The Steeple
April 2013 Newsletter
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Vermont
In The Interim
in Just spring when the world is mudluscious
the little lame balloonman whistles far and wee
and eddieandbill come running from marbles and piracies
and it’s spring
when the world is puddle-wonderful
the queer old balloonman whistles far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing from hop-scotch and jump-rope
and it’s spring
and the goat-footed ballonMan whistles far and wee
(e.e. cummings – poet and son of a Unitarian minister)
For as long as human beings have put words to their thoughts and feelings, there have
been poems and songs and dances and rituals to welcome the arrival of Spring. We may
be tempted to make a distinction between the sacred and the secular in this regard, to say
that some welcome Spring religiously (those that talk about resurrection and rebirth), and
others secularly (those that talk about love and hopscotch and the balloonman). But this
is a false distinction. All of us live by the coming and going of the seasons, and Spring
beckons to all of us with its message of new life, hope, and the possibility of living in
beauty.
In this month of rebirth you will begin to get to know what the shape of your professional
ministry will be like next year. I will begin to explore the possibilities of new interim
ministries in my immediate future. Together we will begin the process of letting go of each
other to make room for these new and exciting relationships. Spring is, indeed, the time of
new life and hope.
In worship services this month we will explore the theme of new life and hope and beauty
in some significantly collaborative ways. On April 14th I will have the pleasure of
co-creating a service on the place of music in our congregation life with our Music
Director and the choir. On April 28th I find myself in another happy collaboration with our
Director of Religious Education and Religious Education Committee as we explore the
place of religious growth and learning in our congregational life.
This month we celebrate together the arrival of Spring – with words, with music, and with
our own imaginations. There is so much to enjoy, so much to embrace, so much to look
forward to. e.e. cummings captures all of that in this brief snippet of poetry.
‘sweet spring is your time
is my time is our time
for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love’
Inside this issue:
Message from Martha
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April Board Notes
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Ministerial Search
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Green Sanctuary
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Upcoming Worship Services
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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
Come! Let us welcome Spring together.
Yours In Faith,
Rev. Roberta
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A Message from Martha...
In the late 14th century, the season that’s upon us was referred to as “springing time.” Its hallmark was the annual
springing forth of buds, green leaves, and flowers to the warming air and soil. Now, we call it simply “spring,” and I hope
that you, like I, smile to hear some of the signs of spring the VPR weather forecasters share from their listeners over the
radio this time of year!
I think springtime really speaks to our humanness. It reawakens our sight with eye-popping splashes of brazen hues; our
morning ears prick to hear a twittering cacophony of birdsong; the scent of fragrant earth on a warm breeze draws our
breath deep; and finally we can doff the clomping boots and layers of “heavywear” and feel nature’s touch on our
cooped-up skin. It presents us, in one carefree, unfurled display after another – mysterious marvels, grace-filled gifts,
and
perfect paradoxes of plain, sacred wonder.
Spring can’t help but spring forth! Flowers are blooming made visible. Each fall and winter, the natural world retracts,
shrivels, dries, and freezes so it can spew fecundity forth several months later. And this seasonal cycle has a lesson for
people: our growth and development involves cycles of turning inward to ourselves, then outward to the world. Quiet
reflection, prayer, and meditation are opportunities for settling and incorporating our thoughts and experiences. And this
reflection, in turn, informs our outward life of living, acting, and making justice in the world. The inward and outward form
a balance.
So I invite you this spring to reflect upon what within you is ready to unfurl, to spring forth! What is hungry for a little
metaphorical air and sunshine? What yearns to stretch and open? What in you has perhaps been dormant, waiting for
the invitation offered by warmth?
And more: What inside you is impractical, playful, even frivolous? …For spring surely has these qualities! Spring is
essentially overflowing showing! What about you is pulsing to come out? Listen, feel, and heed these inner yearnings to
discover who you’re becoming this spring. Happy blooming!
Martha Dallas, Director of Religious Education
April Board Notes
Over the past two years the Board of Trustees has been focusing a large part of its work in laying the foundation for a
new Senior Minister. One of the ways the Board is preparing for our Senior Minister is by adopting a policy based governance model. Though the Board isn’t using John Carver’s Policy Governance work specifically, we are moving towards redesigning our meetings and work to be focused on the Society’s vision and mission rather than minutia. With
this shift in focus, we’ve given staff more freedom in making decisions and in doing their work for the Society.
We’ve also started to develop a Policy Book which articulates how the Society works together to achieve it’s mission
and goals. This Policy Book is comprised of policies, Board and committee charters and a staff handbook. Committees
and Task Force groups have worked tirelessly to document their work and best practices for congregational work like
publicity, safe congregations, childcare, etc. We are forever grateful for all contributions to this document.
This Policy Book will soon live on the website for all to use and view. Please take a moment to become familiar with
the policies that guide our collective work. It is our hope that the book is helpful and clearly articulates and supports the
work of our Society. Like Joe Sullivan said in his sermon on Sunday, March 10th, “We are all responsible for the
ministry of this Society.” Our Society is made strong by all that we do together and individually.
Tiffany Tillman, Trustee at Large
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Settled Minister Search Committee News – Round 2
As you have heard, both of the ministers we considered a good “fit” for our Society have chosen other congregations. While
we are disappointed, we believe that the UUA ministerial search process is sound, and we will reach our original goal, which is
to find a minister who is right for us, and for whom we are the right congregation.
