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eNews

September 7, 2017
Latest News
Join Us for Worship This Week
Pride March This Sunday
Labyrinth Sunday
Book Discussion Group
Theme Circles
Time to Register for RE!
RE Stewards
Coming of Age - 9th grade
Care Network Update
Member Parking Passes
Scheduling Meeting House Space
Facilities Note on Site Work
New Members
Music Ministry Team
Support Vermont Dairy Workers
Adult Religious Education News
Fall Publication Schedules
 
 
 
Upcoming Service
Sunday, September 17, 10 a.m.

Sky Yardley and   
Jane Dwinell, 
Guest Preachers

Living With Dementia
Sky Yardley and Jane Dwinell have been living with dementia since Sky's diagnosis in August 2016. Their mission since the diagnosis is to help erase the stigma of dementia and help others be more welcoming of people with this disease. They will share their experiences with the congregation.

Guest Bios
Jane and Sky have been together for 32 years, have raised two children, now adults (Dana, who lives in Montpelier, and Sayer, who lives in Burlington), and, from 2007-2016 lived between New Orleans, France, and Vermont, traveling and doing volunteer work. Jane is a retired UU minister, having served congregations in Derby Line, VT and Saranac Lake, NY as well as working for the UUA (and then herself) as a Small Congregation Consultant, and is the author of three books, Birth Stories, Big Ideas for Small Congregations, and Freedom Through Frugality. Sky is a retired family mediator, working primarily with divorce and high-conflict families. They moved to Burlington in 2016, and live in the Old North End.

Worship Associates: 
Judy Brook and Kenneth Russell


 
Dementia Care Resources
As part of the "Living with Dementia" Service on September 17, the Care Network will have information in the parlors about Dementia Care at FUUSB. A list of dementia resources will be available as well as a sign-up sheet for those requesting help and offering help.  After the service, Jane Dwinell and Sky Yardley will have a Q & A session in the sanctuary.

 

 
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Join Us for Worship This Week
Sunday, September 10 at 10 a.m.
Rev. Phyllis B. O'Connell, Sabbatical Minister

In-Gathering Multigenerational Service  
Welcome all to the In-Gathering Multigenerational Service!  Martha Dallas, Director of Religious Education, will te ll a story about our  interdependent relationship with the Earth and offer an in-gathering ritual. The choir returns that morning and  Rev. Phyllis O'Connell, our minister during Rev. Mara's sabbatical, will preach a brief homily entitled "Small Miracles,"  focusing on the gifts of the universe.

Worship Associate: Maeve McBride

Pride March After Service This Sunday
Please join together for the Pride March in Burlington on Sunday, September 10!

Let's Stand on the Side of Love to celebrate the LGBTQ community. We will gather at 11:30 a.m. on the front steps of the church to walk down to the start of the parade.  The parade begins around 12:30 p.m. at the south end of Church Street and ends at Battery Park with a festival that goes from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. 

This is a powerful way for our loving community to join together with our LGBTQ neighbors and friends.  I hope to see you there!

Contact Lucy Gluck with any questions:
(802) 917-4204
Labyrinth Sunday on September 10
Join us at the Labyrinth after the service this Sunday, weather permitting. After the service, the flags will be out around the labyrinth and someone from the Labyrinth Ministry will be there to answer questions and guide you on your walk. Labyrinth Sundays will be held on the second  Sunday of the month into the fall.
 
We are seeking new Labyrinth Ministry members to care for our labyrinth and continue in our work of integration into the UU community. We meet monthly on the first or second Monday at 4:30. If you are interested, contact Carol MacDonald at 862-9037 or  carol@carolmacdonald.com .
 
Book Discussion Group
The Book Discussion Group will meet on  Tuesday, September 12, from 12:00-1:30 p.m. in the Susan B. Anthony Room. We will be discussing 
It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis. The book is a  1935 novel about an American politician who campaigns on patriotism and traditional values and imposes plutocratic, totalitarian rule. (Hmmmm...)  All are welcome to join us! 
 
 Theme Circles Fall Series
O u r Spiritual Theme Circle program is returning for the church year - and the official sign-up time for the fall term is almost here! 

