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Enews Blast
January 26, 2012
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Our Mission: We gather to inspire spiritual growth, care for each other and our community, seek truth and act for justice. |
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Upcoming Worship Services!
Sunday, January 29th - 9 & 11 a.m.
"Question Box" Join Rev. Roberta for worship 'without a net'. At the beginning of the service you can write questions that you would like Rev. Roberta to answer. With selection assistance from members of the Worship Committee, Roberta will answer some of those questions spontaneously instead of preaching a prepared sermon.
Sunday, February 5th - 9 & 11 a.m.
"Standing on the Side of Love" We take the title for this service from the UU hymn that has become the anthem for human rights work in our Unitarian Universalist Association. One of the ways we UU's stand on the side of love is by supporting families of all shapes and sizes and configurations. In this multigenerational service Rev. Roberta and Director of Religious Education Martha Dallas will weave the stories of families from our congregation into an inclusive and celebratory worship experience
**Thank you to Mike Reilly (friend of Mark Kuprych) for this amazing photo of our Meeting House! |
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YUUTH GROUP MEETING SUN 1 29 12 1045-1215 SBA
FOCUS***YSOP AND FUNDRAISING
DEADLINE FOR CONFIRMING PARTICIPATION 2/5/12
ANY YUUTH 14-18 AT FUUSB CAN PARTICIPATE.
WE WILL GO TO NYC FROM JUNE 17-22, INCLUDING TRAVEL DATES.WITH SERVICE PROJECTS AND WORSHIP ACTIVITIES
WE ALSO NEED CHAPERONES..
CONTACT Kristin at youth@uusociety for more info.
(excuse the caps. I got carried away
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Occupy the Spirit: UUs on the Side of Economic Justice
Since mid December, a Task Force of First UU Society members have been working to decide how to support the local Occupy Movement. One idea that's bubbled up is to display a banner supporting economic justice on or near our meetinghouse making our UU values clear and public. We'd be proclaiming our support for the UU principles affirming that each person has inherent worth and dignity; that justice, equity, and compassion should be the guiding principles for human relationships; and that all people deserve access to the democratic process. We'd help support those who are trying to educate the population beyond the walls of our meetinghouse on these issues.
By supporting this action the members of the First UU of Burlington would be following in a tradition of support for economic justice begun by our sister congregations fifteen years ago and reaffirmed in 2000 when the UU General Assembly adopted a "Statement of Conscience" that said, "We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, hereby rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of economic justice, an end to racism, and an end to poverty. We recognize that racism is a major contributor toward economic injustice..."
We believe hanging a banner near or from our building demonstrates what we stand for in a strong and visible way. We want to know what you think about a banner and what the wording should say. Very soon there will be a poll taken at Sunday services and a Survey Monkey link from our Enewsblast. Please let us know what you think.
For more information about this action or to share your thoughts please contact:
Lucy Gluck 652-9058 freelulu@yahoo.com
Jean Palmer 288-9566 jeanpa@pshift.com
Sally Conrad 658-1047 dconrad@uvm.edu |
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Where's my new nametag?
Looking for your nametag? Did you sign up for a new one and wonder where it might be? Please check in the small basket on the Membership Welcome table in the Parlors. Once you pick up and wear it, please place it in one of the racks located in the front vestibule and in the main office hallway. Thank you!
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UU Book Discussion Group
Please join us on Feb 7th at 7:00 pm or Feb 14th at 1:00 pm as we discuss Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Uncle Tom's Cabin, surprisingly a page turner, is the book that brought the cruelty of slavery into American homes. A reluctant publisher produced 5,000 first editions - they were gone in two days. By the end of the year 300,000 copies were sold in America, then 200,000 in England. This book's contribution to the abolition movement and its influence on Americn history is impossible to overstate.
The book for March will be The Tenth Parallel, by Eliza Griswold.
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Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Have you ever wondered what goes on at our Unitarian Universalist General Assembly (GA)? Are you curious about what you might experience if you attended a GA, or why UUs make an effort to attend such a large annual gathering?
If you would like to learn about why Bill West, Bill Suiter, and Chip Patullo participated in GA last June either by being there in person or online, and what they got out of this experience, please come to a forum moderated by Rev. Roberta on Sunday,Feb. 5 at 12:30 PM in the meetinghouse. Bill, Bill, and Chip, as well as Rev. Roberta, will also help us look ahead to the big "justice" General Assembly coming up in Phoenix, Arizona this June. They will get us thinking about the possibility of going to this historic gathering in Phoenix ourselves!
Plan to join us on Sunday, Feb. 5 for stimulating discussion about General Assembly past and future sponsored by Denominational Affairs. Childcare will be available.
