What's a FunRaiser? 

It's a huge opportunity to have fun building community by sharing our skills, talents, creativity, and time with other FUUSB peeps! We also have a goal of raising $15,000 (or more!) to support programs, staff, and our meeting house, as part of this year's annual budget.

How can each of us participate?

• Join the team that makes this great event happen!
• Get creative! Host a barbecue, a nature walk, a bike tour, a theme dinner-lunch-brunch, a dance party, a visit to a museum or historic site, a children's event, a day on the lake, a trip to Montreal, NYC, Boston, use of a vacation home, donate air miles, host a "meet the author" event, a yoga and breakfast mini retreat, tickets to an event, think big or small!
• Consider teaming up with a friend(s) to cogitate and co create!
• Show up, have fun, and bid! Silent and live auction!

More information coming soon about how to donate to the FunRaiser.

Save the date, Saturday, May 6 starting at 6pm.

 

Have you participated in any of our gatherings with the Islamic Society of Vermont such as their Friday prayer services in December or their community dinner in January? We are offering deep listening sessions to allow you to share and process your experiences in small groups while also learning the experiences of others. Offering these sessions also allows us to better understand our society's relationship with our Muslim neighbors as we deepen our interfaith relationships in our community.

Our Healthy Congregations Team and Ministerial Intern are hosting these sessions which will be offered the next two Sundays, March 19 & 26 at 12:30 - 1:30pm. Please come ready to share your personal stories and experiences as well as listen to the stories and experiences of others.

Please note that these sessions will not focus on questions about Islam or ideas on additional activities with the Islamic Society or other faith communities. If you wish to discuss such questions or ideas, or if you have questions about these listening sessions, please contact Andre Mol, our Ministerial Intern, at andre@uusociety.org.

 

What: Award winning, activist musicians, Emma's Revolution (Pat Humphries & Sandy O) in concert--Revolution Now, Vermont recording release concert

When: Saturday, April 1st, Burlington VT
Where: First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 152 Pearl Street at 7:30

Tickets: $18 advance / $22 door

Advance Tickets: Available online at http://www.emmasrevolution.com/live/ or in person at the First Unitarian Universalist Society (on Sundays), at the Peace & Justice Store, 60 Lake Street (7 days a week) and at Phoenix Books, 191 Bank Street.

Additional Info: Email genebergman26@gmail.com; wendycoe26@gmail.com

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/225167091220921/
Emma's Revolution contact: Susan Frazier, sfgmi@aol.com, (517) 484-1712
Emma's Revolution official website: www.emmasrevolution.com

About Emma's Revolution

Smart, funny and informative -- like Rachel Maddow and Jon Stewart with guitars.

If there was ever a time for a powerful, loving transformative revolution, that time is now--and this is the music to fuel it! This concert celebrates the release of their latest album "Revolution Now." Covering issues from killer drones to wind energy, from the Black Lives Matter movement to the sustaining power of love, the songs span folk to jazz to funk and will keep you going through this unimaginable-inauguration-to-come and beyond.

As Emma's Revolution's friend Pete Seeger inspired them to sing, "Hope changes everything!"

THE NEW YORK TIMES ~ "Fervent and heartfelt"

The duo's songs have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by Pete Seeger and recorded by Holly Near. "Peace, Salaam, Shalom" is sung around the world and has been called the anthem of the anti-war movement. "If I Give Your Name" won Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the band's music has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered", Pacifica's "Democracy Now!" and "The Thom Hartman Show".

Emma's Revolution is well known to UU audiences. Since their 2005 appearance with Pete Seeger at General Assembly in Fort Worth, the duo has performed at General Assemblies from Salt Lake City to Portland, OR. Emma's Revolution wrote "Love Reaches Out" for the 2014 Unitarian Universalist General Assembly theme and premiered the song at a featured performance at the GA in Providence RI. Their songs, "Keep on Moving Forward","Swimming to the Other Side" and "Peace, Salaam, Shalom" are sung by UU congregations across the country and are included in the "Earth and Spirit Songbook", the UU Tapestry of Faith series and the new UU Spanish Hymnal.

