The Steeple. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Vermont

Transcription

1 The Steeple February 2013 Newsletter First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Vermont In The Interim This is my commandment to you, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12). February s theme of the month is the fourth source enumerated in the Statement of Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association: Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves. Comfortable and familiar words: the good old Golden Rule. But the challenge in these words is significant for those of us who truly want to live up to them. It takes courage, heightened spiritual awareness, and a willingness to overcome inertia and move out into new and unknown territory. Can we offer the world that kind of love? Think about the way Jesus offered the world that kind of love. His experience of God s love was palpable to his friends and neighbors; he was somebody who inspired people to say, I want what he s got! Knowing that love in such a complete and uninhibited way made him powerful not with the power of strength or might or money or position but with the power of authenticity, integrity, and righteousness. Jesus was not the only person in history to ever practice that kind of love. Just last month we celebrated some others: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Woody Guthrie. People who were brave enough to love their neighbors, with a powerful and transforming love inspired by their own experiences of love. When Jesus told the people that the essence of God s message was love of neighbor, he was challenged to define his terms. Who is my neighbor? Your neighbor, he said, is not necessarily somebody you already know, the person who makes the same amount of money that you do, has the same level of education, looks like you, smells like you, thinks like you. Your neighbor might not be somebody you are comfortable with. When you come to the Meeting House on Sunday morning, you just might run into your neighbor. Your neighbor is the visitor here for the first time, hungry for community, perhaps desperate for eye contact, a hand extended, somebody to talk to. The fourth source calls you to pay attention to the newcomers among us as much, if not more than your friends. Your neighbor is the man or woman out in the community who has not yet found Unitarian Universalism yet needs it desperately. The fourth source calls you to share the good news of our faith with those who need it. We can love our neighbors with a radical and inclusive love because we are loved. In this liberal religious community empowering love flows over us and around us whether or not we believe in God! For theist and atheist alike, that love is palpable, and it calls to us every day. It calls us to break out of our insularity and really share our faith. It calls us to break out of our inward focus and know the truth that the church is not simply a place where we come to feel good about ourselves; it is, or should be, the place that challenges us to radical hospitality in the larger community. Valentine s Day is coming. February is all about love. Let s show each other and our neighbors the love that sustains us and nurtures us the love that makes us Unitarian Universalists. In Faith, Rev. Roberta 1 Inside this issue: Religious Education 2 Multigenerational Ministry 2 Ministerial Search Committee 3 Nearing the Crest 3 Celebrating Connections 4 A Word from the Board 4 Professional Credentialing 4 Society Programs 5 Our Mission in Action 5 Council Corner 6 Congregational Covenant 7 Upcoming Worship Services 8 Rev. Roberta Finkelstein Interim Senior Minister Martha Dallas Director, Religious Education Christina Fulton Director of Administration Bob Furrer Facilities Manager Kathleen Kemp Administrative Assistant, Newsletter Editor Lisa Wolff Music Director Bill West President, Board of Trustees

2 A Message from Martha... Of the six wellsprings which wet our Unitarian Universalist roots, only one explicitly references God: Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves. Yet this source is not essentially about God; rather it s about our human response to the divine, to ultimate mystery. Through our Jewish and Christian roots, we are called to liberate love s flow. I can get pretty obsessive about flow. When something that needs to move gets stuck, I am compelled to help free it. For example, I find it extremely rewarding to dig out storm water drains from under snow banks, so that when the melting begins, the water can move freely to Lake Champlain. Like melting snow, love yearns to flow too. Love wants to move among us. It comes alive in relationship. It makes something vital and meaningful of the space and time between one and another, be it another person, an animal, a plant, or anything we might say has a presence that moves and affects us. Tom Jones sang, Love is in the air - in the whisper of the trees. Love is in the air - in the thunder of the sea. And in Ralph Waldo Emerson s words, The whole human family is bathed with an element of love like a fine ether. And yet the term, love is so overused that we can get foggy about its meaning in a theological context. So let s see what children know. A group of eight-year-olds were asked what love means. A selection of their responses includes: "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth." "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs." "Love