Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

March 2 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnson, Senior Minister

Dan York, Worship Associate

"All Flourishing is Mutual"

Inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s latest book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, Rev. Karen will share her hopes and vision for the congregation.  

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. Children and youth will then begin Chalice Choice activities downstairs which will include an exciting opportunity to plant seeds!

The Nursery will be open for infants through PK. Parents can sign children in before or during the service.

Looking Back to Sunday

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

Amplify Good

Stephen Rainville, Stewardship Team

What do each of us value about our shared spiritual home?

• Is it gathering in person at our historic meetinghouse or online for Sunday service?
• Feeling that we’ve somehow come home to unique yet kindred spirits searching for truth and meaning in this challenging world?
• Finding a way to unite with others to aid and comfort the struggling and oppressed while acknowledging our own comforts and struggles?
• Having a sanctuary, real and etheric, where laughing, crying, celebrating, grieving in loving community is welcome and encouraged?

For these reasons, and many more, please carefully consider your gifts of time and treasure to support all that we value and hold dear at FUUSB.

As you are able, please pledge generously, perhaps a 10% increase, to sustain our staff, building, and programs as we continue the great and necessary work ahead.

On Sunday we heard an inspiring testimonial from Jana Porter. If you missed it, click here, or the video below, and find out why she gives.

We Want to Hear Your Good Story

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

What did you do with the Reverse Offering cash that you received at our January 26th service? What Do Good story do you have to tell?

There are three ways to tell the story:

• write it out and post it on the bulletin board in the community room - any time through the end of March
• make a 2-minute video telling the story of what you did and upload it to this google folder by Feb 26 (doing so gives us permission to possibly show it at our March 9 service or in other social media)
• volunteer to tell your Do Good story as part of the March 9th service - live!

If you want to submit a video or be considered for telling your story at the March 9th service, fill out this brief form right away (by March 2nd).

All-YUUTH Lunch- March 9th

Sunday March 9th

11:15am - 12:30pm

Dix Room

Are you the parent of a teenager who is:

• Wondering where their place is at First UU?
• Or one who has been involved with our programs in the past but is just too busy for a regular commitment?
• Or one who is already showing up for services or Faith Development programming?

We're inviting all youth in 7th-12th grades to join us  after the service on Sunday March 9th for pizza and games! 

Please pass this on to the young people in your life!

These periodic lunches will begin as a point of connection for all of the youth of our congregation. They end up being the start of something more or just free lunch and a whole lot of fun!

Kim Watkin, Board Member

The FUUSB Board of Trustees met Tuesday, Feb. 18th. Christina was able to provide an in- depth and up-to-date summary of the Society’s finances. Rev. Karen’s Minister’s Report highlighted her work with the wider community, our worship services, staff and team building, and Pastoral Care (both historical outlook and present planning). The Board will be taking a look at our sabbatical policy for future planning and budget. The Board reviewed and accepted the FUUSB Policy on Requests for Public Statements. The Board considered proposals from Teams which we referred back with requests for more information or our recommendations. A small group of Board members will be reviewing By-Law changes and another small group will formulate a plan to create a task force to explore diversified income streams. The Board also accepted the resignation of Board Member, Jill Stevens, and appreciates her years of service on the Board. Thank you, Jill.  

Our next Board Meeting is Tuesday, March 18th from 4-6pm at the Meetinghouse. A Zoom link will be published in Community Messenger on that Tuesday or you can email board@uusociety.org 

for the link.

Tickets Now On Sale!

Click here or the image below for tickets to Emma's Revolution at FUUSB on Saturday March 29th at 7pm.

This Sunday- March 2nd

"White Privilege: Unpacking the Knapsack"

Beth Howard, Racial Justice Team

Your Racial Justice Team has been offering a series of events and

activities - opportunities for us all to engage with challenging issues around race and racism, in ourselves and in our community.

Next up, THIS Sunday March 2, is a one-hour conversation about the classic essay by Peggy McIntosh entitled “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”. McIntosh’s essay is not new, but was groundbreaking when it was written (1989) and is still utterly relevant today.

You can join us on Sunday either after the service at 11:30am in the Parlors or in the evening at 7:30pm over Zoom. The discussion will be facilitated by Kathie Voigt Walsh and Beth Howard. All are welcome. If you plan to attend, please read the first four pages of article here in advance if you possibly can. (You can omit the notes to facilitators.)

Here is the Zoom link for the 7:30pm session:

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/92652806102?pwd=7FYblCq4CCUE2945P5923a7WmaLwhK.1

Meeting ID: 926 5280 6102

Passcode: 572448

Questions? beth4howard@gmail.com

Are you seeing the ENTIRE eNews?

