To celebrate Earth Day, this Sunday’s service features the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for the Earth, whose mission is to be a wellspring of spiritual and educational grounding, and provide practical support for bold, accountable action for environmental and climate justice, and the flourishing of all life. What is your relationship with the planet?
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.
Due to the generosity of our members, friends, and people in the surrounding business community, the auction has a total of 76 different items, with the potential for 430 participants/purchases. Starting bids for some items are as low as $5. Categories consist of 18 different gift certificates from Burlington merchants, 10 different dinners, 2 breakfasts/brunches, 5 different food items delivered, 9 different classes/workshops, 8 outings/adventures, several offerings for families, a variety of services, several parties, tickets, and events. There is something for everyone!
Meet new people! Rekindle relationships! Help Build Community at FUUSB. Many of the offerings provide opportunities for members and friends to get to know one another in a relaxed atmosphere, and many of the group activities take place outdoors!
Show your support and participate in the fun! All funds raised go toward supporting FUUSB’s program budgets. Don’t delay! The Auction closes on Friday, April 29 at noon.
Join the Immigration Justice Team (IJT) in supporting “Milk with Dignity”
Work at dairy farms is a grueling and often dangerous job. Many of these jobs are filled by the most vulnerable in our communities: migrant workers. Vermont’s dairy farmers also struggle to provide adequate housing and reasonable hours and wages as grocery conglomerates ratchet down the price paid for milk.
Hannaford relies on Vermont farms for many of its dairy products. They claim to respect human rights throughout the supply chain, provide fair wages and benefits, and fight poverty and hunger. In reality, Hannaford violates all these commitments for farmworkers.
The Milk with Dignity program asks dairy producers to source their milk in compliance with fundamental human rights, committing to dairy pricing that supports fair wages, basic benefits, and humane working and living conditions for migrant workers.
Join the IJT and Community Voices for Immigrant Rights for a rally at Hannaford, 1127 North Avenue, on Saturday, April 23 at 11:45 a.m. We will gather at Leddy Park tennis courts, march up to Hannaford, and picket the store for an hour. Join us to turn up the heat on Hannaford!
Spring Vespers Gathering - April 27
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, April 27 at 6:30 p.m.,and every other Wednesday through May. We'll be outside on the grounds if the weather is inviting, and in the Community Room if not. For indoor gathering we will request RSVPs of up to 20 individuals HERE and will also offer a way to join via Zoom. If outside, there is no cap on in-person attendance.
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.
Soup at Six!
We will also be offering “Soup at 6 pm,” serving soup and bread outside (weather permitting) for all to enjoy, whether or not you can stay for Vespers. Thanks to those who've already volunteered to provide soup/bread for this! Please be in touch if you can help out on April 27, May 11 or 25 to David Ruffin at [email protected].
UUA General Assembly...It's Not Too Late!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. General Assembly (GA) will be multi-platform this year. There will be people attending in-person in Portland, OR and people joining via zoom. The dates are June 22 - 26. If you are interested in attending, it's not too late to register. Our Society receives 9 delegates (people who can vote for our congregation at business meetings.) Unfortunately, at this point, only one person has asked to be a delegate. If you are planning to attend GA, live or online, and would like to be a delegate, please contact Christina as soon as possible. If you would like some financial assistance to register for GA, the Society does have funds available. Email Christina, by April 27, if you would like financial assistance. GA is filled with educational programming for adults and children, opportunities for worship, interesting lectures, and so much more. Please consider attending GA and becoming a delegate for our congregation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Christina.
Get on Board the Meal Train!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
In our mission, we vow to "care for each other and our community." One way we show that care is by providing an easy way for members and friends to sign up to bring meals to members in need. Meals may be provided to someone who has had surgery and cannot cook for themselves, a family with a new baby who are just too tired to cook, or someone who is alone and having a difficult time managing. Whatever the reason, our congregation has shown up time and again to support our community.
For the past few years, Sarah Weber has been the organizer of these meals, using Meal Train, where members sign up to bring meals. Sarah has decided to retire from this position and we want to thank her for her amazing work. We would also love to find a person who is interested in organizing this. The job involves contacting people who might need a meal train to find out what types of food they can and cannot eat, how many meals a week they need, and when to deliver them; then setting up the Meal Train site and advertising it in the eNews and Facebook group.
If this sounds like a job that will help you live out our mission and bring some meaning and joy to your life, please give Christina a call at (802) 862-5630 ext. 2200 or email [email protected].
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Don't Knit? You Can Still Help!
FUUSB has been participating in Prayer Shawl Ministry for many years. Members and friends of our congregation knit/crochet shawls, and we deliver them to our community members who are ill, have experienced a death, have had a joyful addition to their family, etc. This ministry has been organized by many different members. Most recently, Sarah Weber has been storing the shawls and delivering them to people in need. Sarah has decided to retire from this job, and we want to thank her for her involvement in this project. We are also looking for someone to oversee this beautiful ministry. This job is limited in scope, and you do not have to be a knitter to take it on. We need someone to keep track of the shawls (they may be kept at your home or here at the Meeting House), keep track of our knitters (they already have a group in Realm), and deliver or find people to deliver shawls. Sometimes this person will also purchase yarn to give to knitters (the Society has some funds for this).
If you are interested in helping out with Prayer Shawl Ministry in this way, please contact Christina at [email protected] or (802) 862-5630 ext. 2200.
Click here to learn more about Prayer Shawl Ministry.
VIA Voter Campaign Training
Does the Vermont Constitution prohibit slavery, with no exceptions?
I thought so, but I was wrong! Watch this presentation by Debbie Ingram from Vermont Interfaith Action (VIA) to learn about the wording of our Constitution and how Vermonters will be voting to change it to abolish all slavery.
AND, to help make this constitutional change a reality, VIA is asking people in our congregation to join in the campaign to pass Prop 2 at the November election. Prop 2 is the bill passed by the VT House and Senate to change the wording of our VT Constitution to abolish all slavery.
Vermont Interfaith Action voter campaign training
VIA will be holding an initial training on Zoom about joining our campaign to pass Prop 2. The same training will be offered on two different days, May 4 and May 7. We will go over the timeline of the campaign, explain tools to organize and turn out voters, and offer practical advice on how to talk with your friends, neighbors and family about Prop 2. To join us, please register here for Wednesday, May 4 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. OR register here for Saturday, May 7 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.