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Religious Education News
 Upcoming Sundays:
Jan 29... RE Sunday
Feb 5... Multigenerational Worship Service "Standing on the Side of Love" (no RE classes)
Feb 12... RE Sunday
Feb 19... RE Sunday
 Teachers: late-breaking cancellation need?
Reminder that if you get sick or otherwise find yourself unable to teach on Sunday, you may call the UU prior to 8:30 AM Sunday, at 862-5630 and press "6" to leave a message with details about who is needed for which class, so that we may make an announcement during worship. You may also email Martha Dallas and indicate your need in the subject line of your email. Martha scans her email once or twice Friday and Saturday with an eye for pressing Sunday needs.
 RE Supply closets It has been months since our supply closets have been organized and thoroughly restocked. With the reduction in Kathleen's paid hours, we have decided to let this maintenance task be taken up by volunteers this year. If you receive satisfaction by organizing something and are good at making lists of things to buy, this is the job for you! Even just one hour of someone's time will make a big difference and will be a tremendous support to our teachers. Go to Volunteer Spot and sign up to help, and THANK YOU!
 GOLDMINE 2012 Youth Leadership School
August 12-18, 2012
4:00 pm on Sunday to noon on Saturday
An intense six-day school for youth where you will:
* Develop your personal creed
* Deepen your knowledge of Unitarian Universalists' challenging religious heritage and values
* Expand your skills for growing healthy groups
* Explore paths of worship
* Hone leadership skills so you can better heal our world.
* Learn to be a better leader and communicator.
Ferry Beach Park Association, Saco, Maine: Food, showers, and tents are provided. Community is created. Bring your sleeping bag, a toothbrush, and an open mind. Be prepared to dig down deep and come out ready to give your gifts to the world.
These six days will change your life and your community.
Contact Martha Dallas if you're curious to know more!
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 Come to the next Family Potluck February 11th, right after the Variety Show. Enjoy a night of UU. community connection at its best!
Mark your calendars and bring a favorite dish to share. The family potluck starts after the show, around 5:00 pm downstairs in the community room. We promise a delectable main dish as we have a number of excellent cooks in our group! Children can eat with the adults, or utilize the free childcare offered. Please RSVP to let us know what you'll bring- main, side, veggie or dessert, and how many are coming from your family and if you'll need childcare.
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 Office Hours!
Our offices will be open Monday, January 30th through Thursday, February 2nd from 9:00 a.m. until 2 p.m.
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Non-violent Direct Action Training
Saturday, February 18th
Quaker Meeting House
173 N. Prospect Street, Burlington, Vt.
8:30 a.m. till 6:00 p.m.
Our goal is to prepare those in the community who seek social change in a spirit of peace. Immediately, our concern is to close Vermont Yankee and other regional nuclear power plants.
Not all who participate will be expected to put themselves in a position to be arrested. Some will prefer to act as team support. Others may come primarily to better understand the action-philosophy of Gandhi and Martin Luther King.
We do hope to form one or more affinity (action) groups out of this session with the goal of coordinating with SAGE Alliance, Shut it Down and other peace-oriented anti-nuclear groups.
Registration required by Wednesday, February 15th
Suggested participant donation, $10. to help cover costs.
Contact Spencer Smith (802-540-0002) or Robin Lloyd (802-862-4929) |
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Volunteer Spot!
We're still looking for people to sign up for these great volunteer opportunities! The great thing is that you don't have to sign up to do these jobs forever -- you can just sign up to do it one time, once a month, whatever works best for you! Please just go ahead and click on it . . .you know you want to!
Click here to learn about becoming a Magic Penny Counter!
Click here to learn about becoming a Sanctuary Fidget Fixer!
Click here to learn about becoming an RE Supply Inventory Volunteer!
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Giving Statements 101
Last week you received two Giving Statements in the mail. Now I realize that our Giving Statements can be confusing on a good day, but 2 Giving Statements in one day! What was I thinking??? So if you're still wondering just what it all means, here's a little help.
Giving Statement 1: This Giving Statement was printed on hot pink paper. This statement is your 2nd Quarter Giving Statement for the pledge that you made for the 2011/2012 Fiscal Year. It should show all giving that you've made toward that pledge so far this fiscal year. (Our fiscal year runs from July 1st - June 30th)
Giving Statement 2: This Giving Statement was printed on goldenrod or deep yellow paper. This is your 2011 Calendar Year Statement. This statement has nothing to do with any pledge that you made to the Society. The only number that is important on this statement is the Amount Given. The number in this column is truly the amount that you gave to the Society during the calendar year 2011. You may use this statement as proof of your giving for your 2011 Taxes. (Please note that all other columns on this statement are incorrect because the computer is trying to combine 2 different pledge or fiscal years; only pay attention to the Amount Given column.)
If you are still confused or have questions about either of these Giving Statements, please contact Chirstina at 802-862-5630 ext. 22 or xina@uusociety.org. I would be more than happy to help you!
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