Join us for worship on
Sunday, March 31 at
9 and 11 a.m.
Worship Leader:
Rev. Andrée Mol, Developmental Assistant Minister for Pastoral Care and Membership
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, March 24 at 9 and 11 a.m.
Worship Leader:
Rev. Susan Milnor, Interim Senior Minister
Worship Associate: Rodney Lowe
"The Deep Down Moments"
Have you ever had a mystical experience in your journey on this earth? Madeleine L'Engle says that "There is nothing so secular that it cannot be sacred." Human beings have a need for the deep down moments that help bring meaning to the cycles of life. Reflections on where, and when, we experience the sacred. Also, we'll have another congregant story, and music by the Adult Choir and Sam Whitesell, pianist.
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| Stewardship Campaign Update |
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Greetings from the First UU Stewardship Team!
THANK YOU to all who have ALREADY pledged at the start of our 2019 campaign! For those who haven't, NOW'S THE TIME!
Here's a "stewardship story" from a new member at First UU:
It was with trepidation I attended my first Sunday service about seven months ago. I was coming from a dynamic UU Fellowship and I was optimistic but not sure I'd find a new spiritual home. Over the course of the next few months through events like Pride Parade, New Member Orientation, potlucks, Theme Circles, Chalice Circles, Care Network, and Welcome Ambassador training, I realized I had found my home.
Each Sunday I'm inspired by the quality of our sermons (better than a TED Talk!), the musical gifts of our choir, and Sam and Wayne's virtuosity at the piano and organ. I marvel at the beauty of our Sanctuary and the genuine sense of loving community as we greet our neighbors during services.
Stewardship takes on additional urgency this year as we embark on developmental ministry, while supporting sustainable staffing and maintaining our over 200-year-old physical home for those who come after us. We do these things while shining as a beacon of liberal religious values in increasingly unsettled times, while uniting in our mission to inspire spiritual growth, to care for each other and our community, to seek truth, and to act for justice.
It is in this spirit of urgency that I am increasing my pledge. I encourage you to join me as your circumstances permit.
- Justin Jackson, new member
You can pledge anytime online at
uusociety.org/donate/stewardship/
or fill out a pledge card - we'll mail them out this week - and turn it in at the Stewardship Table on one of the next four Sundays.
Not sure how much to pledge? Check out the Contribution Guidelines at this link:
Thank you for pledging and for your commitment to our First UU Society! Questions? Contact us at
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We have a special challenge from an anonymous pledger: If 20 pledging units will increase their
pledges by $1000, they will also increase their pledge by $1000!
- At the end of the campaign we will have some great raffle prizes! Get your pledge in ASAP to be sure you're included!
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Drop-in Parents Chalice Circle - March 24
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 Sarah Russell
The March Parents Chalice Circle is March 24 from 10:10-11:10 a.m. downstairs in the Reeb Room. The Nursery knows that parents are meeting so will have extra coverage for all ages. This is a pilot so after the May meeting we will evaluate what to change. Please spread the word among other parents. This is an opportunity to explore a spiritual topic with other parents.
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Proactive & Gracious - March 24
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Sunday, March 24, 12:15-2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Please join visiting presenter Jennifer Greene of Long Island, NY, as she screens
"Cesar Chavez: Respect for All", an inspiring 22-minute video on the universal rights advocacy of Cesar Chavez, featuring his great-grand-niece, Genesis Butler, a 9-year-old girl of African American, Apache, and Hispanic descent. This will be followed by a talk, "Heeding Genesis & Eating for a Small, Hot, and Hurting Planet: What Gets In Our Way?"
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Bereavement Group
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The First UU Society of Burlington Pastoral Care Associates team invites you to a Bereavement group which will begin on
Tuesday, April 2. The group will be held on Tuesday evenings in April and May from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
No one is immune to losses. It comes in many forms such as loss of a loved one by death, a miscarriage, or a suicide. It may be an anticipatory loss or loss of a job, finances, a sense of self, and much more.
