Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

March 16 at 10 a.m.

Warren Baker, Worship Leader

Judy Brook, Worship Associate

"Living Faith"

“Living Faith” will speak to the power of having faith in our lives, the belief that faith is a life-long practice that supports us as we journey forward through the spiritual and physical worlds. Faith is a conscious action that powers the belief that each day can begin with possibilities, adventure and the unknown, even as we encounter the uncertainty and political, cultural, and environmental chaos that is emerging around us.

Warren Baker is a retired college professor of professional writing. He is working on a novel and a play. This spring, Fomite Press of Burlington will publish his poetry collection, Shadow Light. He lives with Sharon Coleman, his wife, and two cats in the New North End. With his two grandsons nearby, he is watching with joy and pride as they grow into themselves. You might recognize Warren because he is on our Worship Associates team. This is his first time in the role of guest preacher.

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. Following the Time for All Ages, children and youth, preK through 12th grade, will be sung out and escorted to their UU Values Exploration Groups. The nursery is open throughout the service for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

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

As part of the Sunday service, we heard many Do Good stories. They will be left on the bulletin board in the Community Room for several more weeks. (see attached bulletin board pic)

We also heard Alberto Rios' poem, When Giving Is All We Have.

And we DANCED! What a joy! (see attached collage pic)

Stewardship Update

Louis Henry deRosset, Stewardship Team

Last Sunday, March 9, we told stories about how we did good with our Reverse Offering, and we made our pledges as a community. Our generosity is awesome: more than a hundred members, families, and friends of the congregation pledged their support on Sunday. If you didn’t get to dance your pledge card to the basket on Sunday, though, you can still join us to support all of the things that we do for each other and for a world that needs us so badly. You can make your pledge online here or the button below.

Lost & Found Spring Cleaning

March 23rd

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Puffer jackets, lost mittens, old Yeti's, oh my! If the accumulation of these items in FUUSB's Lost & Found is any indication, it's been a long, cold winter! With warmer temperatures on the horizon, it's time to give the Lost & Found a good spring cleaning.

Therefore, after the service on Sunday March 23rd, EVERY ITEM in the Lost & Found will be either donated or discarded. This includes hanging items, electronics, and many other odds & ends.

Claim your missing items while you can and help us create room for our spring jackets and umbrellas!

Learning To Be White

Jana Porter, Racial Justice Team

On Sunday, March 23, our very own Tricia Knoll will be reading from her book of poems “How I Learned To Be White” at 11:30 am in the Parlors. You will not want to miss this opportunity to hear about Tricia’s journey to understand and acknowledge her own whiteness and its impact on her life. Sponsored by the Racial Justice Team. See You There!

Earth Teacher Reflection Session Tomorrow-

Thurs. March 13th

Here is the link to register to attend our March online Earth Teacher Reflection Session- Thurs. March 13th.

Each month we explore our relationship with an aspect of the Natural World, reminding ourselves that we are a part of it. March's Earth Teacher is Roots. Newcomers are welcome. Second Thursdays, 7 - 8:15pm. Facilitated by Judy Brook and Geoff Duke.

Did you get your tickets yet?

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

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

Date with Death Club - March session

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Date with Death Club is a monthly, adult faith development offering, facilitated by Rev. Karen (who is also the author of the curriculum). Participants are required to register - slots fill up quick. Open to congregants who are a part of FUUSB, to register, click here.

This month's session on March 29 is What to Do with a Dead Body?

Each session stands on its own - it's okay if you did not attend a previous DwDC session. Sessions will run on the last Sunday of each month through the end of June and then again in the fall. Registration opens on the first Wednesday of each month.

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

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.

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.