Rowan Van Ness, Ministerial Intern, with Brenda Balon, Worship Associate
“Widening the Circle: Finding Resilience from Our Sources”
While we can’t always control what happens or how we feel, we have the ability to choose how we act in response. Unitarian Universalists draw from six sources. In this service, we’ll tap into our different sources to strengthen our own ideas of resilience.
We are again inviting a small number of (vaccinated, masked) people to attend worship in person on Sundays. To sign up for this Sunday, go to: rsvp.church/r/eJ7rm65u.
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 of the service will be available on our YouTube channel.
All are welcome to Zoom Coffee Hour at 11 a.m. at this link: bit.ly/3j4RxJ9.
Join the 8th Principle Conversation
Geoff Duke, Radical Welcoming Team
One of the goals for FUUSB’s developmental ministry is to “Actively and meaningfully welcome, support, and empower congregants who are black or other persons of color, LGBTQ+, have disabilities, and other congregants with marginalized identities.”
The new FUUSB Radical Welcoming Team believes that the proposed 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism represents a tangible, well-defined, and active first step to help our congregation move toward our developmental goal and radical welcoming. We hope that FUUSB will adopt the 8th Principle this year. But just what would that mean for our Society? The Radical Welcoming Team is hosting virtual informational discussions to explore this topic.
The next discussion is tonight: Thursday, February 10 at 7 p.m.
Additional discussions will occur after the Sunday service at 11:15 a.m. on Feb. 20, and at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24. Meeting information for these discussions will be shared in the eNews and on the Society website closer to the discussion dates.
No registration is required. Please mark your calendar and join us to learn more about the 8th Principle, voice your support and concerns, and get your questions answered. Email [email protected] with questions.
Sledding Party
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Sunday, February 13, 1-3 p.m.
Join FUUSB friends for winter fun at Burlington's Calahan Park! This is an event for sledders and ice skaters of all ages, and even for those who prefer to just sip hot cocoa and watch from the sidelines. We'll bring the coffee, tea, and cocoa; you bring yourselves with sleds, skates, or whatever you need for fun in the snow! The high school YUUth Group will be there, as will members of the Family Faith Development Council with kids ranging from 3-14. Hope to see you there, too!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Every Sunday we donate half of our cash collection and directed gifts to organizations that are making a difference in our community. Over the years our congregation has contributed generously to many very worthwhile organizations. Each Sunday during the service, we announce which organization will be receiving half of our collection.
Share the Plate contributions may be made individually each Sunday, or they may also be set up as an automatic gift using your credit/debit card or having the funds transferred directly from your bank account to the Society.
Thank you for supporting local organizations and our mission by contributing to Share the Plate!
Updated COVID Policies
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
We have some good news for a change! Beginning on Sunday, February 13, we will return to the COVID restrictions that we had prior to the Omicron variant. We will welcome up to 20 pre-registered guests in the Sanctuary for our Sunday morning worship service. Click Here to Pre-Register! Our registration form requires people to click a box indicating that they are fully vaccinated, and are not experiencing any COVID-related symptoms.
We will welcome small meetings at the Meeting House, with up to 20 people in the Community Room, and up to 10 people in the Parlors, SBA Room, and WYJ Room. Contact Mary with questions, and request meeting space at uusociety.org/information/space-use.
We ask that everyone entering the Meeting House stay masked, remain 6 feet apart, and are fully vaccinated. Should you become ill with COVID after being in the building, please follow the instructions on the Vermont Department of Health website and contact Christina so that she may contact others with whom you may have had close contact.
Please note that the business offices at the Meeting House are still not open to the public. Most staff members are either working from home or are working some combination of home and office.
The staff will continue to evaluate the situation so that we may open more fully as it is wise to do so. We thank you all for your patience and support during these challenging times.
No Vespers on Wednesday, Feb. 16
The team behind "Vespers," our Wednesday eve music, poetry and creative arts-inspired service of connection and reflection, is taking a little pause to connect and reflect with each other and the wider community, outside our gatherings. We love holding (and participating in) this time of midweek renewal, every other Wednesday, and we hope to be discerning how these opportunities can best serve our community, going forward. Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have thoughts about that or would like to become involved! We'd love to hear from you. You can reach me (and the team) via [email protected] or email others you know directly.
~ Rev. David Ruffin with Judy Brook, Marcus Keely, Linda Patterson, Todd Schlossberg, and Herb Schroeder
Socially Responsible Investing
Sponsored by the Climate Justice Team
Have you wondered how you can align your investments with your values? Whether it is possible to pursue competitive returns and also drive positive change?
Today’s greatest sustainability challenges are globally interconnected, affecting the health and welfare of individuals as well as society. The direction they take is material to both economic and social outcomes, representing real risks and opportunities that have significant implications for investment portfolios. In this presentation, Lenore Reiner, Senior Responsible Investing Strategy Specialist at Calvert Research and Management, will explore why responsible investing matters, trends in responsible investing, and how it can be used to drive positive change, benefitting investors, communities, and companies alike.
Thursday, February 17 at 6 p.m.
Please contact Mary Andrews at [email protected] for the link to the webinar.
In Memoriam
We are sad to share news of the passing of three members and friends of First UU Society.
FUUSB member Jean Stinchcombe passed away on January 29. An obituary for Jean can be found here.
Barbara Glade, friend of FUUSB, passed away on January 21. An obituary for Barbara is available here.
Jean Forden, former member of FUUSB, passed away on December 30. Jean's obituary can be found here.