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Join us for worship on Sunday, December 23
at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Worship Leader:
Rev. Andre 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, December 16 at 9 and 11 a.m.
Worship Leaders:
Andrea Spencer-Linzie,
Rev. Susan Milnor, and Rev. Andre Mol
Worship Associate: Kristin Kany
Multigenerational Winter Solstice Service
Running beneath most winter holidays is the recognition of light and dark and the Earth's movement. The longest night, the return of light - this rhythm affects us deeply, and many cultures celebrate the turning point with story, song, and ritual. Join us for a multigenerational Winter Solstice Service.
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| Donations to Black Lives of UU |
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Gabriel Ely, FUUSB Racial Justice Team Co-Lead
BLUU - Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism - was founded in 2015 out of the frustration of Black UUs at being silenced and marginalized for many years. BLUU works to expand the power and capacity of Black UUs, funded by resources promised but not delivered by the UUA in the past. This time, we're committed to keeping our promise.
In 2016 the UUA Board of Trustees committed $5 million to BLUU, including $1 million from UUA congregations, estimated to be $10 per member. FUUSB committed to raising our part by June 30, 2019.
UU donors, the Bradburds, have pledged matching funds and so has the Northern New England District, so that if FUUSB raises its $10 per member ($4700) for BLUU by June 30, that amount will be tripled. We have raised $2200, including a budget commitment of $1000.
Half of the loose plate for the service this Sunday, December 16 will go towards our $4700 goal. There will be a table in the Parlors after the service where you can make an additional donation to BLUU or learn more about the campaign.
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| From the Music Director Search Team |
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The search committee has met several times now. We have hammered out the job description and a notice we can use to advertise the job, and will post it soon.
Before we can interview applicants, we need to hear your thoughts about the music program at First UU. We know the program needs to satisfy the diverse needs and tastes in our congregation, and each of you is part of that diversity.
Therefore, we will be hosting a listening session at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, December 23
. Please come and share what is important to you about the music program.
And don't hesitate to talk to us any time - We have light blue name tags so you can find us.
Steve Rainville, Mary Peabody, Priscilla Douglas, and Tom Hyde
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| Holiday Schedule for Worship Services |
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Please note the following schedule for our worship services during the holiday season. We hope you will join us!
Monday, December 24:
Christmas Eve Services at 4, 6, and 8 p.m.
4 p.m. - Multigenerational No-rehearsal Christmas Pageant
6 p.m. and 8 p.m. - Service of readings, carols, anthems, homily, and
candlelighting, with Rev. Susan Milnor, Rev. Andre Mol,
and Adult Choir
Sunday, December 30: One service at 11 a.m.
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| "No-Rehearsal" Christmas Pageant |
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Our 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve candlelight service on Monday, December 24 is especially geared towards families with younger children, featuring our "no-rehearsal" Nativity Pageant, and filled with favorite carols. Children are invited to leap into the roles of Angels, Shepherds, Animals, Wise Ones and more! There are enough parts and costumes for every child or adult who wants to participate!
We are in need 4 or 5 adult pageant helpers. You will help put costumes on the children and point them in the right direction when it's their turn to enter the scene. Andrea will email you the script in advance, and ask you to arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. You will also help clear the chancel and Sanctuary of pageant props and costumes and stow these away at the conclusion of the service, so that the 6:00 p.m. service is ready to go.
Please let Andrea know if you can help out!
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| Christmas Eve Candlelighters/Ushers |
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 Christina Fulton, Director of Operations
W
e are in need of volunteers to be Ushers and Candle Lighters for all three of our Christmas Eve services. There are openings for 8 people at the 4 and 6 p.m. services, and 6 people for the 8 p.m. service. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old and be able to arrive 45 minutes prior to the service. Use this link to sign up:
http://signup.com/go/oqNXfBq
If you have any questions, please contact Christina at
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| Christmas Breakfast |
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 Lynn Douglas
Every Christmas morning, UUs fill our Community Room with great food, warm conversation, and invited neighbors and friends.
