Join us as we continue our livestreamed outdoor worship services this Sunday! This week we welcome guest speaker Mark Redmond, Executive Director of Spectrum Youth & Family Services in Burlington. Also leading this Sunday's worship will be Rodney Lowe, Worship Associate, and James Stewart, our Director of Music.
We hope many of you will join the service – either in person (outside the Meeting House) or online. Find the livestream link at uusociety.org or on our YouTube channel.
There will be chairs, but feel free to bring your own portable chair, or a blanket if you’d like to sit on the ground. Choose distancing that makes you comfortable and wear a mask if you prefer. If entering the Meeting House, masks are strongly encouraged indoors.
Summer Garden Childcare will be available in the Memorial Garden during the service (details below). After the service, all are welcome to Outdoor Coffee Hour at 11 a.m., and Zoom Coffee Hour at 11:15 a.m.
Summer Garden Childcare
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Sunday, August 21 and 28 - 10 a.m.
No rain forecast for Sunday and the garden is set up for fun! Faith Development Assistant Margo Whitcomb and members of the childcare staff are bringing out water tables, craft projects, active toys and more; the only curricula will be nature, friends, and fun! Parents of children 9 and younger should accompany them to the garden to sign them in and return after the service to sign them out again. Older children can join in the fun as well and, as always, children are welcome to stay with their parents to take part in the service.
FUUSB Climate Justice Team Meeting
Lisa Lax, Climate Justice Team
Are you feeling down and hopeless about the climate crisis? Or a fiery passion to act? In either case, we would welcome you. Please join us at the next FUUSB Climate Justice Team meeting this Sunday, August 21 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and learn how you can get involved. We will meet in person, outdoors at the FUUSB Memorial Garden. Our current focus is on projects to inspire others to take action.
New Family Welcome
Margo Whitcomb, Faith Development Assistant
Sunday, August 28 at 11:15 a.m.
Several families with children and teenagers have dropped by so far this summer! We would love to get to know you better before the hustle and bustle of the fall. If your family is new to us, please join Erika Reif (Director of Lifespan Faith Development) and Margo Whitcomb (Faith Development Assistant) for bagels and fruit, a tour of the building, and an opportunity to get acquainted and learn more about First UU. Bring the family! Please r.s.v.p. to [email protected] with any dietary restrictions so we can get the proper food and a headcount.
Online Facilitator Trainings
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Whether you are a current circle facilitator who would like to grow in the role, or a circle member who might like to give facilitating a try, there are online trainings available starting in late August! Soul Matters, the source of our spiritual theme content, offers trainings twice a year that range from 2-hour single sessions to 5-month series. Visit their Trainings Page to find out more. Please contact [email protected] if you want to take part.
First UU Climate Conversations
Rosanne Greco, Climate Justice Team
Are you feeling confused, conflicted, concerned, overwhelmed, scared, hopeless and/or more about climate change? Uncertain what to do, or even whether to do something, about the greatest crisis humankind has ever faced? If so, you are in the majority. But even though most people are worried about what’s to come and what to do, the vast majority don’t even talk about it. And, talking about it is actually the first crucial step forward, and something every one of us can do.
Wise people say one of the greatest antidotes to despair is action. And, most actions start by talking with others. So, the FUUSB Climate Justice Team is proposing to start a small group (or groups) in person and/or virtually to talk about the climate crisis and our feelings surrounding it.
If folks are interested, the FUUSB Climate Conversation group(s) will start in mid-September on a day and time convenient for the participants. Please email Rosanne Greco if you would like to join the group.
Regain hope and energy, inspire others, and be part of the solution. See you in September.
2022/23 Registration Kicks Off!
Margo Whitcomb, Faith Development Assistant
Growing our children and youth in Faith Development
Another exciting year is about to begin and now is the time to register your children and youth! Offerings include Nursery care, Spirit Play, Bible Stories, Building Bridges, OWL and Yuuth Group. However your children might participate (you needn’t know now), registering them will help us plan. Please register your child(ren) or youth with us at the link below!
The FUUSB Membership Team cordially invites any interested members to join with us in welcoming newcomers by serving as official Welcome Ambassadors at Sunday in-person services. This commitment would involve showing up for services (probably once a month), arriving around 9:30 a.m. and staying through most of the coffee hour. Two Welcome Ambassadors would serve each Sunday, staffing and placing UU materials at tables located in the front vestibule and the side-door entryway. Additional details and a job description will be shared with anyone requesting more information.
Kind, heartfelt welcoming can be expressed in a multitude of ways. Even if you are not able to serve as a Welcome Ambassador at this time, we encourage you, when attending FUUSB events, to continue to extend the kind, cordial welcome so many Society members regularly show toward others who join us. The Membership Team believes that the quality of our “welcome” is one of the most precious features of our Society, one that most memorably defines us as a congregation.
If you are interested in the possibility of serving as a Welcome Ambassador, or if you simply would like more information, pleaseemail Deborah Ragione.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Young Adult Messenger
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
Are you a young adult member of our congregation who would like to connect more easily with others at First UU? We have started a "Young Adult Messenger" list within our Realm database, for anyone in the very broad age range of 19-39. The hope is that listees will reach out with suggested events or meetups or other messages and begin connections that might lead to a more formal affinity group or two in the future. Realm settings allow one to receive posts as individual emails, in a digest, or only when logged in. There is a Realm Connect phone app that can be used instead of email, once you have created a Realm login. If you would like to be added to this list, email [email protected].
We're Hiring!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
FUUSB is hiring a part-time Caretaker. This person will join Bob and Charlie in providing assistance during meetings and events at the Meeting House. Here is a short description:
"To provide a welcoming presence to groups entering the building, clean and maintain the facilities in a professional manner, and ensure the safety, health, and security concerns of the Society. *Due to COVID-19 restrictions prohibiting large gatherings, the number of hours per week that we can offer is somewhat unpredictable. As our building begins to re-open, working hours will increase."
If you are interested in learning more about this position or applying for it, please send an email describing your interest and experience to Christina Fulton at [email protected].