Rev. Tricia Hart and Rowan Van Ness with Melinda Lee
“Watering the Garden of Community”
“Water Communion” is a beloved fall tradition of Unitarian Universalists (almost) everywhere. Each person pours a little water into a common bowl to illustrate the truth of our interdependence and shared gifts, as well as our commitment to the Earth. Those who want an outdoor experience this week* are welcome to join FUUSB kids and parents at 10 a.m. on the front steps to celebrate a smaller version of this ritual. The water we gather in that ceremony will be brought inside to become part of this week’s livestream service so the rest of us can participate from home. In either case, you’re welcome to bring water from a special place (or from your faucet).
*See announcement below about The Big Blue Trunk!
The service will be live-streamed from the Sanctuary at 10 a.m. If you miss the livestream, it's not too late; you can still watch a recording of the service on our YouTube channel. The livestream link will be sharedon the uusociety.org website before the service.
All are welcome to Zoom Coffee Hour, starting at 11 a.m. at this link: bit.ly/3j4RxJ9
Water Communion & Big Blue Trunk Play Time!
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Sunday, September 19, 10 a.m.
While our livestream service is broadcast from inside the Sanctuary, Rev. Tricia and Erika will be leading a Water Communion ceremony on the front steps of the Meeting House, open to all, especially families with children! After the brief ceremony, Rev. Tricia will join the livestream indoors and the rest of us will stay on the grounds, enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks (with distance) and play with The Big Blue Trunk (an entertainer with gadgets galore). Around 10:45 parents are invited to take a breath and take part in a parents circle in the Memorial Garden, where we can enjoy the community of other UU parents and discuss our hopes for the year to come, while Childcare staff supervise the children as they play! (Please bring and wear a mask).
Worship Services and Live-Streaming
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Now that we are live-streaming our worship services on Sunday mornings, you might be wondering what happens if you miss it. You might be thinking that if you miss the service at 10 a.m. on Sunday, you're out of luck, but that's not the case.
Here is what's happening: If you want to watch the service live as it's happening in the Sanctuary, tune in to our livestream at 10 a.m. EDT on Sundays. You can find the link to the livestream on our website, uusociety.org, or by going to our YouTube channel.
If, however, you've gotten used to watching the service at a different time of the day or week, you can still do that! The recorded version of the live-streamed service will stay up on YouTube for Sunday and Monday. After Mondays, what you will find on our YouTube channel are edited versions of the services. Michael Wright, our video producer, will be taking out any personal information shared during Joys & Sorrows, and anything that we do not have permission to post (usually books or music).
You can also go to our YouTube channel to watch any of our past worship services and other videos like the Minister's Monthly Update or Two Minutes with Your Treasurer.
Thank you for joining us for worship! We encourage you to share the links to our services with your family and friends!
Vespers Service This Wednesday!
Rev. David Ruffin and the Vespers Team
An Autumnal Equinox Vespers ~
6 p.m. Wednesday 9/22!
We are excited to announce the return of Vespers, beginning this Wednesday, September 22, 6-7 p.m. in the Memorial Garden, with a special Autumnal Equinox Vespers. On this day, when the light and dark are in balance, we'll honor all that the light and warmth have made possible, as well as the turn toward the dark and what's possible there, too, differently.
We'll continue the outdoor series (bring your sweaters and coats), every other Wednesday evening through early November. We will sit distanced in the Memorial Garden, but please bring a mask. Stay tuned to hear more about experiencing these services virtually!
Vespers offer a mid-week opportunity for a soulful, musical, co-creative hour of renewal and connection. Vespers services need you and your voice (your poetry, music, story, dance, painting, photography, etc.!) to make the magic happen. Please reach out to [email protected] to learn more about getting involved. ALL are welcome.
Yuuth Group Fall Gatherings
Rev. David Ruffin, Director of Youth & Creative Arts Ministries
Yuuth Group Fall Gatherings ~
Thursdays and Sundays!
After a great Kick-Off event this past Sunday, the Yuuth Group will begin gathering regularly on Thursdays, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the Meeting House grounds. This schedule begins next week, September 23. Youth will gather informally, with pizza, till around 6 and then continue with outdoor programming until 7:30. Whether you made the kick-off or not, or whether you've ever attended the Yuuth Group, if you're in 9th-12th grade, you're welcome to come join the fun any time.
