Archives: Services

Slow Democracy: Reaching for Understanding in Uncivil Times

These extraordinary times of political polarization call for special attention in our everyday thoughts and words. A contemplation of the qualities we can nurture to strengthen our communities and democracy.

Susan Clark is coauthor of Slow Democracy: Rediscovering Community, Bringing Decision Making Back Home; and All Those In Favor, a book about Vermont town meetings (with Frank Bryan). Susan consults with communities across the northeast on how to build inclusive, deliberative and empowered public engagement. She is Middlesex town moderator.

Gathering the Waters

On Sunday, we will come together to begin our new Fellowship year – via Zoom. As is our tradition, we will take time to share with each other some of our experiences from the summer. Where have the past three months led you on your spiritual journey? As you ponder that question, prepare a sentence or two to share with the Fellowship. It has been a summer like no other, and we all have much to share. But please keep your remarks brief and focus more on your spiritual journey than your physical journeys.
Collecting Water at the Barn
If you would like to mingle some water that symbolizes your journey with the common waters of the Fellowship, you can come to the barn anytime before the afternoon of Saturday September 12 and pour your water into the container you’ll find near the main entrance. Please be sure it is well sealed as you leave. And if you can’t join us on Sunday, send an email with the words you’d like to share and we’ll read it to the Fellowship.

Many Paths

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In our last Service of the Fellowship year, we will celebrate the many paths we have walked together during this Fellowship year. Dana Baron and Kelly McCutcheon Adams will lead the service, weaving in the words of Fellowship members describing the hardships, losses, joys and hopes that they have experienced in this most extraordinary year.
Dana Baron is a long-time member of MMUUF and has served in many roles. Now retired, he has recently moved from Essex to Shelburne with his wife Karen.
Kelly McCutcheon Adams has been a member of MMUUF for eight years and is currently serving as the Vice President. She lives in Essex Junction with her husband Paul and their two children, Tess and Riordan. She telecommutes to Boston as a Senior Director at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Forgiveness

This sermon explores this widely celebrated virtue.  But is it always a virtue? What might we conclude about forgiveness when considered in light of our UU principles?

Theresa Krieger is a long time member of the UU Church of Rutland where she has served in various capacities including congregation president.  She lives in Rutland with her partner, Emily and their kitty, Finnegan.

The Mysteries of Religious Education (RE)

RE Sunday Service, a shared service compiled and led by MMUUF’s RE Committee: Dusty Kemp, Maura Collins, Tresa Greenblott, Danielle Thierry and Gaye Symington

Do you ever wonder what we actually do in our RE classrooms?   Join us this Sunday for a taste of RE, drawings, songs, and BIG questions….

Spiritual Lessons from the Sample Cart at Costco

What do you do when major life changes happen?  After 35 years of pastoral ministry and community chaplaincy, in 2015 my husband and I bought a beat-up old rv camper, sold or gave away 70% of our possessions and took a long journey across the country. I needed work, so I went to work at Costco – I was a sample lady! I will tell two stories that people told me as they stood at my cart and sometimes had memories evoked by the food I was serving. Wherever we are in our lives we need to know how to be open to the stories of others; just to be present; listen to the heartache and the joys; as one of my favorite quotes reads “when was the last time you told your story?”  – Native American medicine man. 
 
Joan Newton O’Gorman is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ tradition and has served congregations in Vermont for the past 30 years in both settled and interim ministries. She is a Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplain with the University of Vermont Health Network Home Health and Hospice. Joan feels that her spiritual journey really began when she was a member of the West Paris, Maine UU Fellowship in the mid-1970’s.   Before entering ministry, Joan put herself through Hunter College by driving a taxi in New York City, taught language arts in a small school in rural Maine, and served as Director of MAPS, Maine Adoption Placement Service.   Joan is married to Gary who is also a United Church of Christ pastor. They have four children ~ two live in Vermont and two live in California which makes life interesting.  One grandchild lives in Vermont and one in California which makes it even more interesting.  Joan enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping, reading and cooking.  