is what makes you smile when you re tired." "If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." "You really shouldn t say I love you unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." "When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you re scared they won t love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more." Let it flow. Amen! Martha Dallas, Director of Religious Education Multigenerational Ministry Director Visits Burlington Our Northern New England District s Director of Multigenerational Ministry, Kimberly Paquette, came to Burlington for a special visit recently. Kim was the guest and program presenter for the Northern Vermont cluster of religious educators, which includes Directors of Religious Education from Norwich, Montpelier, Jericho, and Middlebury. Kim s presentation was about ways of bringing Unitarian Universalism out of the church and into the home and world. Here is a list of take-away ideas from her presentation that particularly inspired me: UU Media Collaborative Works: Keep a home altar. Keep a garden altar! Make ornaments representing the Seven Principles. Have a family workshop at church where families make sets together! Make ancestor dolls small, simple figures with cutout photo faces of the wise ones who inspire you on your journey. Keep them in a place where you see them and remember their guidance and example. Give a teen a set (which you compile!) of DVDs which embody UU values or inspire spiritual growth! Share joys and sorrows weekly at home. Have siblings write covenants together about how they will relate to each other. Make a graffiti board here at the UU where families are invited to write down what their home spiritual practices are. Each week, minister, DRE, and/or worship associate develops a driving it home question related to the service for families to discuss on the way home from UU. This gets printed in the order of service. How do you bring your faith to bear in your life at home, with your family, and in the world? What ideas above excite you? Spread the glow! Martha Dallas 2

3 Ministerial Search Committee News Settled Minister Search Committee News - The Role of the Congregation It seems like eons ago that names were solicited for the Settled Minister Search Committee. Every member of the congregation had a chance to weigh in by or phone. From the names that were suggested, a slate of candidates was presented for a congregational vote at the annual meeting last June 3 rd. The congregation approved the slate: Debby Bergh, Gene Bergman, Jeff Byam, Paula Fives-Taylor, Martha Fitzgerald, John Grimm, and Tom Hyde. As the members of this committee, our job is to represent the congregation in the search for a new Settled Minister. The first thing we did was to get your input. We held focus groups of members and friends to learn about the congregation s goals and desires. One hundred thirty people attended these focus groups - more than a quarter of the congregation. We also conducted an on-line survey, which was completed by more than 180 members and friends. We used the data we gathered from the meetings and the survey to construct a Profile of the Minister We Seek. We also used it to compile the Congregational Record and to build a web site to give prospective ministers as much information as possible about our Society. These are available at uusociety.org. The next part of the search is confidential for two reasons: First, we need to protect the confidentiality of candidates who may not have told their congregations that they are looking at other opportunities. Second, we need a minister to come in with a strong mandate, which the UUA has determined is much more likely to occur with a representative committee reaching consensus than trying to bring the whole congregation to consensus on one of a number of candidates. This might seem counter to the democratic ideal, but is based on the UUA s extensive experience with searches that produce a good match between congregations and ministerial candidates. When we have reached consensus on a single candidate, we will once again call on the congregation. From May a week plus an extra Sunday - the congregation will be able to attend services conducted by the candidate, and will have many opportunities to meet with him or her. After the second service on May 19 th, the congregation will vote to call the candidate. If the congregation votes yea, the new minister will start in August. Otherwise, another interim minister will be hired, and the process will start again. Please call any Search Committee member with your ideas and questions at any time throughout the process. Or us at ministersearch@uusociety.org. Nearing the Crest! For the last couple of years, our Society has been extremely busy as we prepare to call a new settled minister. We have assembled a congregational record, written new policies & committee charters and expanded our denominational connections, to name just a few of our many accomplishments. At a recent forum, we learned that the search committee will select a finalist in mid-march who will be welcomed for a weeklong series of introductions in May before we cast our votes. Walking out of that meeting, I could see the joy and relief on peoples faces. We re almost there, I thought! Until I remembered that this would not be the end of our efforts and that there is still much work to be done. It reminds me of the long, exhausting