Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

Sunday, February 11 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Mary Beth McNulty, Worship Associate

“A Stacked Perspective: Unpacking the Boxes of Justice”

What does it mean, as Unitarian Universalists, to have values of Justice & Equity (our Soul Matters theme for the month)? What is the difference between “equity” and “equality” in our day to day lives? In our congregational life? On the way to building Beloved 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.

We are temporarily requesting that everyone mask while in the Meeting House. 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, February 11

Children start in the sanctuary with parents and caregivers this week. 6th-8th graders will explore the February theme of Justice & Equity, Undercover Kindness Agents will train for their next mission (2nd-5th grades), and Spirit Play (PreK-2nd) will wonder about the week's story and continue their cardboard creations! Nursery care is also available.

Sunday Circle After the Service

Feb. 11 at 11:35 in the Parlors

Gail Beck

Sunday Circles provide time for connection with others after the service through a “deeper dive” with a more structured format than Coffee Hour. Groups of five to eight members, friends, or guests meet to reflect upon the sermon topic and/or how they are doing, taking turns speaking and listening. A facilitator is present to help guide the time together.

Here is the written text of Rev. Karen's sermon, "Forget Your Perfect Offering."

Here is the link for the video recording of last Sunday's service.

This image is of the poem read in the service, "Cold" by Ellen Bass.

Here's the link to share about Vermont with Rev. Karen.

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

"I do believe that we will find our way, over and over again, some years with drama, some years with joy, to financially sustain this congregation so that it is here for decades (and hopefully centuries) to come. That is what our imperfect offerings make probable." - Rev. Karen G. Johnston

Our 2024/2025 Stewardship Campaign kicked off on Sunday, February 4, with an amazing Sermon by Rev. Karen with musical interludes by James Stewart. There was also a heartfelt testimonial by Tom Hyde. Over the next several weeks, you will be hearing more and more about this year's Stewardship Campaign. We will be providing you with tools to consider what you might want to pledge for the coming year, and inspirational testimonials by members of this congregation. We will be asking each and every one of you to thoughtfully consider what this community means to you and how you might be able to stretch your giving. So please check the eNews each week for important links and inspiring quotes on Stewardship.

Eclipse Homestay Fundraiser

Susan Ogden, Eclipse Team

UU Folx,

We need to let the world know about our Eclipse Homestay Fundraiser!

https://fundraiser.support/eclipse

Will you post this on your neighborhood Front Porch Forum?  And will you share it to your Facebook Network?

Thank you from the Eclipse Team!

And be sure to check out the awesome t-shirts for sale commemorating the 2024 Eclipse!

https://bit.ly/EclipseCowShirts

Rowan Van Ness, Director of Youth & Emerging Adult Ministries

Saturday, Feb. 10, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

All ages are welcome.

Loneliness is an epidemic in this country, but it doesn't have to be at the UU Society! Come spend a morning in small group workshops, getting to know other people in the congregation. Join workshops ranging from multigenerational conversations to cooking, play games, make music, work on a jigsaw puzzle, and more! Popcorn and hot chocolate will be served, along with coffee and tea.

For more information and to pre-register, please see our registration form. Participants are also welcome to register upon arrival, but pre-registration helps us know how many people to expect. Come one, come all, and look forward to a fun morning at the Meeting House. 

If you're hungry for more, you can register for the UU Weekend at Silver Bay coming up on October 11-13 and get to know UUs from several other congregations as well! 

High School YUUth Group

(Roughly Ages 14-18)

Rowan Van Ness, Director of Youth & Emerging Adult Ministries

Yuuth are warmly invited to participate in the congregational Midwinter Retreat on Saturday, February 10. The next three Tuesday evening Yuuth Group meetings are February 20, March 12, and March 26, from 6-8 p.m., and we'll tentatively meet on Sunday, March 17 at 11:30 a.m., after the service. All high school youth are welcome! Please RSVP to rowan@uusociety.org. Save the date for the youth-led service on Sunday, May 19 in the Sanctuary!

Emerging Adults (Ages 18-25)

& Young Adults (Ages 18-35)

Rowan Van Ness, Director of Youth & Emerging Adult Ministries

Our Young Adults have been busy, from enjoying the Mount Philo Up and Down with the Youth Group to participating in the First Friday Coffeehouses and meeting up to play board games. Join our growing community! Our next meetings are on the following dates: February 11 (Emerging Adults), March 10 (Young Adults), April 14 (Emerging Adults), May 5 (Young Adults), and you can reach out to rowan@uusociety.org to get access to our conversations and planning on the Signal app.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

February's Earth Teacher is ROCKS/STONES. This Earth Teacher may pop up at different times and in different places in our shared congregational life. On your own, you can use this month's packet to explore this Earth Teacher and deepen your relationship with this part of the Natural World. On some weeks, the eNews will include an Earth Teacher Project invitation, such as this:

Campaign Season Has Arrived

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

As you can tell from the signs all over town, political campaign season has arrived. Please be aware that congregations and their representatives can do nothing that advocates for or against candidates for public office or political parties. This includes fundraising on behalf of candidates and donating meeting space, among other things. Example: supporting a particular candidate or party because of their stance on carbon emissions. If you'd like to read more about the rules for congregations, please read The Real Rules. If you are unsure about a particular activity, please check in with Christina.

Annual FUU Campout!

Elmore State Park, June 14-16 

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

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!)

We may need to reserve more campsites, so please register now if you plan to stay overnight! Please follow this link for more information and to register!

Visit JUMP's online auction at this link!

Spectrum Youth & Family Services is holding a Sleep Out fundraiser at FUUSB on March 21! Learn more and register at spectrumvt.org/events/spectrum-sleep-out/.

For the latest news from the UUA New England Region, check out the February newsletter at this link.