Here we are at the beginning of a new season, a different time in the world. Danger is all around us; so, too, possibility and opportunity. How shall we move ahead when the future is so unclear? Some thoughts on what holds us together and points toward hope.
We are inviting up to 75 people to attend worship in person. To sign up for this Sunday, go to: rsvp.church/r/eJ7rm65u. To make our Meeting House as safe as possible, we ask that everyone who is 5 and older be vaccinated, and those 2 and older wear a mask while inside. Seating in the Sanctuary has been adjusted for safe distancing, and the ventilation system can accommodate at least 100 people. We are glad to welcome those who are comfortable attending in person.
The service will be live-streamed from the Sanctuary at 10 a.m. The link will be shared on our website, uusociety.org. If you miss the livestream, a recording will be available on our YouTube channel.
All are welcome to Outdoor Coffee Hour at 11 a.m. in front of the Meeting House, and Zoom Coffee Hour at 11:15 a.m. at this link: bit.ly/3j4RxJ9.
Faith Development Classes Return!
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Sunday, April 3 at 10 a.m.
Children are invited to three separate age-based classes for the first time in two years! Come back to see old friends and make new ones! The middle schoolers will begin to contemplate world religions in Building Bridges, older elementary schoolers will act out Bible Stories, and those in second grade and younger will engage in ritual and creative play in what we are calling Spirit Play-Making. Note that these classes start at the same time as the service, so parents should leave themselves time to get children to classes before the start of worship. Contact Erika@uusociety.org with any questions.
First Sunday Anti-Racism Interfaith Vigil
Zoe Hart
On the first Sunday of each month, we join with other faith communities in Burlington and around Vermont in standing together in faith against racism. The vigil begins at 1 p.m. and goes until 1:30. We will have as many signs as we can supply from our regular Love & Justice signs, but you're invited to bring your own as well. Please join us Sunday, April 3at 1 p.m.
Last Chance to Update Your Pledge
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
We are reaching the end of our Stewardship Campaign and want to make sure that everyone who wants to update their pledge has done so. So far, 98 people have taken the opportunity to make sure their pledge represents the importance of our congregation to themselves and our community, to the best of their ability.
Thank you so much for supporting First UU Society!
We Need Your Donations for the
Online Spring Auction!
Nina Harrington, Spring Auction Committee
Some fantastic donations have been submitted for our Spring Auction but we still need many more donations if we are going to make our fundraising goal of $12,000. So far donations have included gift certificates, a vacation getaway to the Caribbean, some fun dinner parties, boating on the lake and floral bouquet delivery.
The Auction Committee wants to help stimulate more ideas for donations: how about a basketful of garden produce every few weeks; wine tasting at Shelburne Vineyards; tea or lunch in the country; a Full Moon Fire Pit S’mores Party; an After-Church Chowder Party; breakfast at Shelburne Farms; a bicycling picnic, or maybe craft beer sampling. Services are also welcome, such as Bicycle Repair/Service, Babysitting, Pet Sitting, Computer/Network Expertise, Guitar Lessons, Massage, or Yoga Class.
The gathering time for those who love crocheting or knitting is fast approaching. We’ll gather for an hour on Zoom on Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. to work on current projects. We’ll catch up with what each of us might be working on during this purely social time. We welcome your attendance, especially those who have not joined us in the past. No particular experience required! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3qKUgLa
Nominating Committee
Sarah Russell, Nominating Team Chair
The FUUSB Nominating Committee is looking to fill a couple of positions: Assistant Treasurer and Nominating Committee Member.
At our Annual Meeting on June 5, the congregation will be voting on a slate of positions which include Board, Endowment, Treasurer, Secretary and Nominating Committee. We have been working the past few months and have most positions filled AND we would still like to find an Assistant Treasurer and a member of the Nominating Committee.
The Assistant Treasurer will attend Finance Committee meetings, and shadow the Treasurer with the expectation that they will then serve a 2-year Treasurer position. Here is a link to the FUUSB Bylaws which describes the process of the Nominating Committee. In Article IX of these is a description of the Officers and Board of Trustees, as well as a description of the Nominating Committee.
Please reach out to one of the Nominating Committee members if you are interested in either position.
Currently on Nominating Committee: Nina Dahlstedt Buss, Woody Fulton, Suzy Haas, Alex Hsieh, Chip Patullo, Sarah Russell
Meal Train for Rowan - April Dates Open
Thank you to all who have signed up for Rowan's meal train! There are still days available at mealtrain.com/1d15mw. Please consider sharing a meal with our Ministerial Intern, Rowan, and her family! Rowan and Caitlyn are very busy with new baby Seneca, and would be grateful for help with meals.
