[CoC] Fwd: UCM Autumn 2019 Newsletter

[Elaine Ball]

Another example of a past Quarterly Newsletter -- this one from last year,
Fall 2019:


Autumn Newsletter
<https://ucmvt.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40d52449ed4f4a7f7c42bb657&id=1499f7bea9&e=36c2dd5bcd>

*Letter From the Minister*


Beloved UCM members and friends,

With the cooler nights and the first leaves starting to turn, we know that
autumn is upon us. I hope that you have had many opportunities to
rejuvenate your spirit during the summer season. My own spirit has felt
renewed by slowing down, listening to the patter of rain on the tent while
camping, floating in lake water, and sharing many laughs with old friends
and family.

Continually renewing our spirits is important as we face the natural ups
and downs of our lives and the seemingly all too constant barrage of
troubling news in our world. I am grateful that we will be returning to our
life of communal worship and the rhythms of our church year giving us all
the opportunity to renew our spirits in our shared community.

We start our new church year in September with the theme of “*Invitation*.”
I invite you to consider how you are re-engaging with our shared community
in this new year. What intention can you set for nurturing your spiritual
journey by participating in the life of our congregation? What support do
you need? What gifts do you want to offer in service of our mission?

In early September, you are invited to join others in protecting the Earth,
our home, by participating in the UCM Climate Action Team retreat
<https://ucmvt.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40d52449ed4f4a7f7c42bb657&id=6705c689b6&e=36c2dd5bcd>
on
Saturday, September 7. The newly formed Climate Action Team seeks to
mobilize the UCM community to address the climate crisis with meaningful
action within the church and beyond.

During the month of September, you are also invited to learn more about the
Building for the Future Project - a project to address the comprehensive
needs of our congregation in fulfilling our mission today and into the
future. You can learn more by visiting the Building for the Future website
<https://ucmvt.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40d52449ed4f4a7f7c42bb657&id=48fd05277e&e=36c2dd5bcd>
and
attending a cottage meeting or congregational forum this coming month.
(Upcoming events are listed on the website.) You can also share your ideas,
questions, and hopes with the Education Work Group in person or via e-mail
<ucm.bff at gmail.com?subject=>.

There is much afoot as we begin our 2019-2020 church year! I continue to be
inspired by all of you and the many ways you share your love and
compassion, inquisitive minds, searching hearts, and dedicated service with
one another and our broader community.

I look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks!

With love,

Rev. Joan
*Lifespan Spiritual Exploration Announcements*

The Lifespan Spiritual Exploration Committee, LSE volunteers, and I are
really excited for another church year of nurturing our spiritual journeys
together. We are still seeking a few volunteers to help round out our
programs for different ages across the lifespan. Please let me know if you
are interested in finding out how to match your interests with our needs.

One goal for this year is to explore the idea of spiritual practice in our
daily lives. Might daily prayer appeal to you, or perhaps gardening as a
spiritual practice? Keep an eye out in the weekly e-news and at the LSE
bulletin board as we find members of the congregation willing to lead
engaging introductory workshops on a diverse set of spiritual practices.

Some highlights of our 2019 - 20 programming include:

   - reviving a beloved UU tradition of having middle school youth learn
   about other faiths and visit those faith centers in our community
   - offering the year-long 10th-12th grade Our Whole Lives sexuality
   education class and support for parents wanting to do an updated, at-home
   version of the K-1st grade OWL
   - continuing Chalice Circles (such as Small Group Ministry, Soul
   Matters), including Seasoned Souls for connecting around the spiritual joys
   and challenges of aging, and a new small group on the spiritual practice of
   social justice work
   - continued anti-oppression work focused on the deeply spiritual work of
   dismantling a culture of white supremacy, including a program called
   Understanding Antisemitism and more collaborations with Central VT Showing
   Up for Racial Justice.
   - fall workshop series entitled 'Goods and Gods,' in collaboration with
   the Climate Action Team.

Check out our Lifespan Spiritual Exploration pages at ucmvt.org
<https://ucmvt.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40d52449ed4f4a7f7c42bb657&id=157f225d22&e=36c2dd5bcd>
for
more details.

With gratitude,

Liza Earle-Centers
Director of LSE
ucm.dre at gmail.com
223.7861 ext 2


*Membership & Hospitality Announcements*

You may notice that the Vestry looks a bit different this Church Year --
during the summer, the Membership & Hospitality Committee members have been
working with UCM Staff and volunteers to create a more open, inviting
space. We have added a number of additional pegs for spreading out Name
Tags, which should decrease congestion on Sunday mornings when we are all
searching for our names.

Photos (old and new) of UCM members and friends will be available for
browsing at a small table near the Membership & Hospitality Bulletin Board
during Coffee/Fellowship Hours on Sundays, and one bulletin board will be
dedicated to displaying photos of our Staff, Board, Executive Team, New
Members, and current events.

Information about Unitarian Universalism and our UCM community will soon be
permanently on display in the Vestry, and information about upcoming
events, including "Am I a UU?" discussion groups and "New UU" classes, will
now be available for perusal not only on Sunday mornings, but at all times
when the building is open.