 

Many thanks to Lynn Douglas and members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry who create these beautiful garments, taken by the Care Network to members in need. The shawls bring comfort and love and are welcomed with gratitude. Blessed be.

 

 

Sunday, March 19th starting at 12:30 pm, everyone is invited down to The Community Room for a sampling of delicious Vegan Food as well as a viewing of the acclaimed environmental movie Cowspiracy.  Sponsored by UU Animal Ministry.  If you would like to become a member of Animal Ministry, please email: veggy4life@gmail.com 

 

Activism through singing: The Central Vermont Solidarity Singers started up this month and plan to appear at marches, demonstration, vigils, and other events. All voices are welcome. 

Rehearsals take place on the first and third Sundays at 12:30-2 in the Montpelier UU Church Sanctuary. Contact leader Heidi Wilson at wilsonheidiann@gmail.com or 802-454-1979.

 

There's still time to order bulbs/bare-root plants to support the Youth Group's service trip to Martha's Vineyard in April! You can order easily at the link below or email Gabriel at universalapple@gmail.com if you'd prefer to pay with cash or check.

http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/campaign?campaign_id=24303

 

Your Board of Trustees has been hard at work conducting listening sessions over the past few weeks to hear your stories about love, justice and transformation.  We are scheduled for a half day retreat on Monday with our UUA consultant, Joe Sullivan, to digest what we've learned from you and to discuss next steps.  Our regular Board meeting will be conducted as part of Monday's retreat, and our usual meeting on Tuesday, March 21 will be canceled.  As always, feel free to email us at board@uusociety.org at any time.  We look forward to sharing the results of our focus groups with everyone soon!

 

Due to time lost for this week's snow days, Rev. Mara will be postponing the start of her upcoming vacation, which was to begin Monday 3/20, to Friday 3/24 instead. She'll be back to worship on Sunday April 9, when Bill McKibben will be our very special guest preacher, and back in the office Tuesday April 11.

While Rev. Mara is out, Christina Fulton, our Director of Operations, is Acting Executive and Chief of Staff. If you need support on a pastoral care issue (hospitalization, death in the family, spiritual crisis), while Rev. Mara is out, please call our Pastoral Care Number - 802-870-0447, and we'll get you connected with Andre Mol, our Ministerial Intern, or a member of the Care Network, for support!

 

Most of you should have received an envelope with two letters by now. One letter from Rev. Mara and Christina, and the other letter from Martha Dallas. These letters are quite long, but contain important information on our vision for transforming our professional staff team, so we truly hope you will take the time to read them carefully. Just in case you did not receive the letters, we are providing you with links:

We are excited for and believe deeply in this vision for expanding our ministry, but we also know that change can be difficult. If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to speak with either Mara or Christina. There will also be opportunities in the near future to meet with us to delve deeper into this vision, we'll let you know as soon as those dates are scheduled.

In faith,
Rev. Mara Dowdall and Christina Fulton

 

Come to a Vermont Interfaith Action event to report back on an international gathering to further "The Social Justice Values of Pope Francis: Ending the Economy of Exclusion". Every year of his papacy, Pope Francis has held a gathering to expose the economy of exclusion and inspire grassroots groups to address injustices that pertain to land, labor, and lodging in our world. This year for the first time this gathering was held in the United States, and VIA sent a delegation of six to represent Vermont. Hear about their inspiring, life-transforming experiences at this gathering!

Burlington report-back

Thursday, March 23 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm

First Congregational Church of Burlington, 38 S. Winooski Avenue (please do NOT park in the church parking lot; park on street or in city lot)

Central Vermont report-back

Thursday, March 30 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm
Where: Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 130 Main Street

RSVP to Debbie at (802) 651-8889 or debbie@viavt.org