Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

October 5 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Betsy Ferries, Worship Associate

"Ouch, Oops, Thank You, A-ha!"

The Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, has just passed. Let us accept the invitation Yom Kippur brings to explore how we encounter and process hurt and harm in our own lives and the communities where we reside. The choir is singing and Rev. Karen is in the pulpit. Families start in Faith Development and parents come to the sanctuary after Family Chapel concludes.

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 on the Lawn.

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

This is a Family Chapel week, meaning families (children and parents/caregivers, youth may come on their own) and Faith Development guides will begin on the lower level with 15-20 minutes of child-centered worship, after which parents will be sung out to the service already in progress. Children and youth, preK through 12th grade, will then split up into their Exploration Groups. The nursery is open throughout the service for infants & toddlers.

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Want to learn more about Frances Ellen Watkins Harper? Here is an article from the UU World about her. Here is the link to the text of Rev. Karen's sermon. And we've included the missing image of FEWH herself here.

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

Crossing Paths Pizza Lunch & Parent Circle

Oct 5, 11:15-12:45

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

For all families with 4th-7th graders:

Come meet new-to-you UU parents with kids the same age, or renew connections with those you know already! Help us plan for the year in Crossing Paths and dream about the future! Families are invited to pizza lunch with coffee and tea and cider in the Parlors immediately after the service.

Pick up your younger children and youth from downstairs and bring them up for lunch; the Crossing Paths group will come down together, so you can meet them in the Parlors. (Even if you can't stay long, please meet your 4th-7th graders here.) At 11:45, kids will go to OWL or supervised fun and parents will stay together for a circle that is partly for community-building and partly planning for Crossing Paths. We will determine whether there is enough parent interest to move forward with visits to neighboring houses of worship to correspond with the kids' explorations, this year and next.

RSVPs are not required, but are very helpful for the pizza order and childcare count.

Submitted by Eileen Blackwood, President of FUUSB Board of Trustees

The FUUSB Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly business meeting on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

The Board had held a retreat on September 6, and in follow-up to the retreat, the Board reviewed and voted on proposals from Rev. Karen and Christina about possible uses of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) funds (which were based on federal taxes the Society had paid during the pandemic for employees it retained and which were finally received over the summer). The Board will hold a meeting for congregants following the Sunday service on October 26 to explain how those funds will be used consistent with this year’s Vision for Ministry.

Over the past year, the Board and the Executive Team have been working on the continued implementation and development of FUUSB’s policy-based governance model; that model assigns governance of the Society as the Board’s primary role and ministry as the primary role for Rev. Karen and the staff. Sometimes, the two concepts overlap, and sorting out the relative responsibilities requires careful consideration. Rev. Karen has been developing procedures for the operation of ministry teams, projects, and affinity groups, and at this meeting, the Board discussed its role in relation to those actions. Further discussion is likely as those procedures are fleshed out.

Christina presented the financial report through the end of August, with no significant issues.

The Board continued its annual organizational activities, re-committing to its Board covenant (available with the Board policies on our website) and approved a job description for Board members. 

The Board voted that the FUUSB will sponsor Avery Hamill, who begins seminary in January, as a Candidate for fellowship in the UU ministry.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21 at 4:00 pm in the parlors. A Zoom link will be posted on Community Messenger on that Tuesday. Please email board@uusociety.org with any questions.

Date with Death Club

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

This month's Date with Death Club session is on Saturday, Oct 25 at 10am. The topic is Medical Aid in Dying and we will have a guest speaker. Registration is required - click here to do so.

Fire Drill Announcement - Sun. 10/19

Devin Fallon, Facilities Manager

We will be having a fire drill October 19th following the service postlude. In order to make this a realistic drill the alarm will sound. If you have a sensitivity to loud noises you can choose to leave before the drill begins. Instructions will be given prior to and during the fire drill.

**Please note: if you are parked anywhere on FUUSB grounds on 10/19, you cannot operate a vehicle once the alarm for the drill has sounded off. You will have to wait until the drill is over to move your car.**

This is both so we can keep our congregants (adults and children) safe as everyone goes to their meeting points outside the building, and also so that the Fire Department can maneuver their trucks into the designated spots during the drill.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the drill please contact our Facilities Manager at devin@uusociety.org or 802-862-5630, x23.

Come to the First Friday Open-Mic Coffeehouse Dessert Potluck!

Todd Schlossberg, Member

Friday, October 3rd

Potluck dessert and open-mic

sign-up starts at 6:30 p.m.

Open mic 7-9 p.m.

Join us in The Parlors, for another intimate listening-room experience. Share your songs or spoken word pieces. Original works and creative covers always welcome. Or, just come to enjoy

the music, poetry, and fellowship. Amplification and mics provided.

If you’re able, bring a dessert dish to share. Coffee, tea, and refreshments will be provided. All ages and talents are welcome, especially newcomers! Invite friends and family. Face masks

welcomed, but are not required.

Join Us for FUUSB Game Night!

*Note: Date Correction from last eNews*

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Saturday, October 18th, 5-8 p.m.

Community Room

Our multigenerational Game Night is back! All ages are invited to play, eat, and be together.

We have lots of games at the ready, but feel free to bring the one you want to play. In the past we've done jigsaw puzzles, Dominoes, Ticket to Ride, Rumikub, Azul, group card games, Pictionary, and more. There are generally several things happening at once. It's okay to come with a group of friends and the intention to play a particular game. You can bring children and play with them or have them play with childcare staff while you try out a game with an older crowd. Make it what you want!

We'll have a "no-stress" potluck; you can wow us with your culinary skills or pick up a loaf of bread and a tub of hummus from the market. The point is to have fun together and not go hungry. We'll have decaf and tea available, plates and utensils.

Come for a little bit or stay the whole time. Come ready to make new friends and reconnect with the old!

Fall Circles Forming at First UU

Chalice & Theme Circles



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 small groups designed to foster community, personal growth, and spiritual exploration. To learn more about the different types of circles available, please visit the FUUSB LINK.

Theme Circles

Theme Circles meet throughout the calendar year to investigate the monthly theme from the "The Path".

"The Path" is a publication (available to everyone in the congregation) which includes readings, thought-provoking questions and additional resources for engagement with the month's theme.

When do Theme Circles meet this year?

• The Third Tuesday of every month, 2-3:30pm in person at First UU: Oct 21, Nov 18 and Dec 16

• The Third Wednesday of every month, 6-7:30pm ON ZOOM: Oct 15, Nov 19, Dec 17

• The Third Thursday of every month, 6-7:30pm in person at First UU: Oct 16, Nov 20, Dec 18

Please contact Themecircles@uusociety.org if you have any questions or want to register. All groups are still open for registration.

There is still space in the Wednesday evening ZOOM Theme Circle!

Gail Beck, Member

In October we will be discussing "Cultivating Compassion".

Join our group and be part of the discussion.

Is compassion just niceness and thoughtful feelings or is it about something deeper: an impulse that drives us to action?

Chalice Circles

Chalice Circles meet twice a month, providing an opportunity for personal growth over time as members embark on a shared spiritual journey,

FUUSB currently offers three groups that are seeking new members. Click below to see the list. Email ChaliceCircles@uusociety.org for more information.

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.