Pastor Rodney Patterson, Guest Preacher, with Geoff Duke
"A Black Church in Burlington"
“When Rodney Patterson came to Burlington for a job interview in the late 1980s, he realized that there was no Black church in the city (or even in Vermont). A few years later, he helped found New Alpha Missionary Baptist Church – still one of First UU’s neighboring congregations. When I first heard Pastor Patterson tell that story a few years ago, I knew I wanted you to hear it, too. Please come and welcome Rodney Patterson to FUUSB’s pulpit this Sunday!” – Rev. Tricia
Join us for worship in person in the Sanctuary, or online. The livestream link and order of service will be shared at bit.ly/FUUSBWorship, or visit our YouTube channel. While inside the Meeting House, masks are strongly encouraged.
Following the service, all are welcome to Coffee Hour in the Community Room.
Children & Youth This Sunday!
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Sunday, January 29, 10:15 a.m., Community Room
After beginning the morning together in the Sanctuary, children and youth are invited downstairs for a "workshop rotation" exploration of our January theme, Finding Our Center. In other words, they'll have many activity stations to move between and choose among as they engage with the topic. Nursery care will also be available.
Our Money, Our Values - Stewardship & Welcoming
Zoe Hart, Treasurer
What is it like to want to join FUUSB when you don't have the means to make a significant or maybe any financial commitment? How does it feel to be a member of limited financial means during the annual FUUSB stewardship campaign? Join us this coming Sunday, January 29 at 11:30 a.m. to explore these and other issues related to how we balance our need to raise funds to support our organization and mission with our vision of radically welcoming people of all different financial means. The session will be a hybrid Zoom/In-Person discussion. Join us in the Parlors after the service or on Zoom at http://bit.ly/3XniKep. While RSVPs are not required, they will help us plan. If you can, please RSVP to [email protected] and let us know if you plan to attend and if you plan to be in person or on Zoom.
“Greetings from the Depths of Winter”
A Mid-Winter Evening Service with Music, Poetry, Stories & One Another
Rev. David Ruffin, Director of Youth & Creative Arts Ministries
Thursday, February 2 at 7 p.m. -
The Community Room
Still several spots left! All welcome, whether creatively contributing or not. : )
Join us in the Community Room for a special evening service of music, song, poetry, and other sharing amidst the depths of winter. We will gather in the evening of “Groundhog Day” and “Imbolc,” a celtic tradition in which the stirrings of the spring were honored. Some of us may be in touch with that stirring. But, whether or not a groundhog sees his shadow, many of us may just feel “in between” or “in the thick of it.” Wherever you are on your winter journey, we invite this opportunity to gather and share something of your experience with community. Together we can find renewal in sharing, listening and remembering we do not journey alone.
If you would still like to share a song, poem, brief story, or other offering to which you feel connected in this winter season, please contact David Ruffin at [email protected]today!
A reminder that for our shared health, the service is limited to 30 attendees and we will be masking. Please RSVP here! We will unfortunately not be able to welcome guests who have not RSVP’d. Thank you for your understanding.
From the Ministerial Search Team
Tom Hyde
Over the course of the last week, we completed our first-round interviews, then spent many hours together on Zoom to narrow the field down to the three who we will bring to Burlington for in-person interviews. We are excited to have excellent "pre-candidates," and they were very excited to receive our invitations!
We will spend a weekend with each of the three pre-candidates. After some time together in Burlington, we will go to a "neutral pulpit" away from Burlington where we can observe them conduct the service as a guest minister. At this point, the ministers’ identities remain confidential, so they will only meet the search team.
Now we are checking their references extensively, and planning the interview weekends.
It's our pleasure to talk to you about the process and give you any news we can. Email us at [email protected], or look for our blue name tags at coffee hour.
Game Night
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Saturday, February 11, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Community Room
We’re Back! Our multigenerational Game Night was a huge success in January for our first time back in two years. Let’s do it again for the month of February. All ages are invited to play, eat, and be together.
We have lots of games at the ready, but feel free to bring the one you want to play. In the past we've done jigsaw puzzles, Dominoes, Ticket to Ride, Rummikub, Azul, group card games, Pictionary, and more. There are generally several things happening at once. It's okay to come with a group of friends and the intention to play a particular game. You can bring children and play with them or have them play with childcare staff while you try out a game with an older crowd. Make it what you want!
We'll have a "no-stress" potluck; you can wow us with your culinary skills or pick up a loaf of bread and a tub of hummus from the market. The point is to have fun together and not go hungry. We'll have decaf and tea available, plates and utensils.
Come for a little bit or stay the whole time. Come ready to make new friends and reconnect with the old! Please wear a mask when not eating.
Awakening to Happiness Chalice Circle
Come explore teachings and topics related to spiritual awakening and happiness! We are a new group that will meet on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at FUUSB. If you are interested in joining please email Jeff Byam.
Annual Elmore Campout!
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Elmore State Park, June 16-18
I know it’s snowy outside but June will be here before we know it! Signing up early will let me know whether I need to book a few more sites before they’re gone. Come join FUUSB friends of all ages at Elmore State Park for fun and community, with optional hiking, swimming, paddling, and s'mores! Last year’s event was a huge success with households ranging in size from 1 to 5 and age from 3 to 70. We'll potluck Friday evening, have a campfire sing on Saturday, and do a little campsite worship on Sunday morning; in between we'll find many other ways to connect with each other and enjoy this "Beauty Spot." Campers cover the cost of their sites as they are able, so please don’t let the expense be a factor. Look for the sign-up sheet in the Community Room to choose your spot! Contact [email protected] with questions!
(Image: A rainbow over our 2022 potluck.)
Are You Sick? Please, Stay Home.
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's to monitor our symptoms and stay home when we are sick. If you haven't been to the Meeting House lately, you may be surprised to know that we've had nearly 200 people in the building on Sundays. Our congregation is filled with people who are at varying risks of catching COVID and/or the flu. So we ask that you follow this advice from the CDC.
Remember, staying home doesn't mean you will miss the Worship Service; you can always watch the live-streamed service. And meetings can be held via Zoom, by scheduling a Zoom link with Mary. Thank you.