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Speaker: Maeve McBride

Resurrecting Animism, Decolonizing Easter

April 9, 2023 Maeve McBride

Easter is a complicated holiday for those of us who identify as spiritual but not religious. And yet Easter remains a significant day in our culture when many Americans return to church and participate in other traditions like egg hunts and hot cross buns. Maeve, raised an atheist and now a self-described queerstian contemplative, will share her thoughts on this holiday and its pagan roots, its womanist elements, and its messages for our current hot mess times. How might we turn to our ancestry, our traditions, and our ancient stories for support and guidance to navigate the crises before us?

Maeve is an organizer and activist, mother, writer, contemplative, and all around earth lover. Maeve has led lay worship in Unitarian Universalist congregations and spoken often on the topics of climate change, grief, and racism. Currently, Maeve is busy starting a cooperative farm in Jericho, fundraising for worthy causes, and pursuing movement chaplaincy. Maeve is a white cis queer woman of European descent.

Grief Activism: Making Space for Lament and Communal Care

October 23, 2022 Maeve McBride

Grief and loss have been nearly constant companions for many of us over the last few years, as we have navigated a global pandemic on top of the ongoing social, environmental, and political crises. How might we reconsider or re-imagine the practice of grieving when faced with our current reality and the anticipation of even greater suffering in the years to come? If grief is not something to conquer or get past, how could we live well with grief? What traditions or practices might we rekindle or recreate to build a culture of care for each other in these times, a time that Joanna Macy calls the Great Unraveling? Our guest, Maeve McBride, will share her reflections on grief, both personal and collective, and spiritual care in activism and community

Maeve is an organizer and activist, mother, writer, singer, contemplative, and all-around earth lover. A long-time member of the First UU Society of Burlington and a new member of Middle Collegiate Church, Maeve has led lay worship and spoken often on the topics of climate change, grief, and racism. Currently, Maeve is busy starting a cooperative farm, fundraising for worthy causes, and pursuing movement chaplaincy.

Upcoming service

Living Traditions – Artistic and Literary Expression and Indigenous American Worldviews

Heath Fuller April 28 - 9:30 am

This talk will provide a very brief introduction to some of the artistic and literary traditions of Turtle Island (Indigenous America). Both visual and literary forms of expression have been, and continue to be, important vessels for Indigenous worldviews. Spending time with, and centering, these perspectives is valuable for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is that these are the traditions that have known and interpreted these lands and waters for thousands of years. We will learn a bit about the history of colonization, the attempted genocide of Indigenous peoples, and the clear attempt to destroy traditional lifeways and worldviews. That will be followed by a brief overview of cultural preservation, survivance, and the ongoing living artistic and literary traditions that carry these cultural perspectives into the modern world. A few contemporary artists and writers will be introduced, and resources will be provided for further research and learning.

Heath was born and raised in Vermont but travelled and lived in many places before returning home. Heath holds a BFA in Theatre and Religious Studies from New York University and an MA in Religious Studies and Art History from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. They have academic experience in Religious Studies, Art History, Feminist Art History, Cultural Anthropology, Theatre, and Literature. Heath is committed to the study of meaning making systems and the artistic and material practices and cultures of all peoples. They believe that the study of these elements of culture can help us to understand and care for each other, leading to more profound understanding, empathy, and compassion between individuals, communities, and cultures. Heath is now grateful to live with their amazing family on a rich and vibrant part of the land that sweeps up the side of Mt Mansfield.

Watch Or Listen Recoded Sermons

Mount Mansfield Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Services: 2nd & 4th Sundays, September-June 9:30AM

Speaker: Maeve McBride

Resurrecting Animism, Decolonizing Easter

Grief Activism: Making Space for Lament and Communal Care