Rev. Patricia Hart & Rowan Van Ness, with Brenda Balon
"Mothering"
On this Mother’s Day, we will reflect on the essential, complicated, wonderful, overwhelming, challenging work of one person caring for another. Or perhaps it makes more sense to think of parenting as the work of a “village.” We certainly need each other…
To make our Meeting House as safe as possible, we ask that everyone who is 5 and older be vaccinated, and those 2 and older wear a mask while inside. Seating in the Sanctuary has been adjusted for safe distancing, and the ventilation system can accommodate at least 100 people.
All are welcome to Outdoor Coffee Hour at 11 a.m. in front of the Meeting House, and Zoom Coffee Hour at 11:15 a.m. at this link: bit.ly/3j4RxJ9.
Sanctuary Windows & Ventilation
Dear Members and Friends,
As we celebrate warming temperatures and gathering again in the Sanctuary, you may notice that we are not opening windows in the Sanctuary. This is because our Climate Response Team has been at work, with the help of CX Associates, to determine the proper ventilation needed for safe occupancy, reducing the potential spread of Covid and other airborne pathogens.
As a temporary safety measure, fans have been installed in the northeast and northwest windows of the Sanctuary balcony. At the same time, an outside air handler is bringing in fresh air into the basement Community Room and classrooms. By opening the stairwell that connects the Community Room to the Sanctuary vestibule, this fresh air is forced upstairs and drawn into the Sanctuary by the balcony fans, bathing the Sanctuary in fresh outside air. Opening windows would actually interfere with this process.
We are hopeful within the next year or two to have a permanent ventilation system installed that will include an energy recovery system, so we are not blowing warm air out of the windows during the colder months.
David McFeeters, Facilities Manager
From the Racial Justice Team: VIA Training
Hello All -
There is great work happening to truly abolish slavery in the state of VT! I thought it had been done centuries ago, but there were obvious loopholes in the wordings within our state Constitution. New wording that eliminates any opportunity for slavery has been approved by the VT House and Senate and will go to the voters in November. Please join this training on May 7, put on by Vermont Interfaith Action, to learn about how to support this important effort.
Peggy Owen Sands, Racial Justice Team
MAG Meeting on Tuesday!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
This is an invitation to attend the Ministry Area Gathering (MAG) Meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 6-8 p.m. on Zoom. Our MAG Meetings are open to everyone! Are you a lay leader? Join us. Are you a committee/team member? Join us. Are you new and want to find out what's happening? Join us!
This gathering, we will be talking about two major items:
FUUSB Yearbook - A new and exciting way to share what happened during our last congregational year. We're hoping to move away from such a long Annual Report and towards a fun Annual Yearbook with tons of photos. Come help us brainstorm on how to make this new idea a reality.
The 8th Principle - The congregation plans to vote on adopting the 8th Principle at this year's Annual Meeting. Please join our conversation about the 8th Principle, how it relates to racism and other forms of oppression, and why it's important for us and the UUA.
We encourage you to invite anyone from your team or committee to join us. See you on Tuesday!
Spring Vespers on May 11
Marcus Keely, Rev. David Ruffin (on behalf of the Vespers Team)
In this season of returning light and warmth, we hope you’ll join us as our Spring Vespers gatherings continue on Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. It is finally looking like we'll have beautiful spring (or summer!) weather. So we'll likely be outside on the grounds (east side), though in the Community Room otherwise. If indoors we request RSVPs (up to 20) HERE and will also offer a way to join via Zoom. If outside, all are welcome!
Soup at Six!
We also FINALLY trust we can offer “Soup at 6 pm!” (previously cancelled due to weather). We'll be serving soup and bread outside for all to enjoy, whether or not you can stay for Vespers (or are officially connected with FUUSB). Thanks to those who've already volunteered to provide soup/bread for this! Please be in touch if you can help out on May 11 or May 25 to David Ruffin at [email protected].
Vespers gatherings offer an opportunity to share in music and meditative silence, poetry and presence, gratitude and grief, story and song. We take a midweek pause to re-connect and re-inspire ourselves for the journeying.
Unitarian Universalist Spirituality –
A Conversation with Rev. Tricia
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
What part does spiritual practice – or a deeply-held belief – have in our creedless faith? If UUs “can believe whatever we want” (or nothing at all), how is our tradition a religion? What’s the connection between justice-making and spiritual growth?
Come join in an informal discussion with Rev. Tricia Hart about these and other big questions. All are welcome – with a special invitation to those new to UUism or this Society.
Offered twice (yes, it’s okay to come both times!)
Sunday, May 22, 11:45 a.m. - In-person – under the canopy in the Memorial Garden
Thursday, May 25, 6 p.m. – on Zoom (A link will be shared soon!)
Meal Train for a FUUSB Family
Please join us in helping the Harringtons (Nina, Tom, and family) as they care for newborn baby Jaycee, who was in the hospital, and also grieve the loss of Tom's mother. Your support and help is so appreciated.
Neighbors are putting together a Meal Train for the family and would like to ask for your help. If you can make a meal, please consider a gluten-free option. If you would prefer to donate a gift card to a local restaurant or GrubHub, that is fine, too.
We are seeking article submissions for the June Steeple newsletter! The deadline to submit articles is May 25, and the word limit is up to 400 words. The newsletter will be published the week of June 13.
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
There are still some sites left for the campers among you! Come join us at Elmore State Park for fun and community, with optional hiking, swimming, paddling, and s'mores. The dozen households signed up already range in size from 1 to 5 and in age from 3 to 60. We'll potluck Friday evening; with help from Rev. David Ruffin, we'll do some campsite worship on Sunday morning; and in between we'll find many other ways to connect with each other and enjoy this "Beauty Spot." We can accommodate at least 4 more households in both lean-tos and tent sites; small group doubling would allow more than that. Contact [email protected] to reserve or with questions!
In Memoriam
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that two members of First UU Society have passed away.
Martha Fitzgerald died on April 16, 2022. Martha was a longtime member of FUUSB since 1963. An obituary for Martha can be found at this link:
Steve Gelatt died on April 25, 2022. Steve was a longtime FUUSB member who signed the membership book in 1990. An obituary for Steve is available here: