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Sunday, December 10,
9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Rev. Mara Dowdall, Senior Minister
In a powerful essay he wrote last November, the novelist Junot Diaz describes "radical hope" - an ability to imagine a future goodness that transcends what we know in the present - as an antidote to our times. We'll explore this idea, and how we might make it come alive in our individual lives and communities. The service will help prepare us for our (Dismantling) White Supremacy Teach-In Part II, which will take place after the
11 a.m. service, and all are warmly invited to.
Worship Associate: Kristin Kany
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Join Us for Worship This Sunday
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Sunday, December 3 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Rev. Mara Dowdall, Senior Minister
"Angels We Have Heard"
Angels make frequent appearances in the spiritual stories of the season. How do we make sense of angels in our Unitarian Universalist tradition, and what do our everyday experiences have to teach us about them? We'll consider the angels that have graced our lives and our world, and their potential as a source of hope in hard times.
Worship Associate: Rodney Lowe
This is Socially Responsible Santa Sunday! Please come prepared to generously support this long-standing tradition of providing cash gifts to those in need. Providing people with cash allows them to experience the joy of giving by allowing them to make their own gift-purchasing decisions. The collection will be taken immediately following the service. Thank you!
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| Holiday Schedule for Worship Services |
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Please note the following schedule for our worship services during the holiday season. We hope you will join us!
Sunday, December 24:
Christmas Eve services at 4, 6, and 8 p.m.
No morning services.
Sunday, December 31:
One service at 10 a.m.
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| 85th Annual FUUSB Holiday Bazaar |
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It is that time of year for the Annual FUUSB Holiday Bazaar,
this Saturday, December 2
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be books, jewelry, attic treasures, a silent auction, handmade crafts, homemade food items, and fresh wreaths and greens. The Women's Alliance will host the pie table and the 6th graders will host the toy room. A delicious lunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $8.
If you have things that you would like to donate, hours for drop-off at the basement level are today and Friday, from 10 a.m.-
7 p.m. Items such as clothing, bedding, furniture, large appliances and baby things cannot be accepted.
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| Toys Needed for 6th Grade Fundraiser |
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 Elaine Sopchak
S
upport the annual 6th Grade Boston Trip--Donate your used toys and games!
Every spring the 6th grade travels to Boston as the culmination of their RE studies. This year we are joined by 5th graders, and we are looking for your help to raise the funds for our trip.
Please donate your clean, unbroken, used toys and games to the Toy Room at the FUUSB Bazaar. Fifth and 6th grade students will collect your donations tomorrow,
Friday, December 1 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. All proceeds from the Toy Room sales will go directly to the Boston Trip fundraiser. So please go through your closets, game rooms, toy boxes, attics, and basements and bring in your used toys to help the 5th and 6th graders get to Boston. Please, no stuffed animals--Thanks for your understanding.
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| Community Chorus - Join Us! |
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 Jennifer Carpenter, Director of Music
The Community Chorus sings again this Sunday, December 3! All are welcome to come and sing in this new multi-generational chorus that just started last month!
We will sing in the
11 a.m.
service.
If you didn't make our rehearsal last month, no worries; you may still join!
Just feel free to show up this Sunday at
10:15 a.m.
in the Sanctuary for the warm-up and learn the song! We will sing "Kumbaya." Hope to see you there!!!
And, here's a reminder of our rehearsal
and
Sunday
service schedule:
Rehearsal schedule:
Monthly - The first
Wednesday
of the month from November to May from
5:45 to 6:45 p.m.
in the Parlors. (You are encouraged to participate in the Love & Justice Vigil outside the main entrance at
5:15 p.m.
prior to the rehearsal!)
Sunday service schedule: Monthly - Every first
Sunday of the month from November to May for the
11 a.m. service (second service). Call time is
10:15 a.m. for the Chorus in the Sanctuary.
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| Socially Responsible Santa |
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 Maggi Hayes
This S
unday, December 3,
Socially Responsible Santa will visit our Society for the 31st time. Our unique program provides cash gifts to needy families in our community. In this way each family may choose the way in which they will celebrate the holiday season. Head Elf Maggi needs some "assistant elves" to help with the collection at both services on that day so please contact her at
The need continues to increase every year so please be as generous as you can. Last year we gave gifts to 28 families. Let's make it over 30 this year!
Thank you in advance for your generosity,
Head Elf Maggi
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| New UU Getting Acquainted Class |
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 Nina Dahlstedt Buss, Membership Coordinator
Would you like to learn more about Unitarian Universalism? Find out about some of our activities? Meet other newcomers? If so, please come to the New UU Getting Acquainted class. This class will be held this Sunday, December 3,
from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the Whitney Young, Jr. Room on the second floor. RSVP not required. Contact Nina Dahlstedt Buss at
[email protected]
with questions.