The Healthy Congregation and Radical Welcoming Teams invite you to join a Deep Listening Circle on the 8th Principle: an intentional gathering to share how you are and to listen deeply to others. In times of change like this, it can be hard to find the space and quality of connection to hear and speak our truths: How I am really? What do I notice about myself amidst these times? We will center the circle on the following questions:
What are you thinking/feeling about the 8th Principle for our Society?
What needs to happen for you to become comfortable with the adoption of the 8th Principle?
What actions/changes would you like to see happen in yourself or in our Society as part of our 8th Principle work?
We can support one another to ask and answer these questions. The practice of coming together in our faith-based community in this way is one way for us to be in covenant.
In Person in the Community Room (downstairs): Limited to 17 participants. Since there is limited space, please register at the links below:
Sunday, April 10 - 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. - Register here
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
The YUUth Group invites everyone for an afternoon of games and fun! In the spirit of our pre-pandemic Game Nights, we’re bringing out all the board games, cards, party games, and even ping pong, for FUUSB members of all ages. We’ll be masked in the well-ventilated Community Room and if the weather is really nice we can even move some of the games outdoors. Come enjoy this multigenerational community-building event!
Spring Vespers - Beginning April 13*
Marcus Keely, Rev. David Ruffin (on behalf of the Vespers Team)
In this season of returning light and warmth, we hope you’ll join us for a series of four Spring Vespers gatherings, every other Wednesday, beginning April 13 at 6:30 p.m. We'll be outside, on the grounds, if the weather is inviting, and in the Community Room if not. For indoor gathering we will request RSVPs of up to 20 individuals HERE and will also offer a way to join via Zoom. If outside, there is no cap on in-person attendance.
Vespers gatherings offer an opportunity to share in music and meditative silence, poetry and presence, gratitude and grief, story and song. We take a midweek pause to re-connect and re-inspire ourselves for the journeying.
*date change
Soup at Six! ~ Also beginning April 13!
We will also be offering “Soup at 6 pm,” serving soup and bread outside (weather permitting) for all to enjoy, whether or not you can stay for Vespers. Thanks to those who've already volunteered to provide soup/bread for this! We're about covered for April 13, but please be in touch if you can help out April 27, May 11 or 25 to David Ruffin at davidruffin@uusociety.org.
Join Team FUUSB for COTS Walk 2022!
Zoe Hart
The Committee on Temporary Shelter COTS Walk 2022 fundraiser is once again in person. Join Team FUUSB to raise money for a great organization and walk together on May 1. The walk starts and ends in Battery Park. Check-in is at 1 p.m. and the walk starts at 2 p.m. The walk is 3.6 miles and there is a shorter option that is about half that distance. Join the team, do some light fundraising, and take a walk on a beautiful spring day. Daunted by fundraising? Remember it doesn't matter if you raise a little or a lot. Any amount you raise will contribute to our team total and will help COTS provide their essential services to unhoused people in the greater Burlington area. And I'll help you get started.
To join Team FUUSB: Go to give.cotsonline.org/COTSWalk2022, click on the Join a Team button and search for Team FUUSB. Any questions or problems, contact me at zoe@hartwood4.net. You can learn more about COTS and the walk at their website, cotsonline.org.
In Memoriam
We are sad to share the news that First UU Society member Kristin Johnson passed away on December 27, 2021. An obituary for Kristin is available at this link:
On Wednesday, April 6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., please join Vermont Interfaith Action for a hybrid event based at College Street Congregational Church in Burlington to launch "A Vermont Guide to Community Engagement with Local Police Departments." This guide is the result of months of research by the Racial Justice/Public Safety organizing ministry. It is designed to be used by ad hoc community groups in every municipality with a police department throughout the state to be able to have a well-informed and comprehensive conversation with their Police Chief about policies and practices relating to racial equity. Members of our Public Safety group have drafted a series of questions in many different categories, like Training, Accountability, Grievance Processes, and many more that community members can ask their law enforcement officials to get a dialogue started.
We are excited about this grassroots, community-based approach to one of society's most challenging issues, and we think it has real potential to make a major difference in policing in Vermont. We need you at this launch event to show your support! Plan now to attend, either in person or by Zoom. Use this link to register to participate virtually.