Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

April 19 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Dan York, Worship Associate

"Earth Day: Touch the Earth"

Just before the Buddha attained enlightenment, so the story goes, he was sorely tested and tempted by the forces of chaos (called “Mara”). His powerful act of resistance was to touch the earth, which vanquished Mara. Bruised and broken as we have made her, our connection to the earth and to the Earth sustains us in these chaotic times. On this Earth Day service, we will explore and affirm this impulse. Rev. Karen is in the pulpit.

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 will be offered in the Nursery throughout the service.

Five to Thrive Initiative-

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Outright VT was the first recipient of funds from our Five to Thrive Initiative and received these funds as part of last Sunday's service. This is one of the ways FUUSB practices our Core Value of generosity - by sharing a one-time windfall with community partners with shared values and visions.

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

Eileen Blackwood, Board President

Agenda for Upcoming Board Meeting

REMINDER: The Board will be holding a listening/information session following the service on April 19. Hope to see you all in the Sanctuary at 11:30 am. 

The Board’s next regular meeting will be held on April 21 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in the Parlors. The Zoom link for the meeting will be sent out on the morning of the meeting.  

Tentative Agenda 

silent observers welcome in-person as well as via Zoom 

(this agenda is subject to change)

• Welcome/check-In
• Minutes/consent agenda
• Senior Minister's report
• Monthly financial reports
• President's report
• Update from Nominating Committee
• Board’s auction donation to raffle
• Business under consideration
• Request to place Apartheid-Free Communities pledge on annual meeting agenda
• Begin review of draft Responsible Behaviors Policy
• Review of draft FY 26-27 budget (expected executive session)
• Communication from member (expected executive session)

You can still catch the "Authentic Selves" exhibit in the Arc Gallery!

Beyond the Binary Subcommittee

Even if you missed the exhibit opening on Sunday, you can still enjoy the "Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families," an exhibit of photographic portraits and text from Family Diversity Project.exhibit in the Arc Gallery on the second floor of the Meeting House.

Through beautiful images and moving text, this exhibit celebrates trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people and challenges deleterious stereotypes.

This exhibit is brought to you by the Beyond the Binary subcommittee, a group of cis and trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming members of the congregation dedicated to inclusion and radical welcome.

See it on April 19, 9-10 AM & 11:30 AM-1:30 PM!!!

FUUSB Spring Auction! Bidding Open Friday!

Avery Hamill, Auction Team

The auction opens for bids this Friday, check out all the wonderful events and items that people have donated and help us support FUUSB! 

Check out the website here. And make sure to save the date for our in-person auction happening on May 2nd, starting at 5 pm at the meeting house. We can not wait to see you there!! 

I know I am bidding on some of the wonderful dinners people have up!!

Online bidding opens Friday!

Questions? Send us an email: springauction@uusociety.org 

SAVE THE DATE: April 26th 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 are working on reserving a place at the Meetinghouse-stay tuned.  We will be tracing letters and filling in the letters with big markers. All supplies will be provided by the Democracy Project. 

First UU Cots Team

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.

This year the COTS Walk is on Sunday, May 3, 2026, with check-in beginning at 1pm and the kick-off at 2pm. You can choose to walk the full route, a short route, or virtually, or you can donate to support our efforts.

The 2026 COTS Walk theme is Every Story Deserves a Home. Every person who walks through the doors of COTS shelters, housing, and programs has a unique life story. We get to know some of these folks at the UU's Sunday Morning Breakfast, and so we welcome the opportunity to support them in this way.

We hope you will join us to make the 2026 COTS Walk a success!

Click here to go to the First UU Cots Team web page link, or scan the QR code to go to our webpage right on your phone  

Thank you for your support.

Questions? contact Amy Taylor, Kathie Voigt Walsh, or Josh Prokopy.

P.S. We met our original goal of $2500.00, and our team is already in 3rd Place! ... and we haven't even really tried yet! Amy says, "Hold my beer!!!" (She wants our team to come in First!)

Palestinian Solidarity Team meetings,

April 22 & May 6

Palestine Solidarity Team

The Palestinian Solidarity Team of our congregation will be meeting next on April 22, 2026 at 1-2:30 pm in person at the FUUSB, and May 6, 1-2:30 pm, also in person. 

The situation in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank continue to be horrific and the spreading of war to Iran and Lebanon compounds this. We will continue in our meetings to discuss how we can live into our values to oppose these horrors, including bringing the Apartheid Free Communities Pledge to our congregation's Annual Meeting in June. Please join us.

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.

Annual Elmore Campout!

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Elmore State Park, June 19-21

Join other UU friends & families at Elmore State Park for a weekend of play, eating, and community fun. We’ll kick things off with a Friday evening potluck, gather for a campfire sing on Saturday, and finish with a Sunday morning worship. In between, there will be plenty of time to fellowship, relax, hike, swim, paddle, play games, make s’mores, and enjoy the beauty of our surroundings. All activities are optional; just come and share in loads of fun! 

We only have two unclaimed sites from our original reservation, so if you’re thinking about joining, now is a great time to sign up so we can make sure everyone has a spot! Want to share a site with someone? Some campers would welcome company!

You can sign up here, or reach out to Chip Patullo at sunergy.vt@gmail.com with any questions.

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.