Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

April 26 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Paul Sawyer, Guest Minister

Staci Waldon, Guest Speaker

Geoff Duke, Worship Associate

"Sparkles and Spice: Neurodivergence and Life on Hard Mode" 

In this Sunday service, our guest speakers will share explorations of our modern understanding of neurotypes, and reflections on their lived experience in the neurodivergent world.

Staci Waldon is a resident of the Upper Valley, a mom and a professional educator, who has experience as a parent and teacher of neurosparkly beings, and is a late-diagnosed person with autism.

The Rev. Paul Sawyer is a parent, partner, and minister, who in his pre-ministry days was an elementary and middle school teacher and special educator, and a program director, instructor and wilderness trip leader at the Hulbert Outdoor Center in Fairlee, VT. He also has experience as a parent and teacher of neurospicy beings, and for the last two decades at the Universalist Society of Hartland, VT he has lived the joys and sorrows of life as a religious professional with significant ADHD. He’s delighted that the wonderful Rev. Karen G Johnston will be leading worship with the good UU folks of Hartland as part of this Sunday’s pulpit swap!

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 Chalice Choice Activities on the lower level. The nursery will be staffed and open for any families who would like to use it.

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Here is the text of Rev. Karen's sermon, "Touch Earth" from Sunday. And here is the video of the service. Poems in the service included:

"Concurrence" by Denise Levertov

"Resilience" by James Crews

"This Spring" by James A Pearson

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

Meet the Budget

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

Save the date! Please join members of the Board and our Executive Team for a first look at our 2026/2027 Budget. This meeting will be held on Zoom, on Wednesday, May 11th at 7 p.m. This is your opportunity to see the budget you will be voting on at the Annual Meeting, and to ask any questions. We look forward to seeing you there.

FUUSB Climate Justice Team (CJT)

April meeting

Submitted by Michael Oman, Climate Justice Team

FUUSB Climate Justice Team (CJT) will hold its April meeting on April 27, 2026 from 4:45 pm ET to 6:00 pm on zoom. We will be discussing our future climate and environmental program, You can find a link on the CJT Realm group, or contact us at ClimateJustice@uusociety.org . We welcome any and all of our congregation who might like to participate in addressing this critical issue.

Democracy Project: Letter-making for Fence

Sun. at 11:15am

Submitted by Kim Watkin--member of the Democracy Project

The Democracy Project is working to create "block letters" that will be used as part of our FUUSB Fence project.

In the past we have used plastic tape to make letters for names in support of our detained neighbors who have court dates at the federal building. We wanted to create some block letters that would be more visible and easier to display.  

We will hosting a block letter making event on Sunday, April 26th after the service around 11:15am in the Barnum Room.  We will be tracing letters and filling in the letters with big markers. All supplies will be provided by the Democracy Project. 

FUUSB Spring Auction is Open!

Avery Hamill, Auction Team

The auction is now open!!!! Check it out and bid here.

I know Sarah is super excited to make quilts with some other FUUSBers, and I can not wait to host four of you for dinner!! So check out the website and bid early and often! 

Also, do not forget to join us for the live event on May 2nd from 5-7:30 pm at the meeting house!! We will have free food, drinks, and fellowship with your first UU pals. Plus a bunch of raffle baskets!! Wear your RADDEST hat! We can not wait to see you. 

Questions? Email Us: springauction@uusociety.org

Every Story Deserves a Home:

Support the May 3 COTS Walk

First UU Cots Walk Team

Join our First UU Cots Walk Team support COTS' mission to end homelessness! COTS is Vermont's largest provider of services for Vermonters who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or marginally housed.

We hope you will help us to make the 2026 COTS Walk a success! Many thanks to those who have already registered to participate and/or donated. A dozen and more have already joined, and we continue to see the generosity of our congregation as we have raised over $4,000 thusfar. To donate or join in the fundraising effort, click here to go to the First UU Cots Team web page link.

If you have questions or would like support to register or donate, email one of us! Amy Taylor, Kathie Voigt Walsh, or Josh Prokopy

Respectful Dialogue:

Pronouns, Spanish Chalice Lightings

Submitted by Gail Beck, Member

Hi First UU Community,

Join us for our next Respectful Dialogue on UU Practices! As we continue to explore how our congregational habits reflect our values, we invite your voice into the conversation.

• When: Sunday, April 26th
• Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Where: The Parlors

On the Agenda:

• Winding Down: Finalizing our discussion on the use of pronouns in our community.
• New Topic: We will begin discussing the practice of bilingual Chalice Lightings. Should we continue to incorporate Spanish alongside English during our services? Should each language be spoken separately? Could this be a rotating Lighting acknowledging different marginalized groups under persecution globally?

Whether you have a strong perspective or just want to listen and learn, all are welcome to this space of intentional sharing.

See you in the Parlors!

Any questions please email Rosanne Greco at  rosanne05403@aol.com.

Singing Resistance with Lance Smith

Lance Smith, Member

Come raise your voice. Join Lance Smith for a spirited 15-minute call-and-response singing gathering where we’ll learn songs alive in today’s Singing Resistance movements—from Portland to Minneapolis to right here at ICE actions in Vermont. Together, we’ll build the courage, confidence, and collective voice to show up and sing out at the next protest, the next vigil, the next moment that calls us.

No experience needed—just your presence and your voice.

May 10 & June 7 | 10:40–10:55 AM (before service)

April Date with Death Club

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Our next Date with Death Club is scheduled for April 25th, 10-12:45. Registration opened today. Click here to register.

Mark Your Calendars &

Join Us at Silver Bay This Fall

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

This much anticipated retreat from October 9 to 11, 2026 (with an option of an extended stay until October 12th) promises to be a wonderful gathering of UUs from a number of congregations. So far, we have 180 people registered! Remember all are welcome, so feel free to bring your friends!

Come enjoy brilliant fall foliage on beautiful Lake George, participate in workshops, lectures, hikes, solitary activities, kayaking, disc golf, archery, corn hole, pickle ball, and so much more. Our keynote speaker will be Eric K. Stern. He will address the topic of artificial intelligence. Eric is a professor at the University at Albany and is the director of the AI & Society Research Center, and the interim co-director of the Center for Emerging Artificial Intelligence Systems (CEAIS). 

The cost is all-inclusive. Meals and snacks are provided at Silver Bay’s lovely dining hall from Friday dinner through Sunday/Monday lunch. Children aged 5 and under are free and there are substantial discounts for older children and youth. Remember: the last day to sign up at a reduced rate is June 7th. Click here to access a registration form and other information about Silver Bay.

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.