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Have you noticed that FUUSB has been a very happening place lately? With so many flourishing teams, committees, and events, the eNews has been receiving a lot of submissions- which is GREAT news!

The not-so-great news is that because of the length, we've noticed that the eNews has been getting trimmed in Gmail accounts. To get all the news, be sure to click "View entire message" at the bottom of your eNews email.

Spring Auction Donations are Open!

Erin Kelley, Spring Auction Team

What is the auction? Every year the society hosts a spring auction to help raise general funds for the mission and ministry of the community via an online ‘silent’ auction (and this year an in person auction on April 12th as well!). The auction is a wonderful fundraiser because not only does it bolster the material resources of our society, it deepens our ‘community capital’ by giving us opportunities to connect with one another more deeply by allowing members to donate experiences and special skills in addition to items. 

Shared in the past has been game nights, boat rides, and special knowledge of Burlington, guided walks, and dinners. Or perhaps you have special skill in IT, public speaking, or something else someone may want to learn. Or maybe you want to help organize ‘pay to play’ gatherings in small groups to get things done stone soup style for different community organizations that align with our mission as suggested on community messenger! 

If you think you can contribute an item, experience, or skill please donate here!

If you have any questions reach out to erin.as.kelley@gmail.com or averyhamill283@gmail.com

Save the Date: Meet the Budget April 28th

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

Please mark your calendars! On the evening of Monday, April 28th, we will be holding a Meet the Budget Zoom Meeting. Christina will walk you through the draft budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year and answer any questions you may have. And then on Sunday, June 8th, we will be having the Annual Meeting in the Sanctuary, following the service. The Annual Meeting will also be on Zoom for those who are unable to attend in person. Please mark your calendars now!!

Minute of Us

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

"A gesture ~ even small ~ can give courage for the more that has become necessary."

Choose Democracy is inviting all of us to take a moment every Wednesday at 12:53

You can do this on your own. Set an alert/alarm so that you can be intentional of about marking 12:53. You can text "minute" to 51905 and it will text you a reminder.

Why 12:53?

This is when the January 6th protestors, now pardoned, first crossed the police barricades and when the three richest people in the world — Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg — all were seated for Donald Trump’s inauguration.

You can do this by joining this congregational Zoom link at 12:50. At 12:53, we will observe a Moment of Silence for five minutes for those hurt and suffering due to the current administration and the damage they are causing to this country and around the globe.

Rev. Karen welcomes a few more people who can commit to holding this Wednesday space so that we might be able to communally participate each week as it comes. If that is you, please email her.

Annual FUU Campout

Elmore State Park, June 13-15

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

It’s not too early to plan for summer fun! For more than 20 years, members of First UU have gathered at this beautiful state park in mid-June to commune with nature and each other! This loosely planned weekend will include a Friday night potluck dinner, group campfires, sing-alongs, and an informal closing circle worship. Climbing the mountain and the firetower are optional but inspiring activities! There will be children; there will be youth, there will be adults, younger and older. If you like camping and UU fellowship, please consider joining us! (If sleeping in a tent is not on your to-do list, we welcome day- trippers for the Friday potluck or Saturday beach and mountain fun!)

Please follow this link for more information and to register!

UUA General Assembly: June 18 -22

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.

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

This year GA is going to be in Baltimore, MD and also online, June 18 - 22. It is always exciting to join together with thousands of other UUs, these are our peeps!  

Are you a governance nerd? If so, we're looking for members interested in being a Delegate for our congregation. Delegates attend the business session either in person or online. If you are interested in being a delegate and you are a member of FUUSB, please contact Christina at xina@uusociety.org to get on the list.  

Do you love to sing? Well here is some exciting news! Our friend the Rev. Verdus LeVar Robinson will be this year's GA Choir Director.  Verdis served as the Ministerial Coordinator of Worship Arts Production and Adult Lifespan Spiritual Exploration for the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, Vermont, after serving the congregation as a Ministerial Intern under the guidance of the Rev. Joan Javier-Duval. Since 2022, Rev. Verdis has served central Vermont as the Executive and Artistic Director of the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir sharing the hope, joy, and inspiration of African American gospel music in Vermont. You must register to sing in the choir, and there are a limited number of spots, so do not hesitate.

You must register to attend GA, registration fees vary depending on if you attend in person, online, or only for the business sessions. The UUA has several options for Financial Assistance, including a $100 discount if this is your very first GA. There are other discounts and financial assistance offered, so please check out the Financial Support page for more information. The Society has limited funds to assist with registration, contact Christina at xina@uusociety.org to learn more.

If you are planning/hoping to attend GA and would like to join a FUUSB Realm Group, contact xina@uusociety.org. My hope is that this group will help each other with things like sharing housing, sharing rides, gatherings before and during GA, and reporting back to the congregation about your GA experience.