In the years leading up to the Civil War, this Society’s Minister made no secret of his commitment to the abolition of slavery. Rev. Joshua Young even supported the efforts of John Brown to foment a slave revolt, and showed compassion to Mary Brown after her husband was convicted and hanged. It was a challenge for the congregation when the story made the news.
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, February 5, 10 a.m.
Community Room
Family Chapel
Attention Parents! We will begin in the Community Room on the lower level with about fifteen minutes of shared, child-centered worship, after which parents can head upstairs for the remainder of the service in the Sanctuary and children will head to their classes. The theme for chapel and the month of February is love!
Crossing Paths & Spirit Play
After beginning the morning with Family Chapel, children will break off into class groups for the first time in 2023! Those in 5th-8th grade are invited to explore neighboring faiths while becoming more grounded in our own, in Crossing Paths (Reeb Room). Kids in kindergarten through 4th grade will explore their place in the universe through story, ritual, and play in Spirit Play (Jordan-Latimer Room), and children preschool and younger will engage in free play in the Nursery. Classes run from roughly 10:20-11:20.
Welcome Ambassadors Needed
Deborah Ragione
We are in need of more Welcome Ambassadors especially as in-person attendance is increasing. It involves getting to services about 9:30 and setting up the tables which are located in the vestibules and at the side doors. If you have not done it before there will be someone there to help you. All you really need is a nice smile and a friendly “Good Morning.” This is a good way to get to know people, particularly those that are new to services. Just click on this link: https://signup.com/go/WYYtOoQ and add you name to a date that works for you. Thank you in advance.
The Membership Team
Warning! Falling Snow & Ice!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Please take note that it can be dangerous to park in the oval, next to the Meeting House during the winter months. Snow and Ice gather on the roof and can slip off and crash your car. It's especially dangerous on the first sunny day after a snowfall; the sun heats up the roof and the ice comes a-tumbling down. This has happened many times over the years, so please be mindful of where you decide to park. Thank you.
From the Ministerial Search Team
Tom Hyde
Your Search Team has been busy the last week, planning in-person interviews called “pre-candidate weekends.” The easy part is making hotel and meal reservations and deciding who will drive to the "neutral
pulpit" congregations where we will see the "pre-candidates" preach.
More involved is planning the interview process. We have a 3-hour interview session that we must use efficiently, to get to know the pre-candidate and get a picture of how they would fit the needs of this congregation. We have gone back to the notes we took at our listening sessions and the survey results as we prepare the list of questions. And of course they will have questions for us.
With this interview and some unstructured time at meals and in the car to the neutral pulpits, we hope to get a full picture of the candidates.
Of course, we will also continue sharing a full story of our
congregation and of Burlington, including a tour of the Meeting House and grounds, and showing them around town.
Email us with your questions at [email protected], or look for our blue name-tags at coffee hour.
Beloved Community
Dear FUUSBers,
Pastor Rodney Patterson gave the sermon on Sunday, Jan. 29 AND he gave a charge to our community at FUUSB to help us to become a Beloved Community:
4. Create objective steps to practice those traits, assess ourselves with how we are doing, and use the community to assess how we align with the chosen traits.
I invite you all to listen to Pastor Patterson's sermon if you have not been able to yet. I also invite you to take up the charge given by Pastor Patterson. These 25 traits will support us to work on our accountability for the 8th Principle we adopted as well as becoming a Welcoming Congregation and a Beloved Community.
Please join me in taking up this charge! I look forward to talking with you about what 3 traits you have chosen for yourself and what 3 you think our community should take up!
Peggy Owen Sands
On behalf of the Racial Justice and Radical Welcoming Teams
Fiber Arts Group
On what is likely to be a cold winter night on February 6, we hope you’ll join fellow UU’s for an hour’s worth of sharing and needlework. We meet on Zfrom 7 - 8 p.m. Please join this friendly group with any kind of handwork you enjoy. Zoom Meeting link: http://bit.ly/3qKUgLa (Meeting ID: 813 5671 4635, Passcode: 112630)
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.
Second Sunday Circles
Sharing Circles Coordinating Team
Grab your coffee and meet at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the Sermon, Readings, and Benediction as a small group. Gail Beck will facilitate. Looking forward to seeing you! The next monthly meeting, on February 12, will be in the Parlors.
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.
For the latest news from the New England Region UUA, check out the February newsletter at this link.