News

For those of you who don’t know, there is a Little Free Library at the top of the hill in the overflow parking lot. If you’ve visited recently, you know it has seen better days. We are happy to announce that the Little Free Library has been upgraded to a weather-resistant material.  It’s also been filled with more books, including children’s and young adult novels. Please check it out!

A big thank you to Brittany Pittet and her family for making this happen!

There is no better way to meet new people and form deep connections than to share a meal together, and Dinner Circles are a great way to get to meet and bond with other UUs. As previously announced, we’re going to try something new with the fall round of Dinner Circles by allowing people to request to have a particular person or couple as part of their circle! Signups are beginning, so if you’ve been wanting to get to know someone at the Fellowship, ask them if they’d like to be in your circle. If they agree to it, indicate that when you fill out the sign-up form. For those unfamiliar with UU Dinner Circles, they are groups of 6-8 adults that commit to having dinner together in one another’s homes (or at the Fellowship) approximately once a month. Dates, times, location, and menus are chosen by the group. Traditional circles have an omnivore menu, and if there is enough interest we will also have a circle for vegans, singles only, and lunch meeting times.

The deadline to sign up for Fall Dinner Circles is Sunday, 9/13/26. Please complete the online form here. Note that you are not automatically signed up for the fall circles if you were a participant last spring. You must opt in for each new round of circles to make it clear that you want to be a participant. Once you’ve submitted your form, you will be contacted later in September with your assignment.

This is an adults only activity, but if you are a family with children you can email: uufams@uufws.org to learn more about social opportunities for families at the Fellowship!

For questions, send an email to dinnercircles@uufws.org , call the Fellowship office at 336-659-0331, or check out the Dinner Circle FAQ’s, below! Let’s get the next round of Dinner Circles rolling at UUFWS!

Megan Foster – Dinner Circles Coordinator

Caron Armstrong – Dinner Circles Staff Liaison

Dinner Circle FAQs

Must I have a partner/spouse to join a dinner circle?

No, you don’t need to sign up with a partner or spouse. If you are solo, you can either sign up for the Singles Dinner Circle, or for a traditional circle where you’ll share responsibilities for your food/hosting assignment with another single person in your group.

I don’t like to cook! Do I have to make gourmet food as my contribution to a dinner circle?

No, your contributions to a dinner circle meal don’t have to be fancy! The point of the circles is to get to know one another and enjoy time together, so if you roll with store-bought dishes that’s A-OK!

Will there be vegan, singles only, and lunchtime circles?

Possibly there will, but if there are not sufficient signups (at least 6 people) in these categories to form a circle, you have the option to be assigned to a traditional omnivore circle. When you fill out your signup form, please indicate your willingness to join a traditional circle if your other option is not available.

My objective is to meet new people, so what if I get assigned to a group with members I’ve been in a circle with before?

We won’t assign you with folks you were with in the last two circles, but there’s no guarantee you won’t be assigned with folks from further back than that. Also, as mentioned previously, starting with this round, you have the option of inviting someone to be in your circle!

I was in one of the spring dinner circles. Am I automatically signed up for the next round of circles?

No, there is no automatic sign up. You must sign up for each new round of circles. It only takes a minute so do it today!

July 1st, 2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Director of Faith Formation’s (DFF) service to the congregation. The Board has approved a sabbatical period of July 3, 2026 – October 3, 2026 to mark this occasion. Taking an opportunity to rest, reflect, and imagine during a sabbatical will help our DFF, Pam Lepley, prepare for her remaining years of service in this role with our Fellowship.

As Pam prepares for the sabbatical time, she shares these thoughts:

“Over the past couple of months I have spent time thinking about, and doing some looking into, different spiritual practices which interest me and which I might explore more in-depth during Sabbatical. I’m particularly drawn to Stillness as a spiritual practice – and it isn’t something that I have been able to allow time for – or that I have prioritized – in my life. My mind has been overcome with busyness. I look forward to the opportunity to reset and nourish my mind and spirit while seeking out opportunities to challenge my body with movement, and to experience the joy and wonder of our natural world.”

Click here for interesting reading with additional resources about Stillness as a Spiritual Practice.

You may be wondering…

“What happens during the Sabbatical time?”

Five Intentions for the Sabbatical

1. 1. Rest in the quiet, in a hammock, near the water…..a time to recalibrate mentally and physically, to be rested and ready for whatever is to come next.
   2. Travel, particularly to National and State Parks to explore the natural beauty, reviving my sense of awe and wonder.
   3. Explore personal spiritual practices as well as worship opportunities at other congregations (UU and otherwise).
   4. Reflect, through wondering and writing, taking time to think about and integrate new awareness and learning.
   5. Imagine, how might our faith formation/religious education program evolve to center families and support their (family and individual) spiritual and faith development? How might the role of this professional religious educator shift to widen the circle, prepare for deeper collaboration, and support the shift from ‘I’ to ‘We’?

“Who is holding the work of RE/Faith Formation?”

Sabbatical Support Team: We have a great Team providing support during this planning time and they will hold the primary work for children and youth faith formation this summer. Team Members include: Andrea and Mason Vaughan, Liz Martinez, Heather Zielinski, and Anne Garvey. You can reach them at sabbaticalteam@uufws.org

Sabbatical Coverage Faith Formation Assistant: Willa Carpenter, a teacher in our Elementary Class will be providing 5 hour/week coverage during the sabbatical. Their primary responsibilities will include: support for the Sabbatical Support Team, Support for teacher and nursery staff and volunteers, contact for questions about faith formation program – and liaising between the program and Rev. Kayla, Minister. They will also be taking on a summer project of cleaning out and organizing our RE Hallways space. You can reach them at willa@uufws.org from July 3 – October 3rd 2026.

