Rev. Patricia Hart, with Betsy Ferries & Erika Reif
“What Does Easter Mean, to Us?”
The ancient Christian holiday of Easter offers a powerful message of redemption to many people around the world. To others, the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is problematic, or at best confusing. If you wonder whether Easter has anything to say to you in your life, come join us this Sunday. We’ll think about the stories together…and celebrate Spring!
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.
After the service, all are welcome to Coffee Hour in the Community Room.
Children & Youth This Sunday
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Today's service is intended for the whole family! Children will be invited to leave with Faith Development staff for 25 minutes during the offering and sermon for some quick "bunny games" and preparation to parade back into the Sanctuary just before the final hymn. The Nursery will also be open throughout the service for any who need it.
Bring warm layers, because about 15 minutes after the service ends, we will open up the Egg Hunt in the Memorial Garden. All children are welcome to participate in hunting for eggs stuffed with trinkets (no candy).
From the Ministerial Search Team
Tom Hyde
Your Search Team is elated that Rev. Karen Johnston, who we had identified as the best fit for First UU, accepted our offer to be our candidate for settled minister. Here is her video greeting to us. We think you will see why we liked her.
Our next job is to work with Rev. Karen to plan "candidating week," April 30 - May 7. This is your chance to meet her, hear her preach, and learn about what she brings to First UU. She will run the April 30 and May 7 services, and meet with members, friends of First UU, and staff during the week between. We will publish a schedule of events soon.
After the service May 7th, Rev. Karen and one of the members of the Search Team will "take a walk" while the congregation votes on whether to call her as our settled minister. More about this sacred (5th principle!) vote in future eNews.
We Search Team members have enjoyed working together the last seven (!) months, and are happy that our experience as a team paid off during our discernment dialogue. Thank you for putting your trust in us.
Stewardship Update
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Believe it or not, we are still receiving pledges for the 2023/2024 fiscal year. This is great news as it means that folks are really thinking about their commitment to FUUSB. At this point, we have received 101 pledges for a total of $250,545; last year we had 255 pledges for a total of $430,353. You might be thinking, OMG that's a big difference! It is a big difference, but that is because we haven't heard from 156 people who had pledges on record for our current fiscal year. I'm sure many of those folks are just wanting their same pledge to carry over, and we will be doing that soon. But if you are someone who is still thinking about your pledge, now is the time to let us know. You can easily email Christina at [email protected] with your new pledge amount. Thank you!
Nina Harrington, Spring Auction Committee
Only one week remains to donate to the UU online auction, Springtime in Vermont. We still need many more donations to meet our financial goal, so please visit the auction website (auctria.events/FUUSBSpringAuction2023) and enter an event, outing, get-together or gift certificate that will help build community. The exciting news is that a live auction event will take place on Saturday, April 29 where we will celebrate with music, raffles, food, and a special guest appearance by our ministerial candidate, Rev. Karen Johnston! Please contact [email protected] if you have questions or need help.
W3: UU History Workshop
Rev. Peter Newport
In 1897 Paul Gauguin, during his sojourn in Tahiti, painted a huge piece called Where did we come from? What are we? Where are we going? There’s also a hymn by that name in our hymn book. We sing it with some regularity. It has always puzzled me how we seem to enjoy its wan existential message, the more so since we do know where we come from, biologically, historically and theologically anyway; we are just careless with that memory, preferring instead a salutary narrative that hides more than it reveals.
So I’m offering a three-part Unitarian history workshop I’m calling W3 as a corrective… and to follow up on my Veterans Day sermon, Five Easy Pieces on Why We Are Not a Peace Church.
Session 1, Where Did We Come From? - Sunday, April 16, 12:30 to 2 p.m. (in person)
Session 2, What Are We? - Sunday, April 23, 12:30 to 2 p.m. (in person)
Session 3, Where Where Are We Going? - Tuesday, April 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m. (on Zoom)
Please find the full listing and registration here.
Reverend Tricia’s last sermon as Developmental Minister of FUUSB will be on Sunday, June 11! We hope you can plan for an extended time together to celebrate. Expect a brief pause between our 10 a.m. service and an hour-long party in the Sanctuary, featuring songs, stories, poetry, and laughs. In the pause between events, water and snacks will be available in the Parlors, and children will be occupied. At 12:30 we’ll gather on the Meeting House grounds to picnic and visit. Spread the word and mark your calendar!
Results of 25 Traits Activity from April 2 Service
Martha Molpus
Thanks to everyone who participated in the activity with the 25 Traits of Beloved Community in the April 2 service. It was social rather than scientific and was an exercise to help us focus on our journey, which is the work of the 8th Principle. All the traits are positive actions.
The three traits most often chosen were:
#7 - Builds increasing levels of trust and works to avoid fear of difference and others
#19 - Blends faith and action to generate a commitment to defeating injustice (not forgetting that injustice can also be found within the church)
#10 - Speaks truth in love, always considering ways to be compassionate with one another
As we go forward, please continue to share your energy toward our building a diverse multicultural Beloved Community.
Online Order of Service, Online Giving, & More
Mary Williams, Society Administrator
Just a quick reminder about the QR code labels inside our gray hymnals! 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 smartphone 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. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Save the Date for a Celebratory Action!
A Vermont Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative
Vermont Interfaith Action (VIA) has been partnering with a group of concerned Vermonters, led by Al Wakefield, to persuade every municipality in the state to sign onto a Declaration of Inclusion (DOI) to ensure a warm welcome and open attitude toward all Vermonters and potential Vermonters. VIA's Racial Justice/Economic Opportunities Local Organizing Ministry is reaching out to congregations in many municipalities to ask them to in turn persuade their town managers and selectboards to adopt the resolution.
As of April 5, 2023, 105 towns and cities (out of 247), home to 62% of Vermont’s population, have signed the DOI. That’s an accomplishment to celebrate!
Join us for a Celebratory Action on Wed., May 10, 7-8:30 p.m. at College Street Congregational Church in Burlington (265 College St.), or on Zoom (register here). Each municipality will be recognized for this first step, and we’ll have information on how to follow up with even more concrete actions. Let’s work together to ensure that Vermont will become known, and in fact be, the most welcoming and safe state in the country for all people.
For more info, contact Debbie or leave a message at 802-651-8889.
For the latest news from the New England Region UUA, check out the April 2023 newsletter at this link.