Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

November 3 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Dan York, Worship Associate

"Each Other's Shelter"

Given the heightened anxiety in the run up to Election Day, alongside the unraveling in our community revealing deeper levels of suffering and pain, questions of safety swirl in our heads and hearts. What is possible? What seems impossible? What is ours to do? What is beyond our reach? How might we stretch? How might we practice being sanctuary for each other, for a wider human community? Rev. Karen is in the pulpit.

Join us for worship in person in the Sanctuary, or online. The livestream link and order of service will be shared at bit.ly/FUUSBWorship, or visit our YouTube channel.

Following the service, all are welcome to Coffee Hour in the Community Room.

While at the Meeting House, anyone is welcome to wear a mask. In the spirit of caring for each other, please stay home if you have any cold or flu symptoms. Thank you.

Children & Youth This Sunday

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Families (children and parents/caregivers, youth may come on their own) and Faith Development guides will begin on the lower level with 15-20 minutes of child-centered worship, after which parents will be sung out to the service already in progress and children and youth will begin Chalice Choice activities. The Nursery will be open for infants through PK. Parents can sign children in before or during the service.

Chalice Choice Sunday

Kids, K-12th grade, are invited to choose between activities that focus on UU Identity and core values, rather than being grouped by age. Choices this week will include book-binding-journal-making, hymn-singing/music exploration with guitar accompaniment, cardboard-creation chalice-building, and more.

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Here is a link to the video recording of last week's service.

Thank you to all who pulled together for a successful Sunday service based on the book,

Tear Soup, written by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen. It was a labor of love by many. Here is a video rendition of the whole book.

Thank you to the wonderful youth actors - Jo, Annabelle, Collins, & June - as well as the other willing adult participants who, altogether, made the whole thing come together.

Please enjoy these photos of our bread "communion" - thank you to the 8 bakers who made all the bread and the guardians of that ritual: Chip Patullo and Brianna Douglass.

Daylight Saving Time Reminder

Remember to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night, November 2!

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday at 2 a.m.

October Board of Trustees Meeting Summary

Kim Watkin, Board Member

The FUUSB Board of Trustees met this past Tuesday, Oct. 22nd. While Christina Fulton, Director of Operations, is on sabbatical, Treasurer Brian Haas presented a financial report to the Board. As an on-going concern, there was further discussion of this year’s fundraising activities, stewardship campaign, as well as exploring ways to sustain our financial health as a congregation. 

Rev Karen’s Minister’s Report was organized to share the work by the staff and congregation to meet our five FUUSB Visionary Ends. Some highlights included the work of the Climate Justice Team for the Sept Climate Justice Revival, crafting the worship as interview/conversation around Overdose Prevention Centers with Ed Baker, working to form a team to create a Responsible Behaviors policy, and concern about the status of fundraising and stewardship. 

On Nov 10th, members of the Board will be hosting a “Listening to You” session to hear from members on their vision for our congregational goals. 

**In the future, a Zoom link will be made available to any FUUSB member who would like to attend the monthly Board of Trustee meetings remotely.  

Rev. Karen invites you to activities related to Election Day

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Please watch this 2+ minute Minister's Message with information about 3 upcoming local/FUUSB events related to Election Day - happening on 11/3, 11/4, & 11/5.

Sanctuary Space in These Uncertain Times

Healthy Congregation Team

Come express yourself in heart, body and mind.



These times weighing heavy on your soul? 

Join us Sunday November 3rd, 11:30-1pm in the Community room.



Have soup and break bread, participate in one or all of these thoughtful activities: reflective listening practice, centering yoga, calming guided meditation, expressive art activity, manifestation exercise for a positive future.

Offered by the Healthy Congregation Team. 

Contact Sarah Forbes or Elizabeth Logan with questions.  sarahforbesdesign@comcast.net, eloganvt@gmail.com

A message from the UUA ahead of the election

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5eOXrBVlV0

Forward Together:

Anchoring in Community Post-Election

As we approach Election Day, it is critical that we come together to nourish our spirits and move in our collective power. This is about more than one election; it is about grounding ourselves in the values and communities that drive our fight for justice. No matter your issue; climate justice, democracy, gender justice, or criminalization, we are in this work together.

