Special Announcement

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

As you may have already heard, following the Installation on Saturday, FUUSB has experienced quite a large number of people testing positive for Covid. Indeed, our own minister, Rev. Karen, has also tested positive. Rev. Karen is staying home and is being very well cared for.

In light of this growing number of Covid cases, and our desire

to limit the spread any further, we have made the decision

to cancel both the Friday Night Coffee House and

the Sunday in-person Worship Service.

The Sunday Worship will happen as a pre-recorded service.

Our guest minister for Sunday, Rev. Joan Javier-Duval,

will be recording her sermon, and other parts of the service

will also be pre-recorded and made into a beautiful video for you to watch.

The link to the service will be available on our YouTube channel on Sunday morning. You can also use the link below to find the link on our website.

Watch the Sunday Worship Service on May 12, 2024

Thank you so much for your understanding. It can be a good practice to test for Covid after attending a large event, even if you do not have symptoms. Testing can be a good way to prevent any further transmission of the virus. If you do test positive, please contact your healthcare professional for advice on how to proceed.

You can also look for advice on the CDC website.

Sending you all wishes to stay healthy!

Join Us Online for Worship This Sunday!

Sunday, May 10 a.m.

Rev. Joan Javier-Duval – Guest Minister

Due to a growing number of Covid cases in the congregation, this Sunday's service will be pre-recorded and shared on our YouTube channel.

While many people living in the United States might think of Unitarian Universalism as a uniquely North American religion, it is in fact a living tradition that inspires people across the globe. The unique stories of how Unitarianism and Universalism each gained a foothold in the Philippines, a country with a long history of colonialism, speak to the power of faith as well as the human desire for freedom. Our guest minister, Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, traveled to the Philippines at the end of 2023 and will share stories from her time learning about the history and present day expressions of our liberal faith within the Philippines and reflections on what UUs in the United States can learn from our Filipino/a/x siblings in faith.

Rev. Joan Javier-Duval has served as Minister of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier since 2015. Born and raised in Chicago as the child of immigrants from the Philippines, she learned early on that family and community sustain human life and that ampalaya (Filipino bitter melon) can be grown even in the black soil of a backyard in the American Midwest. She lives in Montpelier near the North Branch River with her spouse, their 10 year-old child, and their much-loved black cat.

Join us for worship online. The livestream link will be shared at bit.ly/FUUSBWorship, or visit our YouTube channel.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Looking back at this past weekend, there was ALOT going on!

As requested, and shared generously with us, here is the text to Julica Hermann de la Fuente's sermon at the Service of Installation.  It is called "This Moment."  Here is the link to the video of the service. Here is the reading, the poem "Only Love" by Vermont poet, James Crews, read by colleagues of Rev. Karen.

Photos from the installation will be shared once we have curated from the abundant treasure trove created by our FUUSB member volunteer photographers, Amelia Schlossberg and James Buck.

From Sunday, here is a link to the text of the 2013 Ware Lecture by Eboo Patel, referenced in Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer's sermon. Read her sermon here. Also, see the delightful picture from Family Chapel on Sunday, where Joys & Sorrows & Gratitudes were shared with the watershed!

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

2024/25 OWL Offerings

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Honest, accurate information about sexuaity changes lives, and sometimes saves them!

We plan to offer two age-levels of the Our Whole Lives (OWL) comprehensive human sexuality education curricula in the coming program year, older elementary and middle school. These programs are open both to children from this congregation and the wider community. Find out more and register your interest at these links:

• Rising 7th or 8th Graders
• Rising 4th or 5th Graders

Facilities Manager Update

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

I am pleased to announce that we have hired a new Facilities Manager who will begin work here on May 20th. His name is Devin Fallon, and he comes with wonderful qualifications. I will share more information about Devin next week. I am extremely grateful that Blake has agreed to stay on part time until the end of May to help bring Devin up to speed on the job and facilitate a smooth transition.  

We're Hiring!

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

We're Hiring! FUUSB is currently hiring for two positions.

Caretaker - Caretakers are the folks that welcome people into our building during evening hours, they help set up and take down rental events, they keep an eye on our beautiful property, and close up the building at the end of the day. We have several caretakers on staff, and we are looking for one more to join our team. The hours and days of the week vary, but usually around 5 - 7 hours per week. Send a letter of interest to Christina at xina@uusociety.org.

A/V Assistant - We are looking for two people to work as Audio Visual Assistants. These folks usually work on Sunday mornings, but also may be asked to work at other events that are live streamed, like weddings and memorial services. We will train you to use our A/V equipment working on both the cameras and sound for livestreaming. We need people who are extremely reliable.

Childcare Provider- Adult - Childcare for infants and toddlers in the Society’s nursery on Sunday mornings; and to safely supervise age-appropriate activities for children at other Society events, meetings, and functions as requested by Faith Development Staff.

All of these positions pay well over minimum wage. If you are interested, please email Christina at xina@uusociety.org to learn more about this great opportunity!

Spring Reorganization of Clothes

Donations & Volunteers

Jana Porter, Member

Please join me for our Spring Reorganization of Clothes for our Neighbors (SROCN?)! On Tuesday, May 14, at 10:30 am, I’ll be downstairs in our community room organizing the clothes for spring. Please join me if you can! I’ll have snacks. Please bring clothing donations if you have them, but most importantly bring your positive energy! Contact me, Jana, with questions.