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| Annual Holiday Carol Fest |
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 Maggi Hayes
Come join the choirs of the downtown churches this
Sunday, December 3
for a joyous evening of music to welcome the holiday season. This year's event will be held at the First Congregational Church (across from the parking garage) starting at
7 p.m.
Listen to each choir present special music and then raise your voices in many familiar carols. This is a wonderful event for all so come and bring your friends. You are also very welcome to post this announcement on your local Front Porch Forum or send it to your local newspaper. Hope to see you there! Please contact Maggi at
[email protected]
for additional information.
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| Service of Loss and Remembrance |
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 Martha Molpus and Sarah Weber
Next week, on Thursday, December 7, at 7 p.m. in the Meeting House, we will join together to remember lost loved ones. This service of loss and remembrance will be led by Andre Mol, our Ministerial Intern. The purpose of this service will be to honor people both from the FUUSB community and our own lives who we have lost recently and wish to remember. You are invited to bring a photo or memento of anyone you wish to honor and share that on the altar we will create for this service. We will gather in the Parlors afterwards to share and be together. Please join us and invite others to this special service.
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| It's Never Too Late for Giving Tuesday! |
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Christina Fulton, Director of Operations and Finance
Our Discretionary Fund, a fund that provides small cash gifts to help out members of our Society and our community when they need assistance, has been depleted. Already this morning three people have contacted me that I have had to turn away. This account is completely funded by our Christmas Eve collection and gifts throughout the year. Every little bit helps! If you would like to make a contribution to this fund, you can send a check
to the Society written to FUUSB or drop it off in the office. Make sure to write Discretionary Fund in the memo line. Thank you!
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| White Supremacy Teach-In |
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 Gabriel Ely, Racial Justice Task Force
Transforming Ourselves in Order to Transform Our World:
White Supremacy Teach-In 2.0
The FUUSB will have its second white supremacy themed service on
Sunday, December 10, followed by a variety of activities to feed the minds, bodies and souls of all.
Please view this link for more details about the teach-in. We hope it leaves you wondering, "Why wouldn't I come?"
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| FUUSB Book Group |
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 Barbara Doody
The FUUSB Book Group meets on the second Tuesday of every month in the Susan B. Anthony Room from
12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
On
December 12 we will be discussing
Underground
Airline
s
by Ben Winters.
On January 9 we will discuss
The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives
by Leonard Mlodinow. All are welcome!
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| Meals to FUUSB Families |
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P
lease make a little extra dinner and share with the three FUUSB families who need some loving support.
Back to our list this week are John Lincoln and Jill Stevens. John had additional shoulder surgery this week and Jill also has some long-term health challenges. They welcome some assistance for several weeks as John heals.
Kathy Bonilla has been fighting a long-term health battle and she and her two granddaughters truly appreciate the help that a meal can be.
Miriam (Tammy) Strauss is also dealing with long-term health issues caused by being rear-ended by a cattle truck.
On behalf of the Care Network Team,
Martha Molpus and Sarah Weber
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| Climate Change Presentation |
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Come learn "What You Can Do About Climate Change" at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue (188 N. Prospect Street, Burlington) on Tuesday, December 12 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. This event, co-sponsored by Vermont Interfaith Action, will feature suggestions from Mayor Miro Weinberger's office and Burlington Electric as the city and state address this important issue in the wake of the U.S. pull-out from the Paris Climate Accord.
The purpose is to help local faith communities to lead the way in engaging individuals and congregations to meet climate change goals. We will also light the candles for the first night of Chanukah, celebrating an earlier solution to an energy crisis! For more information, contact Karen, [email protected]. Click here for the flier!
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| Islamic History and Beliefs Presentation |
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On December 13, from 6 to 7 p.m., friends and members of the First UU Society have the opportunity to join with other faith communities at the Islamic Society (182 Hegeman Avenue, Colchester) for an informative presentation on Islamic History and Beliefs.
There has been strong interest at First UU to reach out in friendship to our Muslim neighbors; attending this event would continue us on that journey. If you have questions, feel free to call Linda Graves, Solidarity Team member, at 865-0038. Please consider attending!
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| Working for a Second Chance |
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Join us for "Working for a Second Chance 2.0" on Wednesday, December 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (2 Cherry Street, Burlington). This event, sponsored by St. Paul's Local Organizing Ministry of Vermont Interfaith Action, will bring together the formerly incarcerated with local business owners and the Department of Corrections to explore better ways to provide job opportunities for those who need a second chance. This is a follow-up to the highly successful event last year in which ex-offenders and business owners shared their stories. Please RSVP to Ann at the VIA office:
[email protected]
or (802) 651-8889. Click here for the flier!
