Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

September 27 at 10 am

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Warren Baker, Worship Associate

It Takes a Village

Congregations are so weird. It’s a bunch of people who come together, some are strangers, some are acquaintances, some are friends. Some are annoying, some are funny, some seem popular, others seem lost. Sometimes you’ll hear someone say, “I’m here because I want to be with like-minded people.” But that isn’t always the case. Yet it takes all of us as villagers of the FUUSB village to co-create this special place and people. Rev. Karen is in the pulpit.

Join us for worship in person 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 this Sunday

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Families will begin the morning together in the Sanctuary. After the Time For All Ages, children & youth will be escorted to their exploration groups on the upper and lower levels of the Meetinghouse.

The Nursery opens at 9:45am, offering care for infants and toddlers, and remains available throughout the service. There are activity stations at both entrances of the Sanctuary, providing coloring pages, stuffies, and fidget toys for all ages to engage with!

Looking Back to Sunday

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

Families with Children & Youth: Join Us for a Fall Family Lunch!

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant



All families are invited to come to our Fall Family Lunch after the service on Sunday, October 4th (11:15-12:45).

We'll enjoy a pizza lunch all together, then children & youth will head outside (weather permitting) for supervised fall-themed activities. Parents & caregivers will stay inside for some fun community building and connection of their own! This is a great chance to get to know other families in the congregation, and learn more about programming opportunities in an intentional space.

An RSVP isn’t required to attend, but it does help us plan for lunch! Let us know if you can make it by filling out this RSVP form.

Amy Taylor, Vice President of FUUSB Board

In Phase 1 of Engaging Conflict Constructively, over 60 congregants signed up to take part in the in-person session that took place Sunday, September 20th from 11:30 to 2:30 at the Meetinghouse. Following a sermon by guest minister Dr. Rev. Sarah Lammert, participants were served lunch before attending breakout sessions.

An additional online session took place on September 22nd from 6:00 to 8:30. In total, over seventy people participated in both the in-person and online exercise.

The board discussed the process for the November 8th congregational vote on the anti-apartheid pledge. The Warning on the vote will go out on October 18th. All congregants who have signed the membership book by October 10th will be able to vote on the pledge.

There is currently $26,000 in the ERTC fund to be distributed in the following way:

$7,500 for facilitated discussions

$5,000 for a new website

$1,000 as a one-time gift to JUMP and VIA

$14,333 for an assistant facilities manager

The FUUSB Mission and Ends statement has not been reviewed in several years. It was decided that there would be no change to the Mission Statement, but that a task force comprised of Peter Clavelle, Kathy Stamper, and Amy Taylor would review the list of Ends and revise if necessary, keeping in mind the current local, regional, and national situation. The board will review the recommendations made by the task force at the next meeting.

Treasurer’s Report:

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2026 

Alana Shaw, FUUSB Treasurer

FUUSB ended the fiscal year on June 30, 2026, in a healthy financial position, with revenues sufficient to cover expenses without drawing on the General Fund. I commend the staff for managing expenses within available revenues. As a result, the General Fund balance increased to $208,868, equivalent to 2.6 months of expenses. The Society’s goal is to build this reserve to three months of expenses. 

The Trust Funds increased by 9.25% during the fiscal year. Within that total, the First UU Trust increased by 8%, while the Meeting House Fund increased by 12%. 

In summary, FUUSB closed the fiscal year with a positive operating result, a stronger General Fund balance, and gains across both trust funds. Continued progress toward a three-month operating reserve will further strengthen the Society’s financial resilience. You can read Christina’s full report on the website: 

https://uusociety.org/members/governance-documents/ 

Respectfully submitted, 

Alana Shaw 

FUUSB Treasurer

Sara Packard Celebration of Life - 10/3

Submitted by Deborah Packard

A Celebration of the life and spirit of Sara Packard will be held on Saturday, October 3 at 10:00am here at the church. There will be a reception immediately following in the Parlors.

UU Orientation Class #1 this Sunday – September 27^th!

Ann Guardiola, Membership Team

We offer two orientation sessions for people who are new to us and would like to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, find out about our activities and meet other newcomers, as well as start the path to membership.

