This Sunday!

June 29 at 10:00 am

Geoff Duke- Guest Speaker & FUUSB Member

Warren Baker- Worship Associate

"Roots of Resilience"

Religious traditions help practitioners navigate the journeys of their lives, especially when the going gets rough. Geoff will reflect on the ways his Unitarian Universalism and his Pagan spiritual path intertwine to provide grounding, connection, and hope in these challenging times.

Geoff Duke is a FUUSB member and one of our congregation’s Worship Associates. He lives with his family in the foothills of Mt. Mansfield where he practices his eclectic Pagan spirituality, a path he’s been following since the late 1980s.

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 Lawn, (weather permitting) or 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 Summer

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Starting this week and continuing through all of July, families will stay together in the Sanctuary throughout the service. Children, their noises and their active bodies are welcome during worship. Activity stations at both entrances provide coloring pages, stuffies, and fidget toys to help children (and many adults!) engage. If a child needs a break, parents and caregivers are welcome to accompany them to the lower level to play in the unstaffed nursery or read in the children’s library. Listening devices are available at both entrances which can be used to listen to the service while supervising a child. Childcare will resume on August 3.

Looking Back to Sunday

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant



Last week FUUSB took a break from holding service due to the UUA General Assembly taking place in Baltimore, MD. We invited everyone to tune in online to the livestreamed Sunday Worship at GA last week at 11 a.m. You can view a recording of the service here.

Missed last week's UUA General Assembly (GA) June 18-22 and want to see more?

You can watch livestreamed recordings of GA's public events here.

In Memoriam

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that after a long journey with Parkison’s, Jane Packard-Bryant died on June 19^th. There is comfort in knowing that the end was peaceful and included the presence of her family and singing.

Jane became a member of FUUSB in 1956! Involved at First UU and the wider community in many ways, including a stint as our Director of Religious Education, Jane was a member of the choir, members of which visited her and sang with and to her in her final months.

Jane’s family --  her husband Cy, her children Sara, Susan, Nancy, Deborah, Angela, Peter and Woody -- welcome your cards sent to Jane & Cy’s home at 252 Old Creamery Rd, Williston, VT 05495-4004 or you can email Sara at sjpackardmd22@aol.com and she will share with the rest of the family.

A memorial service at FUUSB is planned for the fall, with a specific date still being worked out.

UU poetry service

Judy Brook, Worship Associate

The NEW theme for the August 10th poetry service will be “WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY?”

In these tough times it is important for each of us to have something that brings us joy be it a place, person, pet, magic pebble, peony or puddle. Share this with us so that we may know your joy. Your poem can rhyme—or not, be 30 lines or fewer, and be about 2-4 minutes long. Parents and guardians—please help your youthful charges with this; we would love to have them participate.

Please send your creation to brook.judy@gmail.com so we can plan where you fit in the service. Now, go find your joy and be ready to tell about it.

Art Gallery

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Though she'll be gone for a few weeks, she's left a little something in the Arc Gallery (upstairs in the meetinghouse) for you to enjoy.

Outside of writing the enews, answering emails, and wrangling children at FUUSB, Töve is a multi-faceted performing and visual artist. She began painting as an outlet for processing the grief of her father's passing from Covid in 2021. She continues to find great solace and joy in expressing herself through canvas. Learn more about all her artistic pursuits here.

Töve expresses deep gratitude to FUUSB for hosting her first solo showing.

Justice Jump Up on 8/16

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

If you are part of an established FUUSB justice team, or participate in an emerging justice project at FUUSB, or are interested in joining our justice efforts, and you can come to this gathering facilitated by Rev. Karen, please register by clicking here (or in Realm). It will be a great way to co-create a vision for the coming year!

A friendly place to land:

Homestay program at FUUSB

Homestay Team

Know someone who has a need for housing in Burlington during any of the Parents Weekends at UVM, St. Mike's, or Champlain College? Well, we've got members of our congregation who have guest space for them (or you!) A great alternative to hotels in friendly homes in the community. Easy to reserve - just click here to browse and pay online.

 Got questions? Contact homestay@uusociety.org.

Here is the Homestay Link for the catalogue and registration.

All funds go to support the mission and operations of First UU Society Burlington - the Meetinghouse at the top of Church Street.

Here is a graphic with the calendar of our Summer 2025 Sunday Services. If you want more details about each service, click here.

FUUSB Summer Scheduling

Erin Barbot, Ceremony and Scheduling Coordinator

Erin is taking July off from scheduling requests for space.

Recurring meetings: All recurring meetings follow the congregational calendar which means they end in June. If you are hoping your meeting will continue into the summer, or start again in the fall, please submit a new space request here.

Summer Administration Changes

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

As you may remember from last year, the Administrative Assistant at FUUSB currently takes a 6-week hiatus during the summer. This means that Töve will not be working from June 28th to August 18th. 

In her absence, the following will occur:

• There will be no eNews- the last edition before the break will be 6/25. It will return on 8/27.

• Any emails sent to tove@uusociety.org will remain unanswered and deleted upon her return in August. 
• If you need to contact the office, reach out to Director of Finance & Operations, Christina Fulton at xina@uusociety.org

• Orders of Service will not be published for Summer Services, however a list of titles and descriptions will be available. 

• Administrative support will be significantly decreased during this time. Expect slower responses to administrative emails and tasks *Note: Some requests may not be able to be fulfilled until Töve returns in August*

Faith Development Registration for 2025-26

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Please register Children and youth for the 2025-26 program year! Registration provides us with important information about the kids we serve and helps us plan for the year to come. Please include infants and toddlers who might use the Nursery and high school youth, even if they only plan to participate occasionally.

Climate Justice Team will meet online

on June 26th at 7:30 pm

Caitlin Waddick, Climate Justice Team

The Climate Justice Team welcomes new members to our monthly meeting on Thursday, June 26th at 7:30 pm. The meeting link will be shared via our Realm group and by email -- or ask! Direct your ideas and questions to climatejustice@uusociety.org  

As we deepen our commitment to the UU Climate Justice Revival, we ask, “What can FUUSB do to create a flourishing society that builds our connections to each other, nourishes people, and that envisions climate justice and collective liberation in Burlington and beyond?” 

As a part of it, we are talking about solidarity economics, summarized briefly here and inspired by the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network  and the Resist and Build Network.  

UU Weekend at Silver Bay

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

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

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.) 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.

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 discussion, 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, please contact Gail Beck or Susan Ogden at ThemeCircles@uusociety.org.

Deepening Our Lives

Susan Ogden, Member

We are a Chalice Circle meeting the first and third Mondays of each month from 5-6:30 PM, at the meetinghouse. We are a diverse group and we are seeking more members. Our discussion derives from the Path. In June we will explore the Practice of Freedom .

Contact: ChaliceCircles@uusociety.org

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.