Minister Rev. Kayla Parker and Staff: Rev. Kayla will work with the Staff Team to ensure that any Faith Formation/Religious Education work or issues which need attention are addressed. Justice Ministry efforts will be held by Rev. Kayla, Minister and Adult Faith Formation by Caron Armstrong, Director of Congregational Life.

Teams and Councils for which the DFF is the Staff Lead: Pam is working with the Teams and Councils in these areas of governance to prepare for the sabbatical period. The Team and Council Lay Leads are equipped to continue their programs and projects while Pam is away and they can always reach out to other Staff and the Minister if needed.

“Really….no contact with Pam for three months?”

Rev. Kayla will be able to contact Pam in the event of a true emergency.
Otherwise, members and friends are asked to wait until Pam returns to reach out.

If you’re really curious during the sabbatical summer about “where in the world is our DFF?” you are invited to check out the Sabbatical Photo Journal while she’s away.

“How can I help?”

Oh my goodness, we’re so glad you asked! Keep alert for other specific asks and ways to sign up coming out soon. Know that we will gratefully accept all kinds of help, including:

• • Teachers for Summer RE
  • Storytellers during Worship (email worship@uufws.org if interested)
  • Recruit Chalice Lighters (families, individuals, friends) for 11am Worship
  • Food Prep, Setup, and Cleanup for 2 Lunch and Learns (June 7 & Oct 4)  Sign up to help!
  • Food Prep, Setup, and Cleanup for the June 28 Sundae Sabbatical Sendoff Sign up to help! 
  • Support, Setup, Supervision, & Cleanup for two special guest RE Sundays (email sabbaticalteam@uufws.org if interested):  September 20 Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center
    September 27 Haystack Homestead

“What happens when Pam returns in October?”

The Sabbatical Support Team and Pam are in conversation about that now!

Three things we already know:

1. 1. Pam will share about her time away at a Sabbatical Lunch and Learn:
      My Next 30 Years on Sunday October 4th, from 12:30-2:00pm. Sign up by September 30!
      Gather to celebrate the return of our Director of Faith Formation as she shares some of her sabbatical experiences and how they might help shape the next thirty years of her life and ministry.
   2. October 5-21 will be a time for Pam to reconnect with the Staff Team and lay leaders in her area of governance, as well as catch up on Fellowship happenings while away. The sabbatical will have been a time of growth and change for all of us. Sharing and learning from one another will help us move forward together with shared understanding and purpose.
   3. After this whirlwind reintegration, Pam will take a vacation with her favorite only cousin to the happiest place on earth during the last week of October. After the intentional time in October for listening and sharing post-sabbatical, she’ll be back and focused more actively on programming in November.

Work on plans for our Fellowship’s campus continues this month behind the scenes. A town hall for concept exploration with the architects is set for Sunday, September 13.  On Sunday, September 13, immediately following the morning worship service, we will accelerate again with a town hall featuring concept exploration with CJMW. This will be your opportunity to see our progress thus far and learn about the priorities that have been identified. A follow-up workshop is planned for Sunday, October 18 to discuss the direction that is evolving. A final presentation from the architectural team is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, following the morning service. More about these upcoming workshops will be shared in future newsletters. We hope to keep everyone engaged in these exciting developments for UUFWS as we look forward to improving our physical campus, as well as our connection to the community and each other. Your Facilities Planning Task Force: Jack Campbell Nancy Carbone, UUFWS Director of Finance & Operations Donna Hatchett, Communications Sue McQuiddy Brenda Westhorp Sharon Winters, Chair Questions/Comments? Contact facilitiesplanning@uufws.org

Don’t miss these upcoming opportunities to participate in the facilities planning process:

Sunday, September 13th

• Workshop #2 – Concept Exploration

Sunday, October 18th

• Workshop #3 – Shared Direction

Sunday, November 8th (tentative)

• Presentation of Facilities Plan

As you hug your children each morning and send them out to meet the day – at school, at daycare, at camp – know that we too are holding them, holding your family, with love in our hearts and prayers for safe reunions.

We know that anxiety, stress, and trauma compounds. It can become overwhelming. Regardless of where you live or where your children attend school, Monday’s violent loss of young lives has surely raised feelings of sadness, grief, anger, fear.

This is a reminder to take care of yourself. If you are feeling particularly tender, make sure you are resting and eating regularly. Meditate, pray, read spiritual or inspiring literature. Journal, draw, or create in some other way. Talk to a trusted friend or schedule a session if you have an established counselor.

Please reach out to me if you would like counselling referrals or resources on talking with children about death or violence.

With love and hope,

Pam
Director of Faith Formation

If you’ve ever attended one of the Fellowship’s many food events, it’s likely you dined with friends in the Foyer.

This notice is to inform you that, in order to increase safety and provide maximum accessibility for everyone, All Fellowship dining events are moving out of the Foyer back to the Fellowship Hall.

What does this mean for you?

1. Most of our events are organized by members and friends which means we rely on those who attend to help with either setup, cleanup, or breakdown. Signing up in advance whenever possible and showing up prepared to pitch in if you’re willing and able makes these events more fun for everyone!

2. We ask that you remain aware of the potential need to exit the building quickly and safely. That means keeping all doorways clear and making sure there is an exit plan worked out in advance

Know that staff, leaders and teams are working on the safest ways to use our spaces. We are currently pulling together a group to develop some suggested seating plans.

If you’d like to participate in making plans to increase safety and maximize accessibility, please reach out to Skip at safecongregations@uufws.org and let him know you’d like to be a part of that team.