Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

May 18 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Judy Brook, Worship Associate

"When Was the Last Time I Was Brave?"

With a powerful and personal pre-recorded message made especially for our congregation from Congresswoman Becca Balint as our sermon, we’ll explore the theme of courage at this moment in our country and in our world. How might we make each other brave? Rev. Karen will help lead worship. This is our last day of Faith Development classes.

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 Exploration Groups. The nursery is open throughout the service for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. All YUUth lunch for 7th-12th graders will be held in the Dix Room after the service.

Parents- it's not too late to fill out our Faith Development Survey, if you haven't already. We appreciate your feedback!

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



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

Love Songs for the Resistance

Music can be a powerful tool to resist oppression. Our music director, Liam Hart, will lead us in singing songs of love and solidarity that our congregation might find useful, whether in our sanctuary or in other spaces. We'll be in the sanctuary from 11:45-12:30 on Sunday, February 16th.

The Pledge Year is Almost Over!!!

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

The 2024/25 pledge year ends on June 30th, do you know if your pledge is paid in full yet? Pledge Statements for the 24/25 fiscal year were just sent out via email. Please, please, please, open the email and check out your pledge status! We are counting on all pledges being paid by the end of June. Even if you think that your pledge is paid, please look at the statement and make sure. Mistakes happen all the time: automatic payments can stop if your credit card expires or if your card was hacked and you had to change to a new card. Automatic payments can mistakenly be credited to the wrong pledge year. It pays to check!

Also, we have a lot of people who either 1) pledged for the 24/25 fiscal year, but haven't yet pledged for the 25/26 pledge year, or 2) have been graciously been giving to the congregation in the current pledge year, but did not turn in a pledge card for the 24/25 nor the 25/26 pledge year. If this is you, it is not too late to complete a pledge card for the 25/26 pledge year, you can do so by clicking on this link.

Thank you!

All YUUth Lunch This Sunday

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Sunday May 18th

11:15am - 12:30pm

Dix 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?

We're inviting all youth in 7th-12th grades to join us after the service on Sunday, May 18th for pizza and games! 

Please pass this on to the young people in your life!

These periodic lunches are a point of connection for all of the youth of our congregation. (This will be the third lunch for youth we have hosted this spring!).

Climate Justice Team meets

Sunday, May 18th, at 11:30 am

Caitlin Waddick, Climate Justice Team

The Climate Justice Team welcomes new members to our upcoming meeting on Sunday, May 18, 2025, after the service, in the Parlors, 11:30 am-12:30 pm. Please share agenda items, ideas, and questions to: climatejustice@uusociety.org  

Meet the Budget

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

On Monday, April 28th, there was a Meet the Budget meeting held on Zoom. We had good attendance with just shy of 30 people in attendance. There was a brief overview of how our finances are going in the current year (they are going quite well), and then Christina walked everyone through the budget that will be presented for a congregational vote at the Annual on Sunday, June 8th following the service. The summary budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year and its supporting documents will be mailed to members and posted on the website in the next few weeks. Please feel free to contact Christina at xina@uusociety.org with any questions you have regarding the congregation's finances, she is always happy to help.

Democratizing Planned Giving- May 2025

FUUSB Planned Giving Team

Thanks to so many of you for participating in FUUSB’s recent Stewardship Campaign, which is carried out each year to provide financial stability for the Society on an annual basis. FUUSB prioritizes the pledging participation of every single Society member—at whatever dollar level works for them. Why is this so important? Because contributing not only time and talent, but also even a small amount of financial support, is a way for members to know that they are part of our Society, that they have a stake in its present and its future. 

In the same way,

FUUSB Planned Giving wants you!!!

We want to involve as many Society members as possible in our efforts so that a huge majority of our members are part of helping ensure FUUSB’s sustainability, and the values and beliefs we share, for many years into the future.

Participation means including FUUSB in your after-life planning through a simple will, partial retirement account or insurance beneficiary designation, or estate plan at any financial level that feels comfortable to you. 

HOWEVER…the amount or method of a future gift is far less important than making sure you feel encouraged and welcome to participate.

Making a planned gift is straightforward and will involve little or no cost now. You will receive a neat wood engraved Legacy Society name badge. Learn more by visiting uusociety.org/donate and clicking on Planned Giving/Legacy Society or contact any member of the Planned Giving Committee by emailing plannedgiving@uuscociety.org.

Burlington's Overdose Prevention Center Informational Gathering

Radical Welcoming Committee

Date: 6/1/25

Location: Susan B Anthony Rm

Time: 11:30

Please join your fellow Congregants for an overview and thorough explanation of our city's upcoming Overdose Prevention Center. A brief power point presentation will set the stage for questions and honest discussion of this very important addition to Burlington's system of care for people who use drugs.

Come and learn about this life-saving service and the ways it will lessen common suffering in Burlington. 

Ed Baker and other local figures involved in the development of our Center will be available for a thorough discussion.

Interested in joining a Group at First UU?

Susan Ogden, Member

Are you interested in joining a small circle of UU friends to explore ideas and deepen connection?

 LINK to the FUUSB Theme and Chalice web page.

Please email ThemeCircles@uusociety.org for more information.

The May Theme Circle—Imagination-- meets on 5/20, 2-4PM or 5/21, 6-8PM. You will be able to engage in deep conversation and listening as you build community.

Next Date with Death Club- May 31

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Registration for each month's Date with Death Club opens on the first Wednesday of each month. May's session is rescheduled from March: What to Do with a Dead Body. Registration is required; click here to do so. Space is limited to 28 people. 

Date with Death Club is a monthly curriculum-based gathering to "explore mortality in community." You can attend one, some or all sessions. It's okay to attend this one even if you didn't go to the other ones.

Silver Bay

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development



Don’t miss the June 2nd Deadline for Reduced Rates for the UU Weekend at Silver Bay!

Comradery, colorful fall scenery, campfires, kids’ programs, canoeing, and culinary pleasures await you at a coveted setting on Lake George from October 10 to 12, 2025 (with an option of extending your stay until October 13.)

Register by June 2nd for the UU Weekend at Silver Bay to receive the lowest rates. Remember – your room, meals from Friday dinner through Sunday (or Monday) lunch, programs, activities, and entertainment are all included in the price. Children under 6 are free and there are substantial discounts for older children and youth.

Click here for additional information about Silver Bay and UU weekend, including the registration form, the 2024 schedule, and a slide show.

Let us know if you’ll be joining others from FUUSB at Silver Bay by adding yourself to this spreadsheet!

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

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.