Fellowship Opportunities

Our Society has many committees and groups that meet on a regular basis. Some of these groups meet to help accomplish the “business” of the Society, some come together to work on Social Action issues, and some are purely social. Joining a committee or group is the best way to make friends and get to know people in our community. If you would like to be put in contact with any of these groups, please email xina@uusociety.org.

Groups and Committees

Anti-Racism Action Committee: The goal of the Anti-Racism Action Committee is to provide leadership in our congregation and our community in recognizing and addressing racism. Activities over the past few years have included creating a school grant program to fund innovative anti-racism projects in schools; arranging speakers and forums to increase our understanding of racism in general, or in response to current events; supporting local refugee resettlement; organizing volunteer service trips to help rebuild New Orleans; organizing a congregational Kwanzaa celebration, and participating in interfaith or community group actions. We are always looking for new members, please watch the Society calendar for notices of meetings.

Denominational Affairs: This committee works with the congregation of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington to learn about the resources available from and support the denominational efforts of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). The UUA publishes an outstanding quarterly magazine, UU World, sent to members of our congregation. Denominational Affairs sponsors a series of forums facilitated by Rev. Elaine Bomford focusing on provocative articles printed in UU World.

Each year during the holiday season starting in late November Denominational Affairs sponsors the Guest at Your Table program designed by UUSC to further the social justice and human rights work of the organization. Guest at Your Table is UUSC's most visible and longest running program, bringing together thousands of UU families and individuals across the country in a shared commitment to global justice. Our committee helps educate congregants about the need for grass roots efforts toward social and economic justice both in the United States and in many other countries. Through this program and other efforts to increase membership in UUSC, the committee supports our service committee and its wonderful work worldwide.

Denominational Affairs helps our congregation explore UUA's Congregational Study/ Action Issues (CSAI) that lead to development of "Statements of Conscience" for our denomination. During the last few years, we have focused on the "Peacemaking" CSAI through sponsorship of panels, forums, films, and discussions. The committee has sent its comments and recommendations to the UUA Commission on Social Witness that is drafting a "Statement of Conscience" to be acted upon by the denomination's General Assembly.

Care Network Ministry: The Care Network Ministry is a confidential, lay ministry grounded in the UU Principles and in the concept of “shared ministry”. Those who are alone, hurting or in spiritual need, receive support through one-to-one caring relationships. Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, and to share with can help you get through the confusion, stress, or loneliness that you may be experiencing. All care and support provided is kept confidential.

Membership Committee: This committee cultivates interest among potential Unitarian Universalists in this area, welcomes and encourages new members and friends, and is responsible for hospitality and other membership oriented functions. It also provides ushers, greeters and refreshment hosts for the Sunday services and maintains the member list.

Music Committee: The Music Committee provides support for the Music Director and the music staff; provides a means for members of the congregation to express their thoughts and suggestions for the music programs of the Society; facilitiates special music events; and, submits an annual budget proposal for the Society's music programs.  The Music Director is an ex-officio member of the Music Committee.  The Music Committee meets monthly, September through May, at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.

Religious Education Committee: The Religious Education Committee (REC) and the Director of Religious Education (DRE) work in collaboration to plan and implement the religious education programming for the children and youth of our congregation. The REC determines policies and formulates objectives to provide our children and youth with appropriate curricula and an overall experience in our congregation that teaches them what if means to be Unitarian Universalist. We work to create an environment that helps foster young peoples’ understanding both of their uniqueness and of their valued place in this faith community.

Social Action Committee: This committee is responsible for informing and educating the members and friends of this Society in the many diverse issues of social concern. It is also responsible for developing and implementing programs which address these issues. For more infromation visit the Social Action Committee page.

Worship Committee: As the name suggests, the Worship Committee is involved in all aspects of Sunday worship services, as well as special services such as Christmas Eve. When the minister is on a pulpit exchange, and on other regular occasions, this committee also helps welcome visiting ministers and organizes lay services.

The Worship Committee's primary responsibility is to plan and implement the services during the year when the minister is not at the pulpit.

Planned Giving Committee: This committee organizes the on-going efforts to educate members about planned gifts to the Society and maintains the membership list of the Legacy Society.

Gallery Committee:This group schedules art shows in our Arc Gallery.

Property Committee: This committee oversees and manages all matters related to the care, maintenance and improvements of our buildings and grounds, which include our Meeting House, two brick rental buildings facing Elmwood Ave., a frame building on Clarke Street, the parking lot (rented during the week), lawns and gardens and our Memorial Garden.

Book Table: This group runs a book table that sells books by UU authors to members on Sunday mornings after the worship service.

Stewardship Committee: This committee organizes the annual pledge campaign for the Society.

Trust Fund Committee : This committee oversees the investments of the Society.

