Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

November 30th at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Geoff Duke, Worship Associate

"Choose to Bless the World"

“We live in interesting times” is the understatement of the decade. We live in outrageous and dangerous times. There are poets who tell us that we are made for these times; who can argue, since here we are? Yet, as these times take their toll on us, on those we love, and on the most vulnerable, we have a choice: to choose to bless the world or not. 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 will begin the morning together in the Sanctuary. After the Time For All Ages, children and youth will be escorted to Chalice Choice Activities on the lower level. Care for infants and toddlers is available in the Nursery throughout the service. 

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Here is a link (it takes you to Facebook) for the reading from Sunday. It's from poet John Roedel and started with the lines of I'm not afraid of evil...

Rev. Karen hasn't had time to put the text of her sermon on her blog. If you subscribe to the blog, you will be alerted when she is able to do so. You can find her blog, Awake and Witness, by clicking here.

Big BIG BIG gratitude to the choir, to Liam and Sam, and to our soloist, FUUSB member, Sabrina Sydnor. The music really brought the service together.

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

FUUSB'ers - in person and online - your generosity was Sunday's benediction. We told you about our vulnerable neighbors who were going to be kicked out into the cold. We learned about them from Brenda at End Homelessness Vermont. At the start of the service, we invited you to give - $5, $15, or $150 - to help keep a few people housed until December 1st, when state law would not allow them to be kicked out of the motel temporary shelter.

Halfway through the service, we were able to tell you that you had already raised the $2200 necessary to keep the 2 individuals, one with a newborn, sheltered. Halfway through the service, we had already met our goal that we thought it might take all day to reach, if at all.

By the end of the service, you had raised $3750! That generous response stood as our benediction at the end of the service.

And on Monday morning, when we needed to process the check to send to EHV, we were able to tell Brenda that $5,558 was coming to End Homelessness Vermont. 5,558!!!!

Thank you from Brenda and all who do the frontline work of trying to find shelter for some of our most vulnerable neighbors, who every day encounter people whose circumstances are quite desperate. Thank you for all of us at First UU.

In Memoriam

Rita Bortz

We share the sad news that Rita Bortz, after a nearly-year long journey with cancer, died on Monday, November 24th. The beautiful news is that Adam was with her, holding her hand, when she died peacefully.

She had been receiving hospice care for several months, including the care of this congregation, and arrived at Respite House on Friday. Once we know plans for her memorial service, which will take place at FUUSB, we will put the word out.

Cards can be sent to Adam Bortz at 17 Elsom Parkway, South Burlington, VT, 05403. FUUSB sends our love to Adam and to their children: Tor, Karl, Kirsten, and Seth.

Alison Etherton

We also share with you that long-time FUUSB member, Alison Etherton, died at the end of last week, not long after receiving a cancer diagnosis.

In her final days, she was surrounded by her family, including her beloved Bud, who would hold her hand each day as he sat by her side. And their children - Laura and Kirk - and their partners, Adam and Lucy, were there, singing Alison's favorite hymns and Beatles songs, tending lovingly to her.

During those final days, Alison and her family felt lovingly held by the Wake Robin community, where the family will be organizing a Circle of Remembrance in the future. (date unknown at this time)

Submitted by Eileen Blackwood, FUUSB Board President

The FUUSB Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly business meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. 

In her Senior Minister’s Report, among other items, Rev. Karen noted that the ministry team is working with the Planned Giving Team to replace two members who have resigned and is populating a group of people to develop policy and practices for the recently created Resilience Fund. She also reported that the Pastoral Visiting Team of 8 people is fully matched with congregants to visit.

Director of Operations and Finance Christina Fulton provided the Board with current financial reports that show us on track for the current budget year. The peer audit review that we are conducting with the Concord, NH UU is underway, with our team having visited Concord that week and the Concord team coming to Burlington on Nov. 24 and 25. The Stewardship Team has been meeting and planning for this year’s stewardship campaign.

The Board currently has two task forces at work: The Innovative Income Task Force will begin meeting soon to explore new revenue sources to sustain this congregation. The Endowment Policy Task Force is exploring updating a portion of our Endowment Policy, which currently says that any unrestricted gift over $1,000 goes into our First UU Trust Fund. The proposal is to increase that amount to $2,500 and to pay any outstanding pledge by the donor before investing the balance into the First UU Trust Fund.

The Board received updates on several other pending activities, including our ongoing efforts to update the Board’s record-keeping. The Nominating Committee has been invited to our December meeting.

The Board spent some time discussing the question of how the FUUSB should respond if the current call for a national strike comes to fruition, including discussion of what a general strike would mean, how FUUSB might need to support congregants or others, whether FUUSB staff would be paid during a general strike, etc. No formal decisions were made, but the discussion should make the Board better prepared if such an action occurs.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16 at 4:00 pm in the parlors. A Zoom link will be posted on Community Messenger on that Tuesday. Please email board@uusociety.org with any questions.

Happy baby news for Rowan & Caitlin

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Joyful news for one of our former staff member! Rev. Rowan and her wife, Caitlyn, along with Seneca, welcomed new baby Maren (rhymes with Karen) Sophia (So-FYE-uh) Tengwall Van Ness!! She was born last Tuesday (11/18/25) at 5:13pm. 8lbs 7oz and 21” long. From Rev. Rowan: We are so grateful to have this time together as a family, and we are also grateful for your generosity in supporting our meal train. Thank you!

