Past Worship Services

Tending to Home in an Uncertain Time

MMUUF fellowship member Mike Sweeney will share his thoughts on what it means to have a strong sense of home, his experiences of losing and rebuilding a sense of home for himself and his family, and the importance of doing the human work in our spiritual and other local communities to tend to our collective home as a way to cultivate strength and protection during an uncertain time.

Mike Sweeney currently serves as the fellowship’s treasurer and religious education director and enjoys singing in the fellowship’s “Last Minute Choir.” He is also a justice of the peace in Jericho and chair of the Jericho Democratic Committee. Mike has had various jobs through the years, but his most important have been as a homemaker for his family and dad to his two now teenage children.

,

The Mutual Gifts of Intergenerational Connection

Marissa Birne appreciates the opportunity to share stories of the older adults who have shaped her life—through their wisdom, humor, traditions, and love—and reflect on how older generations can find meaning in sharing stories and experiences with younger ones. While offering her reflections on the mutual benefits of intergenerational connection, she will invite MMUUF to consider: What have you learned from older people who have made a difference for you? And what are you hoping to pass on to younger people in your life to help them grow, thrive, and develop their own sense of purpose?

Marissa Birne is the Associate Director of Education at the UVM Center on Aging, where she oversees educational opportunities in gerontology and geriatrics, including a ‘Grand Friends’ service-learning program. She previously fostered multigenerational connection among senior living residents and volunteers of all ages as the Program Manager for Youth, Arts, and Volunteer Initiatives at an elder care organization in Massachusetts. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, volunteering as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and spending time with loved ones.

Molly Jo Krupkin is a senior Human Development and Family Sciences major at UVM. She is from Chicago and she absolutely loves living in Vermont. In her free time Molly Jo plays ice hockey, cooks, plays games with friends and reads. Her favorite book she read this year was called The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Molly Jo is new to learning about aging and the complexities of the topic, and she is excited and eager to continue engaging and learning!

Christmas Eve Service

Our theme for this service of songs and readings is “Coming Together”. We will close the service with our tradition of lighting candles and singing Silent Night so if you are joining us virtually, please have a candle ready at home. All are welcome!

What’s Next?

Ann Bonanno will share her thoughts and musings about what happens to our essence when we die. She will offer a brief overview of various religious beliefs and welcomes the Fellowship to share their beliefs, or wonders, on this topic.

Ann Bonanno is a member of MMUUF and has chaired the Sunday Service Committee for the past decade or so. Ann’s spirituality is based in the natural world and the connections between all living things, and she suspects her life’s goal is to become a tree.  Ann believes strongly in living in gratitude and spends some time each day grateful for the beautiful state of Vermont and the MMUUF community.

My Bag of Worries

Gaye will offer reflections about how practices grounded in UU faith may help us move beyond worrying events and anxious times. How do we carry our pain and fears? How do we take care of ourselves and our communities? She will also reflect on how our lay-led faith community can balance the desire to serve as a place of refuge with also being a welcoming community to all. And while she’s still working on the service, she’s very clear that she will not fully answer those questions and is counting on others to share their thoughts and strategies for moving through anxious times and events, individually and as a community.

Gaye is a long-time member of MMUUF. She’s retired from a nonlinear career that included baking, managing mission-focused organizations, legislative service, and leading a grantmaking organization. Now her days change with seasons, but consistent elements include trying to keep up with her 90-something friends and role-models and serving on the board of VTDigger, a nonprofit news organization. She lives in Jericho with her husband, Chuck Lacy, and their two cats.