Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

March 8 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Heather Janules, Guest Minister

Geoff Duke, Worship Associate

"Practicing Together"

Unitarian theologian James Luther Adams famously observed that “church is a place where you get to practice what it means to be human.” At some point, all of us need practice at being in relationship, especially in times of fear or disagreement. This service will explore the gifts and challenges we inherit as members of families and communities and paths towards greater health.

The Rev. Heather Janules serves as a member of Congregational Life Staff for the New England Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association, having served as a parish minister for almost two decades. Outside of this role, you can find Heather pursuing a masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Antioch University, walking her dog along the Connecticut River near their home in Hinsdale, New Hampshire or spending time with her sweetheart in North Carolina, where the daffodils are already in bloom.

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

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Here is the text of Rev. Karen's sermon, Afterlives? Letting the Mystery Be. You can also watch the video recording here.

In the afternoon there was an interfaith service on Loving the Immigrant as Yourself at Temple Sinai in South Burlington. Our Rev. Karen was among the speakers. The event included about two dozen faith leaders from Vermont, with 300 in attendance (perhaps a dozen from FUUSB). Here's news coverage of the event. 

In Memoriam...

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

Margaret (Peggy Twitchell)

We share the sad news that long-time FUUSB Member Margaret (Peggy) Twitchell died on February 24, 2026 at the age of 98. Peggy became a member of the Society in 1988. She is remembered for her caring loyalty to our former Facilities Manager, Gale Holden, and for her sense of humor. In the gone days of a hard copy newsletter, she was part of the crew that made sure it was sent out every two weeks. You can read her obituary here. When we know more about her family's plans for a memorial in the warmer weather, we will share what we learn.

Charlene Ploof

FUUSB member, Charlene Ploof, died on February 15th. A member since 2001, her death is grieved by those who knew her, most especially her son, Sequoya. 

Scams on the Rise!!

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 https://FUUSB.auctria.events. 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 

A few things to remember when you are thinking about donating: 

Please make sure that if you are hosting an event, you have a time and date picked! This of course, can change, but it is super helpful when people are thinking about which events they want to attend. If you do not submit your event with a time and date, we will email and ask you to set one before adding your event to the website! 

If your event is being held at the meeting house, please reserve the space before submitting to our auction! 

As always, thank you so much for donating to our auction!! We can not do this without you. 

All YUUTH Lunch 

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Sunday, March 8th, 11:30am-12:30pm 

Alcott 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?

Let them know that we're inviting all youth in 8th-12th grade to join us after the service for food, connection, and fun!

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.

March Coffeehouse

From your Coffeehouse Team

Come to the First Friday Open-Mic Coffeehouse!

Friday, March 6

Potluck dessert and open-mic sign-up starts at 6:30 p.m.

Open mic 7-9 p.m.

Join us in the parlors for an evening of music and spoken word pieces. Share a song or poem, or come to listen and enjoy the fellowship.

If you’re able, bring a dessert dish to share. Coffee, tea, and refreshments will be provided.

All ages and talents are welcome, especially newcomers! Invite friends and family. With the cold weather, upper respiratory infections are more prevalent; face masks are welcomed, but not required.

3/8 - GLBTQIA+ Meeting

Elizabeth Allen, Member

The GLBTQIA+ group meets Sunday, 3/8, after services, 11:30-12:30 PM, in Whitney Young Jr. Room on second floor. All are welcome to brainstorm future possibilities for group meetings!

 Earth Teacher on March 8

11:30-12:30 in the Parlors

Our UU founding members found their strongest spiritual influences in the natural world. They believed that by observing the earth, we gain knowledge of ourselves. This Second Sunday, March 8th, we invite you to our Earth Teacher Circle to explore the power and mystery of Ocean & Waves.

Written and curated by Rev. Karen G. Johnston, this session uses music, photography, and the written word to help us listen to what the water has to say. We will look at how a "broken" wave creates new energy and how the vastness of the sea can anchor our spirits.



• Drop-in Circle: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM in the Parlors.
• Experience: Multimedia, shared poetry, and a Thich Nhat Hanh meditation.
• Community: Great snacks and two of Rev. Karen's famous ocean jokAll are welcome. No registration is necessary. If you would like to receive the packet and agenda personally via email (in full color), please contact ThemeCircles@UUsociety.org to be added to the Realm list

2026 Pledge Campaign Events

Susan Ogden, Stewardship

The FUUSB 2026 Pledge Campaign invites you to Bring the Light, Be the Light. And share food, music and dance in a series of events. Please RSVP using the links below! 

DO YOU LIKE TO DANCE?  Send your favorite dance song to include in the playlist for the March 14th dance at the Miller Center! susanogden1@mac.com

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.  

Mark Your Calendars &

Join Us at Silver Bay This Fall

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Spring is on the horizon and it's never too early to to plan for a weekend of fun relaxation, and connection! Our eagerly awaited fall tradition at Silver Bay returns October 9-11, 2026 (with an option of extending your stay until October 12th). Register now! The 2026 registration form and the schedule of events from the 2025 weekend are available on the Albany UU website at https://albanyuu.org/blog/uu-silver-bay-weekend/

Children aged 6 and under attend free, and there are substantial discounts for older children and youth. Rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis when a completed registration form and deposit are received. Completed forms received by June 7, 2026 qualify for an “early bird” discount