And the First UU Society of Burlington is a very desirable congregation. We have a clear mission, and over the last two years,
we have done the work to see that we can support it. This place is thriving! The ministers who chose other
congregations made those choices for reasons that do not have to do with the church, such as family nearby or the desire for
a bigger city. That is, they chose other locations, not other churches. And they were clearly tempted to come to Burlington
despite those considerations.
Now we enter Round 2 of the search process. From April 1st to the 12th, ministers can express interest in us by releasing their
Ministerial Records to us. Just as we did last November, we will evaluate them and decide if we are interested. Unlike the first
round, there is no set schedule – we can evaluate and set up phone or other interviews , then if appropriate, we can make an
offer and set up a candidating week as soon as we are ready. Of course, the congregation has the final vote about whether to
call any candidate.
According to Keith Kron, the Ministerial Transitions Director at the UUA, six congregations have participated in the second
round each of the last two years, and half of them have found a match.
Under no circumstances will the search committee present a candidate that we feel is not an excellent fit for this
congregation – better to find another interim minister for next year and begin the search process again than to take a chance
on a failed ministry. We will continue to compare each applicant to our profile of an ideal minister. We will continue to refer to
the focus group and electronic survey feedback. We will continue to work by consensus.
And there is no reason to change our process. We will find the minister we seek – and who seeks us.
Tom Hyde, for the Ministerial Search Committee
Green Sanctuary Update
After a few quiet months in the fall, the Green Sanctuary Task Force is renewed and reinvigorated, inspired by the
approaching spring season, no doubt! To update you on our tasks, we are making slow, but steady progress on our Green
Sanctuary accreditation. Our congregation participated in the National Preach-In on Global Warming on February 10th. We
collected nearly 100 postcards and signatures in the Parlors following that service, which were sent to President Obama urging him to take bold action to stop global warming. You might be proud to know that six of your fellow FUUSB-ers traveled to
Washington D.C. for the largest climate rally to date. They braved the cold and wind and marched through the streets with
40,000 other people! Thank you for Standing on the Side of Love for the planet!
This month, Green Sanctuary is hosting the second Sunday Social Action Forum. At this forum, we will consider the topic of
GMOs (genetically modified organisms). This is an issue that has immediate
relevancy, because the Vermont Legislature is considering a law to mandate
labeling of GMOs found in food products. Recently, both Whole Foods and
Ben & Jerry’s have made strides. Whole Foods has set a deadline that, by
2018, all products in their U.S. and Canadian stores must be labeled to
indicate whether they contain GMOs. Ben & Jerry’s has just committed to
sourcing non-GMO ingredients for their products everywhere by year-end
2013. Want to know more about GMOs? Want to find out how you can help?
Come to the forum!
Finally, some of you may have seen the Kindergarten-1st grade class in the
Parlors on March 24th. These youngsters were practicing their activism. They
exchanged seedlings for your pledges to do better for the earth. As Earth Day
approaches, we are reminded that the environmental movement has been
around for a few decades now. However, we are also reminded that, despite
that, we are in a state of planetary crisis. With Earth Day 2013, perhaps we
might all recommit to our 7th principle in deeper and more powerful ways.
Happy Earth Day!
Maeve McBride, Green Sanctuary Chair
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First Unitarian Universalist Society
of Burlington, Vermont
152 Pearl Street
Burlington, Vermont 05401
Phone: 802-862-5630 ext. 21
www.uusociety.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Upcoming Worship Services...
Theme of the month: The Spirituality of Spring
April 7, @ 9 am & 11 am “The Passionate Heart of Joshua Young” Rev. Elz Curtiss Because he served in
Burlington during a turbulent political period, our legend of the Reverend Dr. Joshua Young focuses on only one
aspect of his character, his life and his service. After leaving us, he ministered successfully in Groton, MA for
several decades, despite the loss of his hearing. What gifts and efforts made this possible?
April 14, @ 9 am & 11 am “When In Our Music . . .” The first line of Fred Pratt Green's lovely hymn begins,
"When in our music God is glorified . . . " Unitarian Universalists have many different beliefs about the divine; about
what is of ultimate worth in our lives. No matter what the word God means to each of us, we agree that music
enhances our shared worship experience. This service, formerly known as the annual Choir Service, will explore
those meanings. The choir will be singing a number of pieces from their repertory and Rev. Roberta will provide
homiletic commentary. A special collection will be taken to replenish the Sheet Music Fund so we can keep our
wonderful choir singing new and varied music.
April 21, @ 9 am & 11 am “universalist With a Small u” We often talk about Unitarian Universalism as a
religion of both mind and heart. Historically, the legacy of Unitarianism was the use of reason in religious practice.
Universalism gifted us with a big heart. This is the second sermon in a two-part series exploring the meaning of the
words that make up our name. We will reflect together on the idea of universalism and examine how that idea has
evolved over the centuries.
April 28, @ 9 am & 11 am “Learning and Growing Throughout Our Lives” What is the place of religious
education in our shared life in faith? What does it mean to believe in lifespan faith development? Rev. Roberta,
Director of Religious Education Martha Dallas, and Religious Education Committee Chair Todd Clason will share
their unique perspectives on these questions.
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