What Are Theme Circles?
Our Spiritual Theme Circles program, based on similar programs in many UU congregations, invites you into a space of deeper reflection on each month's spiritual theme.
At the beginning of the month, all who subscribe to the eNews will find a link to the current edition of The Path (hard copies will also be available at church), which will offer readings, resources, and thought-provoking questions on the current theme. You will meet monthly with your group of 8 to 10 other First UU'ers to confidentially share and reflect. Each group will be led by a trained facilitator (and fellow First UU'er) and will follow the same program. Theme Circles are a great way to meet new folks in our community, deepen connections and sense of belonging, and also to enrich your own personal spiritual journey.

The monthly themes to be discussed during the fall semester are:
October - Courage
November - Abundance
December - Hope
January - Intention

How to Join a Theme Circle
We expect to confirm group times and facilitators by September 10. There will be opportunities to register both online (beginning about September 13) and after services on September 17 and 24 in the Parlors. Remember that the sooner you register the more likely you will be placed in the group that is your first choice.

Each Theme Circle group will meet once monthly, from October through January, at a set time each month (e.g., the Third Thursday Evening). You will be notified of your group date and time by Friday, October 6. All groups will meet at their respective times during the third week of the month.

At the end of the fall term, you'll have the option to continue on through the spring term (February through June). And if you're interested, but not quite ready to sign up this fall, you can also register for the spring term in January.

Thanks, and we look forward to this continuing adventure in shared ministry! If you have questions, you can email themecircles@uusociety.org and someone will be in touch.

With love,
Your Theme Circle Team
Andre Mol, Melinda Lee, Kenneth Russell, Linda Graves
 
It's Time to Register for RE!
By Martha Dallas, Director of Religious Education 
 
children kids calendar banner
Have you registered your kids for RE yet?  Register for 2017-18, please!  Here's the link.
 
Don't forget to click the blue button at the bottom of the registration form to "Add" each child!
 
When does RE Start?  It depends... Program start dates are as follows:
 
Sept 17 :  YUUth Group (9th-12th grade)'s  first meeting!
 
Sept 17 :   OWL first class (8th grade):  10:00-11:30,
Coming of Age first meeting (9th grade): 11:00-12:30
 
Oct 1:  ( 9:00 and 11:00 )  Classroom Sundays begin for preschool Spirit Play - 7th grade Building Bridges 

RE Stewards, please RSVP!
By Martha Dallas, DRE

RE Stewards, be sure you've RSVP'd to these kickoff events!

Sept 17
8:30-9:45 - RE Steward Welcome Back Breakfast 
11:30-12:30 - New Steward Orientation, RE Nuts & Bolts

Sept 24
8:30-9:45 - Spirit Play Training, Team Meeting time, & Classroom setup 
11:30-12:30 - Informal Q & A with Martha

For kids, Magicians Without Borders joins us the 17th and Big Blue Trunk returns on the 24th, along with supervised play courtesy of our amazing childcare staff!

Please RSVP to these events using this  form, so that we can plan for enough food and adequate childcare. Thank you!

Coming of Age. 9th grade. Do we have you?
by Martha Dallas, DRE

We have seven registered so far: YAY! Other 9th graders, please register now so the train doesn't leave without you! The program kicks off on Sunday, Sept. 17 from 11-12:30 in the Susan B. Anthony Room.  Here's the registration  form .

Care Network Update
By Sarah Weber

Dear Members:

Is fall almost here?  On the dark and rainy day that I am writing this, it sure feels close.  

I am writing to ask you to include something a little new in your monthly routines. Once a month, could you give someone a ride to services or prepare a little more dinner than your household needs and share with a family in our congregation? If everyone pitched in just a little, we could collectively make a huge difference within our faith community. Providing this support is a great way to live our UU 1st, 2nd and 7th principles. It is also a great way to grow beloved community and meet new wonderful UU people. Please take a look at the list of opportunities below. (Scroll all the way through, please.)

