Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

September 6 at 10 am

Rev. Tom Bozeman, Guest Minister

Mary Beth McNulty, Worship Associate

How Rare It Is, How Lovely

In this society that all too often encourages our lesser instincts, how can our faith community anchor us in responding with more integrity and wholeness? How shall we engage with each other to further deepen and strengthen our collective humanity?

Our guest preacher this morning is the Rev. Tom Bozeman. He is a third-generation UU - and is grateful to give back to this movement that has done so much for him and his family.

Join us for worship in person outside (weather-permitting), or online. The livestream link will be shared at bit.ly/FUUSBWorship.

Following the service, all are welcome to Coffee Hour on the Lawn (weather-permitting).

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 Sunday

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

During the service, all ages are invited to check out our worship engagement table with fidgets, pipe cleaners, clipboards for coloring/drawing, markers & pencils, sidewalk chalk, and more! As parents fellowship during coffee hour, outdoor activity baskets with frisbees, ball toss, big bubble wands, stomp rockets, and other games will be available as well.

If a child needs a break, parents and caregivers are welcome to accompany them to the lower level to play in the unstaffed nursery or read in the children’s library (please leave the space how you found it). 

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

You can view a recording of last Sunday's service here.

Here's a delightful video from Sesame Street with Common, Colbie Caillat and Elmo singing about breathing.

Respectfully submitted, Eileen Blackwood, FUUSB Board President

Your Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, August 18 for its first meeting of the 2026-27 fiscal year. We welcomed our new Vice President Amy Taylor and Secretary Josh Prokopy to the Board. Our third new board member had to resign for personal reasons, and according to the Bylaws, the Board will be appointing a new member to serve until the next annual meeting.

As it does each year, the Board began with reviewing and re-adopting the Board covenant. This year, because the Board has been digging deeply into our commitment to policy-based governance, we added covenant language to "affirm our commitment to policy-based governance and continue to embrace both the challenges and opportunities associated with the use of this model."  

Rev. Karen reported on the progress of our upcoming Engaging Conflict Constructively process. Rev. Sarah Lammert has held conversations with 12 FUUSB stakeholders and on Aug. 29 trained several lay leaders to help facilitate small group conversations. Those conversations will be held in person on Sept. 20 after the service with another opportunity to engage by Zoom on Sept. 22. Following those general conversations about how to have difficult conversations, facilitated discussion opportunities will be scheduled in October leading up to a congregational vote on the Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge. The Board then voted to call a special congregational meeting on November 8 following the service for that vote.

Moving toward implementation of the Disruptive Behaviors Policy adopted by the Board last spring, Rev. Karen recommended the appointment of five people - three members and two alternates - to be trained to serve as the Society's Responsible Behaviors Council, and the Board voted unanimously to appoint Jana Porter, Nancy Hellen, Eric Recchia, Sandino Alemeh, and Todd Schlossberg to the Responsible Behaviors Council.

Director of Operations and Finance Christina Fulton reported positive end-of-the-year financial results for the 2025-26 fiscal year that ended June 30, 2026. More details on this can be found in her year-end report which will be posted on the website in mid-September.

At the Board's August 15 retreat with the Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger from the Concord, NH UU, the Board delved more deeply into policy-based governance, focusing particularly on how to better monitor and obtain feedback on how our Society is doing towards meetings its mission and Ends. As a result, in planning its meeting agendas for the year, the Board will try to focus more time on the Ends that were adopted by this Society several years ago and the Executive Limitations that guide our staff.  

Our next regular Board meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2026 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in the parlors and on Zoom.

Sign-up for Facilitated Small Groups

Sep. 20th

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

This fall our congregation is a spiritual gym co-op, strengthening our spiritual muscles and resilience when it comes to hard conversations, disagreement, and conflict. This is related to our Society’s membership voting on the Apartheid-Free Communities pledge after the service on November 8.

Please register to take part in the facilitated small groups taking place in-person on Sunday, Sept 20th after the Sunday service - lunch and then groups until 2:30. Or register to attend the online facilitated groups on Tuesday, Sept 22, 6 - 8:30pm. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please use this form to register.

This is for active congregants and formal Members of the Society.

In October, we will hold facilitated small groups on the topic of our values related to the AFC pledge. That date is still being figured out - stay tuned.

Can't Attend this Year's Water Ingathering?

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

If you can't attend our September 13th Water Ingathering but would like to have your name shared as "being there in spirit" please fill out this form by noon on Saturday, Sept 12th.

Good Trouble Potluck - Sep. 26th

Submitted by Kim Watkin of the Building Democracy Team

Join the Building Democracy Team on Saturday, Sept 26th at 4:30pm-6:30pm for a Good Trouble Potluck. 

The late Rep. John Lewis encouraged a focus on voting rights in his "good trouble" message of civic engagement. The Building Democracy Team has invited four guest speakers from the ACLU, the League of Women Voters, Support for VT's Prop 4, and Vermont Interfaith Action to speak to direct actions we can take to ensure fair and free elections in November.  More details will be coming soon but it is a good time to mark your calendars for this FUUSB event.  

Member Parking Pass Oval

Devin Fallon, Facilities Manager & Töve Johnson, Administrative Assistant

Each September, FUUSB members may renew or purchase parking tags, which allow you to park along the oval driveway next to the Meeting House for non-FUUSB business (shopping, etc.) for up to 3 hours. Parking guidelines can be found here. 

A yearly tag costs $45. We can sell or renew up to 50 parking tags this year. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

*Note: we cannot accommodate more than one car per pass. If you need a pass for more than one vehicle, you need to purchase and be issued an additional pass. Thank you.

Steps to renew or purchase a parking tag:

1. Fill out this form. 
2. Pay for your tag ($45 per tag). 

Ways to pay:

-You can pay online using the Make a Gift button on our website (select “Member Parking Tag” under Fund). 

-Or pay via check made out to "FUUSB"

Mailed to FUUSB 152 Pearl St., Burlington, VT 05401, OR

drop off a check or cash in a labeled envelope and place it in the FUUSB mailbox by the east entrance. Note "Oval Parking" on the check memo and envelope.

*If you are unable to complete this online form or need help you can, contact Töve at tove@uusociety.org or 862-5630 ext. 25.

For parking guideline questions, please contact Devin at devin@uusociety.org or (802) 862-5630, ext. 23.

2026-2027 Faith Development Registration

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant



It's that time of year again! Exploration Groups for Children and Youth are starting in September. Please, help us prepare by registering your children for the 2026/2027 Faith Development year at this link. 

Click here to see the Fall schedule for FD programming, and learn more about Exploration Groups for children & youth!  

Register for Silver Bay this Fall! 

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Comradery, colorful fall scenery, campfires, kids’ programs, canoeing, and culinary pleasures await you at a coveted setting on Lake George from October 9-11, 2026 (with an option of extending your stay until October 12!) 

Join the nearly 200 people who have already registered for this weekend, a highlight of the fall season! 

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.

Access additional information about Silver Bay and UU weekend, including the registration form, the 2025 schedule, and a slide show, at https://albanyuu.org/blog/uu-silver-bay-weekend/