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Minister's Monthly Update
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Online Joys & Sorrows Submission Form
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Join Us for These Weekly Online Events!
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Sundays at 10:45 a.m.
Virtual Coffee Hour
(meeting ID: 664 917 485)
Alternate Sundays, 2 p.m.
(next online mtg. 10/4)
Yuuth Group
or call 1-413-398-0207 (PIN: 744 756 177#)
Wednesdays at 12 p.m.
Zoom-In Lunch with Rev. Tricia
or call 1-646-558-8656
(meeting ID: 105 353 699)
Thursdays at 4 p.m. Drop-In Chalice Circle
or call 1-646-558-8656 (meeting ID: 882 782 496)
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Visit the publication archives on our website!
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First UU Society of Burlington
152 Pearl Street
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 862-5630
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Join Us for Online Worship This Sunday!
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Rev. Patricia Hart, Worship Leader
Jon Sallée, Worship Associate
with the Healthy Congregation Team
"Covenant - Noun and Verb"
A decade ago, this congregation drafted and adopted a Covenant - a brief statement that both describes and guides how members of the Society interact with one another (and, ideally, with everybody else). "Living" this Covenant is a primary way we act out our values and principles, every day. Which has never been more important than it is now...
For more about the Covenant check out Nancy Hellen's article in the new Steeple at this link.
Members of the Healthy Congregation Team will help lead this service - along with the Board, and lots of pictures from lots of you! If you haven't sent in your family photo yet, do it today: [email protected].
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| Our Money, Our Happy Hour | |  Kameron McConnell, Treasurer
Today, Thursday, September 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom
Pop a top, grab your goblet, pour a cuppa! What questions and concerns do you have about the financial health of our congregation? With no presentation planned, this is an hour of Q&A with your Director of Operations & Finance, and Treasurer. We'll start with a brief round of introductions and an icebreaker, so in addition to your questions, we hope you'll come ready to tell us about your first paid job.
Click here for the Zoom link, or call 1-646-558-8656 to join by phone. Meeting ID: 838 9017 1890. |
New Story Path!
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Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Starting this Saturday 9/26: A Journey to the Mother of the Sea by Mâliâraq Vebæk and
Aka Høegh will be displayed on the west lawn of the Meeting House. "The Mother of the Sea is an important character in Inuit traditional stories shared across the circumpolar region, a powerful woman who can withhold the animals humans need to survive if she is displeased by human behaviour. This tale shares the specific traditional story of the Mother of the Sea told and retold in Greenland for generations."
As with all of our story paths, this is intended to be an opportunity for children and families to connect with our Meeting House and our UU faith away from screens, even for those who cannot attend in-person gatherings. This beautifully-illustrated story fits with our September themes of renewal and water, lifts up indigenous wisdom, and illustrates the interconnected web of all existence. We hope that families can visit, enjoy and reflect together!
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Children's Garden: Interactive Storytelling Event
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Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
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| | Margo Invites YOU! |
Families are invited to join us this Sunday, September 27 from 10-11 a.m. under the Memorial Garden Canopy for our first in a short series of outdoor, in-person events. Click Margo's video invitation for more information!
Masks are required. Limited to 20 participants.
Registration in advance would be very helpful but we will accommodate same-day sign-ups as space allows. Please review and affirm our Covid Safety Checklist on the day of the event.
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| Final Fall Outdoor Vespers Service | | 
For the last time this fall, let us safely come together, in person, to renew our hearts in community, in what has quickly become a beloved weekly ritual. Gather under the cover of our Memorial Garden canopy, for music and prayer, poetry and reflection, sharing and renewal. This small, physically-distanced, outdoor evening Vespers service will be led by Rev. David Ruffin and musical guests from the congregation.
Wednesday, September 30, 6:00-6:50 p.m. |
| From Our Director of Operations & Finance | |  Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Some of you may have heard that State Senator Debbie Ingram held a press conference on the lawn of the Meeting House on Monday morning. During this press conference, Debbie endorsed a candidate for Lt. Governor. We would like to be very clear that Debbie called this press conference without our knowledge and that she has issued us an apology. Debbie has no formal connection to FUUSB and does not speak for us in any way. As many of you know, as a religious organization we are considered a 501c3 and must abide by specific rules in order to maintain our status. An event such as this could endanger our status and we would never approve such a request. Please contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns.
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Member Parking Tags
| |  Mary Williams, Society Administrator
It's that time of year again, when FUUSB members have the opportunity to renew parking tags or purchase a new one. This year our process is a bit different.
FUUSB parking tags allow you to park in the Oval driveway next to the Meeting House for non-FUUSB business (errands on Church Street, etc.) for up to 3 hours. Detailed parking guidelines can be found here.
Beginning September 28, if you would like to renew your parking tag or purchase a new one, here are the steps: - Contact Mary at [email protected] or (802) 862-5630, ext. 2100.
- In your message, please provide:
- Your name and phone number.
- Car make, model, color, and plate number.
- Parking tag number if possible, and whether you need a new tag .
- How you would like to pay for your tag (details below). Tags cost $40.
- Pay for your tag by mail, drop-off, or online:
- Mail a check to FUUSB, 152 Pearl St., Burlington, VT 05401. Note "Oval Parking" on the check memo and the envelope. You may also include "Christina Fulton" on the envelope.
- Drop off a check or cash in a clearly-marked envelope and place in the gray FUUSB mailbox at the east entrance.