Upcoming Sessions:

• New to UU Part 1: THIS SUNDAY, Sept. 27th, 2026, 11:30AM - 1:00PM (IN-PERSON) 

• New to UU Part 2: Sunday, October 25th, 2026, 11:30AM - 1:00PM (IN-PERSON)

New UU Part 1: Getting Acquainted provides an overview of Unitarian Universalist history and beliefs, including our values and inspirations. It’s a great introduction to UUism and also a good way to meet other newcomers and existing members. Upon completion of Part 1, attendees will be invited to Part 2.

New UU Part 2: Getting Connected is run in a small group format and includes some spiritual exploration between newcomers and existing First UU Society members. The session also includes information about activities, programs and Ministry Teams here at our First UU and an overview of the process for becoming a member of the congregation. Attendance at Getting Acquainted is required before taking Getting Connected, except for people who have already been a member of a UU congregation.

If you can’t make the upcoming sessions above, we will offer two more sessions on the following dates:

• New to UU Part 1: Sunday, November 22^nd, 11:30AM to 1:00PM (IN-PERSON) 

• New UU Part 2 Sunday, December 6th, 7:00PM – 8:30PM (VIA ZOOM)

TO REGISTER:

Go to the Orientation for Newcomers page on the FUUSB website to register:

https://uusociety.org/information/orientation-for-newcomers/

If you have questions about New UU orientation sessions, please email membership@uusociety.org.

Bazaar Planning Team

Kim Watkin, Bazaar Planing Team

Are you looking for a way to get involved at FUUSB that will benefit the Society?

The 91st Holiday Bazaar will be held on Saturday, December 5th and we are ready to start make this annual event a huge success!

Come and join the Bazaar Planning Team. We will find you a role that fits your time commitment and your interests. Our first meeting is Sunday, Sept 27th at 9am in the Reeb Room. Any questions? Email Kim Watkin at watkinfam@aol.com 

Good Trouble Potluck this Saturday 9/26

Submitted by Jennifer Callahan for the Building Democracy Team

Join the Building Democracy Team of the First UU on Saturday, Sept 26th from 4:30-6:30 pm 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 First UU's Building Democracy Team has invited guest speakers from organizations including the ACLU, the League of Women Voters of Vermont, Support for VT's Prop 4 and others to speak about direct actions we can each take to ensure fair and free elections in November and beyond.  

We welcome all food items for the potluck and ask that you bring them with a card labeling all ingredients. Dishes and silverware will be provided. 

Game Night is Back this October!

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 23rd (5:30-8pm): Our Multigenerational Game Night is back for the first time this fall!

We’ll have lots of games at the ready, but feel free to bring one that you want to play. In the past we've done jigsaw puzzles, Apples to Apples, Hues & Cues, Rumikub, Azul, group card games, Pictionary, and more. Generally, there are several things happening at once and that’s part of the fun! Come with a group of friends and the intention to play a particular game, or just see what’s going. Bring your kids and play together, or let them join childcare staff while you try a game with an older crowd. Make it what you want!

We'll have a "no-stress" potluck, so you can wow us with your culinary skills or pick up a loaf of bread and a tub of hummus from the store. The point is to have fun together and not go hungry! All are welcome to join for a little bit or stay the whole time, just come ready to make new friends and reconnect with the old!

Palestine Solidarity Team event:

Mousa Ishaq on Is Israel an Apartheid State?

Gene Bergman, Palestine Solidarity Team

The FUUSB Palestine Solidarity Team is honored to present a talk by Palestinian-Vermonter Mousa Ishaq on Oct. 28 from 7-8:30 in the meetinghouse Community Room. Mousa will weave his personal connection to Palestine into a presentation on the question: Is Israel an Apartheid State? We hope you can save the date and come. 

Mousa was born on the West Bank and his family still has property there. He is the chair of the Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad Sister City Program and has been active in it since its creation in 1991. He is a member of Ascension Lutheran Church, in South Burlington, which has a sister congregation relationship with the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine. 

2026-2027 Faith Development Registration

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

A reminder now that Exploration Groups for children & youth have begun: Please register for the 2026-27 program year at this link!

Whether your family has been participating in FD programming for years or you've just started, registration helps us keep important information up to date for all children & youth (ages 0-18). The more we know about who we're serving, the better we can support your children & youth as we plan for the year!