Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

September 22 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Betsey Ferries, Worship Associate

"Lessons from Unwelcome Teachers"

Life isn’t always a bowl of cherries. Some of the most important lessons come from some of the least enjoyable aspects of living a life. We’ll explore what it means to welcome all the vagaries of life, pleasant and unpleasant, comforting or painful or ambiguous. Rev. Karen is in the pulpit.

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 outside, weather permitting.

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.

Looking Back to Sunday

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

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Following up to Sunday's service and the Waggle Dance Invitation to participate in our robust congregation, here is an online way you can sign up to let us know what opportunities interest you. We will pass on your interest to the relevant teams. Click here for this brief survey.

Thank You

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

I want to thank everyone for the beautiful blessing I received at Sunday's worship service. Please know that I understand how truly blessed I am to work in a place that lives out their values by offering such a generous benefit. As mentioned in the service, I've worked here for 26 years and I have loved my job every single day. I am looking forward to this special time away and know that I will return in the new year refreshed and ready to work. I also know that you are in good, capable hands. I'm wishing you all a wonderful rest of 2024!

Children & Youth This Sunday

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Families will begin the morning together in the Sanctuary until children, preK through 9th grade, will be sung out and escorted to the first session of their exploration Groups. Childcare is available in the Nursery. 

Children's Exploration Groups

Children begin their age-based explorations of core UU Values this Sunday with two brand new curricula in updated classrooms!

• UU Values Challenge, for 4th-9th grades, encourages participants to create community, and build trust while exploring our UU values in an embodied way. Weather permitting the first two sessions will be outside. 
• Building UU Values, for K-4th grades, focuses on exploring our shared UU values, through building materials, including legos! Each session will begin with a story and discussion and then children will be offered a building/lego prompt and an art/craft suggestion to choose between as ways to engage with the story’s themes.

Minister's Message

Here's the most recent Minister's Message - this video message is about 4 minutes long - from Rev. Karen.  https://youtu.be/g4YpVMZ09pg

Meetinghouse Rescue Buttons

Devin Fallon, Facilities Manager

Our Meeting House is historic and beautiful, but it is not always up to contemporary standards. In the 1990’s many updates were made to make our building more accessible, but there are still some issues left unattended. One of the largest is the fact that our Sanctuary is not accessible by the south entrance, and is not accessible in the event of a fire. In the event of a fire, the elevator will automatically go to the basement level and will not be usable until the alarm turns off and is reset. The best solution to this problem is creating a beautiful ramp from the south entrance that does not hinder the historic relevance of our Meeting House. This solution will take some time and a lot of money. So while we are working on that, we have created an interim solution. It is not the best nor final solution, but it is better than what we have now.

We have installed Rescue Buttons that are housed in polycarbonate cases located next to red signs that read “Area of Rescue Assistance”. In the event of a fire emergency people with mobility issues that require evacuation assistance can make their way to an Area of Rescue Assistance. These areas are the south vestibule of the meeting house (the Sanctuary exit) and in all 3 levels of the back staircase located in the northeast corner of the building. When a Rescue Button is engaged it will notify the fire department as to the location where help is needed.

To activate a Rescue Button, first lift the clear cover from the lip on the bottom labeled “Lift Here”. Then press and hold the gray button. At this point an alarm will sound and the fire department has been notified of your emergency and location. Once you have activated a Rescue Button please do not leave that specific Area of Rescue Assistance. Emergency service personnel will be coming to assist you in that location. 

Parking Oval

Devin Fallon, Facilities Manager

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Each September, FUUSB members may renew or purchase parking tags, which allow you to park along the oval driveway next to the Meeting House for non-FUUSB business (shopping, etc.) for up to 3 hours. Parking guidelines can be found here.

To renew or purchase a tag, here are the steps:

Contact Töve at tove@uusociety.org or 862-5630 ext. 25.

In your message, please provide: your name; car make, model, color, and plate number; parking tag number if possible; and whether you need a new tag.

Pay for your tag ($45 per tag). You can pay online using the Make a Gift button on the Donate page of our website (select “Member Parking Tag” under Fund). Or you can mail a check to FUUSB, 152 Pearl St., Burlington, VT 05401, or drop off a check or cash in a labeled envelope and place it in the FUUSB mailbox by the east entrance. Note "Oval Parking" on the check memo and envelope.

If purchasing a new tag, Töve will mail that to you.

If you have parking questions, please contact Devin at devin@uusociety.org or (802) 862-5630, ext. 23.

We can sell or renew up to 50 parking tags this year. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Thank you!

eNews Submissions- Due Mondays

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Have an announcement for the eNews? Send your submissions to enewsblast@uusociety.org.

The deadline is 10am on Monday for your entry to be included in that week's newsletter. Kindly note the word limit for announcements is 200 words. Any images should be under 5MB, in .jpg or .png format. Thank you!

Labyrinth News

Carol MacDonald, Labyrinth Ministy Team

The Labyrinth has reemerged, under the ash tree, thanks to a team of weeders. This Sunday, September 22nd is the Fall Equinox which is a time of balance. 

We invite you to partake in a walking meditation after the service. The flags will be out and a member of the Labyrinth Ministry will be there to answer any questions that you have. The Labyrinth is always available for walking except when it is blanketed with snow.

Pagan Circle Planning

Gail Beck, Member

On Tuesday 9/24/24 there will be a 6 pm meeting regarding establishing a Pagan Chalice Circle or UU Chapter and seeing if CUUPS is an organization that we choose to seek guidance from.

