During the past two years, the FUUSB Facilities Manager, Bob Furrer, and Safety Team (Rev. Mara, Martha Dallas (Director of Religious Education), Suzy Comerford and Becca Grimm) have done substantial work to prepare for a lockdown situation prompted by an emergency at, or in the area of, the Meetinghouse. In January, we ran a partial drill encompassing our RE classes.

On Sunday, October 16, we will hold our second drill during our Sunday morning programming, this time involving the whole Meetinghouse. About half-way through the hour during each service, there will be a message broadcast throughout the Meetinghouse advising that a lockdown has been initiated. Simultaneously, blue lights will flash in the Sanctuary, Community, Whitney Young and Susan B. Anthony Rooms.

In the Sanctuary, since this is our first run, we will do a "talk-through" version of the drill, which we expect to take about ten minutes. All present in the Sanctuary and Parlors should remain quiet, still and in place,as described in our lockdown procedures. Reverend Mara will speak from the pulpit about the drill, explaining our procedures for emergencies in and out of the sanctuary. While there will not be time to ask questions during the drill itself, after each service, FUUSB staff and Safety Team members, as well as a member of the Burlington Police Department, will be in the Sanctuary for an informal Q&A time. BPD officers will be present for the drills to observe and be able to offer suggestions for improvements in the future.

For RE stewards, Martha Dallas, our Director of Religious Education, will provide training to stewards at 8:30 and at 10:30 on both Oct. 9 and 16. This will involve a brief walk-through, and a time for questions.

Children will be guided by RE stewards to conduct the drill in their classrooms. They will follow our lockdown response procedures, including drawing shades, turning out lights, locking the door, and sitting quietly on the floor until it is announced that the drill is over. Parents who wish to be with their children during the drill are welcome to do so, but should plan to join the group when it leaves the Sanctuary at the usual time. Once the drill has begun, we ask parents in the Sanctuary to remain there and reunite with their children at the close of worship as usual, as our procedures outline should happen in the event of an actual lockdown.

At the completion of the drill, the blue lights will be turned off and there will be a second message broadcast throughout the Meetinghouse advising that the drill has been completed. Though these drills will certainly cause a brief, though emphatic, interruption in the normal flow of worship and RE programming, we ask for your understanding of, and attentiveness to, proceedings involving the drill. While we know this type of drill may seem strange and even scary to some adults, school children are quite familiar with them. We believe that conducting them is an important part of our First UU safety practice. At the same time, we understand that the drills may be especially challenging or triggering for some of us, based on personal history or experience. Accordingly, we will have a few designated folks on hand in the Sanctuary after each service/RE hour should you find yourself in need of a pastoral listening ear. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Bob Furrer, our Facilities Manager (bob@uusociety.org) For questions specifically about children during the drill, contact Martha Dallas (martha@uusociety.org).

Have questions about the music opportunities we offer, and/ or would like to talk with me about sharing your musical gifts at FUUSB?  I can usually be spotted in the main building on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings as I attend meetings on those days, but if you want to make sure you catch up with me, I would recommend making an appointment!

Office Hours:  By Appointment. 

My email is jennifer@uusociety.org if you would like to schedule a meeting.

I am off email on Fridays and Saturdays, as those are my days off.

Are you, or your UU group creative?

We are looking for different individuals & groups to create the banner/wreath/wall-hanging/textiles that will represent the spiritual theme for each month. Each piece will hang in the arch above the pulpit for its designated month. The idea is to have some wonderful art pieces, made with love and enthusiasm to visually support the spiritual theme that will be spoken of from the pulpit and in the Path and Afterword.

We would like the theme word to be incorporated into the item, the size to be roughly 3' x 4' and it needs to have some way to hang it.

Spiritual Themes are:
October-Deep Listening
November-Hospitality
December-Expectation
January-Inheritance
February-Love
March-Imagination
April-Resistance
May-Growth
June-Delight

Please contact Sarah Forbes for a project outline if you or your group is interested!  

At 9:00, we have one multi-age group (preschool & elementary), which is doing Spirit Play in the Jordan-Latimer Room.

At 11:00: 

Spirit Play 1 (pre-1st) meets in Jordan-Latimer (across from kitchen)

Spirit Play 2 (1st-3rd) meets in Barnum (next to kitchen0

Bible Stories (4th-5th) meets in Dix (next to Barnum)

Riddle & Mystery & UU History (6th grade) meets in Reeb (past restrooms)

Building Bridges (7th) meets in Barton (next to Dix)

Oct 9 at 9 & 11 AM... classroom Sunday

Oct 16 at 9 & 11 AM... classroom Sunday

Oct 23 at 9 & 11 AM... classroom Sunday

Oct 30 at 9 & 11 AM... Multigen Worship