Join us on Sundays at 10 a.m. this summer!
Sunday, August 4
Guest Preacher:
Janet Biehl
While authoritarianism is on the rise in many parts of the world, democracy is on the rise in an unexpected place: the northeastern corner of Syria. Here, on the periphery of the brutal civil war between Assad forces and jihadist insurgents, a semiautonomous enclave has deliberately chosen a "third way." Since 2012, Rojava (also known as North-East Syria) has been building a new society dedicated to secular democratic self-government, gender equality, and economic cooperation. Led by Kurds, Arabs, and Christians, it is committed to ethnic and religious inclusiveness and has been modeling a sane way forward for Syria and perhaps the Middle East as a whole.
Janet Biehl made her third visit to Rojava in April 2019 to participate in a film about the revolution. Involved with the Kurdish movement since 2011, she is an author, journalist, translator, editor, and graphic artist. She'll report to us on the new society, its goals and its accomplishments.
Worship Associate:
Rodney Lowe
Sunday, August 11
Guest Preacher:
David Ruffin
Worship Associate:
Maeve McBride
Sunday, August 18
Guest Preacher:
Rev. Jordinn Nelson-Long
Worship Associate:
Melinda Lee
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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
.
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Visit the publication
archives on our website!
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Join Us for Worship This Sunday!
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Sunday, July 28 at 10 a.m.
Guest Preacher:
Mary Fillmore
"Finding Our Courage"
In these beleaguered times many of us are taking action even though we are weary and overwhelmed sometimes. Where can we look for courage that will inspire and sustain us and give us the strength to stand up for what we believe? Mary Fillmore has been researching the Dutch resistance to the Holocaust since 2001 and has spoken in the US and abroad connecting those times to our own. Her award-winning novel
An Address in Amsterdam
is the story of a Jewish woman who joined the resistance.
Worship Associate: Melinda Lee
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| March Against ICE |
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Sponsored by Women's March Vermont, Peace & Justice Center, Migrant Justice, and RIghts & Democracy VT
Join us for a march and rally against ICE. We will gather at the Williston branch of Vermont Technical College -- a recipient of ICE contract funds -- to begin our march to the ICE Data Center. Those who can't march can meet us at our destination point. The ICE Data Center has been operating in VT for years and is the national nerve center that aids much of ICE's work, providing data to federal agents and local police, which can lead to arrests. Visit the Facebook event for more information.
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VIA Statewide Convention
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 Debbie Ingram, VIA Executive Director
Join us on Friday, August 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Our Lady of the Angels (43 Hebard Hill Road) in Randolph for the fourth annual Vermont Interfaith Action Statewide Convention. We will hear reports from our working groups on issues like immigration, the moral economy, and affordable housing, and our keynote speaker will be former Rep. Kiah Morris, addressing the topic of the intersection of race and class in social justice. The day will also include remarks from Faith In Action National Network's Executive Director, Rev. Alvin Herring, time to talk with new friends from around the state, an interfaith worship service, and a light breakfast and lunch. To register, look for the link online at www.viavt.org or contact Ann at [email protected] or (802) 651-8889. Cost per person: $20, but no one will be turned away for lack of payment.
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Solidarity Bike Tour for Immigrant Justice
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Debbie Ingram, VIA Executive Director
Frustrated at what's happening at our borders but not sure what to do? Vermont Interfaith Action is sponsoring a Solidarity Bike Tour from Wednesday, August 21 to Saturday, August 24 - 160 miles total from Montpelier to Dover, NH. The ride ends in a 5-mile walk to the Strafford County Jail in Dover. Walkers may join us for the last few miles of the journey. Immigrants arrested by ICE and awaiting deportation are held at this jail. Cyclists will ride 40-50 miles each day, stopping in towns along the way and staying at supportive faith communities in the evenings. Every morning will begin with an overview of the route and a time of reflection on what our migrant neighbors are facing. In the evenings we will hold educational or prayerful discussions open to the public. For more information, contact [email protected]. To register go to www.viavt.org.
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Commission on Institutional Change General Assembly 2019 Report
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The
Commission on Institutional Change reported to the 2019 UUA General Assembly in June. For more information, please visit the UUA website
at this link. Here is an excerpt:
"The Commission on Institutional Change was charged with identifying the long-term cultural and institutional change needed to redeem the essential promise and ideal of Unitarian Universalism.
We were specifically charged with addressing the long-festering issues of race, racism and white supremacy culture within Unitarian Universalism and as part of our charge were directed to unpack the controversy in the spring of 2017 around the southern regional lead hiring process. We did this in our first year and reported extensively on this at last General Assembly, finding, in summary that our Association had created conditions in which religious professionals of color could not thrive or, in many cases, even survive."
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| Helping the Islamic Society of Vermont |
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Linda Graves
Our friends at the Islamic Society of Vermont are in need of help from First UU Society. They are seeking to buy the former Church of the Latter Day Saints facility in South Burlington, which will provide expanded room for their growing membership. Their current space on Hegeman Avenue in Colchester has limited room for meeting, worshiping and parking.
The Islamic Society of Vermont (ISVT) is a non-profit organization that was established in 1995. Their diverse community includes members from all around the world. Currently there are about 4,000 Muslims living in Vermont, about 300 of whom are active members and regularly attend services at their current location.
In keeping with the FUUSB Solidarity Team's goal to provide mutual moral and material support to area faith communities in times of need irrespective of differences in traditions or beliefs, and in keeping with our wider mission to care for each other and our community, please consider making a generous gift in love and solidarity to help our Muslim neighbors.
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| Help Needed with Nametag Organizing |
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 Mary Williams, Society Administrator
If you store your FUUSB nametag on the rack in the Parlors (last names
A-K
), you may have noticed that it is overflowing! The rack outside the Parlors (L-Z) is also pretty full.
Did you know there are also nametag racks in the front vestibule (at the back of the Sanctuary)? Those racks have plenty of extra space. I
f you keep your nametag on one of the Parlors racks (especially A-K) and would be willing to move it to the front vestibule, please do so the next time you are at the Meeting House.
Hopefully we will end up with more organized storage so it is easier for everyone to find their nametags.
Thank you for your help!
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| Summer eNews Schedule |
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Please note the following summer publication schedule for the eNews
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August 8 and 22
In September we will resume our weekly schedule.
To submit an announcement, please send to
[email protected]
by Monday of the week you want it published.
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