experience I would have when riding my bike up a steep hill. Every time I would reach the crest ahead, there was another one hiding behind it. My relief would quickly turn to disappointment and then to determination to reach the top. Here at First UU, we still have a few more hills to climb. Budget work is now underway and we are about to kickoff our annual stewardship campaign, striving to put our best foot forward for our ministerial candidates. Lastly, at our annual meeting in June, the congregation will vote on rewritten bylaws and new leadership for the upcoming year. Lots to do that will require 100% participation and effort from everyone. So, stay tuned and stay engaged for some challenging, exciting times ahead. I can assure you, once we reach the top, the view will be spectacular! Bill West President, Board of Trustees 3

4 Celebrating Connections: Our 2013 Stewardship Campaign Our 2013 Stewardship campaign kicks off this month. Our theme this year is "Celebrating Connections" and we want to connect with each and every one of you. Our campaign will build on last year's success. This year's goal is the same as last year's: 100% participation in the campaign by members and friends of the Society. The celebration begins with our Kickoff Variety Show, which will be held on Saturday, 9 February at the meeting house. The show will run from 4 to 5 PM. Join us for music and fun! The entire congregation is invited, including children. Please contact Louis derosset ((802) or by at Louis.deRosset@uvm.edu) if you need childcare. We look forward to seeing you there! The very next day, 10 Feb, Reverend Roberta will be leading the service as we reflect on the importance of stewardship. Many of your fellow congregation members have volunteered to serve as Visiting Stewards. They will be reaching out to you, starting on Kickoff Sunday, to arrange one-on-one conversations in which you will connect with one another. Your Visiting Steward will be joining you to discuss our Society -- its values, its work, and its future -- and to make your pledge. When you are contacted, please respond promptly. We need to wrap up the campaign quickly so we can share the news of our success with our ministerial candidates! You will be receiving more information about the campaign in the mail. Any further questions you have may be directed to the stewardship committee by at stewardship@uusociety.org. This is an exciting time to be part of our UU Society. We are hiring a new settled senior minister this spring. Strong participation from the congregation in our stewardship campaign is essential to starting this new chapter in our history successfully. Every week, as our offering is gathered, we affirm that the work of this Society is "weaving a tapestry of love and action." We need your participation in the stewardship campaign to do this work. A Word From the Board The budget process for the Fiscal Year started with a budget presentation at the January Council meeting. The Treasurer discussed the Fund Balances for the General Fund, Property Funds, First UU Trust Fund and Meeting House Fund and the December Treasurer s Report. The Treasurer s Report, included the Year to Date Income from Pledges and Non-Pledge Income (parking lot rental, facility rental, loose plate, etc.). Pledge income is (3%) compared with the expected Year to Date, if the income were evenly spread over 12 months. Expenses, in categories of Payroll & Benefits, Operating Expenses, Building and Site, Council and Worship/Ministry and Outreach are (19%) for the year, again assuming the expenses are spread evenly. Note that both pledges and bills come in in an uneven manner. Overall, we are in good shape and the staff is doing a great job! Each committee chair was then asked to submit a proposed budget for his/her committee for fiscal year by January 31. The next steps include input from Rev. Roberta concerning staff salaries and increases; input from Christina Fulton, Director of Administration, regarding benefits (calculated after salaries are set), office expenses, etc. and input from Bob Furrer, Facilities Manager, regarding property and maintenance expenses. Then the Board decides on (1) across the board wage increases based on area cost of living; (2) Senior Minister salary; and (3) staff step increase per Board policy to be in compliance with the UUA salary guidelines. The Board also discusses budget priorities as criteria for budget additions or cuts depending on the results of the Stewardship Campaign. Finally, the Finance Committee, assisted by the Director of Administration, will coordinate all the data and put together a draft budget. The Finance Committee members are Janice Lange, Treasurer; Tom Hyde, Trust Fund committee; Elizabeth Clayton, Stewardship committee; Tom Porter, Assistant Treasurer. THEN we wait for the results of the Stewardship campaign. If the campaign results support the draft budget, then we are finished. If not, the draft will be revised, in line with Board priorities above, until the income is sufficient to meet the expenses. After that, the Finance committee will host a Meet the Budget forum. Finally, the budget will be presented at the Annual Meeting in June for approval by the congregation. Professional Credentialing: Martha s progress! As I hope you recall, in the fall of 2011 I was accepted into the UUA s credentialing program for religious professionals. For many months now I have been working toward my