You can help in 3 ways:  
1.  Sign up to provide meals and/or rides by clicking the meal train links below. (Please scroll all the way to the bottom. There are two ride links and three meal links.) Just make a little extra of whatever you are having for dinner. 
2.  Let the Care Network know of other families in need.
3.  Volunteer to be part of the Care Network committee which, among other things, facilitates meal and ride support. 
Your efforts will be greatly appreciated.  :-)
 
On behalf of the Care Network, respectfully, 
Sarah Weber 
(802) 373-0197  (Call with any questions)
 
 
 

 

Member Parking Passes
By Bob Furrer, Facilities Manager

It's that time of year again! Parking passes for the Meetinghouse oval drive are now available for the year October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Sales will be limited to 36 again this year. Passes allowing members to park for up to three hours per day during the week on an "as available" basis can be obtained by completing and submitting to me the attached form (below) which is also available in hard copy in the main office. Passes cost $35 for one, or $60 for two.

IMPORTANT!  Please read the following information carefully before applying.
During weekday business hours (8:00AM - 5:00PM), the following rules apply:
1. If you have a valid and current parking sticker displayed in your vehicle, you may park for up to 3 hours in the oval on the east side of the building only, whether you are attending Society related activities or unrelated activities off-site.
2. There is no parking in any other spot on site whether or not you have purchased a pass. The only exception to this rule is for people who have a valid access tag displayed in their vehicle. In this case, there is an accessible parking spot available adjacent to the north door of the Meeting House.
3. Members without a valid pass must find parking off-site during weekly business hours whether or not they are involved with Society activities.

The above regulations need to be adhered to so that spaces are available (on a first come, first served basis) to those who have purchased member parking passes and those employees of local businesses who rent spaces in the north lot on a monthly basis. Violators risk being towed!
 
During all hours other than normal business hours, the following guidelines must be adhered to:
1. On-site parking is available to members on a first come, first served basis, regardless of whether they are involved in Society activities or not.
2. Egress/ingress points on Elmwood Ave. and Clarke St., as well as those locations serving doors, ramps and walkways, cannot be blocked by vehicles.
3. There is no parking allowed on the lawns, regardless of the season.
4. There is no overnight parking allowed, unless a request is made prior to doing so, and approved by the facilities manager.
 
Your understanding and cooperation with the above is greatly appreciated.  Please complete and submit the attached form , or pick up a hard copy in the office if you would like to apply for a pass.

Scheduling Meeting House Space
By Bob Furrer

As we start our new worship season, interest in scheduling space at the Meeting House is peaking. As a simple and friendly reminder, if you're interested in scheduling space for a meeting or event, please do so via a blue sheet, whether it be a hard copy available in the office, the electronic version found on our website, or simply click on the link hereThanks so much for your cooperation during this busy time of year!

Best,
Bob

Facilities Note on Site Work
By Bob Furrer

Hello All,

During the past week, substantial tree work was done on the grounds of the Meetinghouse and our adjacent property.

The sugar maple located towards the southeast corner that recently split was removed, as it was unsound beyond the point of any treatment. The clump of dead cedars on the extreme northeast corner of the property, as well as the cedar encroaching on the north side of 34 Elmwood Ave. were all removed. Most dramatically, the elms bordering the front bluestone walkway were trimmed back resulting in a view from Church St. that now includes the totality of the south face of the Meetinghouse and its tower. Finally, I'd like to note that the Ash that our wonderful labyrinth surrounds is looking extremely healthy! It appears that the air spading of the roots and fertilization done in 2014 and repeated recently, as well as this early summer's abundant rainfall, can all be attributed to its health!  

New Members
From left: Nina Dahlstedt Buss, Roger Bourassa, Brenda Balon, Sally Millichamp, and Bernie Carver
By Nina Dahlstedt Buss, Membership Coordinator

Four people signed our Membership Book on a recent  Sunday , and were welcomed by our Membership Coordinator, Nina Dahlstedt Buss, and several members of our Membership Team. Steps to becoming a member of the FUUSB include taking the New UU class and making an annual financial commitment (pledge).  For more information about becoming a member please contact Nina at  nina@uusociety.org.

Music Ministry Team News
By Maggi Hayes

The Music Ministry Team (formerly known as the Music Committee) is looking forward to a new and exciting church year. As with other groups, we are in transition, in this case from a single committee to a group of teams each developing and leading different programs which will enhance the Music Ministry of our Society. Some of these plans include further developing our current concert and coffeehouse events, a new community chorus and a children's choir. I'm sure there are more.   
 