As our UCM community continues to grow, the Membership & Hospitality
Committee will be in need of new leadership! Are you looking for an
opportunity to help welcome newcomers into our beloved community? We would
love for you to consider joining current Committee Members Abby, Art,
Barbara, Colin, Elaine, Linda, and Rhoda! We meet on the Third Tuesday of
each month *from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Join us on September 17 in the Classroom
upstairs at UCM* if you are interested in meeting us, and learning more
about what we do.

Please save the date for our third annual *Whole Church Welcome Back
Pancake Breakfast*, which will be *Saturday, September 14!* Brought to you
by the JOLLIFICATION Team, building a loving community and nurturing the
journey through fellowship, food, and fun. If you are available to
volunteer, please contact Sally Armstrong (sjdaab at hotmail.com).

The Membership & Hospitality Committee is also very excited to
announce our *Welcome
Back Potluck Weekend*, which will be *Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,
September 27 - 29.* The beginning of a new Church Year is the perfect
opportunity to meet and reconnect with new and old UCM friends. Stop by the
Hospitality Table/Bulletin Boards following each Sunday Service this month
to sign up to attend a potluck gathering in the home of a UCM host. Choose
the time and place that works best for you, and enjoy food & company with
fellow UCM members and friends. Membership & Hospitality volunteers will be
available during each Coffee/Fellowship Hour to answer any questions and
help you sign up.

Welcome to our 2019-20 Church Year!

Elaine Ball (formerly Stehel)
Congregational Life Coordinator
ucm.membership at gmail.com
802.595.9801


*UCM Committee, Team, and Auxiliary Updates*

*Building for the Future*

Building for the Future is UCM’s proposed project to move our mission into
the next generation. This encompasses building renovations, increased
accessibility and sustainability, and enhanced benefits for staff.

Visit bit.ly/UCM-BFF
<https://ucmvt.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40d52449ed4f4a7f7c42bb657&id=9dbb36313b&e=36c2dd5bcd>
to learn more about this project. Send your questions to ucm.bff at gmail.com.

What is BFF up to in the first few weeks of the new church year?

   - *BFF Cottage Meetings!* Sign up at the BFF table on Sundays during
   coffee hour or contact Jo Romano at jo at greenmountainlifecoach.com.
   - *BFF Table Talks!* Every Sunday after church you can ask questions,
   make suggestions, and learn about why Building for the Future is essential
   to UCM’s mission. Look for “Suu the Turtle” to find our table during coffee
   hour.
   - *BFF Congregational Forums!* On *September 15th*, come to an
*informational
   forum in the sanctuary from 10:15-10:45 or 12:15-12:45*. Meet members of
   the Steering Committee and its Work Groups, and get answers to your
   questions.
   - *Congregational Vote!* On *October 27th*, UCM members will be asked to
   approve hiring a Vermont consultant (Christine Graham) to assess the
   feasibility of raising the necessary funds for the BFF Comprehensive Plan.
   A positive vote here moves us ever closer to living our mission into the
   future.




This past summer, four UCM delegates participated in the UUA's General
Assembly in Spokane, WA from June 19-23. Leslie Parr and Elaine Ball
attended in person, while Rev. Joan Javier-Duval and Bill Paine
participated virtually.

Leslie was particularly inspired by the optimistic calls to energetically
address the many urgent issues of our time, including working within
ourselves and our communities to dismantle white supremacy culture,
combat climate change, and answer ever-increasing calls to reduce suffering
and build communities of love, peace, and healing.

Elaine found the energy of the diverse, multicultural youth presence at GA
incredibly exciting. The speakers, workshops, and programs available
throughout the weekend highlighted the incredible work of LGBTQIA+ pioneers
and UU ministers and youth leaders of color. She found the many key diverse
voices of activists hard at work changing and contributing to the UUA's
ongoing efforts to repair past harm, center marginalized voices, and lean
in together to create the future we all are striving to build, to
be incredibly healing, uplifting, and exciting.

Rev. Joan and Bill were both excited to participate virtually in the
general voting sessions and broadcast worship services, and were of course
wishing that they could have participated more closely, in person! All four
participants encourage questions and conversation with anyone in our UCM
community who may be considering attending *GA in Providence, RI from June
24 - 28, 2020*!

We are particularly hopeful that this year, our community may be able to
create a UCM Banner so that we will be able to participate in the annual
Procession of the Banners from congregations all over the country! If you
are skilled in crafting and design, and would like to help create the UCM
Banner, please reach out to Elaine and ucm.membership at gmail.com.


*SPUDS (S*ervice Is Our *P*rayer B*ud*die*s) *

On *Saturday, September 7* from *8:30 - 11:30 am*, SPUDS volunteers are
needed to participate in a river clean up session with the *Friends of the
Winooski River*.

On *Sunday, September 22* from *1:00 - 4:00 pm*, SPUDS volunteers are
needed to participate in a river clean up project with the *Friends of the
Waterbury Reservoir*.

