Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

February 9 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Warren Baker, Worship Associate

"Even to Question, Truly is an Answer"

Unitarian Universalism is a faith movement that values questions – lots of questions. Do you have a question you’ve been pondering about spirituality, religion, our congregation’s life together? Or your own journey? This Sunday Rev. Karen does not promise to answer, but will respond to some of your questions. Submit your questions by Thursday, February 6 at 3pm by filling out this online survey.

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 Time For All Ages, children, preK through 12th grade, will be sung out and escorted to their UU Values Exploration Groups. The nursery is open throughout the service for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Looking Back to Sunday

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

Question Box Service -

submit your questions BY TOMORROW

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

On Sunday, February 9th, we are holding a Question Box Service - a chance for you to pose questions and for Rev. Karen to respond. Submit your questions by Thursday, February 6 at 3pm by filling out this online survey. You can also write out your question (legibly!) and ask to have it put in Rev. Karen's mailbox in the office off the lobby.

Registration open for next Date with Death Club

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

On the last Saturday of each month, Rev. Karen leads a session of Date with Death Club, an exploration of mortality in community. Registration for each session opens in the first week of the month -- registration for the February 22 session is now open. Click here to register.

February's session is Resistance & Acceptance: The Mortal Dance. Here is a description of the session, which runs from 10am - 12:45pm:

Our attitudes toward our own mortality are a dance between resistance (do not go gentle into that good night) and acceptance (no one gets out of here alive). This session will use music and reflection to explore death anxiety and the new science around the use of psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”) to help ease the fear of death in those with terminal diagnoses.

Stewardship: Amplify Good on March 9

Stewardship Team

At worship on March 9, we will share stories about how we improved the world in hundreds of small ways with our reverse offering. And, we will together make our pledges in support of this faith community, which nurtures us, supports our values, and amplifies our voices. You will be hearing a lot more about our campaign in the coming weeks. But one of the most basic insights was beautifully expressed by Raya Lele yesterday: our values, with love at the center, are especially necessary in these times. Our commitment to this community, including our pledges, translates those values into action. If you missed Raya’s story about how his commitment to love and justice brought him from Washington D.C. to First UU, you can watch it here.

See you on March 9!

- Your Stewardship Team

"Religion is Not Done With You":

Book Discussion at FUUSB this Sunday

Jeff Trumbower, Member

This Sunday February 9 at 1 p.m. in the Parlors, join UVM Religious Studies Professor Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst and her co-author Megan Goodwin for a session devoted to their book Religion is Not Done with You: The Hidden Power of Religion on Race, Maps, Bodies, and Law, published in 2024 by Beacon Press. Megan Goodwin is co-director of the Bardo Institute for Religion and Public Policy in Boston. First UU member Jeff Trumbower, Professor or Religious Studies at Saint Michael’s College, will moderate. It promises to be a thought-provoking session!  

Thoughts about Race- In Six Words

Jana Porter, Racial Justice Team

On Feb. 9 after Service at 11:30 am, please join members of the Racial Justice Team in the Susan B. Anthony room to talk about Michelle Norris’s The Race Card Project. Find out how and why an invitation to submit a few comments about Race has elicited over half a million contributions in the past 10 years from people all over the world, and take a look with us at the candor, pain, and triumph they reveal.

We’ll be offering this session again at 4:30 pm by Zoom:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85025648927?pwd=3dAvSsjx2EZGdAtUzgqarbXjUJi9cr.1

See you there!

Come to the First Friday Open Mic Coffeehouse

This Friday, February 7

Come gather ‘round our figurative fire

For music and poems, to laugh and inspire

To this mid-winter bring, the warmth and the light

Our spirits to raise, at our open-mic

This Friday, February 7, 7-9 p.m.

Open mic signup starts at 6:30 p.m.

Share a song, an instrumental, a poem, story, or rant,

a little-known talent, or just watch and listen.

Bring friends and family! All are welcome – especially first timers

Questions? Contact Todd: greenmountainlaw@gmail.com

Spring Auction

Erin Kelley, Spring Auction Team

Every February I think we are all reminded that it’s still the middle of winter: but the time to start thinking about the spring auction is here! The auction is a great opportunity to drum up literal capital but also our ‘community capital’ well by giving us opportunities to connect with one another more deeply. We will have a live auction this year so we are accepting *some* high quality items but start thinking about some special skills that you might be able to share; are you a board game whiz with games you could share? Do you have a boat you might want to give rides on? Some special knowledge of Burlington? A special skill in IT or something else that someone may want to learn? Maybe an awesome connection to a natural area, or a yummy dinner you want to share with a group? 

Auction donations are opening this Sunday February 9th, so keep an eye out for the Autria link to donate. For a little extra spice the live auction theme will be “Night out at the ranch” aka Fancy Western so get excited!"

Overdose Prevention Center Discussions

The Radical Welcoming Team

The Radical Welcoming Team has been discussing the Overdose Prevention Center which is planned to be built in Burlington. We would like to hear what congregates think about OPCs (Overdose Prevention Centers). We have two events coming up which we would like to invite you to.

• February 9th - during Social Hour we will have a table labeled “OPC - ask us what this ?” 

• February 16 - 11:30 - Whitney Young Room - Q and A about Overdose Prevention Centers. 

Please come to either or both of these and tell us what you are thinking and ask any questions you have. 

