It would seem that Love and Money are quite different themes, bringing very different kinds of energy. And yet… shouldn’t whatever we love guide us in choosing how we spend our money? As we get ready for this year’s financial stewardship drive, some thoughts about love and money, and how they intertwine throughout our lives.
The Choir will sing this week!
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
Families will begin in the Sanctuary together. Following the Reflection for All Ages, children and their teachers will make their way down to the lower level to their class groups. 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. High school aged youth are invited to join our YUUth Group in the Barnum Room after the service for pizza and a walking trip to the UVM campus for sledding! (Signed permission slip required.)
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. This month's meeting will be in-person only, not on Zoom, but we'll be back on Zoom next month.
Our FUUSB Nursery Needs You!
Margo Whitcomb, Faith Development Assistant
We are loving coming back together as a community face to face! One of the greatest rewards is bringing our littlest congregants into the community. But, In order to do so, we really need to hire some new adult care providers. Your main responsibility is caring for infants through early elementary age children in a kind, welcoming, and safe space. It’s gratifying and fun. Generally 9:30 to 11:30 (or so) on Sundays. A generous hourly wage. No need to commit to a regular schedule as we check availability each month and schedule as available. If this might interest you (or someone you know) I’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to [email protected].
Radical Welcoming Chalice Circle Tonight!
Geoff Duke
The Radical Welcoming Chalice Circle meets tonight, February 9, and the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month, from 7-8:30 p.m. We always have room for new folks to sit in for a session, just to see what it's all about. Meeting notes and Zoom link: https://bit.ly/FUUSB-RWCC-doc
If you have time, please review the 25 Traits article. You may wish to print it or have it available to view during our reflection. We hope you’ll join us.
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 coffee 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.
Coming Soon! Conversations with Your Board of Trustees
Hope Baker-Carr, Board President
A series of informal monthly meetings with Board members -- on Sunday mornings, after the service.
Sunday dates: February 19, March 19, and April 16
Look for more information next week, and signs directing you to the Parlors on these Sundays. All members and friends of our Society are invited to attend!
Unitarian Universalist Spirituality:
A Conversation with Rev. Tricia
Susan Warner-Mills, Membership Team
What part does spiritual practice – or a deeply-held belief – have in our creedless faith? If UUs “can believe whatever we want” (or nothing at all), how is our tradition a religion? What’s the connection between justice-making and spiritual growth?
Come join in an informal discussion with Rev. Tricia Hart about these and other big questions. All are welcome – with a special invitation to those new to UUism or this Society.
Offered twice (yes, it’s okay to come both times!)
Sunday, Feb. 26, 12:30 p.m. - In-person in the Meeting House Parlors
RSVP not required but appreciated, especially for the in-person session where we would like to provide light fare. Email [email protected].
A Message from Our Facilities Manager
Dear Members and Friends,
With great sorrow I announce that I am stepping down from the position of Facilities Manager for the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington. My wife, Susie, and I are returning to a place called the Fellowship Community (fellowshipcommunity.org), where we spent the first 18 years of our marriage and where our children grew up. Here, my intention is to work fulltime for about five more years before gradually retiring. Having grown up on a farm in a very rural area of southern Michigan, I have found as I grow older the wish to live and work in a more rural setting but without losing the sense of community that I have found so fulfilling in my service to the FUUSB. My last day of work will be February 28.
Bob Furrer, who served as Facilities Manager from 2012 to 2018 and has continued as a dedicated Caretaker and Special Projects Coordinator, has generously stepped up to help with the transition during the search for a new Facilities Manager.
It has been a joy and privilege to work and worship with you and to fill the Chalice of the FUUSB with oil for many years. I will carry your flames always in my heart. I invite you to visit us at the Fellowship Community and will update my contact information in Realm.
Sincerely,
David McFeeters
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.)
Welcome Ambassadors Needed
Deborah Ragione
We are in need of more Welcome Ambassadors especially as in-person attendance is increasing. It involves getting to Sunday services about 9:30 a.m. 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 your name to a date that works for you. Thank you in advance.
The Membership Team
Share the Plate
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Do you ever get curious about our Share the Plate Collection? Every Sunday you hear Rev. Tricia tell us who we are sharing the plate with, but then you never hear just how much we've collected over the month. You can always check our website's Share the Plate page, which is updated monthly. But for now, here's a year-to-date update on how much money we've shared with our community.
August - Vermont Interfaith Action, $998.27
September - Chittenden Asylum Seekers Assistance Network (CASAN), $1,007.12
October - Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, $1,057.00
November - Vet the Vote, $1,011.65
December - Socially Responsible Santa, $4,500.00
January - Housing Retention Service (CVOEO), $1,294.56
Total Year to Date (August-January) = $9,868.60
We've already shared nearly $10,000 with our community! Here are a few tips on giving to Share the Plate. If you want to give with a check, please write the check to FUUSB and write Share the Plate in the memo line. If you want to give online, make sure to choose Share the Plate from the drop-down list of Funds. You can also set up automatic payments to your Pledge and to Share the Plate; we have many folks doing that now. Remember, when you give to Share the Plate, half goes to the FUUSB Budget and half goes to the agency we're sharing with that month. Thank you for your generosity!
Online Order of Service, Online Giving, & More
Mary Williams, Society Administrator
This Sunday, you might notice a new label inside the front cover of your gray hymnal. The labels say, "Scan this QR code for access to the order of service, newcomer card, online giving, & pledge card." Scanning this code with your phone takes you to the Livestreamed Worship page on our website, which can also be found via this link: bit.ly/FUUSBWorship. The page also includes links to the livestreamed service, our YouTube channel, and more. Thank you to Peggy Owen Sands and Jonathan Sands for taking care of the big project of placing the labels in the hymnals!
New Staff Phone Extensions
Mary Williams, Society Administrator
Thanks to the efforts of David McFeeters, Facilities Manager, FUUSB has a new phone system, which also means new phone extensions for staff. For several of us, you can just drop the 00 from the old extension number. Current phone and email contact information may be found on our website at uusociety.org/information/staff. When you call the Society at (802) 862-5630, you don't need to know the extension numbers; the greeting will include a menu directing you to each staff member's line.