Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

February 15 at 10 a.m.

Moshen Mahdawi, Guest Speaker in conversation with Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Mary Beth McNulty, Worship Associate

"Finding Peace in a Sea of Injustice"

For this special Sunday service, Palestinian Vermonter, Buddhist, and community activist, Mohsen Mahdawi will be in conversation with Rev. Karen. We’re so thrilled and honored to welcome him to our sanctuary where we will explore topics such as solidarity, fear, and spiritually-rooted activism. This service may be longer than our regular 70-minute services.

Mohsen Mahdawi is a current Master’s student of the School for International Public Affairs at Columbia University. He became a permanent resident of the Upper Connecticut River Valley area of Vermont after arriving as a refugee from the West Bank of Palestine over ten years ago. Mohsen has been an activist for Palestinian rights and was detained by Immigration Customs Enforcement on April 14. He was held in prison for sixteen days before his court-ordered release. Mohsen was raised Muslim and is now a practicing Buddhist with close ties to the First Universalist Society of Hartland, VT.  Mohsen has continued to be a bridge-builder who speaks out for freedom of speech, human rights, and peace in the Middle East.

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

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Families will begin the morning together in the Sanctuary. After the Time For All Ages, children and youth will be escorted to their Faith Development exploration groups on the upper and lower levels. Childcare for infants and toddlers is available throughout the service in the Nursery on the lower level.

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Here is the poem used for our Call to Worship this past Sunday.

Here is the song, We Have Not Come Here Alone, that Liam sang in a more soulful cadence than this version.

The two books by France Weller that Rev. Karen referenced in her sermon are

In the Absence of the Ordinary: Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty and The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief (which has a workbook associated with it).

Here is the text of Rev. Karen's sermon, "Grief Belongs to Us All"

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

Bring the Light, Be the Light:

2/8 Stewardship Testimonial

On Sunday we heard an inspiring testimonial from Amy Taylor. If you missed it, click here, or the video below, and find out why she gives.

In Memoriam

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

We share the sad news that Ron Williamson, Jr., FUUSB member for over 40 years, died suddenly last week. He is remembered fondly by many here at FUUSB and is mourned by his family. His memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

Read Ron's full obituary here.

Lost & Found Clean-out

Töve Johnson, Administrative Assistant

FUUSB member and volunteer Valerie Wood-Lewis has generously taken on the mighty task of cleaning out the FUUSB Lost & Found (the items on the coat rack and shelves outside the bathrooms on the first floor).

For our convenience, she has organized the items by type and taken photographs which you can see here. Items left behind include: winter gear, jackets, clothes, water bottles, books, and more.

Be sure to take a peek at the photos and see if you've left any items that you'd like to claim next time you visit the meetinghouse.

All items in the FUUSB Lost & Found (on the coat rack and shelves) will be donated or disposed of on Sunday, February 22nd.

Learn more about the Adult Faith Development Council at Coffee Hour

Sarah Russell, Adult Faith Development Council

We were one of the Octopus legs in the January 25th worship service. Stop by our table at Coffee Hour to find out more about us. We will be there every Sunday. Do you have an idea of a session you would like to lead or attend? We will help you technically with the process. There is so much talent and skill among all of us that we can share for Faith Development. Join us.

2026 Pledge Campaign Events

Susan Ogden, Stewardship

The FUUSB 2026 Pledge Campaign invites you to Bring the Light, Be the Light. And share food, music and dance in a series of events. Please RSVP using the links below! 

DO YOU LIKE TO DANCE?  Send your favorite dance song to include in the playlist for the March 14th dance at the Miller Center! susanogden1@mac.com

Meet and Greet with the Minister

Ann Guardiola, Membership Team

February 22nd

11:30AM – 12:30PM

Room: Whitney Young Jr. (second floor)

Are you feeling new or newish and want to learn more about First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington?

The Membership Committee is offering a session on Sunday, February 22^nd, after Church services at 11:30. This is an opportunity to meet with our minister Rev Karen G Johnston and some membership committee members. It will be informal and an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

The audience for this is anyone who feels new or newish and wants to learn more about our society. It is also a good place if you have been away from the Society for a while and want to meet the Minister and ask questions as well.

Put it on your calendar and join us for our gathering.

For more information, contact Annguardiola17@gmail.com

"One Family in Gaza"

Staged Reading- this Friday

Submitted by Mary Andrews, Member

Play: One Family in Gaza

You are invited to a staged reading of One Family in Gaza, an original non-fiction play by Crystal Zevon. This performance takes place on Friday, February 13th, at 7 PM at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington.

The script is based on the actual correspondence between the playwright and a young father living in the Gaza Strip. By blending personal texts with news dispatches, the play offers a powerful, real-time account of one family’s experience since late 2023. This reading serves as a testament to our shared humanity in times of conflict.

Sponsored by the First UU Society’s Palestinian Solidarity, Racial Justice, and Immigrant Justice teams, the event is free and open to the public. More information is available at onefamilyingaza.com.

Endorsed by: VT/NH Jewish Voice for Peace, VT Coalition for Palestinian Liberation, Cooperation Vermont, and the VT Peace/Antiwar Coalition.

Let’s Become an Apartheid-Free Congregation! 

Submitted by Mary Andrews, Member

The Racial Justice Team, the Immigration Justice Team, and the Palestinian Solidarity Team invite all congregational members, friends, visitors, and staff, of the First UU Society of Burlington to voice their support for and comment on the Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge to be endorsed by our congregation. Take action now.

The UUA's 2024 Action of Immediate Witness: “Solidarity with Palestinians” calls on all UU congregations to “sign, amplify, and carry out the Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge. 



 The AFC Pledge states:

  **We affirm our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people.

  ** We oppose all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression.

  ** We declare ourselves an apartheid-free community, and to that end,

  ** We pledge to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation.

More than 1,000 congregations, organizations, municipalities, and businesses have endorsed the Apartheid-Free Communities pledge, including the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), the Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice (UUCSJ), the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), and the Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME). Local supporters include Jewish Voice for Peace VT/NH, Migrant Justice, and 350 Vermont, among many others. 

Interfaith Book Group on Non-Violence Resistance

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Burlington houses of worship are working together to offer an interfaith book group to build community and reflect on ways to respond to the current crisis with moral and faith-full clarity. Starting February 24th, folks from congregations of various faith traditions will gather together to read Mark Kurlansky’s book Nonviolence: The History of A Dangerous Idea on Tuesdays at 5:30PM. Go to https://bit.ly/ReadingTogetherBTV (case sensitive) for more information. To sign up to attend, click HERE.

Date with Death Club- Feb. 28th

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Our February Date with Death Club is Afterlives:



What happens after we die is a mystery. There’s lots of speculation and theory but no concrete evidence. In this non-dogmatic session, we’ll explore concepts of an afterlife (or not) through an multifaith panel representing different traditions and outlooks, then engage in personal reflection on what our beliefs are, where we got them from, and how they have held up over our lifetimes.

Space is limited and attendance is only open to those who register. Here is the link to register.

With regard to the DwDC session in January that was canceled, the rest of the year's calendar is being reviewed to see what changes need to be made. Once the calendar has been adjusted, we will get the word out.

Spring Graduation Homestay Launch

Homestay Team

The Homestay Team announces our Spring Graduation Homestay is launched. Please share the site far and wide among friends and family! Questions: homestay@uusociety.org

Click here or the button below for access.  

Annual Elmore Campout!

Elmore State Park, June 19-21, 6:00 p.m.

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

I know it’s still chilly outside but June will be here before we know it! Come join FUUSB friends of all ages at Elmore State Park for fun and community, with optional hiking, swimming, paddling, and s'mores! This is an event for all ages! We'll potluck Friday evening; have a campfire sing on Saturday, and do a little campsite worship on Sunday morning. In between, there will be plenty of time to relax, connect with each other, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings! 

Signing up early helps ensure we have enough sites for everyone. You can sign-up here or contact Chip Patullo at sunergy.vt@gmail.com with any questions!