Life, these days, is good at keeping us off-balance. Are things “normal” again? (Do we want them to be?) What does the future hold? How can we find balance amid so much uncertainty?
Thoughts on greeting this new year – with a glimpse of the past, and a bold guess or two about what might come next.
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.
Family Chapel This Sunday!
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Jan. 8 at 10 a.m., Community Room
Attention Parents! This Sunday will look a bit different for children and families. We will begin in the Community Room on the lower level with about fifteen minutes of shared, child-centered worship, after which parents can head upstairs for the remainder of the service in the Sanctuary and children (through 8th grade) will move to activity stations to explore the theme of "Finding Our Center," or to the Nursery to engage in free play.
From the Ministerial Search Team
Tom Hyde
We are happy to announce that twenty-one UU ministers have expressed interest in First UU Society of Burlington so far! Your Search Team is reading their applications carefully and enjoying their wide variety of experiences, skills, and interests.
At our meeting Monday night, we discussed our first reactions and how we would move from initial impressions to decisions about whom to interview. Each team member has their own process, and it will take some work to integrate them. As you may imagine, we will be spending quite a lot of time together in the next few weeks.
At this stage, candidates' names and identities are not public, and therefore we must maintain strict confidentiality. Thank you for understanding and honoring this requirement.
Game Night
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Saturday, January 14, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Community Room
Our multigenerational Game Night is back for the first time in two years! 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, Rumikub, 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 decaf 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.
Second 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 next monthly meeting, on January 15, 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).
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembrance
A limited number of free tickets will be available in the office at FUUSB this Sunday, January 8, first come, first served. Free tickets are also available at City Market, Fletcher Free Library, and ECHO Leahy Center. For more information, visit gbmrc.org/mlk2023.
Happy 100th Birthday!
We send our best wishes for a very happy birthday to Gene Ashley, member of the First UU Society since 1956. Gene turns 100 this Friday, January 6! Happy Birthday, Gene!
Mary Williams, Society Administrator
We are seeking article submissions for the next Steeple newsletter! The deadline to submit articles is January 16, and the word limit is 400 words. If you would like to write about a FUUSB project or team for the upcoming issue, or have questions, please email [email protected]. For details on the Steeple, please visit uusociety.org/information/newsletters-publications. Thank you!
Institute on Religion in an Age of Science Webinar
Mark Kuprych
UU affiliate IRAS (the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science) holds its next free webinar on January 18 at 5 p.m., entitled "Question Reality! The Limits of Science and the Quest for Knowledge." Free; online registration required. See the full webinar description, registration link and remarkable bio of the speaker, Dr. Marcelo Gleiser, PhD, at: