Archives: Services

Healing and History: Preparing to Share Privilege

Who is the “real” Vermonter?  A descendant of an 18th century European, a new American immigrant,
or the Abenaki people of the First Nation?  In attempting to exercise our collective responsibility of 
justice, equity and compassion, we would be remiss to exclude the Abenaki who live largely
unseen and unheard in the Champlain Valley — and other minorities in the United States.
 
Where and how do we begin setting a chair for the disenfranchised at the table?  Who is the host, and
who is the guest?  What reparative justice may we be called to upon to pay?  Do contemporary virtues serve to heal historical vices?
 
Indigenous peoples, descendants of slaves, undocumented immigrants…let’s discuss how unpacking privilege
here in Vermont means surrendering power to other populations.
 
Rev. Jennifer Pader, M.Div., S.T.M., LMSW, is a New York City native who moved to Burlington with
her husband Joe four years ago.  She is a graduate of McGill University, Union Theological Seminary, the
William Alanson White Institute, and the Hunter College School of Social Work.  Jennifer has enjoyed

coming to MMUUF as a guest speaker on multiple occasions.  

Finding the Better Angels Within

Sometimes we find ourselves needing to make a choice about whether to speak up and risk offending another person who holds a different belief than our own.  Finding compassion towards others who appear to be selfish, or dismissive can be a challenge. Better Angels is an organization attempting to help bridge the communication gap between the red and blue party lines that are often drawn on current issues.  We will explore their method of building bridges in a workshop format during the sermon.  Come prepared to take a stand and learn ways to engage someone with a different view point than your own.

Justice, Equity and Compassion for our Mental Health

In this sermon we will explore how our society — and how we, personally, — show justice, equity, and compassion for people with mental health challenges. It will challenge us to explore if we are really living this principle when things get uncomfortable. We will discuss why and how living this principle can be harder for mental health than physical health. And it will examine how much are we comfortable with, and what many do when we reach our limits.

Christmas Eve Service 4:00 p.m.

Not-so-traditional traditional Service celebrating birth, families, possibilities, and renewal. Songs, stories, readings, candlelight will fill the barn and our hearts.

The BIG Question: God?

This service will explore the big question: God? Don’t expect any answers, just a lot more questions. Like where: Where does God fit into Unitarian Universalism? Where does God fit into my belief system? Where does God fit into yours? Does the word God turn you off? Scare you? Are you comfortable with the language of reverence? Come find out!

The annual Holiday Potluck with follow after the Service. All are welcome.

Make America Cake Again

We’ll look at the fascinating history of some utopian communities in New England (including a famous Unitarian attempt at paradise on earth).  What did these groups have in common with MMUUF as “beloved community”?  Where did they fail and where did they triumph?  Come walk into the space of ritual and celebration, idealism and interconnectedness this Thanksgiving season!

Rev. Jennifer Pader is the Affiliate Minister for Pastoral Care of the Fourth Universalist Society in New York (part-time) and commutes between NYC and VT.  She also is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice.  Jennifer did her theological studies (M. Div. and S.T.M.) at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Jennifer, her husband Joe Davidson (who works for Cognizant Inc.) and their dashing Scottish Terriers live in Burlington.

Sunday Service – Passing Judgment

Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. The second principle is justice, equity and compassion in human relations. Bill Sessions, Senior Judge of the U.S. District Court for Vermont, in this Service titled “Passing Judgment,” will speak about how this principle is reflected in his career as a Judge.

Sunday Service

This Service will introduce the theme for several of this year’s Services – the second principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.

Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. We live out these Principles within a “living tradition” of wisdom and spirituality, drawn from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience.

As Rev. Barbara Wells ten Hove explains, “The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist religious communities.”

  1. 1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  2. 2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
  3. 3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
  4. 4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  5. 5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
  6. 6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
  7. 7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Faith to Doubt

Reverend Roddy O’Neil Cleary, former UU minister for the Burlington UU Church, is our guest minister this week.

Roddy Cleary