To launch our new venture, you are cordially invited to a potluck gathering on Saturday, September 16, from 12-4 p.m. Please bring a light dish and lots of ideas to share. If you have any questions or thoughts, please contact Maggi Hayes at mehayes@uvm.eduI look forward to seeing you.
Maggi, acting MMT leader
 
Putting Love Into Action-Help Support Vermont Dairy Workers on Sept. 17
by Gene Bergman on behalf of the several FUUSB Justice Ministries

In 2014, Migrant Justice did a survey of labor and living conditions on farms in Ben & Jerry's supply chain. Based on this survey, the Milk with Dignity campaign was started and, in June 2015, Ben & Jerry's and Migrant Justice began negotiating a contract that would support human rights in this supply chain by creating a worker-driven code of conduct that addresses the conditions of workers on the farms and paying a premium to farmers who comply with the code.

This past June, after 100 people marched from Montpelier to B&J's Waterbury factory, B&J's said, "We are ready. All the pieces are in place." But still there is no contract. 

Migrant Justice is going to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC to publicize the Milk with Dignity campaign, and they need support from communities of faith. If ever there was a campaign that unites economic and racial justice and welcomes marginalized and exploited people, this is it. 

Please join us after the service on September 17 in the Parlors at a collaborative table of all the FUUSB Justice Ministries to write notes to Ben & Jerry's CEO urging him to sign the contract with Migrant Justice now. We'll have handouts with suggested messages for postcards or short handwritten letters, pens, envelopes, stamps to help you.

 

Help Us Put Love into Action.

More info at www.migrantjustice.net/milk-with-dignity/


Adult Religious Education News
By Nancy Hellen

We are excited to share the many offerings this year for Adult Religious Education. Seek out opportunities to explore your spirituality and share the process with others.

Book of Revelation from the New Testament
Sunday, September 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
This Bible study will be guided by Jeff Trumbower.  Discuss when and why the New Testament Book of Revelation was written, and look at examples of similar Jewish and Christian texts that survive from around the same time periods.

The Story Of Your Life: Writing Your Own Spiritual Autobiography
Sundays 12:30-2:30 p.m. on October 1, 8, 22, and 29, and November 5 and 19
Facilitated by Rodney Lowe and Sally Russell.
Participants will draw, write, and share each other's life experiences while you build a basis for your own Spiritual Autobiography.

Cakes for the Queen of Heaven 
Mondays 6:30-8:30 p.m., October 16, 23, and 30, and November 6 and 13
"Cakes for the Queen of Heaven" is a woman honoring adult RE curriculum by Rev. Shirley Ranck. Join Sally Russell in examination of pre-Judeo Christian cultures that may have worshiped the female as divine. 

Other upcoming programs include "We Who Defy Hate"  with Andre Mol; Demonstrating Our Values Through Eating - Course 1 and Course 3, led by Valerie Wood-Lewis;
Born on Third Base Reading Group; Five Star Film CafĂ©!; and Writing With Spirit.  Look for more dates and times in the eNews and at Upcoming Events at uusociety.org. Also watch for notices on the Spiritual Growth & Learning bulletin board.  Click here for the 2017-18 Adult Religious Education Offerings brochure.

Fall Publication Schedule for eNews          and The Steeple
eNews
Save the Date
eNews is a weekly email newsletter for shorter articles and  announcements, focusing on news and upcoming events. Content should be directly related to the FUUSB, UUA, or organizations with which we have a formal relationship. Feel free to include photos or links.
eNews is published weekly on Thursdays. There will be no eNews on Thanksgiving Day, November 23. Any other changes in the schedule will be announced in advance.
The deadline to submit announcements for each week's eNews will be Mondays at noon. Please send submissions to:  enewsblast@uusociety.org .

The Steeple
The Steeple  newsletter is published monthly.  The Steeple  focuses on the "big picture" and our Society's mission and goals. Articles are generally 200 to 400 words in length. This newsletter does not include a calendar or event announcements.
If you would like to submit an article for an upcoming issue of  The Steeple , please send it to  newsletter@uusociety.org .

The Steeple  Newsletter Dates for Fall 2017:
Publication Date          Due Date to Submit Articles
Oct. 4                      Sept. 18
Nov. 1                      Oct. 16
Dec. 6                      Nov. 20

If you have any questions about these publications, please contact Mary Williams, our Society Administrator, at mary@uusociety.org or 862-5630, ext. 21.