Sunday, November 5 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

with Michael Wood-Lewis

Geoff Duke, Worship Associate

“Can Trust Save Us? A Conversation”

What role does trust play in a healthy democracy and in healthy institutions? On a planet and in our local communities in the midst of this climate crisis or the many other crises we face? What might our central task be at this moment in humanity’s story? Rev. Karen and FUUSB member Michael Wood-Lewis will engage in a conversation about these profound topics (and hopefully some lighter ones, too). Be on the lookout for a fun skit from the Eclipse Team as they invite you and entice you to host a homestay next April.

Michael Wood-Lewis, along with Valerie, his partner, have been part of FUUSB since the 1990s, raising their four kids here. In 2000, they started what eventually turned into Front Porch Forum. FPF, a Vermont public benefit corporation, now serves every town and neighborhood in Vermont, fulfilling its social mission of helping neighbors connect and build community. FPF is increasingly recognized as a national model for constructive uses of the internet.

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

Sunday, November 5

Families will begin in the Sanctuary together. After the Reflection for All Ages, children, preschool through 8th grade, and their guides will be sung out for their group explorations! If your children are not yet registered, please escort them and fill out a new family form with their group guides. The Nursery will be open throughout the service for infants and toddlers. 

Continued Conversation with

Michael Wood-Lewis After the Service

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



Our Sunday, Nov. 5 service involves a conversation between Rev. Karen and FUUSB member Michael Wood-Lewis, about community resilience, trust, mutual aid networks, institution-building, and so much more. Michael will be available after the service to continue the conversation with anyone who shows up in the Parlors, beginning at 11:30.

On Sunday during the Time for All Ages, when the call was put out to donate gloves, hats, and socks, this person heard the call and offered up the socks off his feet! Thank you for this meaningful example of generosity.

Here is the video link for last Sunday's service:

October 29, 2023 FUUSB Worship Service

Service of Loss & Remembrance Tonight

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Please join us for our annual Service of Loss & Remembrance tonight, Wednesday, November 1 from 7 – 8 p.m. You can attend in person in the Sanctuary or virtually via Zoom. If attending in person, you are invited to bring a photo of any loved one to place on the high chancel. If attending by Zoom, you will be able to enter the names of loved ones in the chat so that we can include them as well. This is a service to give space and shape to all kinds of grief – when someone in our life dies, when there is a change we are struggling with, when someone needs a sacred space to experience communal comfort. Our choir will be singing. This service is open to the wider community (don’t we all have a need to grieve?), so please feel free to invite those whom you think might benefit from this.

Service of Loss & Remembrance Zoom link:

https://bit.ly/3Qa5U1Q

Daylight Saving Time Reminder

Remember to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night, November 4. Daylight saving time ends on Sunday at 2 a.m.

FUUSB Holiday Bazaar

Kim Watkin

The FUUSB Holiday Bazaar is back after a 3-year hiatus! It will take place on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room. We will also host the Holiday Luncheon in the Parlors from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be books, jewelry, attic treasures, greens, and homemade food items. More information will follow on Drop-Off dates and times, but now is a good time to put aside those items you would like to contribute to the Holiday Bazaar. If you are interested in learning more about the Holiday Bazaar and how you can help, please join us in the Sanctuary after the service on Nov. 5. We can find a way for you to be involved! There will be other opportunities to sign up to volunteer in the weeks ahead.  

Climate Change Response Team Meeting Invitation

Bruce Douglas

Following up on the Sunday service that we led on October 22, the Climate Change Response Team (CCRT) is extending an invitation to join our next meeting which is scheduled to be held on Zoom on Tuesday, November 7 from 5:30–6:30 p.m. 

CCRT is the bricks and mortar group among the climate change groups at FUUSB. Our focus is getting to Net Zero by at least off-setting our current energy needs with electricity and renewable energy for the Meeting House and the three adjacent buildings that the Society owns. 

We welcome interested individuals who can help out in a variety of ways. We typically meet monthly, so if you would like to join us, please email Bruce here and we will include you on the list to receive the agenda, email you the Zoom meeting invitation, and notify you if there are any last-minute changes in the meeting schedule. We hope to see you at the next meeting! 

Grief Group

Grief is unescapable. It sits in our pews. Congregation members, in the last few years, have lost many loved ones. The holidays can be an especially challenging time.