This I Wonder, This I Believe

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***For the time being, Services will exclusively be held virtually via Zoom.  Please email info@mmuuf.org for more information.
At This I Believe/This I Wonder services, fellowship members offer thoughts about what they believe and what they wonder about over the course of their spiritual journey.

 

Dusty:
10,000 forms of Mindfulness.  Mindfulness is a path to loving… myself, my students, the people in my life, my work, the universe.  It is my catalyst for generating gratitude, recovery, helping with my depression, anxiety, and stress.  I believe it is available to anyone and is as simple as paying attention to what is in front of me right now.
I am from Chicago, therefore I like deep dish pizza, Italian beef, caramel and cheese popcorn mixed, and the Cubs.  I am now from Vermont and I love Cabot cheddar cheese, maple syrup and all of you!  I have been / am an artist, recovering drug addict, engineer, teacher, husband, father, and most recently our dog’s human.
Sarah:
Mindfulness through poetry and music: When I’m caught up in work, news or just the daily business of life, I like to pause and reconnect to myself thru music and/or poetry. I’ll share some of my favorites with you.
I’ve been a member of MMUUF since 2000. I grew up in NH, and have lived in Maryland, Missouri and Alaska before moving to Vermont. As a humanist I believe in equality and justice and as a social worker I have worked my entire profession dedicated to children and youth who suffer trauma because of abuse and neglect. I am a director,  an author, a poet, a mother, wife, sister, daughter and head chef of my home.

Unbinding the heart: Meaning and connection at the end of life

This Sunday’s Service will be online only via Zoom.

Charley MacMartin leads the hospice volunteer program at UVM Home Health & Hospice. He will speak from that experience on the concerns, hopes and fears that crowd the bedside as a loved one is dying. Keeping our hearts open is hard to do when, as individuals or as a community, we attempt to support an individual and family at this tender time.

 

Our Journey: Where Our Head and Our Hearts Have Led MMUUF

In his February 9 message to MMUUF, member Dana Baron gave an inspired history of Unitarian Universalism. He explained how, when the two “U” faiths combined their organizations some 60 years ago, Unitarians brought a focus on reason and Universalists contributed the belief of a loving God they held in their hearts. In her talk, Beth Esmond will discuss how the “head” and the “heart” of MMUUF (and a little bit of muscle, too) have contributed to our journey. The service will recount our early days and some key themes prevalent in our nearly 30-year journey. We’ll also share memories—happy, sad and some truly funny—about the rag-tag group of dedicated people who built the sometimes-nomadic faith community that ended up in a barn.

Beth first attended MMUUF in the fall of 1996; she joined as a member the following spring. Throughout the years, Beth has served on many committees, including the steering committee, the RE committee, the nominating committee, the Sunday Service committee and, for many years, the music committee. With her husband Scott, she owns a communications consultancy serving clients throughout Vermont and specializing in health care, education and energy.

Creativity: Save the Planet, Produce a Masterpiece, or Just Have Fun

Elizabeth Gilbert defines creativity as the relationship between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration. Others say, it is just making stuff. However it is defined, creativity is a vital aspect in every part of all our lives, from painting rocks on camping trips to parenting to designing transportation systems for the 21st century.  Being creative is one of the most fundamental needs of human life. No wonder it is good for our health and happiness, and is key to building a more just and joyful world.

Ginny created the Happiness Paradigm Store and Experience, and is immediate past president of Gross National Happiness USA. She travels widely to present on the interconnection between personal happiness and systems change for well-being, including recently addressing the Gross Global Happiness conference in Costa Rica, and city and state officials crafting a well-being index in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her book, Preaching Happiness: Creating a Just and Joyful World is due in book stores on July 25th. also works as a meditation teacher. She is a member of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, where she led her first service in 2013. Since then, Ginny has led services in local UU churches as well as churches in South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. She is always grateful to share the wisdom of happiness with UU congregations