Join us outdoors in front of the Meeting House this Sunday for our annual celebration of creativity in poetry and music, spoken and sung by youth and adults.
Due to the recent increase in COVID infections, we are asking everyone to wear masks both outdoors and in the building. There will be chairs, but feel free to bring your own. We will be setting up chairs with additional spacing, and ask all to respect each other's need for extra space during this time.
Live-streamed services begin next Sunday, August 29. More details and the livestream link will be shared in the eNews and on the uusociety.org website.
Introduction from Our New Ministerial Intern - Rowan Van Ness!
Hello! I am thrilled to be joining you all this year for my congregational internship. This is one of my final steps in the process of becoming ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister. I was raised as a Unitarian Universalist in Washington state before coming east to study economics and environmental science and policy at Smith College.
I spent my first few years out of college working on environmental justice, and then had an opportunity to do faith-based environmental justice work through a partnership between the UUA and the UU Ministry for Earth. I have worked extensively with youth, as a camp counselor, a middle school teacher (math and science), and a Coming of Age coordinator, before settling into my work as a Director of Lifespan Religious Education for several years before deciding to pursue ordained ministry. I graduated in May from Harvard Divinity School with my Master of Divinity (MDiv) and completed more than 800 hours of training as a hospital chaplain during my schooling.
My partner, Caitlyn, and I moved to Vermont in June and have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to spend the summer hiking, camping, gardening, and exploring Vermont. It seems like this will be a great place for us to be! If you'd like to be in touch, you can reach me at [email protected].
— Rowan Van Ness
Welcoming Back Rev. David Ruffin in a New Role!
We are excited to announce that Rev. David Ruffin has just begun as FUUSB's Developmental Director of Youth and Creative Arts Ministries. This new position was created to continue the essential work of our high school youth program Gabriel Ely has so capably coordinated for the past two years, and to strengthen connections with and among Coming of Age youth, young adults, and many others in the congregation... all with an emphasis on the creative arts. Through his work with Caring & Belonging leaders and his creative direction of the Vespers series, David is already known to many in the Society. It is good to welcome him again to our staff!
Rev. Tricia Hart, Developmental Senior Minister
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Act for Justice Request From the Immigration Justice Team
Bernie Carver, Immigration Justice Team Chair
On August 13, 102 human rights organizations contacted President Biden and others in his administration to express disappointment in immigration policies. You can access the letter here. The administration is swiftly deporting vulnerable people to some of the most dangerous places in the world before they can file asylum claims. This violates US law and international obligations, and has resulted in an unprecedented number of unaccompanied children being left at our border.
The Immigration Justice Team requests that you add your voice to theirs by asking President Biden to keep his promise to implement a more humane immigration system. We suggest using this website to express your concerns: whitehouse.gov/contact
Suggested Script: "Hi, I’m contacting you from [ZIP] to urge reopening the US border and allowing migrants to safely seek legal protection in the US. Under the Trump administration, the Centers for Disease Control ignored the advice of public health experts in closing the southern border. Reopening the border and processing asylum applications is a vital step in promoting the health and safety of migrants and border communities alike. Thank you."
Feel free to use your own words to express these sentiments. If you prefer to mail your comments, the address is:
The Honorable Joseph Biden, President of the United States,
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500
Eckhart Tolle Chalice Circle Welcomes You
Jeff Byam
The Eckhart Tolle Chalice Circle is accepting new members. Currently, our group meets virtually on Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m. We would welcome you to join if you have interest. Please contact Jeff Byam at [email protected] or (802) 355-2761 if you have any questions or if you are interested in joining.
Racial Justice Team Walking Tour
Linda Cooper, Racial Justice Team
Vermont’s African American Heritage Trail beckons…
Your Racial Justice Team takes you to Hinesburg to learn about the Black Farmers of 1790-1890:
Saturday, August 28, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Spaces are limited: Register with Linda Cooper, [email protected] or (802) 922-7554.
Leave from the FUUSB parking lot at 9:45 a.m. to carpool, or meet the group by the Black Settlers Historic Marker on Lincoln Hill Road in Hinesburg. Carpools are at your discretion; please wear a mask while sharing a car with others. Bring snacks and water for yourself.
From 1795 to 1865 an African American farming community thrived on Lincoln Hill in what we now know as Hinesburg. We will go for a walk (on a road, not through the woods) with historian Elise Guyette to see where the farms were, learn what their lives in Hinesburg were like, and see some of the remnants of the cemetery. Click here for more information!
FUUSB will pay for our speaker. I will pass a hat to reimburse FUUSB. Please plan accordingly.
Ann Livingston Memorial Service
A memorial service for longtime FUUSB member Ann Livingston will be held on Saturday, August 28 at 2 p.m. at the First UU Society of Burlington.
The service will be livestreamed, and we encourage you to watch or listen from home if possible. The livestream link will be shared on our website. To access the link, please visit uusociety.org and click on Livingston Memorial Service under Featured Events. Those attending in person are asked to wear a mask.
Upcoming Services
August 29 at 10 a.m.
Online Worship Service
Rev. Patricia Hart and Martha Dallas
“Pillars of the Community”
Join us online as we begin our live-streamed services! The link will be shared in the eNews and on the uusociety.org website.