Yuuth Group will also be gathering on 1st and 3rd Sundays, starting October 3, usually from 3-5 p.m. Sunday meeting locations and timing may be more variable so stay tuned! Any questions about youth programming can be directed to Rev. Dave Ruffin at [email protected]. Always welcoming new Youth Advisors, too, if you want to join in the fun but aren't officially in the youth demographic anymore!
Share the Plate
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
You may have noticed that during the pandemic we made a small change in our Share the Plate program. We're still giving half of our collection to an organization that's doing great work in our community, but instead of sharing with a different organization every week, we are now featuring a new organization each month. Each month there will be a short video, made by members of our congregation, telling a bit about the organization that we're sharing our treasure with.
To help you keep track of who we're collecting for and to find that video in case you missed it during the Sunday service, we've set up a new Share the Plate page on our website. There's also a "Make a Gift" button on this page if you'd like to give that way. Did you know that you can set up automatic gifts to Share the Plate through Realm? Since we're not currently passing the basket around the Sanctuary, it's important to remember to give online or send a check to the Society.
During the month of August, we collected $1,061 for Share the Plate! Half will go to The People's Kitchen and half will help FUUSB fulfill our mission.
Are You or Someone You Know Expecting?
Our 8th/9th grade OWL class from both our UU congregation and the broader community is seeking one or more pregnant person(s) to discuss the experience for a session on pregnancy on Saturday, October 16, likely early afternoon. This can of course be done by Zoom as well. All that is required is to informally meet the group and answer questions for about 30 minutes or so. By that point, the group will have delved deeply into matters of human sexuality as a group.
The person would have to be comfortable with being vulnerable, a little silly, and honest even with intimate details. Some have brought their partners to answer questions with them. It is voluntary but hopefully rewarding, as it is a chance to share knowledge and wisdom with some great kids! If interested, please contact Erika Reif at [email protected].
Member Parking Stickers
Each September, FUUSB members may renew parking tags or purchase a new one. Tags allow you to park along the oval driveway next to the Meeting House for non-FUUSB business (errands on Church Street, etc.) for up to 3 hours. Parking guidelines can be found here.
Beginning September 20, if you would like to renew your parking tag or purchase a new one, here are the steps:
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 uusociety.org website, and select Member Parking Tag. Here is the direct link: onrealm.org/FirstUUSociety/Give 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 in the gray FUUSB mailbox at the east entrance. Note "Oval Parking" on the check memo and envelope. You may also include "Christina Fulton" on the envelope.
If purchasing a new tag, Mary will mail that to you.
We can sell up to 50 parking tags this year. There will be no discount for purchasing two tags. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Thank you!
Run for JUMP Kick-Off Event
You are invited to participate in the KICK-OFF this Saturday, September 18 at Burlington’s North Beach! Admission and parking is free. You can arrive at the North Beach pavilion any time between 10 a.m. and noon for delicious snacks, an update on JUMP’s mission from Director Wanda Hines, enjoy the beach, and meet others supporting JUMP!
Click here to register for the Virtual RUN/WALK for JUMP!
All funds raised will help people – adults and children in need - directly. We have set a collective goal of raising $15,000 during the “15 Days for JUMP: 9/18 to 10/2!”
VIA COVID-19 Memorial
To honor Vermonters lost to COVID-19 and to process our grief, Vermont Interfaith Action is hosting a memorial service on the Vermont Statehouse Lawn in Montpelier at 3 p.m., Sunday, September 19. The heart of the event will be a ceremonial reading of the names so that each individual who has died of COVID-19 is recognized. In addition, various clergy will offer brief interfaith prayers and readings. The Lt. Governor and State Epidemiologist will be present. For more information, contact Debbie Ingram at [email protected] or (802) 651-8889.
Upcoming Sundays
September 26 at 10 a.m.
Online Worship Service
Rev. Tricia Hart and Rabbi Jan Salzman with Cheryl Herrick
Join us for live-streamed Sunday worship! The link will be shared on our website, uusociety.org.