First UU is offering a small group, for those who have experienced a loss in the last two years, to share the journey, support each other, and gather skills for healing.

It will be held the following five Tuesdays: November 7, 14, 28, December 5, and January 9, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. via Zoom.

If you have questions or wish to sign up, email the co-facilitators, Judy Brook here or Geoff Duke here.

FUUSB Eclipse Project

Susan Ogden, Eclipse Team

The coming Total Solar Eclipse - April, 8, 2024 - is an exciting and awesome event which links us in Burlington to celestial enthusiasts throughout the ages!

The FUUSB Eclipse Project will welcome eclipse viewers for a special fundraising event. Will you donate your extra room, apartment, home to Eclipse viewers who need a place to stay? The Eclipse Team will do all the marketing and administration. Please fill out the homestay donation form: https://tinyurl.com/EclipseUUHomes

😎 For more information, contact: Eclipse@uusociety.org.

2023 FUUSB Fundraiser - Holiday Wreaths & Greens for Your Home!

Sarah Forbes

There are many places you can get your holiday greens from. Please support the FUUSB and order a beautiful, custom-decorated, premium quality wreath or swag for your home or for a gift. Wreaths are handmade in the Northeast Kingdom and measure about 24” across. Swags are handmade, decorated with natural materials and a bow and are about 18"-24” long.

Pick-up is Saturday, Dec. 2 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.), or Sunday, Dec. 3 in the Community Room (11 a.m.-1 p.m.).

Sign up online through the FUUSB Fundraiser link: 

Auctria.events/Wreaths2023

FUUSB Fundraiser - Memorial Greens & Wreaths

Sarah Forbes

Remember a loved one this year with a memorial wreath or greens which will decorate our Meeting House and Sanctuary during December. Sign up online through the FUUSB Fundraiser link: Auctria.events/Wreaths2023

Wreath Decorators Needed!

Learn something new or continue your tradition! Come decorate wreaths and make swags for the FUUSB Annual Fundraiser! No experience necessary - there will be many examples and direction as needed. We will be decorating in the Community Room on Thursday, Nov. 30, Friday, Dec. 1, Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. Thank you!

Contact Sarah Forbes with your availability and with any questions: 578-6119 or email Sarah here.

The Return of the Monthly FUUSB Open-Mic Coffeehouse!

Todd Schlossberg

Friday, November 10, 7 – 9 p.m. 

Celebrate, dear friends, the long-awaited return

Come let your creative fires burn

Share a poem, spoken words, a story or song

Or just watch and listen, you cannot go wrong 

What: The Monthly FUUSB Open-Mic Coffeehouse

No potluck supper, but hot beverages will be served

Who: Everyone! All ages! Bring friends and family

Where: The Sanctuary, First UU Society of Burlington

When: Friday, November 10, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

Sign up for the open-mic starting at 6:30 p.m. 

Cost: Free!

Questions? Email Todd Schlossberg here

Young Adult Gathering

Rowan Van Ness, Director of Youth & Emerging Adult Ministries

Sunday, November 12, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Calling all young adults (ages 18-35)! We plan to gather upstairs after the service and coffee hour for a light lunch, games, connection, and a chance to plan future activities with one another. Please join us! RSVP to rowan@uusociety.org, so we can best estimate the amount of food for the group. Future Young Adult meeting dates will be: Jan. 21, March 10, May 5.

YUUth Group Schedule

Rowan Van Ness, Director of Youth & Emerging Adult Ministries

There will be no YUUth Group on Tuesdays 11/7 and 11/21, due to holidays and scheduling conflicts. Please save the date for upcoming sessions on Tuesdays 11/14 and 11/28 from 6-8 p.m. and Sunday 11/19 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., following a multigenerational worship service. All high school youth are welcome!

Library News

Lynn Douglas, Library Team

We have LOTS of new books celebrating diversity in the YA section. This month they are on the new book shelf at the front of the library.

New addition to Picture books: 

Rowan's & Erika's Schedules

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



For the next few weeks, Rowan is away on a vacation planned before she accepted her position at FUUSB. We're excited for her and want to raise to your attention that this means Erika is staffing our rather vibrant faith development program on her own for these next few weeks. 

Please be patient and understanding when she does not respond to your emails right away or when balls drop. If you have the capacity to help during this time when our staffing pattern is stretched, please let Erika know.