Social Action is an important element in the life of our congregation. We strive to put the ideals expressed in our UU principles into action both as individuals and as a community. Some of our most recent initiatives are included below; we welcome and encourage new ideas for action.
Springfield Warming Shelter
Our congregation has been involved in supporting Warming Shelters in our area for many years. Both the Greater Falls and Springfield Shelters are open from November through April, 7 days a week from 7PM-7AM. They are staffed by volunteers who receive training prior to staffing the shelter. Food is provided by a large number of people and organizations in the area.
The First Universalist Parish of Chester has been involved with both Warming Shelters. We currently prepare and deliver food on the first Sunday of the month to the Springfield Shelter. Children prepare one part of the meal each month as a part of the Religious Exploration Program and other members of the congregation prepare the remaining parts of the meal and deliver it to the shelter. Extra meals are prepared and frozen to be used as needed during the winter months. In previous years, our children collected toiletries, painted a mural which remains in the window at the Greater Falls Warming Shelter, and made bowls for guests with words of hope on the bottom of the bowls. One of our congregants regularly volunteers to do a night shift at the Springfield Warming Shelter.
Collections of Food & Clothing
Several collections are taken throughout the year. For example:
Food collections for the Chester-Andover Family Center
Donations of extra vegetables from congregant gardens to the local food shelf
Community wide coat and blanket drive in the fall which entails collecting coats and blankets, helping to sort them at the local Catholic Church where they are distributed over two weekends in the fall, providing soup to shoppers, and packing up any left overs after the final distribution.
Special collections depending on congregant interests. One such collection scheduled for 2017 will be for a local family seeking asylum and living in our part of southern Vermont.
Climate Change
Members of our congregation engage in activities that address the climate crisis. For example we co-hosted an Electric Car Cruise-In event with Mountain Valley Climate Action 350VT, and participate in other activities such as supporting the Sunrise Movement’s Strike for Climate, book discussions, and other social actions.
Community Outreach
Individuals are encouraged to participate in service in our community based on their interests. Our congregants are currently involved in providing service through the following organizations:
The Nature Museum
Rotary Club
Chester-Andover Family Center
Green Mountain Club
Chester-Andover elementary, middle and high schools
Chester Economic Development committees and other town boards and committees
Whiting Library
Chester Historical Society
SEVCA
Mountain Valley Climate Action 350VT
Church Service Projects
Depending on the interests of our congregants, films, discussion groups and special service projects are undertaken at the church and are typically open to the public. Examples include:
Christmas caroling led by our choir at the Springfield Rehabilitation Center
Fleece blankets cut and tied and sent to Nepal
Colorful pillow cases sewed by our children for children who are hospitalized at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth
White Privilege Awareness discussion group that met monthly for nine months,
Presentation of pictures and a personal response of two people who were in Nepal at the time of the 2015 earthquakes
Viewing of the documentary film: Two Who Dared: The Sharps’ War about the heroic efforts of two people to save children during WWII
Martin Luther King film and discussion
Various environmental films with discussions
Participation in environmental protest marches
A Seder
Ski for heat participation in late January
In 2019, the film, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power was shown followed with a discussion on the seriousness of climate change. The film showcased progress that’s been made as well as how much further we still have to go to solve the climate crisis.
Monthly Donations
Each month, money is collected in small yellow envelopes located in our pews, for a specific organization that helps put our principles into action. Approximately $3,000 is collected and distributed annually. Organizations supported include:
September 2020 and October 2020 – Hurricane Relief
November 2020 – Chester Community Greenhouse & Gardens
December 2020 – Vermont Food Bank
January 2021 – Vermont ACLU
February, 2021 – SEVCA
March, 2021 - Chester-Andover Family Center
April 2021 – Outright Vermont
May 2021 – August 2021 - UUA Disaster Fund
Community Use of Our Church Building
The First Universalist Parish is known as a friendly, welcoming church in the historic Stone Village. Members understand that a strong community is based upon our ability to nurture each other and to help people feel connected to others with similar interests and beliefs. This philosophy extends outside the church community and our church building is used to foster such connections.
Mountain Valley Climate Action 350VT meets twice monthly and holds film nights and events such as the Electric Car Cruise-In.
Our building is also available for other activities such as play readings, cabarets, concerts and other performances. An art group meets weekly in our downstairs space and a music group also uses the building regularly. Outside individuals or groups who like to use it for weddings or small intimate programs are welcome to contact us. Local churches are invited to use our building for worship in the case of displacement because of fire or other emergencies.
