5 at 11:45 am

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At the annual meeting on May 19, we’ll elect new board members and committee chairs, affirm an annual budget, discuss changes to the UUFC bylaws, and more.
At the Fellowship, we think it makes sense to have discussions of all of these things BEFORE the meeting, as a form of participatory democracy where we speak and listen and improve our understanding of all the business.

Nearly 30 UUFC members participated on April 21 – thank-you!
If you were not able to attend that day, you are invited to stay on May 5, 11:45 AM in the Sanctuary.

This gathering also gives us more time for discussion about the proposed changes to the UUA Bylaws – Article II – which our delegates to the General Assembly will vote on there in June.
Please join us!

“Wheel of the Year: Beltane”, 4/28/24

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Beltane is a season of creative energy on the earth. Come share in a creative process of committing your energies to a new dream, and in the spirit of May Day, carry a flame of community home to warm and support your ongoing efforts.

With Priscilla Galasso, Patricia Parcells, Diana Titus, Gaylee Goodrich, Wolfgang Dengler, Brandi Tucker, and the UUFC Sunday Band.

Common Ground Video, 4/28

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In the Sanctuary at Noon:

Our Climate Action Team and Interfaith Power & LIght sponsor a free Earth Week screening of ‘Common Ground‘ a sequel to ‘Kiss the Ground’.

Common Ground unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics in our food system. Unjust practices are revealed that shaped our current ag system in which farmers are literally dying to feed us. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers engaging in ‘regenerative agriculture’ that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize the economy.

2023 winner of the Tribeca Film Festival.
Light discussion to follow.

Bread Bags

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Bread bags make excellent dog-poop bags.

As an experiment, on Sundays, there is a white bucket, labelled “bread bags”, discreetly to the right of the entrance to the Fellowship.

Those with bread bags but no dog, are invited to deposit bags.

Those with dogs are invited to help themselves to bags.

As noted, this is an experiment, and we’ll give it several Sundays to see if it catches on.

Contact Michael Hughes

Plant Based Potluck, 4/28

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Social Hall, 5:30 pm. 

Join us for a potluck exploring how to eat more Whole Foods Plant Based meals. It’s new! It’s confusing! It’s good for our health and our planet. No experience needed, and No Food Shaming! Whether you are a long-time plant-based eater, or have never heard of this before, you are welcome here. Let’s eat, laugh, and learn together. Children welcome.  

Bring a dish to share, in which all ingredients are plants:  

Plants: Grains, Beans, Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts & Seeds, Herbs & Spices. 

Not Plants: Animal flesh, fluids, and unborn young.  

Ideas for recipes

Hosted by Ann Marchant.  

Sacred Green Space

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Help care for and nurture the wonderful sacred green space that is our UUFC campus.

We need folks to take responsibility for particular areas, big or small.
For more info, talk to me after service or via Michael Hughes.

Tending our Grief Circle June 1

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Saturday, June 1, 10-12:30 p.m. Sanctuary

“Joy is the transformation of our suffering, not the escape of all we have to face.” – Mark Nepo

We gather once more before the summer break to tend to our grief. The grief you hold may be for personal losses, transitions, or the sorrows of the world – all are equally welcome and worthy of attention.

Our time together will include gentle movement, poetry, writing, sharing and a simple ritual. Please join us.

Facilitators Anna Coffman and Susan Sanford

For information, contact Anna, email: anna.cupoftea@gmail.com, phone/text: 979-760-0910

Sign up here

5/5 CINCO DE MAYO Dinner & Train, 5-8pm

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5/5/24 CINCO DE MAYO Dinner & Train , 5-8 pm, UUFC Social Hall Join this adult POP-UP PARTY just for fun.

Bring a Mexican-themed potluck item to share and your own beverage, plate and utensils (the UU kitchen will not be accessed for this event).

This is a no-frills event.

Please bring $5 as a donation to UUFC Minister’s Discretionary Fund – it’s somebody’s birthday week, after all.

We will gather, eat, drink and enjoy each others’ company while we play this fun and easy to learn tile game.

And please be mindful that everyone cannot bring chips and dip.
Need alternative ideas, see Mexican party food ideas.

If you have a Mexican Train dominos set, please let me know when you RSVP to hvephd@gmail.com by Saturday 5/4/24.

Seating may be limited. Hope to see you!

Hosted by Heather Emberson This is a Connect Up event! Members can offer to host a Connect Up event with the purpose of gathering together and building relationships.

Spring Cleaning UUFC Community Work Day, 5/25

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Saturday May 25, 2024
anytime from 9 AM – 1 PM

OUTDOOR TASKS

  • clean out the rain gutters and install gutter guard
  • string-trim the parking lot and sidewalks
  • weed and cleanup patio area
  • pressure wash playground equipment
  • washing windows

INDOOR TASKS

  • clean sanctuary red chairs
  • clean social hall green folding chairs
  • clean upholstery in Classroom Wing Rooms 7,9,10
  • clean sanctuary fluorescent lights and mobiles


Please bring your own gloves, kneeling pads, and eye protection. Work side by side with new friends!

We would like to borrow 1 to 3 ten-foot ladders. Contact Wolfgang if you can help. Snacks and drinks provided. Please RSVP that you plan to come, so we can organize the day’s work. Thanks!

Questions? Wolfgang Dengler wolfdengler1 at gmail.com

Between Us, 4/21/2024

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Some decades ago, a well-known and seasoned UU minister wrote a sermon about joining a UU congregation. His summary was this: There is only one reason to join a UU congregation; you join in order to support it! That perspective has fostered lots of conversation over many years, and the longer I consider it, the more I agree with it. Since our approach to religion is both liberal and free, since there is no prescribed creed or test of belief, our highest goals are about creating true community. Learning to not only live together and be together, but to be good with and for each other and for all living things (for all the Earth!).

This is a very high aim, and often we lose sight of it. Support includes many things. For example our presence, our participation, our time and money. Our care and concern for specific people and programs and for the congregation as a whole (which is what shared ministry means). Our willingness to seek more than personal satisfaction, more than mere comfort, more than confirmation of our biases. All of these are why we engage in religious learning and growth, spiritual practices, shared ceremonies and rituals – we do these things to help us support the constant creation and care of a community. (And not just “community” as an abstract idea; this very real and very specific community, with all its unique and particular characters and characteristics.)

The annual stewardship pledge drive is one specific way we support the Fellowship – by making a pledge of annual financial support. This week the stewardship team is still waiting to hear from most members of the Fellowship – are you one of them? Our annual meeting is another important way we support the Fellowship, by taking part in the annual discussion of Fellowship business, by being an active part of this specific democratic process which belongs wholly to us.

The Fellowship has been a vibrant, welcoming and consequential religious congregation for nearly 70 years because of the support of so many people who have shared a commitment to its wellbeing. All of us who are here now a recipients of that long and beautiful tradition. Though our support, may we do our best to keep it healthy, moving and growing, for ourselves, for each other and for all those who will come after us.