goal of being granted Master Level Credentialing by the Religious Education Credentialing Committee (RECC). So far I ve read and summarized sixteen books on a wide range of topics from Judaism to congregational systems to liberal theology to child development. My reading has resulted in some new trainings which I have offered here. Also, I have begun developing the content for a website which will contain of my original Reflections for All Ages in written form. It will also feature (with your essential help!) video of several reflections. There will be two filming events in the sanctuary: one this spring preceding a Second Saturday Supper and another in the fall, so keep an eye out for the date and plan to come! My target completion is the spring of 2015, when I will have assembled 4 my complete portfolio and will travel to Boston for an interview with the RECC, where they will (hopefully) grant me Credentialing at the Master level. Martha Dallas

5 Society Programs Small Group Ministry - Monday at Paula s Our SGM is one of the first to have been organized at FUUSB. We ve had a lot of changes through the years with people moving, changing jobs, even dying, but we have a strong core of dedicated members continuing to participate actively. We meet on alternative Monday mornings and varying our meetings by having a topic every other meeting but free-wheeling it on the other days. I remember my apprehension on attending my first meeting at the invitation of one of its members. What was I getting into? I needn t have worried. Almost immediately, I was comfortable. The facilitator explained the ground rules and said that everyone was a valued member of the group and there would be no criticism of another person. The others would show respect for every person and their ideas and feelings. It was not a therapy group but it would be supportive. Could this really be the way it worked? I listened as each person shared thoughts without interruption during a seven-minute period and noticed how the comments that followed really were validating. Finally, everyone had spoken except me. I was surprised to hear my voice and I listened to myself responding to ideas that others had presented. It was easy. It was freeing. The others listened to my ideas and responded with thoughts that expanded what I had said. Before the meeting had ended, I had committed to the group. Through the many years I have been a member, I have grown to look forward to our every-other-monday morning meetings. I cherish the friendships I have made and the sense of belonging not only to my small group but to the larger UU Society of which I am now a member. When I attend Sunday mornings, I look about the congregation and feel a part of the Society because I have a group of people whom I know and by whom I am known. In our structured meetings, we have talked about love and friendship, leisure and work, classism and community, holidays, hope and happiness, as well as music and spirituality. At the present we are doing a series on the 7 Principles. Our unstructured meetings have included discussions of our families, our personal struggles, our ways of trying to find balance in our lives. Each time we end with a circle in which we express our gratitude for one another and for the time we have spent together. Over and over I hear people say, I almost didn t come this morning because of all the pressures I am under right now, but how happy I am that I made the effort! I feel so much better and so much more ready to go back to facing what is back there at home and in my life. Jeanne Parsley For more information about Small Group Ministry, get in touch with Barbara Heeter at BBHeeter@aol.com. Our Mission In Action Here is an I received from Michael Schaal. Michael is the person I ve been communicating with for many years when scheduling meetings of a group called the Israel/Palestine Dialogue. Perhaps you ve seen this event on our Society calendar and wondered what it was about. When I read Michael s beautiful , I knew it was a perfect example of our Society s mission in action and wanted to share it with you all. Christina Fulton, Director of Administration After many months and years of meeting together, the members of the Israel/Palestine Dialogue have decided to end our regular meetings. Our last meeting at the Society will be on the evening of January 15, at our regular time of 7:15 and 9:15. We may, from time to time, come together again for special events or programs, but will no longer convene monthly. We do not, at this time, know where and when those get togethers will occur, and we cannot even guarantee that they will happen. We do know that we are ending where we meet and how we now come together. Over the years all of us, those who were former members, and those of us are members at this time, have been very grateful to the UU for generously allowing us to meet once a month on Tuesday evenings. I want to reiterate that gratitude at this time and hope that you will convey those feelings to the Board of Directors and to the members of the Congregation in whatever ways you believe to be appropriate. Being able to meet in a neutral setting, and converse with depth and understanding, about one of the most volatile political situations in the world, has been very valuable to us. At the time that we began there was very real divisiveness among people who ordinarily were allies in the quest for Social Justice here, in the Burlington area, and throughout the world. While many of those differences remain, and in some cases have intensified, our Dialogue has allowed us to learn from each other and to develop relationships based on understanding, trust and personal affection. Continued on Page 7 5