Come for your 20th year or your first! It is a wonderful Christmas tradition and a terrific way to start your day. Remember, Christmas is a verb!
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| FUUSB Offices Closed for the Holidays |
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The Society offices will be closed from Monday, December 24 through Tuesday, January 1
, so that staff members can celebrate the holidays with their families. We will reopen the offices on Wednesday, January 2.
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| Cakes for the Queen of Heaven |
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No this is not a baking class, read on...
To be held on Sundays from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 24
TOTAL OF FIVE Sessions - If you can only make 4 out of 5 you can still sign up!
Held at FUUSB - 152 Church Street, Burlington, VT
"Cakes for the Queen of Heaven" is a feminine honoring adult RE curriculu
m by Rev. Shirley Ranck. Everyone is welcome to sign up and attend no matter how you identify in terms of gender and sexuality. All are welcome!
Join Sara Everest and Sarah Russell in examination of pre-Judeo Christian cultures that may have worshiped the female as divine.
If interested please call or email:
Sarah Russell
I have recently reclaimed my name of Sarah.
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| Help Lead Our Theme Circles |
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Our Theme Circle program has become a vital way for members and friends of First UU to explore our monthly themes and deepen their connections with others. We are in need of new leaders for this program beginning in February, including new facilitators and a new coordinator.
Theme Circle Facilitators are each assigned a specific group on a specific day and time. They are responsible for convening their group and leading a structured discussion based on our monthly theme once a month for five months. All facilitators also meet separately as a group in the beginning of each month for training and support. Our facilitators find their role to be a valuable experience in creating shared spaces for listening and spiritual deepening.
Our Theme Circle Coordinator helps with advertising, registration and assigning registrants to sessions based on their preferences. The coordinator works closely with the facilitators in January, February, September and October to get Theme Circles running in both the spring and fall.
If you are interested in joining this leadership team, which plays a vital role in creating a space for belonging here at First UU, please reach out to Rev. Andre Mol, our Developmental Assistant Minister for Pastoral Care and Membership (
[email protected]
).
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| Memorial Wreaths and Greens |
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 Sarah Forbes
A warm thank you to all who chose to remember a loved one with a wreath or greens for our Sanctuary or Meeting House doors. Please follow this link to see the listing.
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| Inclement Weather/Emergency Cancellation Protocol |
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 Christina Fulton, Director of Operations and Finance
It is the time of year when weather and health emergencies often occur. We strongly encourage members and friends of FUUSB to think carefully before venturing out in such an emergency. If you are ill, please stay home and take care of yourself. If you believe that the roads are unsafe, please stay home. Your safety is the most important thing. If Sunday worship services need to be cancelled for any reason, the staff will implement their Procedure for Emergency Cancellation of Services. This procedure, in short, is as follows:
- The Senior Minister and/or the Director of Operations will make the final decision to cancel.
- Once the decision has been made, the Director of Operations will contact all other staff members to notify them of the decision.
- The Director of Operations will insure that the Society voicemail message is changed to reflect the cancellation, the congregation is sent an email informing them of the cancellation, notices will be posted on the Facebook page, Facebook group and website, and a notice will be sent to WCAX.
- Every attempt will be made to put a sign on the door of the Meeting House.
In the case of a meeting or event cancellation at a time other than Sunday morning worship:
- If you are responsible for cancelling a meeting or event, please notify the office as early as possible. We suggest cancelling no later than 3 p.m. for an evening meeting. Also attempt to contact all people who are scheduled to attend your meeting or event via phone or email.
- When notified of a cancellation, the Society will put a sign on the door notifying people of the cancellation, put a notice in the Facebook group and in the News section of our homepage.
- If the decision is made to close the Meeting House offices, we will contact all groups with events scheduled for that day. We will also put a notice in the Facebook group and in the News section of our homepage.
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| Holiday eNews Schedule |
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Please note that there will be no eNews
on
December 27 or January 3
.
The next two issues will be published on December 20 and January 10. The deadline to submit announcements is Monday for that week's eNews.
Thank you!
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