Greetings!

What a busy week in communications! We have lots of wonderful information for you to enjoy and some fantastic opportunities coming up in Adult Education and around FUS. If you find yourself here in the next few weeks, be sure to pick up an RE Catalogue and a newsletter. Want to save on paper? Send me a note here and we'll get you on the electronic mailing list.

Summer is wrapping up, but we want to help you squeeze out the last, beautiful bits of the season and we're thinking service is a perfect way to do just that! Join us tomorrow (Saturday) at FUS for Service Saturday. If you haven't signed up yet, you can still lend a hand by doing advocacy work (in the air conditioning!) and letter writing. And whether you join in the projects or not, we hope you'll gather back at FUS at 4:30 p.m. for our Congregational Potluck Picnic. Bring a side and enjoy the fellowship of the day. We've also got our Water Communion services coming up, so if you're out and about, grab some water and bring it to services on September 10 and 11.

Finally, be sure to join us for regular services on Sunday when Rev. Scott Prinster will help us balance our desire for connecting in real life and our increasing commitments to technology. Violist Marika Fisher Hoyt and Pianist Dan Broner will remind us of the power of staying in the present with their musical offerings. While you enjoy the service, little ones will get to meet real life homing pigeons and write message for them to carry in Summer Fun! So much to sink into this weekend at FUS, don't miss it!

Peace,
Alison


Worship Services...
     
This Weekend... 

August 28

"Remaining Human in the Days of Miracle and Wonder"
by Rev. Scott Gerard Prinster
Our lives are ever more filled -- overfilled, some might say -- with technologies promising to make our days easier, safer, more comfortable and pleasurable. As we embrace smartphones, Google Maps, security cameras, and social media, we also accept their often unacknowledged drawbacks in the erosion of privacy, freedom, attention, and intimacy. Are we, as critics claim, raising new generations of people lacking in the qualities most basic to our humanity and our civilization? And if this threat is real, how can we defend the values endangered by this electronic progress?

Violist Marika Fisher Hoyt, with pianist Dan Broner, will play the musical offerings.
 

Next Weekend...  

September 4

"The Myth of the Self-Made Man"
by Michael A. Schuler, Senior Minister 
Rags-to-riches stories have been perennially popular in the United States at least since the days of Benjamin Franklin. The idea that anyone with sufficient gumption and a willingness to work hard can conquer adversity and capture the American Dream is a staple of public discourse in the "land of opportunity." Unfortunately, it can work to the disadvantage of those who harbor this conviction.

Music Director Dan Broner and Assistant Music Director Linda Warren will play duets for piano and organ.
 


Summer Fun This Week!

This week we'll be visited by homing pigeons from the Madison Children's Museum. Kids 4-12 are invited to come learn about these amazing birds. We'll create our own messages to attach to them and then release them for their journey back to the museum. Summer Fun takes place during our worship services.

Service Saturday and Picnic Tomorrow, Saturday, August 27
If you are carpooling in the morning from FUS, please park in our extra parking garage at 800 Marshall Court or elsewhere. The lot will be in use in the morning for a Bar Mitzvah. If you haven't signed up, please come to the Landmark at 2:30 p.m. to do some advocacy by letter-writing. Everyone please join us at 4:30 p.m. for a Congregational Potluck Picnic, bring a side dish to share and chairs or a blanket. 

FUS Choirs begin rehearsals in September!
Our fine choirs will begin the fall season Wednesday, September 7:
Cherub Choir at 6:30 p.m., the Choristers at 7:00 p.m., and the Teen Choir at 7:45 p.m. Rehearsals are in the Music Rehearsal Room near the Atrium Auditorium and new singers are welcome! For Adults, the Meeting House Chorus also begins on Wednesday, September 7 and the Society Choir on Thursday, September 8. Both choirs rehearse from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Atrium Auditorium. Childcare is provided. Singing is excellent for the body and soul so join us - no auditions required! For more info contact Music Director Dan Broner at 233-9774, ext. 121.

One City Volunteers
Make a real difference in Dane County and your life! Volunteer gathering on September 8. Groundbreaking early education is happening at One City Early Learning Center. FUS volunteers helped One City get started, and now you can find out how you can put your expertise and interests to work for the children, the families, and the neighborhood. Email Sue for more information or sign up online.

Healing Journeys: Working with Grief and Loss
The pain of losing a partner, parent, child, or other loved one can be profound. It often helps to talk and share with others in a warm, supportive, and confidential environment. Learning and hearing others' experiences and sharing your own can be restorative. This group, facilitated by Shirley Chosy, Roz Woodward, and Rev. Kelly Crocker, will meet on the first Saturday of the month. Each session will include an experiential element and group discussion. Our first meeting will be September 10, from 10-11:30 a.m. Please register with Kelly at 233-9774, ext. 112.

Justice Building Innovators

How should we stand on the side of love? FUS has a longstanding tradition of partnering with social justice organizations around Madison, but are we really doing all we can to fight injustice and oppression? The Justice Building Innovators project needs volunteers to interview our community partners, asking how we can best work together and live into our common ideals of advancing human rights and social justice. Our first training will be held September 11, at 1:00 p.m. To be a part of this important work, contact Ian Shay.

UU Alliance
Join us on Wednesday, September 14, for our fall catered luncheon. It will feature the Boy's and Girl's Club of Dane County with Vice President's Bobbie Kelsey Grayson and Karen Gallager on "The Importance of Collaborative Partnerships and Women in Leadership." We'll gather in the Nakoma/Westmoreland room of Oakwood Village-University Woods, 6205 Mineral Point Rd. at 12:30 p.m. (time has been corrected from a previous misprint!). All are welcome. Call Kathy Nix 836-5616 for reservations.

Spiritual Topics Book Club
The September meeting of the Spiritual Topics Book Group will be held at FUS in the Gaebler Living Room at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday September 27. The group will discuss Atul Gawande's book: Being Mortal: Medicine and what Matters in the End. For further information contact Ken Gage at 230-5068.

Ecology and Spirit at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Holy Wisdom Monastery is hosting a conference entitled 'Ecology & Spirit: The Sacredness of Place' on October 1, 2016. Participants will incorporate meditation, reflection and sharing on the topic while enjoying break out sessions, prairie tours, and shared meals. Visit their website for more information.

Join Us for Circle Suppers!

Time to sign up for Fall Circle Suppers! These are informal group meals which meet monthly from October to May in members' homes. These dinners provide wonderful opportunities to meet new and interesting people and it's easy to join. Just fill out the form, or contact Dawn at 608-849-8078 by Wednesday, September 14. Then, it's time to eat!

Get Involved in Leadership at FUS
We need a few folks to join one of the standing committees to help lead our church into the future. Are you ready to get involved in the leadership of FUS? The Finance Committee works with the Board and Monica to help keep us financially healthy. The Personnel Committee helps assure our Human Resources policies strongly support our staff as they carry out the mission of FUS. The Governance Committee helps us as we mature in our implementation of our policy based governance model. If you have an interest or questions, contact Board President Rob Savage.

Drapery Panels
The Friends of the Meeting House, under guidance from FUS archivist Carolyn Mattern, recently repacked the woven curtain panels that originally divided the Landmark Auditorium,  using acid-free boxes and tissue to ensure their long term preservation. Harry Carnes photographed each panel to document the current condition before storing the curtains in the Archive.

Orchids Need YOU!

Have you enjoyed the graceful orchids blooming on the pulpit stage? Thanks to Tom Garver and Nancy Webster, who maintain and coordinate the orchid donors. We need donors for October-November, then again in February-November. Contact Ann Smiley at 608-354-2075 for details. 

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