6 Council Corner Religious Education Committee News On January 15th, The Religious Education Committee met with Kim Paquette, Director of Multigenerational Ministries from the Northern New England District Office of the UUA. Kim has wide-ranging expertise from her tenure as a DRE and as a youth leader during her UU career. We shared a conversation about ways to support the development of a stronger Youth Program as well as bolstering religious education across life span. Kim had some sage advice about how to more successfully engage youth in our congregation, with the idea that our youth are spiritual beings with important gifts to share. We talked about how we can access the skills, talents, and wisdom that the youth have to offer our congregation, while providing them with positive experiences that they will take into adulthood. Kim had many wonderful ideas, and the REC is actively considering which ideas we may be able to implement, so stay tuned. As we sift through these ideas, you can help us. If you agree that our youth have much to offer our community, contact one of the REC members with ideas to help us increase the connection between our amazing young people and the congregation. Peggy Owen Sands, Todd Clason, and the REC committee Membership Committee - New UU Class Want a reason to escape cabin fever? Want to learn more about Unitarian Universalism? Or this congregation? Find out what we believe, what we do, and how we work. Come to the New UU class being held on February 10, and 17, 2013 from 6:00 until 8:00pm. Child care is available if you let us know it's needed. The class presents an overview of the history of our religion along with the theology as it developed during that history. We explore the movement in this country and more specifically in this congregation. If you are new to the faith and want to learn more this is your chance. If you've been a long time member and want to refresh your memory you are welcome. For those interested in membership this is the first step along that path. If you wish to attend this class (it's both sessions) please contact Carol Schneider at or her at cschneider2@roadrunner.com to register for the class. Come and bring a friend or come and make a friend. We'd love to see you there. Adult Programs I would like to put a shout out there for everyone who has been giving the Adult Program Committee (APC) great ideas for programs and individuals who have been donating time to help produce these programs. This past year I inherited the spot as committee chairperson from Jean Palmer with some hesitation that I would be able to meet the challenge of continuing quality programming. One of the main concepts of Adult Program Committee is to provide programs that allow adults to explore, grow, and educate themselves on a plethora of topics. APC covers programs that most people would not realize comes from APC. These programs are thought up, and put on, members of the community that have something to say and want to be heard- which really is what the Unitarian Universalist church is about. In the next year and a half we are looking forward to the future for Adult Program Committee which will be including more spiritual based programming and also building a stronger bridge between RE and adult programs. Although building a community is not a once a week job-every hour that someone helps out does help create a better foundation and spirit in the community. This coming spring looks very promising for programming. With a mix of minister forums that will be covering topics such as gun control, F-35 jets, reproductive justice, multi-generational programming, and spiritual exploration our mission to provide adult education to the congregation is on the right path. Yours Truly, Danielle Rochford, Chairperson, Adult Programs 6

7 Congregational Covenant The creation of the Congregational Covenant has taken months. During that time we have had several worship services reflecting on the history, theology and practices around covenant from different perspectives. You have had the opportunity to share your thoughts on what promises you are willing to make and what promises you hope to hear. The Interim Task Collaboration Team has taken time and care in crafting language that incorporates all of the shared insights and hopes that have emerged out of the process. Rev. Roberta and the Interim Task Collaboration Team are now ready to present to you for your affirmation the FUUSB Congregational Covenant. Please plan to be present in the sanctuary in between the services on Sunday February 10 th when we will ask for your blessing for this covenant to become part of FUUSB s identity. We gather together with the intention of creating a vibrant, healthy, liberal religious community. To this end we make the following promises to each other: 1. To come with open minds and hearts so that we can welcome new ideas, new people and new possibilities. 2. To listen carefully to each other, to speak openly and respectfully, and to assume good intentions, especially in times of disagreement. 