Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

March 15 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Warren Baker, Worship Associate

"Celebration Sunday: Let it Be Me"

If the world is night /Shine my life like a light. Come celebrate the practice of generosity that sustains this congregation - it’s the pinnacle of our annual pledging season where we break out the disco ball and symbolically or literally hand in our pledges for the coming year. The theme of this canvass season this year has been Bring the Light/Be the Light and we bring it to a close with the declaration of Let It Be Me (based on an Indigo Girls song).

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

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Families will begin the morning together in the Sanctuary. After the Time For All Ages, children and youth will be escorted to their Faith Development exploration groups on the upper and lower levels. Please note that the nursery will not be staffed this week, but will be open and available to those who wish to use the space. 

Looking Back to Sunday

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

Sunday's flowers were generously donated by the loved ones of Charlene Ploof, FUUSB member whose memorial service was held last weekend.

In Memoriam...

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

Bud Etherton

We share the sad news that FUUSB member Bud Etherton died early in the morning on Wednesday March 4th. His daughter, Laura, reports that his death was peaceful, as he passed away in his sleep. A Member since 1968, his wife of over 70 years, Alison, died just a few months ago. Both will be greatly missed. Once we know information about a memorial service, we will be sure to share it.

Tentative Agenda for Next Week's Board Meeting (May 17)

Eileen Blackwood, Board President

3rd Tuesdays, 4 - 6pm, in the Parlors

silent observers welcome in-person as well as via Zoom 

(this agenda is subject to change)



• Welcome/Check-In
• Minutes/consent agenda
• Senior Minister's Report
• President's Report
• DRUUMM sponsorship
• Meeting with Rev. Janules
• Update on monitoring reports policy
• Update on Nominating Committee
• Business Under Consideration
• Designation of of Registered Agent
• Lifetime Member absentee voting at annual meeting
• Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge
• first review of draft budget FY '26-27 (expected executive session)

Curious About the Budget?

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

Have you ever wondered how we're doing financially? Well you can always take a peek at the most recent budget report on our website. And as always, feel free to contact xina@uusociety.org if you have any questions!

Let Your Voice Shine!

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Children second grade through high school are invited to form a short term Junior Choir this spring with plans to perform at the faith Development service on May 3. Absolutely no experience required; all voices celebrated! 

Rehearsals will be held after the service (11:30-12:15) Sundays March 15 and 22nd, and April 12th, as well as during the Chalice Choice activities (during the service) on March 29. One additional rehearsal will be scheduled during the final week before the service, date TBD. Choir members will be asked to arrive at 9:00 am on May 3rd to warm up.

For more information contact erika@uusociety.org. If your child is interested and planning to participate, please let me know!

Stewardship Dance Party this Saturday

Stewardship Team

Dance Party!

Everyone Welcome

Saturday, March 14th

6:30 - 8:40 p.m.

At the Miller Center

Come gather with other FUUSB members, friends, families, singles, young adults, everyone! If you like music and like to shake your booty, this is the place to be!

Visit the Adult Library during Coffeehour

Lynn Douglas, Library Team

Need a quiet spot for reflection or conversation? Stop by the Adult Library for a browse or to work on our garden puzzle.

Enjoy!

Q&A about Israeli Apartheid and the Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge 

Caitlin Waddick, Palestine Solidarity Team

Sunday, March 15, 2026, after the service, in the Parlors, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm 

Join our Question and Answer session about how our congregation might endorse the Apartheid-Free Communities pledge (AFC), led by FUUSB’s Palestinian Solidarity Team. We will begin with a short introduction to the UUA's 2024 Action of Immediate Witness (AIW): “Solidarity with Palestinians,” which calls on all UU congregations to “sign, amplify, and carry out the Apartheid-Free Communities pledge. Then, in the UU spirit of seeking truth and holding hard conversations with love and accountability, we will have a pair-share and anonymous Q&A to ensure every voice—and every concern—is held with care.

Come and ask your questions! Learn why over 100 FUUSB members seek this endorsement, why it has been a UU issue for over 50 years, and what this commitment means for our collective liberation.

• Pick up printed copies of the AFC pledge, the AIW, and our new Q&A document about endorsing the pledge at First UU will be available in the Parlor on Sunday. (Or click through these links and view them now)
• Show your support for the endorsement here.
• Contact: PalestineSolidarity@uusociety.org for more information. 

Donate to the FUUSB Spring Auction!

Avery Hamill, Auction Team

The auction is now accepting donations for our upcoming spring auction! Please consider what you can donate to help us raise as much as we can for our community. Check out the website here and donate. And make sure to save the date for our in-person auction happening on May 2nd, starting at 5 pm at the meeting house. 

