Dear Friends,
Your staff and board have been in deep discussions about how to move forward during this time of Coronavirus. This is uncharted territory for us all, and we are doing our best to consider all the information that we have...and don't have, and make wise decisions. On Tuesday I sent you an email explaining our FUUSB response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Tuesday seems like a week ago and everything feels different now that there is a case in Chittenden County. After our third staff meeting of the week this morning, we are now prepared to announce our new response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After consulting the CDC, the Vermont Health Department, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and others, we are announcing that the First UU Society of Burlington, Vermont will be closing the meeting house to Sunday worship and all other gatherings. We will, of course, revisit this decision often and let you know of any changes. We see this time of "Social Distancing" as not only a way to contain the spread of Coronavirus, but also a way to fulfill our mission of "...caring for each other and our community."
During this time, it will be of extreme importance that we do everything in our power to create community and relationship with our members, even when we don't see each other every Sunday. We challenge you all to make an extra effort to call your fellow FUUSB members who might be feeling isolated and offering your friendship. Send some cards. Offer to pick up some groceries. Be creative!
As this virus is fast moving, so is our response...here is our current plan:
- Worship Services - All Sunday services and faith development classes at the Meeting House are cancelled until further notice. In the meantime, we are preparing to offer some version of our service online. Check our website at uusociety.org to find out how you can participate in our online worship. Online Giving is more important than ever - you can mail in your gift, set up giving through Realm, or go to our website: https://uusociety.org/donate/ to make one time or ongoing gifts.
- Meetings/Events - All meetings and events at the Meeting House are cancelled as of Friday, March 13. Please understand that by cancelling meetings at the Meeting House, we are in no way implying that they stop all together. We encourage teams, committees, and groups to explore the possibilities of online meetings. Many of our groups already use this technology, it really is quite easy. Please check our FUUSB COVID-19 Response page on our website for resources on online meetings and updates to this plan.
- Staff - Your core staff (Rev. Tricia, Christina, Erika, Mary and David) will continue to work their regular schedules. Those of us that can, will be working some of our hours from home. You will still be able to reach us via phone and email. Our hourly/part time workers would be most affected by the closing of the building, however we have implemented a policy of paying these staff members for any hours missed due to the building being closed.
- Communications - We will continue to issue our weekly Enews, so please send items for the Enews to [email protected]. We will also continue to evaluate the COVID-19 situation and update our policy accordingly. Updates will be emailed, posted on our Website (www.uusociety.org), and posted on our Facebook page and group. Please get in the habit of checking these sources regularly. If you know anyone in the congregation who does not have access to a computer, please share this information with them.
- Stewardship - As you know, we are in the midst of our Stewardship Campaign. We are asking everyone to please pledge now! You can activate your Realm account and pledge directly from Realm or you can complete an online pledge card by clicking on "Donate" at the top of our website. While in Realm you can easily set up automatic pledge payments for this year or next year.
We understand that some of you will see this decision as premature, others will be relieved. We see this as a decision that best helps us take care of each other and our community. Please stay in relationship with us and each other, and by all means take care of yourself. We thank you for your support and understanding as we travel this road together. I leave you with this poem:
Pandemic - A poem by Rev. Lynn Ungar
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath- the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still, reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful. (You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another's hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love--
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
Peace,
Christina Fulton
Director of Operations & Finance
