Rev. Patricia Hart with Geoff Duke, Worship Associate
"Entering the Dark-Time"
In ancient Celtic times (and today) the holiday that became Halloween was known as Samhain - marking the end of the harvest, and the beginning of the dark season of the year. As we balance on that same turning point in this year of tumult, what lessons might the darkness allow us to learn? How can we be still?
The service will be live-streamed from the Sanctuary at 10 a.m. The link will be shared on our website, uusociety.org. If you miss the livestream, a recording of the service will be available on our YouTube channel.
At 11 a.m. all are welcome to Outdoor Coffee Hour, and to Zoom Coffee Hour at bit.ly/3j4RxJ9.
Outdoor Watch Party
Sunday at 10 a.m. -You are invited to watch the livestream of the service on a screen in front of the Meeting House. Wear your layers, bring a lap blanket, worship together! Warm drinks and childcare available.
Fall Festival & Soup Lunch Sunday - October 31
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
On the Meeting House grounds, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
This Sunday is Halloween and we're having a fall festival right after the service! The YUUth Group will be leading games, spooky songs, and stories for children and the young at heart. All ages are encouraged to paint rocks to send to our more isolated community members. There will be sweet treats, of course, and warm soup and chili for lunch (contributions welcomed!). Come in costume or come as you are, but come celebrate the season together!
Get Spooky With Yuuth Group!
Rev. David Ruffin, Director of Youth & Creative Arts Ministries
Yuuth Group meets tonight! - Thursday at 5:30-7:30 p.m. - in the Memorial Garden. We’ll be planning, gaming and decorating for the Fall Festival this Halloween Sunday! All are welcome!
And, yes, as mentioned above, Yuuth Group is taking leadership in organizing and inspiring our Fall Festival, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. this Halloween Sunday. We've got some games up our sleeves and a song and story or two. But we're just excited to connect with families and members of the community we don't usually get to see and to enjoy Halloween Sunday together. Reminder to Yuuth Group, plan to arrive at 10:30 to help with set up!
Then... FIRE with Pizza and S’MORES next Thursday, Nov. 4! We will meet at our regular time, 5:30-7:30 p.m., but at Rock Point, gathering at the parking lot at 5 Rock Point Rd. Please try to arrive on time so we can head into our secret woods spot together, ideally (be in touch if running late). Haven't had a chance to connect with Yuuth Group much, or at all, yet? This is a great event to join in the fun. All are welcome!
Racial Justice Team Walking Tour
Linda Cooper, Racial Justice Team
Our walking tour on Oct.16 was cancelled because of the weather forecast. We will try again on Oct. 30:
“More Than a Market: Finding Community in Local Markets of Burlington” - Saturday, October 30, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Join this tour to learn about migration stories through historic and present-day markets owned by people from around the world. These neighborhood markets have long served as the heart of their communities. Some markets have been in the same family for many generations and others expand the horizons of immigrants coming to the city and looking for a taste of home. Featured are historic markets on North Champlain St., Conger Ave., Pearl St., and North Ave. Our group is limited to 8 participants.
This free tour starts at 7 Pine St., ending at 1 Intervale Ave., and is organized by the Community Center on Allen St. Please register with Linda Cooper,[email protected] to enjoy this historical tour.
Knitting/Crocheting Group
Linda Graves
The knitting/crocheting group will be gathering for an hour on Zoom at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2. This is an informal group that gathers to share projects and ideas about their crafts. Anyone is welcome to join no matter what your skill level is. We are a purely social just-have-fun group! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3qKUgLa. Please join us!
Vespers Moves Indoors - November 3
Rev. David Ruffin, Director of Youth & Creative Arts Ministries
We had a beautiful last outdoor service together under the Memorial Garden canopy last week. Fall Vespers services continue, though! This upcoming Wednesday, November 3 at 6 p.m. we will be moving into the Sanctuary of the Meeting House for the first time. We will be masked and distanced and limited in our capacity to 20 in-person participants. Because of the limited capacity we are asking those interested in attending in person to please RSVP here. Thank you for doing that at your earliest convenience! Those who wish to experience the service via Zoom are also most welcome to attend by following this link. No need to RSVP for virtual attendance.
Vespers offer a mid-week opportunity for a soulful, musical, co-creative hour of renewal and connection. Vespers services need you and your voice to make the magic happen. Please reach out to [email protected] to learn more about getting involved. ALL are welcome.
Call to Artists & Non-Artists of All Ages
Design a Holiday Greeting Card
Help support the FUUSB Holiday Fundraiser by submitting your original design for a holiday greeting card that celebrates our Meeting House or one of the UU principles. Artwork must be received by Friday, November 12.
While all card designs will be shared with our UU community (either online or within a service) five will be selected for printing and sale in the FUUSB Holiday Wreath and Card Sale. Finished cards will be 4.25" x 5.5"(either horizontal or vertical). Artwork may be any size but will be reduced to fit on the size above. Any medium may be used; color images are preferred. More information will follow.
Nina Harrington, Mark Kuprych, Rebecca Gurney, Hope Baker-Carr
Keep the Abenaki Language Alive!
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Our Meeting House grounds are a great, public place to expose ourselves and passers-by to some words in the Abenaki language native to this area. You can help illustrate a word with a colorful illustration. Let's make this a multigenerational effort! Get instructions and choose your word(s) here.
FUUSB Teams & Committees Listing
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
For years we’ve been asked to create a list of all committees/teams, when they meet, and how to contact them. We are asking that Committee Chairs/Team Leads please click on this link and complete the form. It’s very short but will be extremely helpful.
By creating this list, we are hoping to become more welcoming to visitors and new members who may not know all we have to offer or how to be in contact with a group they may be interested in. The list will be on our website, so if you would rather not include your personal email, let me know and we can give your team an email address that ends in @uusociety.org. We can have mail received at that address forwarded to your personal email.
What if your committee/team doesn’t have a regular meeting time? Please consider setting a regular meeting time. This is the best way for newcomers to feel welcome to participate. Otherwise, your team could feel more like a private club, and that’s not what anyone wants.
If your information changes, you can update it by going to the same link. It can also be found on the Forms page (under Members) on the website.
Upcoming Sundays
November 7 at 10 a.m.
Online Worship Service
Rev. Patricia Hart with Judy Brook
Join us for live-streamed Sunday worship! The link will be shared on our website, uusociety.org.