Please contact Gailbeckvt@gmail.com if you want to attend but have a conflict. Peace.

Save the Dates!

Please Join our Climate Justice Revival!

Climate Justice Team

Save the Dates! Please join our Climate Justice Revival!

On Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29, FUUSB will gather our congregation to identify social issues in our community and the ways that those issues intersect with climate justice. We will then envision what a flourishing future looks like to us. Are we more connected with our neighbors, a regenerative agricultural economy, and a carbon-free transportation network? Does our community reflect respect and thriving for all? Our final session will ask us to envision what brings us joy, and what we have to offer. These discussions will lead this congregation into climate actions through the year. 

Please join the Climate Justice Team on this journey: 

** Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 am to noon, followed by a potluck lunch. (Bring a dish to share if you can.)

** Sunday, Sept 29, a 10 am service led by Rev. Karen, followed by the Revival wrap-up from 11:30 am to 1 pm. 

Additionally, we will kick off the UU Revival with a short film and discussion in the Parlors, after the service on Sunday, Sept. 22nd. Rev. Karen will lead discussion. Expect snacks. 

Sept. 22nd- Climate Justice & UU Values:

a film & discussion

Sept 22, 11:45 am: Climate Justice and UU Values: a film & discussion 

How is climate justice an anti-racism and civil rights issue, critical for our democracy? How is climate justice different from environmentalism? What does climate justice have to do with UU values?

To kick off the UU Climate Justice Revival, we will gather to reflect on our UU values and climate justice. Please join us on Sunday, September 22nd to watch an 18-minute video with a discussion led by Rev. Karen. 

This event will be after the service: we will meet in the Parlors from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm. There will be snacks! 

Minister's Invitation to the Climate Revival

Here is the link to the Minister's invitation to the Climate Revival.  

https://youtu.be/53i1KZ-Xq90

Vegan Cooking for the Climate:

A Family Workshop

Climate Justice Team

Join the Franks Family for a hands-on, family-friendly vegan cooking class at First UU Society on September 28! Together, we’ll explore the benefits of plant-based eating for the planet. You’ll learn delicious, climate-conscious recipes that are easy to make and perfect for family meals. Whether you’re new to vegan cooking or looking to expand your recipe collection, this class is a great way to connect with others and discover the power of sustainable eating. Families of all ages are welcome!

This event will be from 10 am to 1 pm, and it will end with a potluck meal for all participants in our UU Climate Justice Revival. 

Please pre-register so we can prepare for this exciting family event.  Click here for the link to the Vegan Cooking class.

The Buzz is the Bazaar!

Kim Watkin, Member

Well, here is another " Beautiful Bee Possibility " for our congregation! As part of our fundraising efforts at the FUUSB, we have always held an annual Bazaar and Luncheon for the Holiday season. This year the Bazaar and Luncheon is on Saturday, Dec. 7th. We need some "busy bees" to help with the planning of the Bazaar. Our first meeting will be Sunday, Sept. 29th at 11:15 am (directly after service) in the Sanctuary. We will finish in time for folks to attend the Climate Revival at 11:30am. 

It is a fun opportunity to meet people and help raise funds for our own "hive"-the FUUSB! If you can not attend the meeting on Sept, 29th, just email Kim Watkin at watkinfam@aol.com for more information.  

Welcoming Congregation Renewal Announcement

Martha Molpus and Zoe Hart

In June of 2000, FUUSB became certified as a UU Welcoming Congregation, meaning that we are welcoming to LGBTQIA+ people, though at the time, awareness and focus tended to be on lesbian and gay people. Today we are one of over 800 congregations recognized as Welcoming, but society’s understanding of sexuality and gender has expanded significantly in the past 24 years and it is past time that we renew both our formal Welcoming Congregation status and our deep commitment to welcoming all LGBTQIA+ people. 

We, Martha and Zoe, are in the early stages of exploring what will be involved in that renewal. If you’re interested in being part of this effort, we’d love to hear from you. You can email us at radicalwelcoming@uusociety.org.

Trans Justice & Safety Webinar

Radical Welcoming Committee

The Transforming Hearts Collective, in partnership with Side With Love, UUSC, and Pink Haven Coalition, is offering a workshop on Trans Justice and Safety on Tuesday, October 1 8-9:30pm Eastern. The webinar will “equip attendees to understand the targeted political and legislative attack that trans/nonbinary people are currently facing, gain tools to advocate for trans rights, and ensure that their congregations are welcoming and safe spaces for trans/nonbinary people and our families in this moment”. The October 1 webinar will focus on what people living in a relatively LGBTQIA+ protective state like ours can do during these challenging times. Learn more and sign up here to join us for the webinar.

Youth group

Help Wanted! It takes a village…Please consider supporting our  multigenerational community by volunteering in the programs for children and youth. 

• Concerned about missing worship? We are looking for people who can make once-a-month commitments. 
• Worried you’re not an expert? We have curricula for that. You can model a growth mindset by learning alongside the young people you supervise.
• Are you an expert? Would you like to offer an activity you are passionate about? Share a skill you have as a one time special offering or more regularly? Let us know!
• Contact Erika to find out more about opportunities this fall! Erika@uusociety.org.

Faith Development Registration

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Back to school means back to Faith Development programs at FUUSB! If you have children or youth who plan to take part in Faith Development programs at First UU this year, please take a moment to click on the link below and register them. From infants in the Nursery to high school youth, registration helps us plan and provides us with important contact information.

Click here 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.