Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

June 1 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Warren Baker, Worship Associate

"Appreciation Sunday"

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to allow a congregation to hum and strum, to survive and thrive. Each congregational year, thousands of hours are spent embodying who we are, how we are, and what we are. Let’s pay attention, with gratitude as our guide, to this most-amazing effort that is the essence of First UU. We will be bridging one of our senior high school students as part of this service. This is a multi-generational service. 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

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Families will remain together in the Sanctuary throughout this multigenerational service of appreciation. There will be no nursery childcare available this morning.

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



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

Here is the text to Rev. Karen's sermon from Sunday, May 25.

Here is a video message from the Unitarians in the UK and the UUA, both of whom celebrate their 200th anniversary this past weekend.

Ken Swearingen Celebration of Life

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

A reminder that Saturday, June 7th at 10am, is FUUSB member, Ken Swearingen's Celebration of Life service here in the sanctuary. 

Come Join Us!

The Racial Justice Team Monthly Meetings

Kathie Voigt Walsh, Member, FUUSB RJT

The Racial Justice Team meets monthly on the first Tuesday, (at a new, earlier time!) 5:00 p.m to 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

The team aims to deepen the congregation’s understanding of white supremacy and engagement in BIPOC-led organizing and direct action for racial justice.  Currently we are reassessing our focus as we respond to the urgent challenges the federal administration is presenting.

Currently meetings occur via Zoom.  For more information and/or to join, email racialjustice@uusociety.org.

Next Date with Death Club- May 31

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Registration for each month's Date with Death Club opens on the first Wednesday of each month. May's session is rescheduled from March: What to Do with a Dead Body. Registration is required; click here to do so.

Space is limited to 28 people. 

Date with Death Club is a monthly curriculum-based gathering to "explore mortality in community." You can attend one, some or all sessions. It's okay to attend this one even if you didn't go to the other ones.

Signing the Membership Book

Raya Lele, Membership Team

Did you know…. If you’ve taken the New UU classes and made a pledge of financial support to the FUUSB but have never signed the Membership Book you are still not an official member? The final step of signing the Membership Book is quick and easy but sometimes gets overlooked, so we offer regular opportunities for those who have done everything but “sign on the dotted line” to do just that. You can arrange to sign the book at any convenient time, but to make it even easier we have a Signing Sunday coming up on June 1. The Membership Book will be available in the Parlors right after the service for those who are ready to sign. We hope to see you there!

Correction*: Annual FUU Campout

Elmore State Park, June 13-15

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

For more than 20 years, members of First UU have gathered at this beautiful state park in mid-June to commune with nature and each other! This loosely planned weekend will include a Friday night potluck dinner, group campfires, sing-alongs, and an informal closing circle worship. Climbing the mountain and the firetower are optional but inspiring activities! There will be children; there will be youth, there will be adults, younger and older. If you like camping and UU fellowship, please consider joining us! (If sleeping in a tent is not on your to-do list, we welcome day- trippers for the Friday potluck or Saturday beach and mountain fun!)

Please follow this link for more information and to register!

*Last week, the wrong title ("Silver Bay") was printed with this article. See correct Silver Bay article below.

Silver Bay

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Don’t miss the June 2nd Deadline for Reduced Rates for the UU Weekend at Silver Bay!

Comradery, colorful fall scenery, campfires, kids’ programs, canoeing, and culinary pleasures await you at a coveted setting on Lake George from October 10 to 12, 2025 (with an option of extending your stay until October 13.)

Register by June 2nd for the UU Weekend at Silver Bay to receive the lowest rates. Remember – your room, meals from Friday dinner through Sunday (or Monday) lunch, programs, activities, and entertainment are all included in the price. Children under 6 are free and there are substantial discounts for older children and youth.

Click here for additional information about Silver Bay and UU weekend, including the registration form, the 2024 schedule, and a slide show.

Let us know if you’ll be joining others from FUUSB at Silver Bay by adding yourself to this spreadsheet!

Annual Congregational Potluck/Picnic

Sarah Russell, Member & Kim Watkin, Board Member

One of the traditions which brings us all together is the Annual Potluck/Picnic held near the end of the church year. This year it is on June 8th, right after the Annual Meeting. What makes this so great is that it is potluck so we all bring a dish to share and many people sign up to set-up and clean-up. If you are brand new or have been a member for decades please join us to share a meal and camaraderie with your fellow congregants. As long as we don’t have a downpour (fingers crossed this spring) we will be on the lawn between the Society and Memorial Garden. Rain place is inside the Society.

Please signup here to help out. We look forward to seeing a lot of you.

Meet and Greet with the Minister

Sunday, June 1st

Ann Guardiola, Membership

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 the first Sunday of the month 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:

Sunday, June 1st

11:30AM – 12:30PM

Whitney Young Room

Climate Justice Team meets

Sunday, June 1st, at 11:30 am 

Caitlin Waddick, Climate Justice Team

The Climate Justice Team welcomes new members to our special meeting on Sunday, June 1, 2025, after the service, 11:30 am-12:30 pm. This meeting will focus specifically on deepening our commitment to the UU Climate Justice Revival, which is a global effort cosponsored by the UUA, Side With Love, UUSC, UUMFE, UUCSJ, UUSJ, and UU the Vote. New visitors and members might review relevant materials before our meeting here. We ask, “What can FUUSB do to create a flourishing society that builds our connections to each other, nourishes people, and that envisions climate justice and collective liberation in Burlington and beyond?” 

As a part of it, we are talking about solidarity economics as it applies to this moment and the recent "Resist and Build" Summit earlier this month.  We resist fascism; we build solidarity. 

Please look to our Realm announcement and join our email group for the meeting location, which is TBD, at the time of this writing. 

Please direct your ideas and questions to: climatejustice@uusociety.org  

SEEKING HOMESTAY DONORS!

Homestay Team

We had a very successful Eclipse Homestay program in April, 2024, and now a team is in place to manage an ongoing homestay program for parents and families of students at UVM, Champlain College and Saint Michael’s College. Please Email homestay@uusociety.org and the Homestay Team can provide you with the details of donating a room in your home for one-three nights for Parents’ Weekend in the Fall of 2025; and/or Graduation Weekend in the Spring of 2026. The homestay team manages all reservations and the revenue is donated directly to FUUSB!

Interested in joining a Group at First UU?

Susan Ogden, Member

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 a variety of circles designed to foster community, personal growth, and spiritual exploration. To learn more about the different types of circles available, please visit the LINK to the FUUSB Circles web page.

For further information, please contact Gail Beck or Susan Ogden at ThemeCircles@uusociety.org.

Deepening Our Lives

Susan Ogden, Member

We are a Chalice Circle meeting the first and third Mondays of each month from 5-6:30 PM, at the meetinghouse. We are a diverse group and we are seeking more members. Our discussion derives from the Path. This month Imagination has guided us.

Contact: ChaliceCircles@uusociety.org

Burlington's Overdose Prevention Center Informational Gathering

Radical Welcoming Committee

Date: 6/1/25

Location: Susan B Anthony Rm

Time: 11:30 am

Please join your fellow Congregants for an overview and thorough explanation of our city's upcoming Overdose Prevention Center. A brief power point presentation will set the stage for questions and honest discussion of this very important addition to Burlington's system of care for people who use drugs.

Come and learn about this life-saving service and the ways it will lessen common suffering in Burlington. 

Ed Baker and other local figures involved in the development of our Center will be available for a thorough discussion.

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.