If you are interested in attending, please register
here.
If you have any questions please call Brenda Dupuis at 802-338-7196.
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Save the Date! Non-Violent Communication Training April 6
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Your Healthy Congregation Team is thrilled to invite all UU members and friends to a Non-Violent Communication training!
What: Transforming and Effective Communication training with expert teacher Pan Vera
When: Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Where: FUUSB basement/Community Room
Who: UU members and friends, all experience levels welcome--no prior experience required.
Enter the discount code uu-member to get a $0 ticket for UU members and friends
Questions? Email Amelia at
Hope to see you there,
The Healthy Congregation Team
(Amelia, Sarah, Stu, Brenda, Noah, & Nancy)
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April Game Night
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 Erika Reif, Family Ministry Assistant
Come join UU families and friends for another fun-filled Game Night, April 6!
We will have some games at the ready and you are welcome to bring a favorite, as well. And because any gathering is more fun with food, we're having a potluck too, so bring a dish to share (skip the plates and utensils-we've got that covered!)
Come for a little bit or the whole time; bring all your ages (and your inner child, too) and play an old favorite or learn a new game. (10-handed solitaire, anyone?) We look forward to having you join us!
We'll have childcare available in the nursery for the littlest, with some kids' games available if they choose.
Mark your calendar: Saturday, April 6 from 5:30-8 p.m. in the Community Room. (Please note: We are starting at 5:30 this time instead of 5 to accommodate other events.)
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| Register Now: Transgender Inclusion in Congregations Program |
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Registration is now open for the "Transgender Inclusion in Congregations" program. As previously announced in The Steeple and in worship services earlier this year, this program is being offered at First UU as a way of deepening our welcoming to all. The program begins with discussion groups in mid/late-April with a final workshop in early May.
This program is offered by Transforming Hearts Collective, a trans-led organization working to create a world where people genuinely care for each other. The program will be composed of two group discussions and one half-day workshop. The group discussions will begin with participants completing two video lectures at home and then gathering together in small groups on a Sunday afternoon or a Tuesday evening to review reflection questions, and resources that take the conversation deeper. Participants can choose one of two discussion times to attend (Sunday or Tuesday). These sessions would be led by FUUSB facilitators. The program will culminate in a half-day workshop at FUUSB led by Zr. Alex Kapitan from Transforming Hearts Collective.
Click
here to register and to view the specific dates of the program. Registration will remain open through April 5.
In faith,
Rev. Susan & Rev. Andrée
Trans 101 Resources:
Some of you have also asked about resources helping to educate you around trans and gender-inclusive language. We have curated a list of short videos including one featuring Rev. Andrée and FUUSB member and OWL Instructor, Amelia Schlossberg, discussing gender and pronouns. You can access those videos
here.
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Access ACS - How Members Stay Connected!
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Christina Fulton, Director of Operations and FInance
Have you signed up for an Access ACS login? Access ACS, what's that, you might ask!
Would it surprise you if I told you that about 145 of our members have already signed up with Access ACS and are enjoying the benefits? Yes, if you sign up with Access ACS you will have your very own path into your record on our database! You can see your pledge payments, you will have access to a directory and be able to see our calendar! You can even load a photograph of yourself so that when other members look you up in our directory, they'll be able to see your smiling face. You can sign up by going to our website:
https://uusociety.org/members/access-acs-members-stay-connected/
And if you already have a login to Access ACS, here's a super surprise for you! You can have access to the directory and calendar with you wherever you go. If you have a smart phone, go to your app store and search for the ACS Church Life app. Download the app and enjoy!
Keep an eye in the eNews for more news about how to use Access ACS for all that you do at FUUSB. Contact Christina if you have any questions.
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UUA General Assembly!
