Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

April 6 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston- Senior Minister

Dan York- Worship Associate

"Companioning the Bitter with Beauty"

Even in the midst of suffering beauty exists. What is our duty to beauty? What is our responsibility to suffering, to horror, to bitterness? While there are many kinds of beauty, Rev. Karen will explore art as beauty, inspired by the poetic and bird-loving presence of J. Drew Lanham. The FUUSB Choir sings this Sunday.

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 (children and parents/caregivers, youth may come on their own) and Faith Development guides will begin on the lower level with 15-20 minutes of child-centered worship, after which parents will be sung out to the service already in progress. Children and youth, preK through 12th grade, will then begin their Exploration Groups.

The Nursery will be open for infants through PreK. Parents can sign children in before or during the service.

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

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

Here is the text from Rev. Karen's homily.

Here is the full poem, which Rev. Karen referenced in part. Its title is "About Standing (in Kinship)" by Kimberly Blaeser.

Stewardship- 2025/26 Pledges

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations and Finance

Thank you to everyone who has turned in a pledge card for the 2025/2026 pledge year! Members of the Stewardship Team have been so busy sending out cards and making phone calls and it is paying off. As of 4/2/25 we have received 202 pledges for a total of $391,551 for next year's budget. Our goal is $478,000 in pledge income, so we are still waiting for many pledges. If you haven't yet completed a pledge card, please do so now OR email Christina with your pledge amount and she'll record your pledge for you. Thank you for your generosity!

Spring Auction Team

Click here to bid online!

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

Date with Death Club- Revised Schedule

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Due to this weekend's snow storm, Date with Death Club was canceled. A revised schedule for the sessions through this congregational year (April - June) is here and will be posted in the Meetinghouse. As always, registration is required - registration on Realm opens up on the first Wednesday of each month for that month's session.

Eggs Needed!

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

After the service on Easter Sunday we hold an egg hunt for children (no age limits). We ask families to bring in a dozen filled eggs per child, but there are often many visiting children and other families that come with none, so we would love some extra!

Eggs should be filled with trinkets, not candy. You can supply the plastic eggs or pick some up from the basket in the vestibule. We need the filled eggs to arrive by 9:45 on Sunday 4/20, and if it's easier, you can drop them off a week in advance.

In the past eggs have been filled with: bouncing balls, balloons, small plastic toys, beads, costume jewelry, stickers, tattoos, flower bulbs, seed paper or bombs, coins, stones, jokes, feathers, origami cranes etc. 

Join Us at the First Friday

Open-Mic Coffeehouse!

Todd Schlossberg, Member

This Friday, April 4, 7 – 9 p.m.

Join us dear ones, on this Friday eve

For songs to be sung, and tales for to weave

Let us quell our feelings of panic and fright

In the company of friends, to inspire and delight

What? Share a song, spoken words, or other talent, or

just come to listen and enjoy the fellowship

Who? Everyone! All ages! Invite friends and family

Where? The Sanctuary, First UU Society of Burlington

When? Friday, 4/4. 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Sign-up for the

open-mic starts at 6:30 p.m.

Cost? Free!

Questions? Todd Schlossberg: greenmountainlaw@gmail.com

Here is the link to register to attend our April online Earth Teacher Reflection Session- Thurs. April 10th. Each month we explore our relationship with an aspect of the Natural World, reminding ourselves that we are a part of it. April's Earth Teacher is Compost. Newcomers are welcome. Second Thursdays,

7-8:15pm. Facilitated by Judy Brook and Geoff Duke.

Book Group: So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo

Zoe Hart, Racial Justice Team

As part of the Racial Justice Team’s series of activities to help us all get used to talking about race, what could be a better fit than a book group to read and discuss Ijeoma Oluo’s “So You Want to Talk About Race”? Oluo uses much of her own experience to explain a broad range of race-related topics in practical terms. Her goal was “to create something of use. Something that would give readers the fundamentals of how race worked, not only in a way that they would take into their graduate race theory classes but in a way that they would take to the office or to their Thanksgiving tables.”

Originally planned for mid-April, I now anticipate that this activity will probably take place mid- to late-May and possibly into June. The first step is to find out who is interested and then we can finalize plans of when and how often we meet. If you think you might be interested - no commitment yet - please email me at zoe@hartwood4.net.

CASAN's Arts for Asylum-

Mural Project at FUUSB

Immigration Justice Team

ACLU-VT Announcement

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Yesterday, April 1 (but it's no joke) a letter spearheaded by ACLU-VT went live with 119 Vermont organizations signing on, including our congregation (as approved by our Board). You can read the text of the letter here, as well as see the other organizations advocating for Vermont Governor Scott to use his power and position to protect democracy here and anywhere in the nation.

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.

Theme Circles

Gail Beck, Member

Hi Friends-

Discover Joy in Community- Join a Theme Circle this month!

How do we cultivate joy in our Lives? Join us for a Theme Circle at FUU where we'll explore this question together using The Path as a spiritual guide for reflection and conversation.

Choose a session:

• Tuesday April 15 2-4pm
• Wednesday April 16 6-8pm

Theme Circles are small, facilitated groups where we share listen and deepen our spiritual journey and connect reflect and discover the many ways joy takes root in our lives.



For more information about or to sign up for Theme Circles, please email ThemeCircles@uusociety.org

Rowe Workshop

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Facilitated by a lay leader from our sibling UU congregation in Middlebury, this retreat at Rowe Conference Center in northwestern Massachusetts might be of interest to you.

"This retreat is for women of all ages at all phases of their life’s journey who identify as female or non-binary including a wide realm of gender expression."

You're Invited!

Louis deRosset, Member

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

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.

Silver Bay

Valerie Wood-Lewis, Member

Shake off the winter blues by imagining all the fun you'll have this fall at the UU Weekend at Silver Bay. This eagerly awaited highlight of the fall season will take place from October 10 to 12, 2025 (with an option of extending your stay until October 13th.)



Picture beautiful fall colors, campfires, floating in a kayak or canoe, thought-provoking workshops, hanging out with new and old friends, hiking, spiritual renewal, music and so much more.... Those who extend their stay can also enjoy a late afternoon lake cruise with music and refreshments.

Join the nearly 80 people who have already registered! The 2025 registration form and the schedule of events from the 2024 weekend are available on the Albany UU web site at https://albanyuu.org/blog/uu-silver-bay-weekend-2025/ 

Completed forms received by June 2, 2025 qualify for an “early bird” discount. Children under 6 are free, with substantial discounts for older children and youth. 

Several FUUSB members have signed up already! 

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.