Speaker: Rev. Jennifer Pader

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.  

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.

Being Of Color and Colorful Beings – 9:30am

What is the source of our creativity?  How do we bring ideas and objects to life from nothingness?   Is there such a thing as divine inspiration?  Is the creative spirit the source of all faith?  Poets, painters, physicists, psychologists and theologians weigh in.

Our service leader is Rev. Jennifer Pader, M. Div, STM, LMSW.  Like the psychoanalysts of the British Object Relations school, Jennifer believes that play (for youngsters and children of all ages) and creativity are key to emotional and psychological well-being.  She is a former private student of the social realist painter Avran Soyer.  Jennifer is a supporter of arts in the schools, and finds creative joy in wordplay, cooking, reading, theology, playing in the Starr Farm dog park, and visiting her old friends Met and MOMA in NYC.
Please remember that each Sunday we ask Fellowship Members to bring a donation for the local Jericho Food shelf. Our Fellowship has been asked to provide canned fruit when possible. Our contributions are critical to their important work!

A Hamster Named Yard

Join us for a controversial discussion about disability, spiritual practices and the search for social justice among (and beyond) Unitarian Universalism. How do we respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person while referring to him/her as“differently-abled”, “special”, “handicapable”? Do we inadvertently perpetuate the stigma of “otherness”?

The Rev. Jennifer Pader, M.Div., STM, LMSW became a disability rights advocate while at seminary, and her work there was written about in The New York Times and reprinted in UU World magazine. She has taught Theology of Disability at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and was among the first ministers to preach and write about this topic. This is Jennifer’s second year as a guest minister at MMUUF.

**Reminder: The Holiday Potluck will be directly after this service, please bring a dish (starter or entree or dessert) to share!

Please remember that each Sunday we ask Fellowship Members to bring a donation for the local Jericho Food shelf. Our Fellowship has been asked to provide canned fruit when possible. Our contributions are critical to their important work!

“Whose Lives Matter?”

During this summer of racially-charged violence, we have seen people of color suffering at the hands of a system that denies their equal rights. In order to respect the dignity and worth of every individual, we must broaden the conversation around state violence and the racial divide. Can we talk?

Rev. Jennifer Pader, M. Div, STM, LMSW is the Affiliate Minister for Pastoral Care of The Fourth Universalist Society. She was the 2015-2016 Guest Minister of the Mount Mansfield Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Jericho, Vermont, and is a sought-after speaker in the NYC area. She teaches, she preaches, and she loves to show her AKC champion Scotties. Her theology is that life should be “More Joy and Less Oy”.

 


Please remember that each Sunday we ask Fellowship Members to bring a donation for the local Jericho Foodshelf. Our Fellowship has been asked to provide canned fruit when possible. Our contributions are critical to their important work!