Rev. Patricia Hart, with the Ministerial Search Team
Special music with David Ruffin & others
"Who Are We Now?"
Come meet the seven members of FUUSB’s Ministerial Search Team! They have been hard at work for many weeks already – making plans; communicating with the UUA, our Board, staff, many members; and getting to know one another. As they prepare to ask big questions about where/who/what this Society is now, and everyone’s dreams for the future, they want you to know them, too.
Please join us in person or online – for the service, and for the first Ministerial Search Listening Circle after the service.
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.
From the Ministerial Search Team
Listening Session This Sunday
Tom Hyde
If you haven't already done the survey, please go to
bit.ly/FUUSBSearchSurveyPDF to print it and fill it out by hand. We will also have some laptops available at coffee hour after the services this Sunday and next, for people who would like extra guidance or tech help.
Listening Sessions
Potential applicants for minister are interested in how "self-aware" a congregation is, so the first job of the Ministerial 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.
To hear your thoughts, we will host listening sessions (we'll do the listening). We'll have some "seed" questions to get the conversation going, but we will welcome all your comments, criticisms, and hopes. Click here for more details!
The first session will be right after this Sunday's service - October 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. both in person and on Zoom. The Zoom link is zoom.us/j/2419749667, meeting ID 241 974 9667.
The second session will be after next Sunday's service on October 16, same time and Zoom link. We will announce more sessions next week, at a variety of times.
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
We are trying to find the best way to increase participation in Online Coffee Hour. Let me explain why. We have several people in our Online Coffee Hour who can only participate online because they live far away, are unable to come to the Meeting House on Sundays because they are ill or elderly, or for any number of reasons. Even though we are now having in-person services and therefore in-person coffee hours, these folks still really want to have a connection with us. Don't you want to keep up your connection with them?
So this month we are having our Online Coffee Hour on Monday evenings at 7 p.m.! We will give this day and time a try for the month of October to see how it goes. So even if you attend in-person coffee hour on Sundays, I hope you can visit Monday Evening Online Coffee Hour and help our online members stay connected. Join us at this link: us02web.zoom.us/j/86177146171
Memorial Service Canceled
The memorial service for FUUSB member Tony Redington that was scheduled for this Saturday, October 8, has been canceled. A small family ceremony will be held in the spring.
We're Inviting YOU to the MAG Meeting!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Are you new to our congregation? Have you been around for quite a while? Have you been a member for ages? If you said "yes" to any of these questions, this October's MAG (Ministry Area Gathering) meeting is for YOU!
At this meeting, you will have the opportunity to find out what is happening all over our community and how you might get involved. Are you thinking, oh no, I don't want to get too involved? Well, believe me, there is something for everyone. Everything from small one-time tasks, to joining a team that meets once a month, to helping feed the homeless on Sunday mornings. The pandemic has changed everything and you don't want to miss out!
So please join us for this amazing opportunity. Let's rejoice in being back together and recommitting to our community.
Contact Christina Fulton at [email protected] if you have any questions!
Looking for a Deeper Community?
Sharing Circles Coordinating Team
Theme Circles and Chalice Circles will be up and running this month. These small groups give a chance to get to know other UU members and explore your own spirituality.
For more information go to our website, uusociety.org, click on Caring & Belonging, then click on Sharing Circles for Reflection and Growth. There will be a list of available groups and an email to contact the Coordinators!
Member Parking Stickers - Time to Renew
Mary Williams, Society Administrator
Each fall, FUUSB members may purchase parking tags, which allow you to park along the oval driveway next to the Meeting House for non-FUUSB business (shopping, etc.) for up to 3 hours. Parking tags need to be renewed each year.
In your message, please provide: your name; car make, model, color, and plate number; parking tag number if possible; and whether you need a new tag.
Pay for your tag ($40 per tag). You can pay online using the Make a Gift button on the Donate page of our website (select Member Parking Tag). Or you can mail a check to FUUSB, 152 Pearl St, Burlington, VT 05401, or drop off a check or cash in a labeled envelope and place it in the FUUSB mailbox by the east entrance. Note "Oval Parking" on the check memo and envelope.
If purchasing a new tag, Mary will mail that to you.
Here’s an easy way to take action to help protect our planet. In spite of many protestations to the contrary (often known as “greenwashing”), many banks continue to provide major funding to the fossil fuel industry. The major culprits are the big four: Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and Bank of America. Third Act USA has initiated a major campaign to dissuade them from doing this. If the banks don’t make major progress by the end of this year in changing their ways, people currently banking there are being asked to withdraw their funds and cut up their credit cards. People not currently customers of these banks are asked to pledge that they will not become so.
The following link will take you to the site where you can make a pledge. Please help make a difference!
Hurricane Ian bore down on Florida last week with devastating force. The Category 4 storm's 150-mph winds and 12-foot storm surge cut wide swaths of destruction.
Thousands of Floridians have been affected. While the impact of the storm's destruction is still being assessed, we already know that the UU Congregation of Fort Myers' building and campus received significant damage—at least $20,000 worth. The UU Congregation of Venice has cancelled its Sunday Service because it is currently without power.
The UUA Disaster Relief Fund is here for congregations affected by the storm, but we need your help now. The fund is near depletion and we have only just begun 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.