Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

September 8 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Mary Beth McNulty, Worship Associate

"Oceans of Joy, Waves of Connection"

Our annual Water Ingathering service, coupled with the celebration of Pride, makes this one of the most joyful services of the year. The choir will enrich the service with their songful presence. Bring a small container of water from a source meaningful to you so that we can once again collectively bless our gathered waters transforming it into our own homegrown holy water. Come be a part of this multi-generational hour that will offer a glitter blessing. After the service, join FUUSB as we gather to march together as part of the Burlington Pride march. 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.

Children & Youth This Sunday

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Children are encouraged to remain with their families in the Sanctuary for this multigenerational celebration, but childcare is available in the Nursery if needed.

This Sunday- Water Ingathering!

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Come to our Sunday service to celebrate the new year! And Pride!

Bring water from a source - far away or close-by - meaningful to you to add to our collective waters that we will all bless

If you can't be there, but have water you want included, please drop it by the Meetinghouse and leave the small container in this basket, found on the shelf as you come in the Clark Street door.

If you attend virtually, and want us to say your first name to affirm your presence and participation, write to Rev. Karen by Friday, Sept 6th to let her know you want to be included and which names to say.

After the service, we'll have an abundant coffee hour. 

All are invited to walk together as part of the Pride march - we'll walk together to the starting point or you can find us there (more information about where that is the week before the service).

2024 Pride Vermont in Burlington

Darryl Loiacano, Member

Please mark your calendars for this year’s Pride Vermont Festival and Parade in downtown Burlington! FUUSB will again be taking part in the Pride Parade on Sunday, September 8th starting at noon. We will be gathering after the morning service to take part as a group. Further details to follow regarding the gathering location and parade route. We are hoping that once again this year FUUSB will have a vocal and spirited presence! 

You can follow this link https://www.pridecentervt.org/pride/ for the website regarding the parade and festival. You may also contact Darryl Loiacano at darrylkl@hotmail.com with other questions.

Sabbatical Communication

The Sabbatical Team

As many of you have heard, our indefatigable Director of Operations and Finance, Christina Fulton, is going on sabbatical for three months this fall. Because Christina plays such a central role in our Society’s operations, a Sabbatical Planning Team, consisting of Brian Haas, Alana Shaw, Tracy Titchner, and Eileen Blackwood, has been working with Christina and Rev. Karen to prepare for her absence. Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions:

FAQs:

When is Christina’s sabbatical? Christina’s sabbatical begins on Sept. 20, 2024 (after the Board’s Sept. 17 meeting), and she will return to work on January 2, 2025. 

Why is she having a sabbatical now?  Our personnel policies provide that beginning after six years of service, full-time director-level positions are eligible for one month of sabbatical leave for each year of service up to a maximum of six months. Christina’s last sabbatical was seven years ago and was only for two months, so it is high time she gets to take her promised time off.

Who will be handling the Society’s finances in her absence?  In addition to Rev. Karen and our Bookkeeper, Anne, our existing Finance Team, which consists of Brian Haas (our Society Treasurer), Tom Porter, Tom Hyde, and Phil Brentwood, will continue reviewing and overseeing the Society’s financial situation. Specific tasks that Christina normally handles have been distributed to different individuals. Everyone has been trained and is ready to go! 

Who will be handling Christina’s management duties?  Christina directly supervises four employees, and Rev. Karen will take over those management duties while Christina is out. 

What if I have a question about Realm or Community Messenger?  Contact our Program Assistant, Töve Johnson at tove@uusociety.org.  

What if I want to schedule use of a space at the Meetinghouse? If you need to schedule space or a zoom call, please use the forms on our website: www.uusociety.org. Under the Members section, click on Forms. Or you may speak directly with our Events & Scheduling Coordinator, Erin Barbot, at erin@uusociety.org.    

Can I contact Christina during her sabbatical?  Please do not contact Christina during her sabbatical, as this is her time to have a break from work. If you see her at an event or the grocery store, please say hi, but do not talk about Society business with her. Rev. Karen will contact Christina if there is something particularly urgent that Christina should know.  

