Ready or not, it’s time to think about the future. What will be most important, in this year of risks and opportunities – to you, and this community; for the country, and the world? What will be most important at First UU? Some thoughts to begin this month of stewardship, and dreaming the future of this beloved congregation.
We are continuing to invite up to 50 (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.
At 11 a.m. all are welcome to Outdoor Coffee Hour in front of the Meeting House, and Zoom Coffee Hour at this link: bit.ly/3j4RxJ9.
"Our Money, Our Mission" Listening Session
Kameron McConnell, Treasurer
Your Treasurer and members of the Finance Team are hosting an event today, Thursday, March 3 - It's the third annual "Our Money, Our Mission" listening session. We'll explore the question "Are we spending our money to meet our mission?" Come share your thoughts over Zoom from 7-8:30 p.m.
For audio only, call (646) 558-8656. If outside the Northeast, find your local number here.
Coffee & Community Action!
Margo Whitcomb, Faith Development Assistant
Sunday, March 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Meeting House grounds
Our theme for March is “Renewing Faith” which extends to joining forces with one another for the common good, so we want to make the monthly interfaith vigil a multigenerational event.
At 12:30, All Are Welcome to some hot beverages and materials to make signs. Children can run off energy, visit, and play while adults have coffee prior to the vigil.
Join with other faith communities in Burlington in standing together in faith against racism. Pearl Street, in front of the Meeting House, 1:00-1:30 p.m.
Family Faith Development Council - Drop In!
Margo Whitcomb, Faith Development Assistant
Monday, March 7, 6-7 p.m.
Parents, teachers, and other members with interest in programming for children and youth meet with Faith Development staff to provide vision and form community! Your input is welcome as we continue to navigate programming in challenging (but changing) times. "Membership" in this council is casual and all are welcome with your input and ideas to grow the next generation. Click on the link to join by Zoom: Council Meeting
Buddhism: Eastern Religious Traditions - Part 2
Margo Whitcomb, Faith Development Assistant
Tuesday, March 8, 7-8:30 p.m.
New member and longtime scholar of the world’s religions, Phillip Brentwood, will present a 90-minute session exploring Buddhism, the 2nd in a 3-part series, enhanced by the backdrop of a multimedia presentation. Click here for more information and to register. This session will be held both in the well-ventilated Community Room (masks required, capacity 20), and through Zoom. The presenter will be unmasked while speaking.
FUUSB in Solidarity With Ukraine
Rev. David Ruffin, Director of Youth & Creative Arts Ministries
Nancy Hellen, Healthy Congregation Team
Love & Justice Vigil, Wednesday, March 9
5:15-5:45 p.m. - In front of the Meeting House
With gratitude for the powerful turnout on March 2nd, the Love & Justice Vigil continues, in solidarity with Ukraine. Some posters are available, but please make your own signs if possible. Gather to witness; gather to "side with love."
Open Sanctuary Hour, Wednesday, March 9
5:45-6:45 p.m. - Meeting House Sanctuary
The Sanctuary will again be open to up to 50 people. There will be space for candle lighting, prayer, music, meditation, silence and sharing from the heart, in the Quaker tradition. Masks will be required in the Sanctuary.
Deep Listening Circles, March 7 & 10 - Zoom
The Healthy Congregation Team invites you to join a Deep Listening Circle with attention on Ukraine: an intentional gathering to share how you are and to listen deeply to others. At this time we are all experiencing a myriad of feelings - concerns, confusions, and hopes. In times like this, it can be hard to find the space and quality of connection to hear and speak our truths: How am I really? What do I notice about myself amidst these times? What is breaking my heart and where am I drawn to give my heart anew? How do we respond as UUs/people of faith, amidst such? We can support one another to ask and answer these kinds of questions. The practice of coming together in our faith-based community in this way is one way for us to be in covenant.
These will be virtual sessions. Anyone can attend. RSVPs are encouraged, but not required, to Nancy Hellen at nbhellen@gmail.com. Please indicate the date you plan to attend in your email.
Please consider sharing a meal with our Ministerial Intern, Rowan, and her family! Rowan and Caitlyn are very busy with new baby Seneca, and would be very grateful for some help with meals. For more details and to sign up, visit mealtrain.com/1d15mw. Thank you!
Zoom Family Chapel 2.0 - March Edition
Margo Whitcomb, Faith Development Assistant
DATE CHANGE! Sunday, March 13, 9-9:50 a.m.
