Rev. Patricia Hart and Erika Reif, with Betsy Ferries and Friends
“Sophia’s Guest”
A multigenerational celebration of welcome and generous community. Come be a part of a story that reminds us once more that when we share our abundance we are richer for it!
Please join us – either in person in the Sanctuary, or online. Find the livestream link on the Livestreamed Sunday Worship page or on our YouTube channel. While inside the Meeting House, masks are strongly encouraged.
After the service, all are welcome to a special Coffee Hour & Pie Potluck in the downstairs Community Room!
Pie Potluck!
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Sunday, November 20, 11:15 a.m.
Community Room
Whether you cast a vote in the Great Pie Election or not, please consider bringing a pie to share at this special coffee hour! Apple pie won the contest for congregational favorite, but all pies will be joyfully consumed. We'll provide pie slicers, plates and forks; just bring your pie with you to coffee hour. Vegan and gluten-free pies welcomed!
Inclement Weather
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
It's Vermont in the wintertime and that means it's time for snow, ice, slush, power failures, and so much more! If this lovely winter weather becomes extreme, the Society may choose to cancel Sunday Worship and other Sunday events, close the offices, or cancel meetings and events on other nights of the week.
If we decide to cancel, we will put a notice on our Website, on our Facebook Page, in our Facebook Group, and we will send out an email to the eNews mailing list. So in case of bad weather, these are the places to look for updates.
If you have a meeting or event scheduled on another day of the week and need to cancel, do your best to send a notice to those who are expected to attend and contact a staff member so that we can put a notice on the door and cancel any Caretaker staff that are scheduled to work. You can find the full Inclement Weather Protocol on our website. Remember to stay safe; don't travel on dangerous roads.
Are You Sick? Please, Stay Home.
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's to monitor our symptoms and stay home when we are sick. If you haven't been to the Meeting House lately, you may be surprised to know that we've had nearly 200 people in the building on Sundays. Our congregation is filled with people who are at varying risks of catching COVID and/or the flu. So we ask that you follow this advice from the CDC.
Remember, staying home doesn't mean you will miss the Worship Service; you can always watch the live-streamed service. And meetings can be held via Zoom, by scheduling a Zoom link with Mary. Thank you.
From the Ministerial Search Team
Tom Hyde
The next step in the search that involves the whole congregation is the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop, which is on Saturday, December 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
In the search, we all need to stay focused on finding someone who will help us move toward our goals and work on our challenges, even if the person doesn't look the way we would expect. In the search 10 years ago our first and second choices chose to go elsewhere, and we found Rev. Mara in the second round. There could hardly be two people more different than that first choice and Rev. Mara, but the minister that turned us down would have been just as good as Rev. Mara.
You can attend the workshop in person or on Zoom. Please sign up at bit.ly/3Wz6Xtx. Childcare will be provided.
Even though the survey and listening sessions are over, we would love to hear from you. We're at coffee hour with blue nametags. Bring us your questions.
Pancake Pajama Party
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Saturday, December 3
from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Susan B. Anthony Room
While adults are engaged in the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop, children are invited to
have some festive fun! We'll watch holiday specials, eat pancakes, and do some seasonal crafting, all while wearing our coziest jammies! RSVP greatly appreciated! Contact [email protected].
2022 FUUSB Fundraiser
Holiday Wreath & Card Sale!
HOLIDAY WREATHS
Support the FUUSB and order a beautiful, custom-decorated, premium-quality wreath or swag for your home or for a gift. Wreaths are handmade in the Northeast Kingdom and measure about 24” across. Swags are handmade, decorated with natural materials and a bow and are about 24” long.
Wreath pick-up is Sunday, December 4 in the Community Room, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m.
Memorial Greens & Wreaths
Remember a loved one this year with a memorial wreath or greens which will decorate our Meeting House exterior and Sanctuary during December. Sign up online through the FUUSB Fundraiser link: gofundraise.link/FUUSBHolidaySale2022
ORDER HOLIDAY CARDS NOW, while they last!
Price reduced from last year!
Select the designs you like best and order just one or many.
Our unique holiday cards are designed by members of our congregation. This year's cards are left over from last year and are being sold for $1.25 each! Select your favorite design(s) and get as many as you would like! Cards will be available at the Meeting House on the Sunday after you order them.
Learn something new or continue your tradition! Come decorate wreaths and make swags for the FUUSB Annual Fundraiser! We will be decorating in the entire Community Room, socially distanced and with masks strongly suggested. Thursday, Dec. 1st, Friday, Dec. 2nd, Saturday Dec. 3rd, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. Thank you!
Contact Sarah Forbes to sign up and with any questions. 578-6119 or [email protected]
Christmas Morning Breakfast!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
In case you haven't turned your calendar over to December yet, Christmas lands on a Sunday this year! The Society will not be having an in-person Sunday service that day but will be offering a staff-led pre-recorded service. We also will not be having our traditional Christmas Morning Breakfast in the Community Room. We have, however, been asked to provide Christmas Morning Breakfast for COTS (Committee On Temporary Shelter). We have agreed to do this, but we are looking for someone to be the organizer. COTS is happy to accept whatever we decide to provide, and this congregation has a long history of providing Christmas breakfast, so it should be a rather easy task. We have one person who is willing to help but cannot take on the leadership role. If you would like to head up this important holiday task, please contact Christina at [email protected].
Sanctuary Spiffer Upper
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
We are looking for a volunteer or two who would like to come to the Meeting House once a week or twice a month to fill the pew racks, straighten the hymnals, refill items in the fidget fixer stations, and make sure our Sanctuary is looking beautiful and welcoming for Sunday morning. We are flexible about when you come in and it will probably take around 1 - 2 hours total. If you are interested, please contact Christina at [email protected].
Help to Assemble a FUUSB Mailing
Mary Williams, Society Administrator
I am looking for a few volunteers to help assemble our end-of-year fundraising mailing! If you are willing to help and are available during the afternoon of Wednesday, November 30, please let me know by Nov. 29 at [email protected] or 862-5630 ext. 2100.
We will be masked and distanced in the Parlors, and stuffing and sealing envelopes, and sticking on stamps and labels. Feel free to stay for the amount of time that works for you. The project should take about 1.5 hours. Thank you!
Online Coffee Hour
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
Our Online Coffee Hour has a small, but dedicated, group of friends who enjoy checking in regularly. During the height of the pandemic, Online Coffee Hour had upwards of 30 people attending each week. Of course, now that so many of you are attending services in person, you are also attending Coffee Hour in person. We've tried changing our Online Coffee Hour to Monday evenings, with little success. So it is with some sadness that I announce that the Online Coffee Hour is going to take a break. If the unmentionable happens, and the virus prevents us from meeting in person again, we will consider reviving the Online Coffee Hour. I thank everyone for the hours of deep personal connection this event has provided.
FUUSB Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule
Mary Williams, Society Administrator
FUUSB's Thanksgiving holiday break will be Wednesday, Nov. 23 and Thursday, Nov. 24. Offices will be closed and most weekly meetings will not be held. Please visit uusociety.org for updated event listings.
The eNews will take a break for the holiday on Nov. 24, with weekly issues resuming Dec. 1.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Upcoming Worship Services
November 27 at 10 am
In-Person & Livestreamed Worship Service
Rev. Patricia Hart with Melinda Lee
December 4 at 10 am
In-Person & Livestreamed Worship Service
Guest Minister Rev. Keith Kron with Rev. Patricia Hart