Is Christina’s husband Woody working during her sabbatical?  As many of you know, Woody is a very active volunteer for our Society and is involved in many activities. To allow Christina to fully disengage, Woody will also be taking a break from Society business. He may, however, continue to be in the choir. Liam Hart and Michael Wright will be handling technological matters for services and other activities.  

What if I have other questions?  Töve can probably answer, or refer you to someone who can answer questions about administrative matters. You can also contact the Sabbatical Planning Team by emailing sabbaticalteam@uusociety.org and one of us will help to connect you with the right person to assist you.

Update on the FUUSB Website

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

As you may have noticed, our website is back online. Yay! Unfortunately, there are a few glitches that are still being worked out. This means that there may be some outdated information and/or links on the website. Don't be alarmed- we are working hard to get all the events linked and everything up-to-date. If you have any issues or questions feel free to reach out to Töve at tove@uusociety.org. Thank you for your patience.

Chalice Creemees at UVM Interfaith Event

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

On Tuesday this week, Rev Karen, Avery, and Erin staffed a table at the UVM Interfaith free creemee event to welcome students to a new school year. Erin had a great idea that the free creamy cones could be the flame of a chalice. So here are some Creemee chalices for your enchantment.

Calling All Singers!

Liam Hart, Music Director

The FUUSB Choir rehearses every Wednesday from 7:15-8:45pm, please contact the Music Director, Liam Hart (liam@uusociety.org), if you are interested in participating.

Staff Retreat- Sept. 12th

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

The FUUSB staff will have their retreat on Thursday September 12th. Note: They will be unavailable on this day.

Parent Circle and Outdoor Children's Fun-

Sep. 15th

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development



September 15th 11:30am-12:30pm

Families are invited to join us after the service for a light lunch (bagels and cream cheese, fruit, vegan options) and our annual parent circle, where parents and caregivers of the children in our congregation get to meet each other, Faith Development Staff get to share information about the programs that are about to begin, and we all get to dream together! Meanwhile, the childcare staff are planning a special outdoor festival for kids! This year our programs for children in PreK- 8th grade will look a bit different than in the past and we would love the chance to tell you more about it!

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.

Sign-Up at Coffee Hour

for Sharing Circles

Gail Beck, Member

It's that time of the year and we are beginning to offer information and sign ups for Circle Groups.

Stop by the table at Coffee Hour and find out what's going on.... maybe you would like to see a specific Circle formed, maybe you are looking for more connection and a safe place to discuss different topics. Maybe you are interested in facilitating...

Any Questions? Email:

ChaliceCircles@uusociety.org or ThemeCircles@uusociety.org

See you Sunday!

Recruiting Volunteers

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

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.

Child Dedications - November 10

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Child Dedications are a joyful covenant between a child’s family and the congregation, recognizing that the raising of a child is a community blessing. Senior Minister, Rev. Karen G. Johnston, and the Director of Lifespan Faith Development, Erika Reif, will be leading such a ceremony for a group of children during the service on November 10th. Dedications can happen soon after birth or adoption; they can happen for an infant, a toddler, a preschooler, or an older child.

If you would like to have your child dedicated at First UU on that morning, or to find out more, contact Erika, erika@uusociety.org.

New Tuesday Meditation Group

Marty Garrett, Member

Announcement: Meditation group starting Tuesdays at 5:15pm.

Location: Second floor of church.

Join us for a 45-minute session each Tuesday at 5:15pm. Open to all meditative, silent-leaning approaches, informed by Buddhist meditation practices, this group is for beginning meditators, as well as seasoned practitioners. Please arrive a few minutes early so we can start on time. Leadership of each Tuesday’s session will be shared among a rotating group of established meditators, each bringing their own style of leading to those gathered. . You are welcome to sit on a chair or cushion.

Our purpose and hope is:

• to provide an opportunity for those who are interested in deepening their already established meditation practice or in exploring meditation as a new spiritual practice for themselves.  
• to create and sustain a community of meditators (what, in Buddhist circles, is called sangha)

Feel free to drop in to check it out or to come every week. Hope to see you there.

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.