Registration page banner
   

eNews

October 18, 2018
Latest News
Join Us for Worship This Sunday!
New Chalice Circles Forming
Postcard Campaign for Florida Amendment 4
Andre's Ordination Celebration
Meetinghouse Needs
Care Network Team Seeking New Members
5th-6th Grade OWL Registration
Friday Book Group
Holiday Bazaar Crafters Wanted!
From the Racial Justice Team
Daylight Saving Time Reminder
 




New to First UU?  Register for one of our upcoming New UU Orientation Sessions

 



 

Need Spiritual Support? 

If you think you may need spiritual support for anything that touches a tender spot in your spirit, please call our 
Spiritual Support Line  
at ( 802) 870-0447 .





Quick Links

 
Like us on Facebook


 
How to Get the 
Word Out



 
In Case You Missed It  

Visit the publication archives on our website!

Join Us for Worship This Sunday!
chalice by river
Sunday, October 21 at 9 and 11 a.m.

Worship Leader: 
Rev. Susan Milnor, Interim Senior Minister

Worship Associate: Kristin Kany

"Harboring One Another"
Our Unitarian Universalist faith can, at moments, be a shelter, or sanctuary, for us in a harsh world. In order for that shelter to strengthen us to shelter others, we must bring our whole selves. Our service will include a New Member Recognition.

New Chalice Circles Forming
(formerly called Small Group Ministry groups)
 
Sign up now for one of the new Chalice Circles for affinity groups, including: for young people (in their 20's and 30's), for men, for LGBTQ, for women, for parents, for general interest, or for those interested in paganism. Chalice Circles (formerly called Small Group Ministry groups) and Theme Circles are both part of our Society's Small Group programming, intended to help strengthen connection between UU members and friends, particularly during this time of change and uncertainty.
   
Chalice Circles are small groups of 6 to 10 people who meet for 2 hours either once or twice a month at the Meeting House or in member homes, to share what is going on in their lives and their thoughts about a given topic. Facilitated by a trained leader, each person gets time to speak while others listen. Unlike Theme Circles, groups meet on an ongoing basis (although some groups do not meet during the summer months). People make a commitment to the group--but can join or leave at any time. Some of these groups continue for several years, and the connection between participants tends to deepen over time. In addition, the focus of meetings may vary from a particular theme, to many different topics or no topic.
 
Sign up for a Chalice Circle online at 
https://goo.gl/forms/4dkegIshTIS2x4gx2. There will be an opportunity to ask more questions after the 11:00 
service this coming Sunday, October 21, or you may email ChaliceCircles@uusociety.org.
 
We hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity!
 
Hope Baker-Carr &  Andre Mol

Postcard Campaign for Florida Amendment 4
Zoe Hart

Florida Amendment 4, if passed, will re-enfranchise over 1.4 million Floridians currently denied the right to vote because of a past felony conviction. This is one of two ballot initiatives that the UUA is actively supporting and encouraging UUs across the country to support. The First UU Justice & Outreach ministry is hosting a postcard writing campaign this Sunday, October 21 at  12:30 p.m. 
in the Dorothy Dix classroom downstairs off the Community Room. We'll have addresses, postcards, stamps, and pens as well as recommended text supplied by Second Chances Florida, the UUA's partner in Florida. RSVP to  zoe@hartwood4.net is not required, but would be appreciated so that we can be sure to have enough addresses and postcards. 

Opportunity to Help with Andre's Ordination Celebration
Lynn Douglas

Please click the link below to sign up to help with the reception following Andre's Ordination service on Saturday, October 27.  This gathering will  be a warm, happy time to end a lovely day. Andre has a great love of cheese, so we're asking you to bring the cheese; we'll supply other foods. See you then!
 
Meetinghouse Needs
Lynn Douglas

Hi all,

In order to have enough flatware for large events we are in need of LOTS of regular forks. We have PLENTY of spoons, knives and dessert forks. If you have some good condition metal dinner-sized forks to donate (check those cupboards) please bring them along to  Sunday services! Label and leave in the downstairs kitchen. Many thanks!
 