Pre-Recorded Service - May 26th

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Our May 26th Sunday service will be pre-recorded only due to Marathon Sunday. Please take part in making it happen by video recording yourself near water, saying

“In the end we will conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.”

These words are from Baba Dioum, a Senegalese environmentalist.

Would you do this? Please hold your camera horizontally and then upload to this folder by May 15.

FUUSB Late Spring Auction

Click to donate your auction item here.

If you have questions you can reach out to SpringAuction@uusociety.org.

FUUSB Annual Picnic Sign-Up

Kim Watkin, Membership Team

Our FUUSB Annual Picnic will take place on Sunday, June 2nd after our 10am service. Please use the Sign-Up Genius link below to sign up to help SET UP, CLEAN UP, and/or BRING FOOD for this event. Our congregation will have time to socialize and meet new members as we prepare for our Annual Meeting on June 10th. If you have any questions, please email Kim Watkin at watkinfam@aol.com.  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E49AEAF28A1F85-49485009-june

Child Dedication - June 9

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 June 9. 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.

Seeking Tech Helpers for After Service & Home Visits  

Zoe Hart & Caitlin Waddick, Members

How can we help each other get better at using our technology? We — Zoe Hart and Caitlin Waddick - are looking for a handful of people who are comfortable with the Realm and Zoom apps, or maybe also with Google Drive, Facebook, and web browsers in any platform (Mac OS, Windows, others) and on any device (laptops, smart phones, desktops, etc).

We could use volunteers at specific trainings, like a Realm training, for general tech support questions where we help people with a wide variety of tech challenges. You don’t need to know it all. If you can’t answer a question, maybe someone else can. 

Also, we seek Tech Helpers who would be willing to go to congregant’s homes for a 30-minute visit. If you were to visit a congregant, we would connect you with an on-call buddy to support you. Also, would you be willing to be a Tech Helper for a longer visit as part of the service auction? 

We are seeking amateur Tech Helpers, not necessarily congregants who offer Tech Help as part of their jobs during the week. You must be willing to be friendly and share what you know in a supported situation. If you are willing, please email Caitlin.Waddick@gmail.com.  

FUUSB Action on Israel/Palestine, Proposed 

Caitlin Waddick, Member

Please join us: a group of us will meet to consider actions that FUUSB can take. We are interested in actions consistent with the October 17 and February 14 statements from the UUA. Let’s make a specific ask of the Board, such as posting signage in support of an apartheid-free congregation: the deadline to get on their agenda is May 13th. 

I will post an online meeting link (via Zoom or Meet.Coop) to Realm for 2 meetings: Thursday at 5-6 pm and Sunday at 12:30 -1:30 pm. (These dates were selected based on Rev. Karen’s availability; hopefully, she will join a meeting.) Please email me (Caitlin) to ask me to share meeting information, to tell me if you would prefer to make the Sunday meeting hybrid (in person and online), or to share ideas for the meeting agenda. We might try using the Discussion section in Realm to organize.

Radio Bean Fire Recovery

This past Saturday, our neighbor and local music venue, Radio Bean, suffered significant damage from a structural fire that gutted the upstairs apartment in their building. Luckily, all persons escaped and no one was injured. Due to heavy smoke and water damage, however, Radio Bean's hood system, venting, computers, music equipment, etc. have been ruined. A fundraiser has been organized to help both Radio Bean and the individual in the upstairs apartment through this challenging time.

To learn more and find out how you can support our neighbor, visit Radio Bean's GoFundMe page.

Recharge your Spirit at Silver Bay 

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Planning your 2024 activities and travels? Be sure to include UU Weekend at Silver Bay October 11-13, 2024 (with an option of an extended stay until 10/14/24) in your schedule! 

This annual retreat is the perfect way to say goodbye to the summer and enjoy the beauty of a fall weekend. Whether from an armchair discussing topics of interest, standing on the top of a mountain, or drifting in a kayak, this weekend will fill your mind and recharge your spirit before the onset of another winter. 

Children under 6 are free and discounts for older children and youth. Register by June 2, 2024 and receive lowest rates! And remember – your room, all meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch, programs, activities and entertainment are included in the price.

Many individuals and families from First UU have signed up already! If you register, please also add your name to this spreadsheet, so we can coordinate! Some financial assistance is available for anyone who can't afford the cost; contact erika@uusociety.org

Additional information about Silver Bay and UU weekend, including the registration form and a slide show, at https://albanyuu.org/blog/silver-bay-weekend-2024/

Vermont Interfaith Action -

Introductory Organizing Trainings

Vermont Interfaith Action

Mark the dates on your calendar now to attend a half-day training, including a light meal, to learn organizing fundamentals. We want to ensure that all our leaders understand our methodology and are well-equipped to carry it out to maximum impact on our issues.

There will be three in-person trainings, offered in Brattleboro, Bennington, and Waterbury:

Tues, May 28, Second Congregational Church, Bennington

Thurs, May 30, Waterbury Congregational Church, Waterbury

Tues, June 4, St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Brattleboro

Our schedule will be from 4 pm to 8 pm, with a half hour for a soup and salad supper. Childcare will be offered if needed; please contact Melissa Battah for more information. Registration will begin soon!