That’s why we are excited to invite you to join us for Forward Together: Anchoring in Community Post Election, a virtual series designed to offer space for reflection, spiritual grounding, and practical organizing in response to the evolving political landscape.

Join Side With Love, UUA Congregational Life, and UUA senior leadership for this special three-series virtual event following the 2024 Election. Each event is at 8pm ET.

• Session One - 11/6: After Election Day

• Session Two - TBD (When the Election is Called): Meaning-Making & Immediate Action

• Session Three - 11/19: The Way Forward

Click here to register!

Join Us at this Friday, Nov. 1 at the  

First Friday Open-Mic Coffeehouse!

Todd Schlossberg, Member

It’s not yet dropped down to fifteen below.

Though we’ve already seen our first coatings of snow.

Come and take refuge from mid-autumn storms,

Let sweet music and spoken word help us keep warm. 

When? Friday, 11/1, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

Open-mic sign-up starts at 6:30 p.m. 

Bring? Songs, poems, or just open ears and heart

Who? You! All ages! Bring friends and family

Where? The Sanctuary, First UU Society of Burlington

Cost? Free!

Questions? Todd Schlossberg: greenmountainlaw@gmail.com

Date with Death Club is coming to First UU

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Please watch this 6-minute video message from Rev. Karen to learn about the Adult Faith Development offering coming to FUUSB starting in January, 2025. It's called Date with Death Club and Rev. Karen is the developer of this curriculum that has been offered at over 2 dozen UU congregations.

Click this link or the image below to view the video: https://youtu.be/9qgztq28vTE

If you are interested in attending the first session, you MUST register on Realm. You can do so using this link. There is a limit of 24 participants - please sign up only if you know that you can attend the whole session on 1/25, 10 - 12:45.

2024 FUUSB Fundraiser-

Holiday & Memorial Wreath Sale!

Sarah Forbes, Member

Support the FUUSB and order a gorgeous, premium quality wreath with a beautiful bow of your choice for your home or for a gift.

You can also remember a loved one this year with a Memorial wreath or greens that will decorate our Meeting House Sanctuary and doors during December.

All wreaths are hand-made in the Northeast Kingdom at the Michaud family farm and measure about 24” across.

ORDER NOW online through the FUUSB Fundraiser link: https://auctria.events/FUUSBWreaths

Questions? Contact Sarah Forbes 802-578-6119, sarahforbesdesign@comcast.net or ninaruth@me.com 

802-383-8192 with fundraiser or web questions. Thank you!

Fire Drill- November 10

Devin Fallon, Facilities Manager

We will be having a fire drill November 10th immediately following the service. In order to make this a realistic drill the alarm will sound. If you have a sensitivity to loud noises you can choose to leave before the drill begins. Instructions will be given prior to and during the fire drill. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the drill please contact our Facilities Manager at devin@uusociety.org or 802-862-5630, x23.

Child Dedications- November 10

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Child Dedications are a joyful covenant between a child’s family and the congregation, recognizing that the raising of a child is a community blessing. Senior Minister, Rev. Karen G. Johnston, and the Director of Lifespan Faith Development, Erika Reif, will be leading such a ceremony for a group of children during the service on November 10th. Dedications can happen soon after birth or adoption; they can happen for an infant, a toddler, a preschooler, or an older child.

If you would like to have your child dedicated at First UU on that morning, or to find out more, contact Erika, erika@uusociety.org.

Meaning-Making in Anxious Times-

November Sessions

Note: There will be no Meaning-Making session this upcoming Tuesday, 11/5.

Click here for the livestream link of the Service of Loss & Remembrance.

Click here to register!

Each month FUUSB has an Earth Teacher and a packet of materials to help you connect with and make meaning in your life in relationship with that Earth Teacher. Check it out.