Come see old friends and new while we explore the monthly theme of Renewing Faith. All are welcome but families with young children are especially invited to join Erika and Margo for fun, ritual and reflection. Click the link to join: Zoom Family Chapel
Restorative Circles Training
Stuart Graves, Restorative Circles Team
“Creating a Listening Community: Restorative Circles Practice & Facilitation” is a training workshop of 6 sessions being offered via Zoom by Sarah-Elizabeth Anderson from March 15-April 20 on Wednesdays from 6:00-8:30 p.m. The Healthy Congregation Team will cover registration fees which are: $222 to $77 per person on a sliding scale.
“Come experience listening, being heard and feeling the empathy you have deepening. Create the capacity within yourself to hold space for difficult conversations with members of our community. Let us bring change to the world one moment at a time!”
If interested, please read this Steeple article for more information, and how to register.
Coming Soon - The FUUSB Spring Auction!
Nina Harrington, Spring Auction Committee
Mark your calendars! The annual Spring Auction, “Building Community” is scheduled for April 17-29. We invite you to start thinking of community-oriented events or outings you could donate to this year’s online auction. Also, in an effort to widen our community outreach, we hope to offer gift certificates from Church Street merchants and other businesses in our neighborhood as part of the offerings. More information will follow with ideas for events and instructions on how to donate. Stay tuned for more!
From the Immigration Justice Team
Mary Andrews, Immigration Justice Team Chair
Tell the Administration: Reopen the Border to Asylum Seekers and End Misuse of Title 42
The Biden Administration is failing to live up to its promises of a more just and humane immigration system. Over the past year, the Administration has continued Trump’s policy of expelling asylum seekers at our southern border without hearing, citing public health protection under Title 42. This misuse of public health authority denies asylum seekers basic human and legal rights. The Administration is failing to honor campaign promises to “restore asylum laws… to protect people fleeing persecution.”
Instead, refugees are still being sent to unsafe conditions in Mexican border towns or returned to the hands of their persecutors in their home countries. Human rights observers have documented more than 8,700 attacks — including kidnapping, torture, and sexual violence — against asylum seekers returned to Mexico since Biden took office. This does not include those killed upon return to their home countries.
Our faith emphasizes the inherent worth and dignity of all people and calls on us to protect those who flee their homes from danger. You can stand up for our values and basic human rights by adding your name to the letter to the President and Vice President and Secretaries of Homeland Security and Health & Human Services at this link.
From Our Facilities Manager
Dear Members and Friends,
We now have many devices at the Meeting House that operate best with a smartphone. I am hoping that someone might have an iPhone 8, or above, that they have replaced with a new phone and would want to donate to the Society. It would save us a few hundred dollars. It would need to be signed out of your iCloud account for us to be able to use it. I could help to reformat it so all of your information is cleared. Please contact me at david@uusociety.org if you have a phone you may want to donate. Thank you!
David McFeeters, Facilities Manager
Who Are We Now?
Hope Baker-Carr, Board President
Summary of Feedback From
"Who Are We Now?"
A Board of Trustees sponsored Community Conversation held on January 23, 2022
The long-awaited summary of participant feedback from January 23rd's Community Conversation is now available. Find out how members responded to the question "Who are we now?" From the amazingly upbeat "We are a strong and healthy community. We are in a good place. We have a bright future." to the more inclusive, open-minded work of radical welcoming, to connection and engagement of Zoom, to feelings of disconnection and loss, you'll find the summary captures thoughts shared by many.
If you weren't able to attend the community conversation and have additional thoughts, feel free to contact the Board at board@uusociety.org, or hold on to your thoughts for another community conversation. We always welcome your feedback.
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
This year's GA will be a multi-platform event. You can attend in-person in Portland, Oregon or you can attend online from your very own home. Either way, GA 2022 has lots to offer. This year's GA will be held from June 22-26.
Registration - Registration for both in-person and virtual GA is now open. If you plan to attend, please register as soon as possible. There is a special link for Youth Registration, and one for Children's Programing. There is also information on GA Housing.
Delegates - FUUSB receives 9 delegates for GA. Delegates are members of the congregation who attend business meetings during GA and vote on behalf of our congregation. If you would like to be a delegate for FUUSB, please contactChristinaas soon as possible.
To build the connected community needed to resist the ravages of the climate crisis - emphasized in the UN's latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report - and create relationships for justice, equity and compassion in our world, the UU Ministry for Earth invites you to the following events this month: Events Listing
