Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

December 21 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Geoff Duke, Worship Associate

"In This Season, At This Solstice"

In the multi-generational Sunday service, using song, music, stillness, storytelling, and art, we’ll explore how to embrace the Night and welcome the Light.

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

This week we'll all be together in the sanctuary for our annual 

Multigenerational Celebration of the Winter Solstice. 

Childcare for infants and toddlers will be available throughout the service in the Nursery on the lower level. Please note that the following Sunday (12/28) we’ll be on holiday break—there will be no in-person service or activities.

Looking Back to Sunday

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

Last Minister's Message of the calendar year

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Rev. Karen has a message for you - watch this 5 minute message with information about tomorrow's immigration justice vigil on our front steps, as well as what to expect between now and the end of the calendar year.

The Sunday between Christmas & New Year's

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Traditionally, at least in recent years, FUUSB has not held an in-person Sunday service on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's. Sometimes we have had a pre-recorded service that we made and then offered online. This year, we are inviting you to attend a Sunday service at another UU congregation - any one that you choose, or via one of these links to a service taking place at 10am that day:

Montclair, NJ: https://www.youtube.com/@uumontclair/streams

Montpelier, VT: ttps://www.youtube.com/c/UnitarianChurchofMontpelier

New London, CT:

https://www.youtube.com/@AllSoulsNewLondon/streams

Enjoy the chance to visit (online) another UU congregation! And happy new year!

News from Pagan Gathering

Heidi Duke, Member

The Pagan Gathering Affinity Group had fun making candle lanterns to add some light to these darkest nights. The group meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 6-7:30 pm (but not on Dec. 23rd) and anyone who is interested is welcome to join us. 

FUUSB Christmas Eve Candlelight Services

Wednesday, December 24 at 4, 6, & 8 p.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

• 4 p.m. – No-Rehearsal Christmas Pageant- All are welcome to this family-centered service in the Sanctuary, featuring a No-Rehearsal Nativity Pageant and candle lighting.

• 6pm & 8pm - Choosing Hope: Carols & Lessons with our congregational choir, organist, pianist, and music & stories to make the heart sing, even in the dark of the winter season, even in the midst of chaos in the world. We will light the candles as we sing Silent Night in the dark, then throw open the doors and make bright the light as we sing Joy to the World.

The 6pm service is livestreamed on the First UU’s YouTube channel, so you can attend from anywhere in the world (including your couch at home)!

Click here for the 6pm Livestream

Christmas Eve Candle Lighter/Ushers-

only a few spots left!

There are still spots open to sign up to be a Candle Lighter/Usher for the 4pm and 8pm services on Christmas Eve. But they'll go quick- so signup now!

Homestay Announcement

FUUSB Homestay Team

The Homestay Team is excited to announce UU Homestays for area college graduations are in the works. We had some success for fall parent weekends and hope to increase the bookings for the Spring. Here’s what one inquiry told us: It’s great to have an alternative to hotels and airbnbs!

Please fill out this short survey so we can get the Spring website launched. Many of you provided Spring dates earlier in the year; please confirm and let us know of any changes.

Also, we need help getting the word out. We are interested to hear from current parents of St. Michael's College and UVM students. We may be able to advertise on certain social media sites with posts from members of parents-only groups. Please email: homestay@uusociety.org. 

 The Homestay Team Thanks You!

Upcoming Game Night

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Friday, January 2, 5-8 p.m.

Community Room

Mark your calendars -- our multigenerational Game Night is back! All ages are invited to play, eat, and be together. We'll have lots of games at the ready, but feel free to bring the one you want to play. In the past we've done jigsaw puzzles, Dominoes, Ticket to Ride, Rumikub, Azul, group card games, Pictionary, and more. There are generally several things happening at once. It's okay to come with a group of friends and the intention to play a particular game. Make it what you want!

We'll have a "no-stress" potluck; you can wow us with your culinary skills or pick up a loaf of bread and a tub of hummus from the market. The point is to have fun together and not go hungry. 

Come for a little bit or stay the whole time. Come ready to make new friends and reconnect with the old!

Gifts of Stock

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

Giving stock to pay your pledge is a great thing. FUUSB is happy to accept gifts of stock. However, if you do not contact Christina at xina@uusociety.org first, your gift cannot be credited to your pledge. When our broker receives the stock, it does not come with anyone's name attached to it, we don't know who it is from.  

We have recently received several gifts of stock that do not have a name attached. If you have gifted stock to FUUSB in the past month, please contact Christina right away at xina@uusociety.org. You can just send an email with the following information: You Name, the Date you gave the stock, Name of the Stock, and How Many Shares. This will be enough for me to track it down and credit it to your pledge.

Thank you!!!

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.

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.  

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.