- Pay online using the Make a Gift button on the Donate page of our uusociety.org website, and select Member Parking Tag. Here is the direct link: onrealm.org/FirstUUSociety/Give
- If purchasing a new tag, Mary will mail that to you.
We can sell up to 50 parking tags this year. There will be no discount for purchasing two tags. Parking tags are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Thank you!
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| Reminder: Guide to Online Giving | | Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Many of you have been deciding to make your pledge and other gifts to the Society online. This is a wonderful idea that we support wholeheartedly. Giving online is safe and cuts down on administrative time processing checks. If you're considering this way of giving, but you're still a bit confused, here are the basics:
Where to set up your gift - If you are a member and have a Realm account, just log in to your account and click on Giving. From there you can either make a one-time gift or set up automatic payments. If you do not have a Realm account, you can make online gifts from our website: uusociety.org/donate. From there you can also make a one-time gift or set up automatic payments.
How to make sure your gift is credited to the right fund - When you set up online giving, there are several funds to choose from; here is a guide:
- Angel Fund - This fund helps replace pledge income lost due to COVID-19 (applied to 2020/2021 fiscal year)
- Share the Plate - This fund is like putting money in the basket on Sunday morning; it is split 50/50 between the Society and a nonprofit.
- 2020/2021 Pledge - Gifts to this fund will be credited to your current year pledge.
- Gift - All to FUUSB - Gifts to this fund will go to the current year general fund.
- Youth Group - This fund supports our Youth Group.
- Boston Trip - Gifts to this fund support our youth going on the Boston UU History Trip.
- Discretionary Fund - This fund assists members of our community with personal financial needs.
What methods of giving do you accept? - Credit cards, debit cards, or automatic debits from your savings or checking account. There are fees involved with these, but the fee is smallest for automatic debits. If you would like to cover the fees, you will be given the opportunity to do so while setting up your gift.
How often can I give? - You can make one-time gifts as often as you like! If you plan to set up automatic giving, you can choose to give every week, every two weeks, every month, twice a month, or every three months.
Can I give to more than one fund at a time? - Yes! You can choose which funds you would like to give to and how much you would like to give to each fund.
Can I text my gift? - Yes! You can text a gift to FUUSB at any time by texting Steeple to 73256. You will be given the opportunity to give to any of the funds above.
If you ever have questions about online giving, please contact Christina at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your generosity and support of FUUSB!
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Virtual RUN or Walk for JUMP - Saturday!
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Please join us in reaching out for JUMP!
JUMP, the Joint Urban Ministry Project, is inviting all in our community - adults and youth - to take part in the Saturday, September 26 Virtual Run or Walk for JUMP! Time: 9 am-5 pm
JUMP's mission since 1988 has been assisting low-income Vermont households - JUMP is needed now more than ever! Learn more about JUMP at jumpvt.org and register for the virtual Run or Walk for JUMP at this link.
The virtual "Run or Walk for JUMP" event is designed to be accessible for all! Register, then invite donations from family, friends, and neighbors in support of JUMP - and then run, or walk, a route and distance that you choose on September 26.
Community sponsors have contributed prizes for the top fundraising individuals and teams. Thank you, NBT Bank, for underwriting the event! Thank you to our event sponsors: J&M Grocers: Sweeney Design Build, LLC; Dell'Amore Marinara; Leonardo's Pizza; Ann Roche Casual Furniture; Wildwood Drive Families; AALV; Naturally Cool VT; All Aspects Tile & Carpentry; Advantage Learning Center; Midas Auto Services; Pizza 44; Automaster Motor Company; Shelburne Pond Studios; and O'Brien Brothers.
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From VIA: Racial Justice Book Discussion
| |  Debbie Ingram, VIA Executive Director
Let's Talk - and Act on - Racial Justice
Do you want to engage with others about systemic racism? Do you want to learn more about what an active bystander is and how you can be one? Then now is the time to register for The Hate U Give book discussion and active bystander training sponsored by Vermont Interfaith Action.
The Vermont Humanities Council chose The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas to be the Vermont Reads book of 2020. Through the council, we were able to secure a number of books to be distributed as part of our fall book discussion and training series. When you register, we will be happy to give you a free copy.
We will spend a month, from mid-September to mid-October, reading the book. During this time, we will train 7-14 of you to facilitate the book discussion with a group of 10. Beginning in October, we will schedule a series of book discussion groups. Each group will meet twice for one hour each time. After all the discussion groups have finished, we will hold a virtual "Active Bystander" training for you to participate in if you so choose.
Below is a tentative schedule of events. All trainings and discussions will take place virtually.
September 8-29: Registration - see link above.
Facilitator Trainings have been completed.
September 11-October 11: Read book
October 11-November 29: Several 2-part book discussions (We will send out dates/times that you can sign up for.)
November 29- December 13: Active Bystander Training
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| From UUSJ: "Storytelling for Advocacy" Workshop | | 
Want to "be the change? We know that UUs love to advocate for social justice topics and many of us go beyond the talk and walk the walk. Join us Saturday, Oct. 10, 1-4 pm.
In advocacy work, it often seems stories move hearts and then hearts move minds. We want to help boost your efforts in advocating for legislators to create change in line with UU values. This can be through in-person meetings, public speaking, letters-to-the-editor, and op-ed writing. Join us for a digital workshop on personal storytelling and effective advocacy - Your Story Can Create Change!
UUSJ's "Storytelling for Advocacy" online Zoom workshop was developed with a grant from the UU Funding Program so there is no charge for participating. Register Here.
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