Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

April 12 at 10 a.m.

Dana Kaplan, Guest Speaker

Betsy Ferries, Worship Associate

"From Abstract to Embodied: Living Our Values in Times of Change"

What does it mean to be a community of care in a time of change? We’ll explore how moments of tension—around identity, language, and belonging—offer opportunities for growth rather than division. This sermon challenges us to move beyond “not knowing” into curiosity, accountability, and action, and to recognize that true welcome is built through practice. It is an invitation to be bold in living our values, and to help create a community where everyone has a place.

Our guest speaker is Dana Kaplan, who serves as Executive Director of Outright Vermont, leading the organization’s work to advance a bold vision where all LGBTQ+ youth have hope, equity, and power. With a background in mediation and conflict studies, Dana brings a relational, values-driven approach to leadership, navigating change with integrity and a commitment to community. He is also a musician, parent, and proud Jewish New Yorker.

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. 

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Here is a link to the Wendell Berry poem, Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front, first published in 1973, which Rev. Karen referenced in her sermon.

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

Plus some images from the service...

Minister's Message- April 6th

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Here is the latest Minister's Message from Rev. Karen.

Eileen Blackwood, Board President

Happy spring (I am watching the snow drift down ….). The Board will be holding a listening/information session following the service on April 19. We will catch you up on what the Board has been doing, including its decision on the Apartheid Free

Communities pledge. We also hope to hear from you with any questions, comments, or thoughts you have, as we consider the fiscal year 2026-27 budget in preparation for our annual meeting on June 7. Hope to see you all in the Sanctuary at 11:30 am on April 19.

The Beyond the Binary subcommittee welcomes you to "Authentic Selves!"

AUTHENTIC SELVES

Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families

Elizabeth Allen, Radical Welcome Team

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] encourages you to see "Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families," an exhibit of photographic portraits and text from Family Diversity Project.

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

Where: Arc Gallery, 2nd floor of the Meeting House

Exhibit opening and welcome: April 12, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM

Exhibit may also be viewed:

• April 12, 9-10 AM
• April 19, 9-10 AM & 11:30 AM-1:30 PM

Donate to the FUUSB Spring Auction!

PLEASE DONATE BY APRIL 10

Avery Hamill, Auction Team

The auction is now accepting donations for our upcoming spring auction! Please consider what you can donate to help us raise as much as we can for our community. Check out the website here and donate. And make sure to save the date for our in-person auction happening on May 2nd, starting at 5 pm at the meeting house. 

Online bidding begins on April 17th. 

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

Dig Into the Muck:

Coffee, Conversation, & Earth Wisdom

Gail Beck, Earth Teacher Project

Please join us on Sunday, 4/12, at 11:30 AM for a soulful exploration of our "Earth Teacher," mud. We will gather to find the connection between humus and humility, creating fertile soil for new growth.

The Details:

- When: Sunday, April 12, at 11:30 AM

- Where: First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington

- Format: A musical meditation titled "No Mud, No Lotus," followed by shared readings of poetry and prose.

- Reflections: We will discuss works by Parker Palmer, Mary Oliver, Marge Piercy, and Kurt Vonnegut regarding the fertile conditions of spring.

- Sharing: The session includes time for quiet contemplation and journaling prompts focused on personal and collective resilience.

- Hospitality: Midday snacks will be provided; please feel free to bring your own cup of coffee.

Materials:

For a digital copy of the readings, please email gailbeckvt@gmail.com. Hard copies are also available to the right of the office door.

Whether you are seeking quiet communion or a deep dive into the "work of the world," there is a warm spot waiting for you.

Looking forward to seeing you.

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.

Workshop: Making Home Without Walls: Lessons from Jewish Antizionism 

Palestine Solidarity Team

For as long as Zionism has existed, there have been robust movements of Jewish people making the case that it was the wrong direction for our people. In this workshop, we will dive deep into these histories, to learn lessons for how we might grapple with the troubling directions that Israel has taken in our time. We will explore contradictions that were present in Zionism from its origins, draw insight from Jewish movements of the past about other paths toward Jewish safety, and consider how we might make use of those lessons for responding to Israeli aggression, antisemitism, and fascism today. The Palestinian Solidarity Team is cosponsoring this workshop with Jewish Voice for Peace VT/NH chapter. We invite you to register for this hybrid workshop on Sunday, April 12, 2:00-5:00 PM: Making Home Without Walls: Lessons from Jewish Antizionism. It will be held both in person at First UU and online. 

What is Antisemitism? From Right-Wing Weaponization to Collective Liberation

Palestine Solidarity Team

When are accusations of antisemitism pointing to a genuine problem we all need to take seriously, and when are they inflating Jewish fears to shield Israel from legitimate criticism? In this workshop, we will learn how to sort one from the other. We will trace the origins of the idea that criticism of Israel is antisemitic, and we'll learn how this idea poses dangers for Jews and non-Jews alike. We will build an analysis of antisemitism that moves us away from ethnonationalism, and toward liberation for all instead. Join Jewish Voice for Peace of Vermont & New Hampshire as we work to re-connect real struggles for Jewish safety with the struggle for everyone's safety and freedom.

The Palestinian Solidarity Team of First UU is cosponsoring this event with JVP. We invite you to register for this hybrid workshop on Sunday, April 26, 2:00 - 4:30PM, (Hybrid) What is Antisemitism? From Right-Wing Weaponization to Collective Liberation. It will be held both in person at First UU and online.  

Just Books Club, Tuesday, May 5th, 5:15 pm 

Palestine Solidarity Team, Racial Justice Team, Immigration Justice Team

The Palestinian Solidarity Team, the Racial Justice Team, and the Immigration Justice Team propose a book group to read books focused on intersectional justice issues. We tossed around a couple of ideas for a first book and settled on this Winner of the National Book Awards 2025 for Nonfiction: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El-Akkad. Info here. We selected it because several people had already bought it, and were excited to be part of this book group, or had already read the book and recommended it to us. We plan to meet in person on Tuesday, May 5, early evening, likely, 5:15-6:30 pm, at First UU. If this effort interests you, message me and let me know if that time works for you: PalestineSolidarity@uusociety.org  Also, let's think about our next book too. One idea is to alternate fiction and nonfiction. 

Antisemitism, Collective Liberation, and Palestinian Solidarity: 4/12, 4/26, 5/17

Palestine Solidarity Team

The Palestinian Solidarity Team is cosponsoring three events with Jewish Voice for Peace. https://www.jvp-vtnh.org   Please register in advance for these educational workshops. The first two events will be offered hybrid in person at First UU and online. The last event is in person only. It will fill up fast: now is the time to register for it! Please click on the links to see full descriptions of each event. 

Sunday, April 12, 2:00-5:00 PM, (Hybrid) Making Home Without Walls: Lessons from Jewish Antizionism

Sunday, April 26, 2:00 - 4:30PM, (Hybrid) What is Antisemitism? From Right-Wing Weaponization to Collective Liberation

Sunday, May 17, 1:30 - 3:30, (in person only) Skilling Up for Hard Conversations  

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.