UU Buddhist Fellowship:  http://www25.uua.org/uubf/

UUBFConvocation-Flyer-2011

UU PSI Symposium:  "PSI" is the letter of the Greek alphabet which begins words such as "psychic" and "psychology." The UU PSI Symposium meets regularly to explore soul-related phenomena, produce programs, engage in healing meditation and practical healing action to benefit individuals, our Society, and the world beyond. All are welcome. We also invite you to join in a silent meditation between services (10:30-10:45) most Sundays in the back of the Sanctuary.  For more information about FUUSB's PSI group, speak with Stephen Gonzalez or Rev. Elaine. For info about national UU PSI, http://www.psi-symposium.org/

Women’s Alliance: The Alliance has been a visible part of the Society and community since 1900, and cordially invites all women of the congregation to join. The Alliance is a social and service group that contributes extensively to the upkeep and repair of the church buildings and grounds, and helps support organizations such as the Clara Barton Camp for diabetic girls, the Ronald McDonald House, the Food Shelf, and the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS). The Alliance sponsors the annual Christmas Bazaar, to which our whole Society lends enthusiastic support. The Alliance also initiates other money raising events as well and the proceeds go to the Society, the denomination and the community. The Alliance also maintains the church parlors.

We meet at 10:30 a.m. on Fridays, usually with a luncheon following at noon and a program featuring a guest presentation immediately afterward. Our meetings begin on the Friday following each church year's first Sunday service, and thereafter on the first Fridays of October, November, January, March, April, May and June.

The ABC's for UU Newcomers - A brief introduction to Unitarian Universalism ($6.95)

My UU ABCs information & fun for kids of all ages. ($4.95)

These two books by William Cleary - one for adults, one for the young - were recently published by the Women's Alliance. They are sold in the parlor on Sunday. Janice Lange handles sales: 878-5256 or jlange@zoo.uvm.edu. They are also available from the Hopkins Bookshop (in St. Paul's Cathedral) or the UUA bookstore. Other books by William Cleary: http://www.clearyworks.com/Books/

Partner Church Committee: The mission of the Partner Church Committee of the Burlington UU Society is to foster and support our Society’s relationship with our partnered Unitarian congregation in Lupeny, Transylvania. This relationship offers a connection with the origins of Unitarianism by creating opportunities for pilgrimage, hospitality, learning, and service.  In 2005, five members of the Burlington Society visited our partner congregation in Lupeny. All of these members on this pilgrimage experienced extraordinary welcome. The itinerary for the two weeks repeatedly revealed overwhelming warmth and sharing by the Transylvanians.  Our congregation has, over the last several years, conveyed several generous monetary gifts to help the Lupeny congregation carry out repairs on its church and the parish house, which also serves as home for their minister Zoltan Kopandi, his wife Ildico, and son Guszti.

Small Group Ministry is a national UUA movement and has been part of the U-U in Burlington for ten years. Participation provides a chance to explore spirituality while meeting in small groups with other members of the congregation. SGM is not intended as a therapy group but does offer support as well as the opportunity to reach a deeper level of openness with other members of the congregation. Presently in the Society there are nine such groups that meet for two hours twice a month; each group has about nine members. Joining such a group carries a commitment to meet and bear witness to others as often as possible.

Which group meets an individual's needs varies, but meeting times are generally the first question to be answered. Some groups carry a theme, others do not. No one is assigned to a group; to join a group, contact the name listed or call Barbara Heeter at 864 4622 or Jeanne Parley at 878 4625. Though the number of groups changes over time, the present groups are:

1. Meets every other Monday, 9 – 11 AM. Once a month they have a structured meeting on a preset topic and once a month they have a meeting with open discussion. Contact Bill West at 372-4838 or bill.west@mac.com
2. Meets the second and fourth Thursday evening at 6:30. Contact Hope Swanson at Epochs@verizon,net or 862-0928.
3. Meets alternate Saturdays mornings. Contact Jessica Dion at 899-5490 or jdion@zoo.uvm.edu.
4. Meets every other Tuesday, 10 AM – Noon. Contact Pat Allen at 864 9799 or pictallen@aol.com
5. Meet for parents wanting to encourage and support one another and celebrate the joyful aspects of parenting. Meets Monday morning. Please contact Jessica Dion at 899-5490 or jdion@zoo.uvm.edu.
6. Humanist centered group. Meets 6 to 8 PM on the second and fourth Wednesday's of each month at various locations. Please contact Adam Bortz at adambortz@aol.com or 864-3516.
7. Meets the second and fourth Sundays from 12:30-2:30 after the second service. The facilitators are Sally Russell and Rodney Lowe. Call Barbara Heeter at 864 4622 or bbheeter@aol.com
8. Meets every other Tuesday morning at 10 AM. Contact Rosanne Greco at 497 0711 or rosanne499@aol.com
9. A new group forming. The emphasis will be writing. No time has yet been established. Contact Susie Raimy at 872-9707 or shr05495@yahoo.com