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| Thank You - JUMP Thanksgiving Bags |
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 Ellen Wollensack
A HUGE THANKS!! Many helpful people came recently to sort goods on one day and then the next day haul bags for the annual UU Thanksgiving delivery of food and toiletries to JUMP.
Approximately 173 bags were collected and donated. Thank you to the 30+ volunteers who made this all happen! Ask any of them...It's actually quite fun!
If you missed out on bringing your JUMP bags to the Thanksgiving service, it's not too late to do so! In fact, it is never too late to bring in food or toiletry bags for JUMP! Leave them on the JUMP shelves in the back of the Sanctuary the next time you are at the Meeting House. We will make sure that they get delivered. If you need a shopping list, here are the links:
food list,
toiletry list. Thank you!!
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| "Where's My Nametag??" |
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 Nina Dahlstedt Buss, Membership Coordinator
Are you having trouble finding your nametag? You know you have one! It's admittedly a bit confusing so here's the scoop. We have two sets of nametag racks--one in the front vestibule (Pearl Street entrance) and another in the area of the Clarke Street entrance. Each set of racks actually consists of two racks--one for the first half of the alphabet and one for the second half. In the vestibule these racks are located on either side of the Sanctuary doors. Near the Clarke Street entrance, there is a rack by the stairs to the Sanctuary and this is for last names L-Z. The rack for last names A-K is located in the Parlors around the corner to the right as you enter.
Any time you request a new nametag you will need to pick it up from the new nametag basket on the Welcome Table in the Parlors and then store it on one of the racks, in your car, or wherever works best for you. To request a new nametag, please add your name to the list at the Welcome Table, or email
[email protected].
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| Still Thankful? Still Giving? |
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Nick Nixon
If you are thankful for the First UU Society and are still in a giving mood, please consider a testamentary or a "living gift" to our endowment. A number of options do not involve any money now, just a commitment, and all gifts received by the endowment keep on giving to our Society through compound interest/dividends. Contact Nick Nixon at
[email protected]
for more information. Interested, but not until after the holidays? Just let Nick know, and he will get back to you in the new year.
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| Gratitude for Card Makers |
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 Martha Molpus and Sarah Weber
Thank you to all who shared your artistic talents and caring passion by making cards the last two Sundays for the Care Network to use. The results of your efforts are lovely in every way and will deliver beautiful energy to members of our congregation who have suffered loss or are facing a challenge.
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| Double-Check Your Check |
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Christina Fulton, Director of Operations and Finance
Over the past month we have had an unusually high amount of pledge checks come in without the necessary information completed on them. They've been missing dates, signatures, amounts, etc. I know life is busy and folks are often trying to write a check before the usher gets to them, but try to double-check your check. If the usher comes before you're finished, you can always drop your check off in the office with Mary or Christina.
Thank you!
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| Holiday Publication Schedules |
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Need to get the word out via the
eNews or an order of service? Please note the following changes to publication schedules and submission deadlines over the holidays:
eNews
: No eNews on
December 28.
Order of Service:
Sunday, D
ecember 24, Christmas Eve - There will be no order of service announcements (no morning services).
Sunday, December 31 - Submission deadline is
December 18 for announcements in the December 31
order of service (one service at 10 a.m.)
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| Speaking of Stewardship |
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GREETINGS from YOUR UU STEWARDSHIP TEAM!
Yes, it's only November, but we've been working hard to get ready for our 2018 Stewardship campaign! This year's theme is: ANSWER THE CALL - FOR LOVE AND JUSTICE!
For now, we want to remind you that we are in the midst of a 3-year plan to create sustainable staffing here at First UU. In line with our vision (which we voted to support at our annual meeting last June), we will hire a second full-time Minister of Congregational Life in the summer of 2019. To prepare for this hiring process, we must lay the financial foundation for that work, which will happen a year from now. We will need to raise pledged funds sufficient to attract the best candidates for the job, and let them know we have the financial resources to make our staffing plan work, so we can best fulfill our mission, for LOVE AND JUSTICE. During the campaign, we'll ask you to ANSWER THE CALL and pledge (early!), and pledge GENEROUSLY, FOR YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
During the coming months, you will hear testimonials from the pulpit and in online locations, about what excites some of our members about this congregation, and our vision for sustainable staffing. If you're on a committee or small group, you may hear from us through that channel. Our actual campaign happens during the month of March. Before then, we'll give you the information you need, so you'll be ready to make your pledge, and we can wrap up our campaign quickly. Thank you for your support!
- Nancy Knox, Stewardship Team co-chair
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