Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

March 30 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston- Senior Minister

Mary Beth McNulty- Worship Associate

"Feeding the Spirit, Grounding in Gratitude"

There is alot going on in the world. We do our best to find the right balance for ourselves and for each other in the dance between engagement and rest, as much as possible grounding ourselves in gratitude and finding ways to feed our spirit. Join Rev. Karen and special guests as we use music, ritual, and community connection to keep on keeping on.

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.

Thank you to our engaging, challenging, brave, moving speakers from this past Sunday, all members of the congregation: Christine Hallquist, Kameron McConnell, and James Buck. Thank you to all who brought their love and affirmation to this service celebrating trans joy.

On Sunday, we received the offering of a beautiful rendition of "Ploughshare Prayer" by Spencer LaJoye, performed by FUUSB members, Todd Schlossberg and Sabrina Sydnor.  Here is the composer singing the original version.

Emma's Revolution at FUUSB

THIS Saturday!

First UU Sanctuary

Saturday March 29th at 7pm

$25 In Advance/$30 At The Door

Come have your heart lifted and energized in community, justice and song!

California-based, activist singer/songwriting duo

Emma’s Revolution will perform a concert of inspiration, hope and resistance at the FUUSB this Saturday. Grammy award-winning composer, fiddler and singer-songwriter, Lisa Gutkin, will be joining Emma's Revolution for this special event.

“In this intense and unprecedented time, when our rights, norms and democracy are on the line,” the duo says, “all of our voices are needed to create the country and the world we want to live in.”

Sunday Afternoon

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

As if Sunday’s service wasn’t enough, Rev Karen and Kameron presented a workshop on creating gender affirming rituals at UVM’s Translating Identity conference.

Kim Watkin, Board Member

The FUUSB Board of Trustees met Tuesday, March 18th. Christina was able to provide the Board with an up-to-date summary of the Society’s finances. The Stewardship Team is finishing their pledge drive with outreach to those FUUSB Members who have not completed a pledge for 2025-2026. Rev. Karen’s Minister’s Report included information on our Sunday morning attendance, her increased ministry for pastoral care, and the multiple ways she is present and visible in the wider community beyond the FUUSB. The Board has been working to complete a Vision of Ministry with specific goals for 2025-2026 to be presented at the Annual Meeting on June 8th. The Board met in Executive Session to begin the discussion of the FUUSB Budget for 2025-2026. There will be a “Meet the Budget Meeting” on April 28th at TBD via Zoom. More information to follow in the month ahead. 

Our next Board Meeting is Tuesday, April 22nd ** 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. ** Note this is not the third Tuesday of the month per the regular schedule.

The eclipse, a year later - film showing - FUUSB will be in it

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Remember last year's cosmic total eclipse? How could you forget?

One thing you might not remember is that in the days running up to the eclipse, a local filmmaker was documenting how our community was going to mark this auspicious celestial event. And they came to one of our Sunday services and interviewed us about our eclipse activities & homestay program.

Well, that film is premiering on April 5th at Contois Auditorium. For more information about the film and related free activities, click here.

Ann Guardiola, Membership Committee

Are you feeling new or newish and want to learn more about First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington?

The Membership Committee is offering a session on the first Sunday of the month after Church services at 11:30. This is an opportunity to meet with our minister Rev Karen G Johnston and some membership committee members. It will be informal and an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

The audience for this is anyone who feels new or newish and wants to learn more about our society. It is also a good place if you have been away from the Society for a while and want to meet the Minister and ask questions as well.

Put it on your calendar and join us for our gathering:

Sunday, April 6^th

11:30AM

Whitney Young Jr. Room

For more information, contact Ann Guardiola (AnnGuardiola17@gmail.com)

CASAN's Arts for Asylum-

Mural Project at FUUSB

Immigration Justice Team

Palestine/Israel Listening Circle

Elizabeth Logan, Healthy Congregation Team

Please join us, the Healthy Congregation Team, for a facilitated Deep Listening Circle on Palestine/Israel. 

Sunday, April 6 11:30-1:00 pm in the parlors.

Join us for an opportunity to deepen our understanding of ourselves, each other and our times.We will be sharing authentically and listening deeply to others as they share their perspectives.

Please pre-register here as there is a limit to the number of participants.

Any questions? Reach out to healthycongregation@uusociety.org.

You're Invited!

Louis deRosset, Member

Learn more & RSVP at www.bit.ly/OrdainRowan.

Seeking actors for RJT

play reading on April 17th

Jana Porter, Racial Justice Team

Have you always wanted to be an actor without having to rehearse, move, or be on a stage? Here is your chance! The Racial Justice Team is sponsoring a play reading of Admissions, by Joshua Harmon, at 7 pm on Thursday, April 17, in the Parlors. This play “explodes the ideals and contradictions of liberal “white” America.” If you are interested in a “role,” (there are only five), please contact Jana Porter, at jpp919@gmail.com.

Interested in joining a Group at First UU?

Susan Ogden, Member

Dear Friends,

If you are looking to deepen your connection with others and explore meaningful topics, consider joining a circle at First UU!

We offer a variety of circles designed to foster community, personal growth, and spiritual exploration. To learn more about the

different types of circles available, please visit the  LINK to the FUUSB Circles web page.

For further information or to express your interest, please contact Gail Beck or Susan Ogden at ThemeCircles@uusociety.org.

FUUSB Spring Auction

Spring Auction Team

Donate here to contribute an item, experience, or skill.

Click here to take a peek at the auction catalogue!

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

UUA General Assembly!

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

I've registered . . .have you? Please consider participating in General Assembly, June 18 - 22, in Baltimore, Maryland.  I already know of several members who are planning to attend. If you're planning to attend, comment below to encourage others to come too.  Registration fees go up on March 30, so now is the time to register!!!  To find out more about GA (General Assembly) check out their website at uua.org/ga There is financial assistance available through the UUA and a little bit available through FUUSB. Contact Christina xina@uusociety.org if you have questions.

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!

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.