On *Friday, November 15* from *1:00 - 4:00 pm* , SPUDS volunteers are
needed for a work session at the *People's Health and Wellness Clinic in
Barre*.

For details about any of the above service projects or to volunteer, please
contact Nancy Schulz: SaddleShoes2 at gmail.com. Thank you to all our SPUDS
volunteers who have joined us in recent years for projects benefitting our
entire surrounding community!


*UCM Community Lunch *

The UCM Community Lunch recently entered its 5th year of operation and is
going strong. On August 5th we reached an amazing milestone: *25,000 meals
served*. Wow!

Each and every Monday, we rely on approximately 30 volunteers working
together to make it all happen, orchestrated with a big smile by our Site
Manager, Janet Poeton. *We always welcome (and need) new volunteers,
whether you can help just once or would like to become a "regular." *Email
Emily Seifert at ucm.communitylunch at gmail.com to get more information or to
sign up. You may also go directly to our online volunteer calendar to see
when and how you can help: http://signup.com/go/FG1SJm
<https://ucmvt.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40d52449ed4f4a7f7c42bb657&id=e3cc2f0c2d&e=36c2dd5bcd>.
Most positions require no advance training.

Would you like to get some exercise this fall without going to the gym?
Then YOU might be the right volunteer for these two positions we're
recruiting for!

   1. *Mats & Floors:* This job is from approximately 1:00 to 2:00 pm each
   week and involves removing, cleaning, then replacing the heavy mats on the
   floor, plus sweeping and mopping the kitchen floor. We're looking for
   strong people who are capable of heavy/awkward lifting. This task is not
   glamorous, but is critically important for leaving the kitchen clean and
   ready for its next use. This could be done by one or two people, on a
   one-time or recurring basis.
   2. *Produce Hauler:* This job takes approximately 1 hour on the second
   Tuesday of each month and involves meeting a Community Lunch cook at the VT
   Foodbank in Barre at 9:45 am. The Produce Hauler loads heavy bags (25-50
   lbs.) of produce such as carrots, cabbage or onions into the cook's
   vehicle, then drives to UCM. The Produce Hauler then unloads and carries
   the bags downstairs to the UCM basement pantry. One-time help is
   appreciated (sign up now for September 10th!) but we would love to have
   someone commit to 6+ months if possible.


Thank you to everyone in the UCM community who supports our weekly
Community Lunch, whether through financial donations, volunteer efforts,
desserts baked at home, or simply by coming and sharing food and
conversation. Each week, we are building a loving community and serving
human need, feeding our hungry neighbors, and feeling the warm glow that
comes from working together toward a common goal.

We hope YOU will get involved, too!


*UCM Women's Alliance *

UCM's Women's Alliance gathers on the *Second Tuesday of each month from 5
- 8 p.m.*, for business, "the best potluck in town," and programs on varied
topics.

Come at 5:00 p.m. sharp to attend the business portion of the evening, or
come at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy delicious homemade food provided by UCM members
and friends! If you would prefer, you may bring a $5 donation in lieu of
food -- but please, feel welcome to attend whether or not you are able to
bring food and/or contribute financially.

Stay after the meal, if you so choose, to listen/participate in a program
sure to enlighten/entertain. Programs, generally from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., are
held on various topics of interest, with speakers and guests invited to
speak/perform. At our Alliance Meeting on *Tuesday, September 10*, we will
be welcoming the *Building for the Future (BFF) Education Work Group, who
will be presenting updates about UCM's BFF Project. *

Women's Alliance gatherings are always open to all - bring friends and
family members to enjoy great food and company!


*Welcoming Congregation Committee *

All are invited to *march behind the UCM banner in the annual Pride Parade
in Burlington on Sunday, September 8 in the early afternoon.* Flags and
signs will be provided. For more info and details about carpooling, please
contact Nancy Schulz: SaddleShoes2 at gmail.com.

The Welcoming Congregation Committee will be previewing videos purchased
from TRUUsT (Transgender Religious professional UUs Together) this church
year, and we are considering scheduling times for them to be viewed (and
discussed) by the congregation and the general public. The videos are
tutorials designed to help UU congregations become more welcoming to
members of the LGBTQ community.

The Welcoming Congregation Committee will also be undertaking the process
of renewing UCM's Welcoming Congregation designation, which is designed to
be renewed every five years.
*We look forward to welcoming Lisa Kynvi as a field education student with
us beginning September 8!*

Lisa says, "I’m excited and grateful to have this opportunity to learn and
grow with you, UCM! I'm a seminarian at Starr King School for the Ministry,
and a UU ministerial aspirant. I come to this career change from 22 years
in hospice and special education, where I have worked as a licensed mental
health counselor and board certified music therapist.

Originally from the midwest, I live down in Massachusetts, but have
extended family in Montpelier and have been coming here regularly since
moving to the east coast in 1995. My partner and I have a blended family
with 5 children ages 15 - 26 and 2 goofy mutts."
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Montpelier, Vermont 05602

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