3. To participate actively in the life of the Society by being present, serving / volunteering and providing financial support. We recognize that there will be times when we will fall short of these ideals. We will be accountable to each other and forgiving of each other. Rev. Roberta wants to offer you an immediate opportunity to put your covenant into practice. This winter and spring she will present a series of forums under the title Covenantal Conversations About Controversial Topics on the third Sundays of February, March and April. The format will be facilitated conversations about contemporary issues around which we may not all agree. We will practice careful listening, respectful advocacy, and mutual respect and learning. Dates and topics are: February 17 12:30 pm The F-35 in Burlington March 17 13:30 pm Gun Violence/Gun Control April 12:30 pm Reproductive Justice Our Mission In Action (continued from page 5) I believe that if the issues continue to be as difficult as they are likely to be, the relationships among those of us who have spent the moments of our lives grappling with and conversing about these issues, in the way we have, will provide a basis for respectful communication with each other in the future. I hope that these relationships will provide a model for how to deal with difference and ultimately strengthen our community. It has never been our goal to eradicate our differences. Our quest was to educate ourselves, see the situation through each other's lenses, and to grow. We sought to meet where we could, respect where we could, and affirm community. I believe that we have been successful in achieving this goal. We probably could have done so in a different venue other than the UU. The fact is that any successes that we have had, did happen where we met. I will always associate this Dialogue with the feelings and images of the rooms where we had our conversations. All groups run their course. We wish that we would have been able to stop meeting because peace has finally been achieved between the people of Israel, Palestine and neighboring nations. Regrettably that is not the case. The members of the Dialogue have not stopped being interested and passionate about the issues and the people of the Region. Our concern will morph into different forms and expression, as time moves on. Finally, on behalf of the members of our group, I wish to express my appreciation to you personally for all your efforts in arranging for our Dialogue to take place in the Church. Thank you very much. Happy New Year. Michael Schaal 7

8 First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Vermont 152 Pearl Street Burlington, Vermont Phone: ext RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Upcoming Worship Services... Theme of the Month is UU Source: Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves. February 9am & 11am Rev. Abigail Stockman and Worship Associate Bridget Meyer Shaping Hope and Love: Reflections from a Prison Ministry As Unitarian Universalists, we generally have optimistic and lofty ideals about hope and loving our neighbors as ourselves. This sermon explores these ideas and beliefs as I have encountered them in my role as a volunteer chaplain at the Northern State Correctional Facility. Abigail Stockman is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister who has served congregations in New York and Maryland. She currently lives in northeastern Vermont and is the Spiritual Care Counselor and Bereavement Coordinator at Pemi-Baker Hospice in New Hampshire. She also serves as a volunteer chaplain at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport, VT, and on the Reparative Board of the Newport Community Justice Center. Abigail has had a regular round of pulpit supply with small congregations in the Northeast Kingdom. Along with enjoying the many typical Vermont recreational activities Abigail plays harp in the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra and sings with Choromondo, a woman s acapella choir in Canada. February 9 am & 11 am Rev. Roberta Crossing the Threshold As we begin our annual stewardship campaign, Rev. Roberta will explore the meaning of stewardship in terms of your shared responsibility for this Beloved Community. As you look forward to the next phase in your congregational life, remember that the promises you make in stewardship are tools that will allow you to steep boldly over the threshold into your future. Worship Associate Maeve McBride will explore the meaning of stewardship in terms of our responsibility to our earth. In between the services we will gather to affirm another important tool: our congregational covenant. February 9am & 11 am Martha Dallas, Director of Religious Education Standing on the Side of Love Worship will be multigenerational at both 9:00 and 11:00. Our broad theme of "Standing on the Side of Love" gives us an opportunity to explore what love looks like when we stand with it and with children and families with disabilities or special needs. Families and individuals from First UU will share their personal stories in a service which strives to meet a wide range of learning modes. The Children's Choir will sing at 9:00 and the Adult Choir sings at 11:00. February 9 am & 11 am Rev. Roberta Gun Violence, Theology, and Idolatry Is America really and truly ready to re-examine her relationship to guns? What is the role of faith communities in this conversation? Can liberal religion offer an alternative vision; one that replaces the worship of guns with the worship of life? Worship Associate Mia Eyth. 8