It's that time of year!

Socially Responsible Santa is Here!

Ellen Wollensack, Member

Coordinated for many years by FUUSB member Maggi Hayes, this

annual program began in 1986 as a project of the Social

Responsibility Committee. Working with many community

organizations over the years, we have increased the number of families served. While many recipients have purchased traditional gifts, others have used the money for past-due bills, assistive devices, and security deposits on apartments, allowing them to moveout of a shelter. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the congregation.

Volunteer elves get referrals from congregation members and friends, community organizations and schools. They deliver cash gifts to families or individuals in need. We believe that by giving a cash gift we are empowering people to decide for themselves

what kinds of Christmas gifts they wish to give and receive. This is in keeping with the first principle of Unitarian Universalism: the inherent worth and dignity of every person.  

We hope to make our gifts to recipients by 12/16, so please consider donating soon!

(However, donations will continue to be accepted after this time as well.)

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at eewollensack@gmail.com.

Donations to Socially Responsible Santa can be made by clicking on the button below.

Inclement Weather 

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

It's Vermont in the wintertime and that means it's time for snow, ice, slush, power failures, and so much more! If this lovely winter weather becomes extreme, the Society may choose to cancel Sunday Worship and other Sunday events, close the offices, or cancel meetings and events on other nights of the week. 

If we decide to cancel, we will put a notice on our Website, on our Facebook Page, in our Facebook Group, on Community Messenger on Realm and we will send out an email to the Enews mailing list. So in case of bad weather, these are the places to look for updates. 

If you have a meeting or event scheduled on another day of the week and need to cancel, do your best to send a notice to those who are expected to attend and contact a staff member so that we can put a notice on the door and cancel any Caretaker staff that are scheduled to work.  You can find the full Inclement Weather Protocol on our website. Remember to stay safe; don't travel on dangerous roads.

A Safe Space for Honest UU Dialogue

Submitted by Gail Beck, Member

ALL ARE WELCOME!



Do you have honest thoughts and opinions on UU positions you'd like to share and explore in a trusted environment?

Join the Respectful Dialogue on UU Positions group on Sunday, December 7 at 11:30 AM. We are committed to having discussions where we can openly share even our disagreements with certain UU stances, knowing we are heard by fellow UUs in a safe, confidential setting.

This group is facilitated, upholds a shared covenant, and meets regularly.Questions?  Email:  rosanne05403@aol.com

 Join the Celebration: Help Make Our 90th Annual Holiday Bazaar a Success!

FUUSB Bazaar Team

Our annual Holiday Bazaar is back for its incredible 90th year! This cherished tradition relies on the kindness and effort of people like you. We need your help to make this year the best one yet!

 Bazaar Day Details

• Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
• Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Finds: Everything from household goods and Christmas décor to homemade jams and wreaths!

Volunteer Power: We Need YOU!

Lend a hand and be part of the magic! We have shifts available to fit any schedule:

Please Contact Kim Watkin to Volunteer or ask questions. watkinfam@aol.com

Help with Bazaar Luncheon Needed

Can you help with the Bazaar Luncheon? We have some volunteer opportunities!

1. Volunteers (2) needed to make luncheon sandwiches on Friday, Dec. 5th at 4pm.

2. Soup Makers: One for African Nut Stew and and One for Split Pea and Ham ( Both -Crock Pot size 1.5 gallons) 

   -Delivered Saturday morning by 10:00am to Parlor. 

Please email Wendy Coe at wendycoe26@gmail.comif you can help with any of these requests.  

Wreath Help Needed 12/3

Sarah Forbes, Member

The wreaths for the 2025 FUUSB fundraiser will be delivered in the beginning of December.

Help is needed, tying loops for hanging and decorating with bows.

Can you come to the community room on Wednesday, December 3rd, 10 -1 pm to help with this project so people can pick up their pre-ordered wreaths? Thank you!

Please RSVP to Sarah Forbes:sarahforbesdesign@comcast.net

802-578-6119

2025 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. Or you can remember a loved one this year by sponsoring a Memorial Wreath or Greens that will decorate our Meeting House sanctuary and outer 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 our Fundraiser link: Auctria.events/FUUSBWreaths

Preferred pickup is Wednesday 12/3, Thursday 12/4 or Friday 12/5 in the Community room, 11am-1pm.

Wreaths will also be available Saturday during the Bazaar or Sunday after service in the Community room.

Questions? Contact:

Sarah Forbes 578-6119 sarahforbesdesign@comcast.net or ninaruth@me.com with fundraiser or web questions

Tuesday Theme Circle

Soul Matters Small Group: Choosing Hope- ALL ARE WELCOME!

Join us for a meaningful discussion on this month's theme: Choosing Hope.

As the theologian Jürgen Moltmann wrote, "Faith, wherever it develops into hope, causes not rest but unrest, not patience but impatience". Hope doesn't just promise future change; it also gives us a push to change who we are in the present. Listening to hope makes you dangerous, not just soothed!

Come share your insights and spiritual journey in a welcoming, trusted space.

• Topic: Choosing Hope
• When: Tuesday, December 16, 2:00–3:30 PM
• Who: All are welcome!
• Contact: Themecircles@uusociety.org

Remember: Meditation every Tuesday at 5:15

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister