Here in a moment that invites us to consider ways to listen anew, we pause and consider the path ahead. Inspired by the memory of our “This I Believe” series, the Worship Associates Team is launching a new theme: “What’s Calling Us, Now?” Rev. David Ruffin joins Jon Sallée and Cheryl Herrick in considering how each of us is called in these dynamic times.
Deep Listening Circles commence with a candle lighting to signify this time of focused attention, then all are invited to speak authentically and listen deeply. There is no cross-talk, comment or discussion. The opportunity to speak is passed around the "Zoom circle," until everyone has said all they needed to say in the time allotted. This practice of coming together in our faith-based community is one way for us to be in covenant.
Winter-Spring Theme Circles
"I am getting to know and enjoy the other people in the theme circle in a way that is deeper than I could have imagined." - Brian Haas
Could you join a small group from your community, just once a month, for a time of deeper reflection and connection? It might be a bigger gift to yourself (and your community), than you expect. Registration is presently underway for our next season of Theme Circles. Groups will meet during the third week each month from February through June to explore the themes of Beloved Community, Commitment, Becoming, Story, and Play. Click here for all the details!
Sign up at this link through February 7. Each registrant will be asked to list first, second and third choice of group times. The sooner you sign up, the more likely you will get your first choice.
Theme Circles will be running as Zoom meetings until it is safe to meet in person.
Contact Rodney Lowe, Theme Circles Coordinator, if you have problems accessing the online form or have questions: [email protected] or 781-460-3644.
Calling All Yarn Lovers!
Linda Graves
Do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? Would you like to join a group of First UU folks for a monthly get-together to share crafting? Our first meeting will be Tuesday, February 2, from 7 to 8 p.m. via Zoom at this link: bit.ly/3qKUgLa.
This will largely be a social time to share ideas, patterns, show-and-tell projects and give encouragement to finish one that may have languished in the back of your closet for some time - or perhaps begin a new one! The group might even inspire you to knit or crochet a prayer shawl to donate to the Society, which would ultimately be a gift of spiritual comfort to someone in our congregation. At the Feb. 2 meeting we will also explore how we envision the group will move forward; in non-Covid days to come we might even be able to meet in person which would really be fun! Questions? Call Linda Graves, 578-8434.
Winter Vespers Services
Rev. David Ruffin, Consulting Minister
Winter Vespers Series Continues!
Wednesday, February 3 at 6 p.m. on Zoom
Our second Vespers yet again showed the power of showing up with and for one another, seeing and being seen, and seeing, together, what a sacred moment of pause mid-week had to teach us. Thanks to Todd Schlossberg and Linda Patterson for their beautiful musical offerings, as well as to Marcus Keely for sharing his voice, and to all who came and shared their presence and open hearts. Though it may be hard to remember it sometimes, Winter invites us to slow down and embrace the possibility of renewal. So please join us next week, with Brian Haas offering music, among other community contributions, for our third Wednesday evening Winter Vespers. Come first-timers and old-timers. Come to listen, come to share. Come as you are. All are welcome.
Or for audio only, call 1-646-876-9923 (meeting ID: 912 4388 8402). If outside the Northeast, find your local number at zoom.us/u/aeaJZdoB8
Children and Families - Family Chapel
Margo Whitcomb, Faith Development Assistant
Sunday, February 7, 9:30-10 a.m.
Please join us for our first winter monthly online Family Chapel before the worship service. See old UU friends, share your joys and sorrows, hear stories, and have fun together, while exploring the monthly themes as follows: (February: Beloved Community, March: Commitment, April: Becoming). Geared towards children and their families. Parents/caregivers are welcome to participate or not, but should be nearby if younger ones need help unmuting, etc.
As you hopefully already know by now, the Racial Justice Team is encouraging everyone at First UU to invest in some personal anti-racism training this year. Many of you have joined a Me & White Supremacy reading and discussion group and our first cohort of the REWIRE program has just started. Our third program this year is Beloved Conversations offered by Meadville Lombard Theological School. Beloved Conversations, a well-established UU anti-racism curriculum used by over 200 congregations, has been thoroughly updated and is now available as an online program. Registration for the new Beloved Conversations "Within" program (the individual, personal work we each need to do) is open from February 1-26. Learn more about Beloved Conversations at our Racial Justice Resources page.
Restorative Circles Workshop
Sarah Forbes
Creating a Listening Community: Restorative Circles Practice & Facilitation Workshop
The Healthy Congregation Team is offering to sponsor up to 8 people to attend an online conflict resolution training called Restorative Circles (RC). During the 6-week workshop (one meeting per week) you will explore what gets in the way of listening, how to listen to understand and create a space of empathy within ourselves for others, and how we can use this way of communication to help our communities connect, when it seems impossible to hear one another.
Two sessions are being offered: February 9-March 16 and April 6-May 11
The facilitator is no stranger to FUUSB! Sarah-Elizabeth Anderson has led RC trainings and reflective listening workshops to help us understand others' points of view, without changing the other person. This has served to connect us and sometimes find that common place were our values intersect.
Come experience listening, being heard and feel the empathy you have deepening. Create the capacity within yourself to hold space for difficult conversations with members of our community and to bring change to the world, one moment at a time!
Please contact FUUSB RC team member Sarah Forbes with questions or to sign up: [email protected] or 802-872-8743.
Care Network Team Update
Sarah Weber, Care Network Team
The Anderson/Greenblott family is so appreciative of all the meals and comfort that our congregation has provided. Thank you so much.
Rebecca Anderson's daughter, Tresa Greenblott, has identified another easy thing we can do to help Rebecca - we can also provide support to her with phone calls.
Rebecca responds well to phone calls from people she knows and loves. She may not remember the call the next day, but in the moment, she feels joy and connection to our congregation. We have set up a schedule using Meal Train.
Please sign up to chat with our beloved Rebecca. The best time is between 1 and 8 p.m. A call of 15 minutes to whatever you are comfortable with would be perfect.
The link to sign up to provide a meal or phone call is:
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Many of you have been deciding to make your pledge and other gifts to the Society online. This is a wonderful idea that we support wholeheartedly. Giving online is safe and cuts down on administrative time processing checks. If you're considering this way of giving, but you're still a bit confused, here are the basics:
Where to set up your gift - If you are a member and have a Realm account, just log in to your account and click on Giving. From there you can make a one-time gift or set up automatic payments. If you do not have a Realm account, you can make online gifts from our website: uusociety.org/donate.
How to make sure your gift is credited to the right fund - When you set up online giving, there are several funds to choose from.Please click here for a guide, and answers to frequently-asked questions!
If you ever have questions about online giving, please contact Christina at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your generosity and support of FUUSB!
Online Joys & Sorrows Form
An online Joys & Sorrows submission form is available at this link, and in each week's eNews (in the right margin). Joys & Sorrows will be shared in our Sunday services as much as possible. Since online services are available publicly on the FUUSB YouTube channel, we will not read full names or personal details. Thank you!
In Memoriam
It is with great sadness that we share the news that a former member and a longtime friend of First UU Society both passed away recently.
Jane Corrigan passed away on January 12. She signed the membership book in 2007 and resigned her membership when she and her husband Dean moved to Middlebury in 2019. We know they still have many friends in the congregation. An obituary can be found here.
Sally Stang passed away on January 17. She was a longtime friend of First UU Society and mother of FUUSB member Lynn Clauer. Sally's obituary can be found here.
Vermont Pride Theater Benefit
Vermont Pride Theater will present a Zoomed reading of David Valdes’ timely play Raggedy And on Saturday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a live talkback. The play will also be available on demand through February 13. Director Joanne Greenberg, playwright Valdes, and the four-person cast, all LGBTQ and/or Latinx, will participate in the live talkback on the 6th. It will be moderated by former gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist.
Proceeds of the benefit will go to GLAD's transgender projects, helping trans people young and old to challenge discrimination and obtain their rights. Tickets are $12 and available at chandler-arts.org or (802) 728-9878. Click here for more details!