Care Network Team Seeking New Members
Sarah Weber

Are you interested in helping to care for each other? Join the Care Network Team!  We are a group of people who: 
  • Visit members of our community who cannot get to services
  • Take hand-knit prayer shawls (courtesy of the wonderful prayer shawl group) to members who are facing challenges
  • Provide connections to community resources about things like dementia care and grief groups
  • Organize meal trains for members in need
  • Host events such as the annual Service of Remembrance
  • Send cards to those in need of encouragement
  • Deliver greens and flowers at holiday times
On Wednesday,  November 7 from 1-4 p.m., we are hosting a workshop called "Caring and the Art of Listening" for the Care Network Team. This is a fantastic introduction to what we do, and a prerequisite for visiting people. We would love to have you join us. 

If you are interested, please contact Sarah Weber ( sadievt@yahoo.com  or 802-373-0197) for additional information and to RSVP.  

5th-6th Grade OWL Registration is Open
 W e are happy to be offering Our Whole Lives sexuality education for FUUSB's 5th and 6t h graders this winter!

The goal of this 10-session class is to help children understand the physical and emotional changes of puberty. Participants will be actively involved in the exploration of growing older, values, communication and decision-making.

There will be a Parent/Child information and orientation meeting on  Sunday, November 11, from 12:30-2 p.m., and classes will be held Sundays from  12:45 to 1:45, between  December 2 and  February 17

Register here or contact Andrea Spencer-Linzie at  andrea@uusociety.org with any questions.

FUUSB Friday Book Group
pile_of_old_books.jpg Almy Landauer

FUUSB's Evening Book Group will meet on Friday, November 16, 6:30-8 p.m.  in the Parlors 
 
Our second selection is The Road to Character by David Brooks . Further selections will be chosen by participants! No RSVPs required.

From a review by Rebecca Mead: " The Road to Character is an account of Brooks's effort to...'cultivate character.' To make his case, Brooks...has come up with a pair of clarifying terms: the 'résumé virtues' and the 'eulogy virtues.' Résumé virtues are those that are valued in the contemporary marketplace: the high test scores,
...professional accomplishments. They are the skills that are met with bigger paychecks and public approbation. Eulogy virtues are the aspects of character that others praise when a person isn't around to hear it: humility, kindness, bravery. Our society exalts the résumé virtues, but overlooks the humbler eulogy virtues. Still, he writes, we know at our core that this second category of values is what matters more." Brooks shares a wide variety of case studies of well-known figures to make his case.


Holiday Bazaar Crafters Wanted!
christmas_ornaments.jpg Carol Czina

Seeking vendors of cards, artwork, jewelry, crafts, handmade items for:

The First Unitarian Universalist Society Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 1 from 
9 a.m. - 2 pm

We have 10 tables available to rent to those who would like to sell their crafts during this busy and fun community event that fills our building with holiday cheer. Tables will be 6-8 feet long. Tables are $30 or 10% of your proceeds (whichever is less).

We will be downstairs in a large double classroom off the Community Room where the crowds flock to find all sorts of goodies and gifts. Elevator access. Setup is from 8-9 a.m. on Saturday morning. Please remember to respect the No Fragrances guidelines in the building.

Please contact Carol Czina for sign-up or questions at carolczina@burlingtontelecom.net or (802) 864-0242.
 
From the Racial Justice Team
During last Sunday's Joys and Sorrows, we heard a reference to "all lives matter." While the intent behind the words "all lives matter" when spoken by UUs is often based in a desire to highlight the inherent worth of every person and our interconnected struggle, the impact of those words can be harmful. Far too often in our faith, our local community and country, we have said that we value all lives while our actions have shown that we do not value black and brown lives as highly as we do white lives. Our prisons are filled by a disproportionate number of black male bodies, schools suspend black boys with disabilities at a rate of nearly 50%, black and brown folks are more likely to be victims of police violence, and to face employment or housing discrimination. To say Black Lives Matter is to say that this needs to change. It is to demand change in our institutions and our biases to ensure that we demonstrate that black lives matter as much as other lives. 

When the response to Black Lives Matter is "all lives matter," black lives are made to be invisible again. While no slogan can encapsulate the nuance of the struggle for racial justice or connect to the hearts of every person, the FUUSB stands behind the Black Lives Matter movement because we believe that black lives do matter, and that this is not a zero sum game. Working to ensure that black lives matter in our Society, our state, our faith and our country will not make other lives matter less, but instead increase all of our humanity. As UUs, when we see injustice, we have a moral imperative to work to increase the humanity of all. If you would like to talk about this in more depth, please feel welcome to reach out to me or any member of the Racial Justice Team.

Gabriel Ely, Racial Justice Team Co-Lead

Daylight Saving Time Reminder

Remember to set your clocks back one hour at the end of the day on November 3. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 4.