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 Christina Fulton, Director of Operations and Finance
This year UUA General Assembly (GA) is going to be in Spokane, WA from June 19-23. This year's GA theme is "The Power of We"
"In a time of great challenge and heartbreak in our world, what does our faith demand from us? At this year's General Assembly we will explore the power, possibility, purpose, struggle and joy of finding the path forward together as Unitarian Universalists. Attendees will leave inspired, with the tools needed to carry on the work into their own congregations and communities. Join us as we work for collective liberation inside and outside our faith."
FUUSB has a small amount budgeted to help pay the registration fee of members attending GA. If you are interested, please contact Christina at
[email protected]
and let her know that you would like to be considered for a GA Scholarship. The deadline for FUUSB scholarships is April 22, 2019. Registration fees go up on May 1st, so it pays to register early!
There are other forms of financial aid for GA, but applications are due no later than March 31.
FUUSB has nine delegates for this year's GA. If you'd like more information on the responsibilities of being a delegate, you can find that information here:
If you are planning to attend GA and would like to be a delegate, please contact Christina at
[email protected].
At this point we know that Rev.
Andrée, Christina and Woody Fulton are all planning to attend GA. If you are planning to attend, please let Christina know. We try to have a gathering of attendees in early June.
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| First UU Community BBQ |
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Zoe Hart
Living into our mission: First UU 4th of July Community BBQ
July 4, 2018 fell on a Wednesday and Darrell Fields and I were standing in front of the Meeting House at our weekly Love & Justice vigil. I learned that day that, while various organizations provide meals throughout the year for those in need, on the 4th of July there is no place where those in need of a meal can find dinner. Darrell and I had the idea that day that First UU might fill that gap by hosting a 4th of July Community BBQ. We would welcome both those in need of a meal and our Old North End neighbors, to share a meal and get to know each other better.
If you'd be interested in helping with First UU's 4th of July Community BBQ, contact Zoe Hart at
[email protected].
Let her know if you'd like to help with the planning, help the day of, or both.
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| JUMP Spring Campaign |
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The mission of the Joint Urban Ministry Project was inspired by five downtown Burlington faith communities who decided in 1988 to work together towards a vision of assisting children and adults from our region who were facing the overwhelming challenges of poverty. JUMP has grown to help people in many practical and thoughtful ways and is now an interfaith collaboration
involving 28 faith communities, many businesses, individuals and foundations. Because of all of this support, because of you, JUMP "gives help where it is really needed."
JUMP's 2018 STORY IN NUMBERS:
- 2185 households assisted; 1163 first-time visitors.
- 5595 individuals received assistance.
- Transportation support; Gas $24,725 plus an additional Bus Passes $5714 and Bikes $1257.
- $31,686 for transportation assistance; 31% of all vouchers requested.
- $33,106 in-kind donations distributed included food bags, personal hygiene items, diapers, and cleaning supplies.
The 2019 Spring Campaign Challenge: to ensure families find
help to meet basic needs and increase transportation assistance support
where and when it is needed.
We hope to raise $25,000 during JUMP's Spring Campaign, empowering JUMP to help more Vermont households in 2019.
Your support is critically needed to assure that we can continue to tell this great story of meeting the needs of your neighbors.
Please give generously. JUMP needs your support!
Please mail donations to: JUMP, 38 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT 05401.
Gifts to JUMP by credit card are welcome online at www.jumpvt.org
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| UUA New England Region Workshop |
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Come, Let Us Worship:
Cycle of Song Vol. 2
Saturday, May 11 from 10 am-5 pm
at the UU Church of Haverhill, MA
PRESENTER: Rev. Jason Shelton, Composer, Arranger, Choral Conductor
Come celebrate the release of Come, Let Us Worship: Cycle of Song Vol. 2! This collection of eight brand-new anthems inspired by calls to worship by the Rev. Gretchen Haley is written with the needs of the smaller choir in mind. We'll spend the day exploring this new music with Jason, ending the day with a public performance of the pieces.
REGISTRATION FEE: $40 per person, lunch included.
For more details or to register, please
click here.
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