Liam Hart, Director of Music

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 if active resistance is required, whether in our sanctuary or in other spaces. We'll be in the sanctuary from 11:45-12:30 on Sunday, February 16th.

Minute of Us

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

"A gesture, small, can give courage for the more that is becoming necessary."

Choose Democracy is inviting all of us to take a minute 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 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.

NEW! An Antiracism Bingo Game Card for the Racial Justice Event Series

Caitlin Waddick, Racial Justice Team

The Racial Justice Team invites you to a series of events for your justice journey!

Click here to access our updated list of events.

Some of the events will be held at FUUSB, some will be on Zoom or live-streamed, and some are in the Burlington area.  To make it fun, we are sharing a Bingo game card for you to play. To use the card, read the notes on the reverse side providing you with some ideas to complete the Bingo categories. The notes highlight our events. After you complete an activity, check the box for the category that you completed. You can also color the card if you wish. All returned cards with at least one completed box are eligible to be entered into our raffle, which we will do in June.  

Click here to access the Bingo card.  We will have printed cards available on Sundays. 

Click here to access a list of racial justice resources.

All these documents will be linked soon from the FUUSB website’s Justice and Outreach pages.  

The Racial Justice Team meet on the first Tuesday of every month, via Zoom, 6-7:30 pm. We welcome new members. Contact us at racialjustice@uusociety.org 

You're Invited to Faith Climate Action Day!

Climate Justice Team

Once a year, Vermont's faith and environmental leaders come together at the Statehouse to voice our faith and environmental values in the fight against climate change. The day includes a community gathering, a training on lobbying, a press conference, and time to meet face-to-face with our legislators about climate priorities. This is a family friendly event! We welcome and encourage youth voices.

Where: Vermont Statehouse

When: February 19th, 2025, 9:00am-3:00pm (You can attend part of the day or all of it!)

Why: FCAD is an opportunity to build community, advocate for our faith and environmental values directly with our representatives, and stand in solidarity for Vermont's future. 

How: REGISTER here!

Faith Climate Action Day is a partnership between VT Interfaith Power & Light, VT Public Interest Research Group, VT Interfaith Action, 350 Vermont, VT Natural Resources Council, and VT Conservation Voters.

Welcoming Theme Circle

Gail Beck, Member

New to UU? Curious about UU or a Longtime Member?

You are welcome to Join Our Wednesday Night Theme Circle!

February 19 | 6:00-7:30 PM | UU Meeting House

Looking for a space to explore deep, meaningful topics with others who bring wisdom and experience? Our Wednesday Night Theme Circle is the perfect opportunity!

With several experienced lay leaders in our congregation, this is a chance to engage in rich discussions and explore Unitarian Universalist themes in depth.

Guided by the Soul Matters theme packet, we dive into themes like Inclusion, Trust, Joy, Imagination, and Freedom bringing fresh insights and perspectives.

Come give it a try! Whether you are a longtime UU or just curious, this welcoming Theme Circle offers a unique way to reflect, connect, and grow. Contact ThemeCircles@uusociety.org for more information. Hope to see you!

Sure Cure for the Winter Blues

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!  

Poverty, by America Book Group Forming at FUUSB in March

Susan Ogden, Member

Are you troubled by the wealth divide in our country? Do you want to learn about this timely issue via reading and discussions with fellow UU folks? After reading, are you interested in working together to support economic justice here in Vermont?

Join us!

What:  Book Group: Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond

When:  March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6, April 13

Where: We will gather at the Meeting House after the Sunday Service

Time:  11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Questions: Contact co-facilitators Susan Ogden (susanogden1@mac.com) or Kathy Stamper (akastamper@gmail.com) 

Annual FUU Campout

Elmore State Park, June 13-15

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

It’s not too early to plan for summer fun! For more than 20 years, members of First UU have gathered at this beautiful state park in mid-June to commune with nature and each other! This loosely planned weekend will include a Friday night potluck dinner, group campfires, sing-alongs, and an informal closing circle worship. Climbing the mountain and the firetower are optional but inspiring activities! There will be children; there will be youth, there will be adults, younger and older. If you like camping and UU fellowship, please consider joining us! (If sleeping in a tent is not on your to-do list, we welcome day- trippers for the Friday potluck or Saturday beach and mountain fun!)

Please follow this link for more information and to register!

Here is the link to register to attend our February online Earth Teacher Reflection Session- Thurs. Feb 13th. Each month we explore our relationship with an aspect of the Natural World, reminding ourselves that we are a part of it. February's Earth Teacher is Seeds. Newcomers are welcome. Second Thursdays, 7 - 8:15pm. Facilitated by Judy Brook and Geoff Duke.

Growing Resilience & Resistance

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

The Preparing for What is Next & Now workshop. Using the work of Quaker, community organizer, and author, Daniel Harper (whom Rev. Karen has referenced in several of her sermons), in February we are offering two workshops designed to help participants figure out what is yours to do as part of a deep and wide resistance to authoritarian forces in our midst. One workshop is open to young adults (18 - 35) and one is open - registration for both is limited.

For Young Adults - Saturday, Feb 15, 11 - 1:30 facilitated by Abbie Wolff & Rev. Karen

For Adults - Sunday, Feb 23, 11:30 -1:30, facilitated by Andrea Van Liew and Mark Power-Freeman

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.