Online bidding begins on April 17th. 

Questions? Send us an email: springauction@uusociety.org 

Climate Justice Meets Online- 3/23 & 4/27

Caitlin Waddick, Climate Justice Team

One and all are invited to the regular meetings of the Climate Justice Team. We will meet online via Zoom on March 23rd and April 27th, 5:15-6:30 pm. We are trying out "fourth Mondays" as a recurring meeting time. Please join our Realm group to find the Zoom meeting link, the link to our Living Agendas and meeting minutes, and to contribute to discussions.

What should be our next actions? Do we want to engage congregational study on an issue? What legislative issues in Vermont should we promote? Who is dreaming of our pollinator garden? How might we work with youth? Please post in our Realm group to share your agenda items and contribute to several group decisions before our next meeting date.  

Date with Death Club in March

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Register for March's Date with Death Club at this link. Space is limited and this fills up, so don't let this chance pass you by.

Antisemitism, Collective Liberation, & Palestinian Solidarity: 3/22, 4/12, 5/2

Caitlin Waddick, Palestine Solidarity Team

Please Save-The-Dates for these three new events that FUUSB’s Palestinian Solidarity Team is co-sponsoring with Jewish Voice for Peace, VT/NH chapter at First UU. NOTE: Participants must register for these events. A registration link will be shared soon.

The events are:  

--> What is Antisemitism? From Right-Wing Weaponization to Collective Liberation on Sunday, March 22, 2026, 2:00 pm-4:30 pm

--> Making Home Without Walls: Lessons from Jewish Antizionism on Sunday April 12, 2026, 2:00 pm -5:00 pm

--> Skilling Up for Hard Conversations on Sunday May 3, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm 

Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Training

on March 21st

Kim Watkin, Democracy Project

How Successful is Civil Resistance?

"Compared with the alternatives, nonviolent civil resistance is a stunningly successful method of creating change. Over 50% of the non-violent revolutions from 1900 to 2019 have succeeded outright - while only 26% of the violent ones did."   from Civil Resistance by Erica Chenoweth

Are you interested in learning more about Nonviolent Civil Disobedience? What does it mean to participate in an action? What can you do to support others who are taking this action?  

The Democracy Project is offering a Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Training led by the Vermont Solidarity Safety Net. on Saturday, March 21st from 9am to 3pm. in the Community Room of the FUUSB. Lunch will be provided. 

This training is open to any Member, Friend, and their guests. . It will be open to 35 participants. We are hoping to collect a sliding scale of $0-$50 to share with the VT Solidarity Safety Net as well as collect a donation for the Sunday Morning Breakfast program. More information will be sent to participants as it gets closer to the event. 

Register here.

Please contact Kim Watkin at watkinfam@aol.com with any questions or if you would like her help to register.  

No Kings Sign Making on Sun. March 22nd and Rally Walk on March 28th

Kim Watkin, Democracy Project

The Democracy Project is sponsoring two events in support of No Kings Day on Saturday, March 28th.

First, we will be hosting a No Kings Sign Making Event at 11:30am on Sunday, March 22nd in the Whitney Young Room.  We will have some sign making/banner making supplies but we hope you can bring your own supplies as well!  

Second, we are hoping to gather people here at the First UU on Saturday, March 28th at 11:30am to walk together down Church Street to the No Kings Rally in City Hall Park at 12:30pm.  Parking will be available in our parking lot ( but not the bathrooms as the Meetinghouse itself will be closed). Come and walk with our FUUSB Banner as we march together in community!  

Spring Graduation Homestay Launch

Homestay Team

The Homestay Team announces our Spring Graduation Homestay is launched. Please share the site far and wide among friends and family! Questions: homestay@uusociety.org

Click here or the button below for access.  

Annual Elmore Campout!

Elmore State Park, June 19-21, 6:00 p.m.

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Mark your calendars now, this cherished annual gathering will be here before we know it! Come join FUUSB friends at Elmore State Park for a weekend of fun and community, with optional hiking, swimming, games, paddling, s'mores & more. This is an event for all ages! We'll kick off the weekend with a Friday evening potluck, have a campfire sing on Saturday, and do a little campsite worship on Sunday morning. In between, there will be plenty of time to relax, connect with each other, and enjoy the beauty of our surroundings! 

Signing up early helps ensure we have enough sites for everyone. You can sign-up here or contact Chip Patullo at sunergy.vt@gmail.com with any questions!