Rev. Patricia Hart, with Betsy Ferries & Judy Brook
“Scared and Brave at the Same Time”
Contemporary writer Brené Brown says that courage always comes through vulnerability. Fear is an inevitable part of life, and can be crippling – but facing, incorporating, even befriending our fears can be the way through, to courage. We don’t have to stay stuck. (Really?)
The Choir will sing this Sunday!
Please join us in person or online! Find the livestream link at uusociety.org or on our YouTube channel. While inside the Meeting House, masks are strongly encouraged.
Following the service, all are welcome to Outdoor Coffee Hour at 11 a.m., and the Ministerial Search Listening Session at 11:30.
From the Ministerial Search Team
Listening Sessions
Tom Hyde
Potential applicants for minister are interested in how "self-aware" a congregation is, so the first job of the Search Team is to find out what our members and friends think about the First UU Society, where we shine and where we fall short, who we are and who we hope to be.
Our first session last Sunday after the service got us off to a good start. We heard ideas on all aspects of congregational life from about 20 participants.
All are at the Meeting House and via Zoom. Here's the schedule:
Sunday 10/16, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. - open to all
Tuesday 10/18, 12:30-2 p.m. - open to all - bring lunch
Thursday 10/20, 6:30-8 p.m. - open to all
Saturday 10/22, 12-1:30 p.m. - open to all - bring lunch
Questions? Email Peggy Owen Sands, Tom Porter, or Tom Hyde at [email protected].
Abolish Slavery - Just 26 Days Until Election Day!
Zoe Hart, Racial Justice Team
Election Day is just four weeks away and the Abolish Slavery campaign is in high gear. Ballots are arriving in people's mailboxes and early voting is starting. The success of the Abolish Slavery campaign hinges on people being aware of the constitutional amendment and knowing that a Yes vote is the way to abolish slavery.
There are some really easy ways that you can help.
If you haven't already, go to bit.ly/AbolishSlaveryVT and take the pledge to Vote Yes on Proposal 2 and abolish slavery in Vermont, once and for all, no exceptions!
Talk to people you know and make sure they know that abolishing slavery is on the ballot this November; our current constitution abolishes slavery with exceptions that allow slavery for people under 21, people in debt, or people who consent to being enslaved; and voting Yes on Proposal 2 is the way to abolish slavery once and for all, no exceptions.
If you have any questions about the Abolish Slavery amendment or any of the above information, email your questions to [email protected].
I Phonebanked to Abolish Slavery!
Zoe Hart, Racial Justice Team
I never thought I would do a phone bank, but I know that the success of the Abolish Slavery campaign hinges on our getting the word out, so I signed up. And it was easy! All you need is a computer, and VIA will loan you one if you don't have your own. They'll have a system that does the dialing and a script you can start with and modify to make your own. For the next several weeks between now and Election Day, we will be phonebanking every Tuesday and Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. I'm going to sign up for as many evenings as I possibly can, and I hope 5 to 10 First UU folks will join me. Use these links to sign up for Tuesdays or sign up for Wednesdays. See you at the phone bank!
From the UUA: Help UUs Recover from Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ian bore down on Florida with devastating force. The Category 4 storm's 150-mph winds and 12-foot storm surge cut wide swaths of destruction.
The UUA Disaster Relief Fund is here for UU congregations affected by the storm, but we need your help now. The fund is near depletion, and we have been receiving urgent requests from congregations.
Your contribution to the UUA Disaster Relief Fund now will allow us to grant recovery funds right away to Florida congregations who need it—and any other congregations in Ian's path—in the days or weeks before FEMA aid or flood insurance (which few can afford) reaches those in need.