Who are your ancestors? When we’re lucky (and paying attention), there are people whose wisdom is a guide to rely on while they are alive… and even beyond. We are the ones who tell their stories.
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 and the Fall Festival!
Fall Festival
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Sunday, October 30
11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Come one, come all and celebrate the season at this outdoor event for all ages! Join the YUUth Group as they press cider, tell spooky stories, and play games. The young at heart will enjoy goodie bags, face painting, and more! Costumes welcome!
Creating together is a wonderful form of embodied spiritual practice, so all are invited to join in the creation of ephemeral works of “Nature Art” on our Meeting House grounds. We’ll have some pre-selected natural materials on tables for those who can’t get down low to make their creations.
All of our normal coffee hour spread will be available with some extra snacks as well!
From the Ministerial Search Team
Tom Hyde
Last Call - Listening Sessions
There are just a few Listening Sessions left, and we would like to hear from as many members and friends as we can. We will offer some questions to start the conversation, but want to hear thoughts about ministers, worship, activities, programs, music - It's wide open.
Sunday, Oct. 30, 9-10 a.m. – At this session, we will focus specifically on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) members’ and friends’ needs, interests, and hopes.
Sunday, Oct. 30, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Almost Last Call - Survey
We have extended the deadline to complete the survey until Monday, October 31. We love getting so many great responses. The survey gives us a more quantitative view of the congregation than the free-form listening sessions, which is just as useful.
Coming up - Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop - December 3. Keep an eye out for your invitation!
Sunday Morning Breakfast
Meeting House Grounds Group / Subgroup of the Radical Welcoming Team
We have had four amazing Sunday Morning Breakfasts so far, and we intend to continue to have them every Sunday for the near future. Thanks so much for all of you who have arrived at 7 a.m. to package the Panera pick-ups from the night before, made sandwiches and even had granddaughters decorate them, boiled eggs, brought fruit, and arrived early to make sure the grounds are clean for our visitors.
We decided to do a soft launch in October and are now ready to be more public. It is so easy to get involved and our goal is that most congregants will provide some kind of support to Sunday Morning Breakfasts in the near future. Please join us in feeding the community for Sunday Morning Breakfast. Here is a link to sign up in a small or large way feeding our community: signup.com/go/yAbRpfy
Fiber Arts Group
Linda Graves
We hope you’ll consider joining fellow UUs who enjoy creative fiber arts for our Zoom meeting on November 1 from 7 to 8 p.m. Share with the group whatever you are working on, and/or come with an open mind for some new ideas for projects you might like to consider. See you there! Zoom link: bit.ly/3qKUgLa (Meeting ID: 813 5671 4635, Passcode: 112630)
We're Hiring!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
FUUSB is currently looking for two people to join our AV/Tech Team as Tech Assistants. We are looking for people who are interested in AV equipment and learning how we livestream our services, weddings and memorial services. We are willing to train the right people! Must be at least 16 years old; have availability on Sunday mornings, and occasionally on other days of the week; be able to climb to the balcony level of the Sanctuary; and work well in a team. If you are interested in becoming part of our AV/Tech Team, please send a letter of interest to Christina at [email protected].
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 first and third Wednesday evenings of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at FUUSB. If you are interested in joining, please email Jeff Byam here.
Workshop: The Problem with Plastics
An online workshop sponsored by the FUUSB Climate Justice Team (CJT)
Sunday, November 6 from 4-5 p.m. on Zoom.
This is a rerun of the workshop offered last spring by Linda Cooper and Lisa Lax, members of the FUUSB CJT.
We will show an engaging short video that provides education on this issue, and lead a discussion on ideas for actions that individuals and groups can take. All are welcome.
To secure a place, please email Lisa here, and the Zoom link for the event will be sent prior to the workshop.
Abolish Slavery - Just 12 Days Until Election Day!
Zoe Hart, Racial Justice Team
Election Day is just a week and a half away and the Abolish Slavery campaign is in the home stretch. People have their ballots and early voting is well under way. 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 [email protected].
Mid-Autumn Evening Service
Rev. David Ruffin, Director of Youth & Creative Arts Ministries
A Gathering of Music, Poetry & Sharing
Thursday, November 10 at 7 p.m. – Parlors
Join us in the Parlors for a special evening service of music, song, poetry, and other sharing in the depths of this autumnal season. We'll greet the growing darkness and also welcome the different gift of late fall light and what we can perhaps see more clearly betwixt the unveiled sticks of our landscape and lives.
If you would like to possibly contribute a song, poem, brief story, or other creative offering that you’re inspired by in this season, please contact David Ruffin at [email protected], to share your idea.
For safety in the more limited venue of the Parlors, the service will be limited to 25 attendees and we will be masking. Please RSVP here.
NEW: 2nd Sunday Circles!
Sharing Circles Coordinating Team
Grab your coffee and meet at 11:15 a.m. to discuss the Sermon, Readings, and Benediction, as a small group. Gail Beck will facilitate. Looking forward to seeing you! The first monthly meeting, on November 13, will be in the Barnum Room, on the lower level, or join us by Zoom at this link: bit.ly/3Db6Hb9 (meeting ID: 875 4572 7264, passcode: 849701)
Natural Materials for Wreath-Making
Cones, natural materials & evergreen boughs wanted for FUUSB wreath-making!
When cleaning up your gardens or hiking around, please consider collecting interesting pods, bark, cones, grasses, dusty miller, birch bark, fern or daylily seed heads, red bark dogwood, etc., and greens like cedar, holly, white pine or other evergreen boughs for making wreaths. Contact Sarah Forbes to arrange pick-up or drop-off, or bring to the UU on December 1st, or 2nd. Thank you! Sarah Forbes, 578-6119, [email protected]
Sheets, Blankets, & Towels, Oh My!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
FUUSB members have been asked if we can help to supply the Elmwood Ave. Pod Community with some household items they will need to get up and going in November. The items needed are twin sheets, twin blankets, bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths. Items must be new.
If you would like to help out, please sign up at this link: signup.com/go/MLmwjud and deliver your items to the Meeting House on Sunday, November 6th or 13th. If you have any questions, please contact Christina at [email protected]. Thank you!