Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

May 26 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen Johnston, Senior MInister

Warren Baker, Worship Associate

"Lake Sunday, Conserving, Loving, Understanding"

“In the end we will conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.” These words from the Senegalese environmentalist, Baba Dioum, will be at the heart of this pre-recorded service focuses on this month’s Earth Teacher, the Champlain Watershed.

Due to Marathon Sunday and the difficulties of travel to the Meetinghouse on this particular morning, our Sunday service will be completely virtual and available on our YouTube channel.

The Meetinghouse will be closed.

The pre-recorded video link and order of service will be shared at bit.ly/FUUSBWorship, or visit our YouTube channel.

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Last week was "Faith Development Sunday" where we celebrated the joyful contributions of our children, youth, and those dedicated adults who have guided them throughout the year. 

We also gave a a bittersweet good-bye to Blake Ewoldson, our Facilities Manager.

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

Highlights included a poem from a fourth grader and lifelong FUUSBer:

Our Children & Youth Need You!

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Were you inspired by the reflections of our youth advisors, classroom guides, and OWL facilitators on Sunday? Could you tell how much fun they were having and how much joy this work brings them? Does this inspire you to consider joining the team? Reach out to erika@uusociety.org to find out more about opportunities in the coming program year!

Congratulations!

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Congratulations to FUUSB member, Jon Sallée's, graduation from Meadville Lombard seminary this past Sunday.

Raceweek!!! - Accessing Burlington's Parks

Marathon Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

For those looking to access Burlington's AWESOME parks, Sunday requires a little bit of planning. By 1pm Sunday, racers will be past all city parks except Waterfront, which stays busy with runners through 2pm.

FUUSB Library News

Lynn Douglas, Library Team

Come visit your FUUSB adult library collection in its new home! We’re not quite done, but kudos to Sarah, Suzy, Mark, and Ann for the amazing paint job!

Children's Library

Come and ‘check out’ our Faith Ringgold collection. Ms. Ringgold was a tireless activist and an amazing artist!

Dandelion- June's Earth Teacher

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

An invitation to deepen your relationship with the natural world by spending each month reflecting on a specific Earth Teacher. June's Earth Teacher is Dandelion and the date for the virtual reflection session has changed to Sunday, June 2, 2024 7:00 - 8:15 pm. Please register through Realm to attend.

Please bring a way to journal (writing, drawing, keyboarding). Optional: a chalice to light. This session includes individual reflection and small group work, using content from the Earth Teacher packet sent out electronically to the FUUSB congregation at the end of the month before. Familiarity with the packet is not necessary.

This is our last Earth Teacher session until the fall.

Congregations and IRS Guidelines on Advocacy, Lobbying, and Elections

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

As a religious organization, First UU Society of Burlington is required to follow certain IRS regulations in order to maintain its Non-Profit Status. It is truly important that we are all aware of what we are allowed to do and what we are not allowed to do. The UUA has published a great little guide called, "The Real Rules", that goes into great detail on this topic. But let's face it, it isn't exactly a page turner. So what do you really need to know? 

It is pretty simple really: Issues are ok, candidates are not. What I mean by this is that it is ok to advocate for issues. It is not ok for FUUSB to ever show support for or against a candidate.  Therefore, we can pass around a petition to support an issue, but we cannot pass around a petition to support a candidate. We can post in our Facebook group about an event about a particular issue, but we cannot post about an event to support a candidate. We could also put a sign up in the yard about an issue that we do not support, but we could not put a sign up for a candidate that we do not support. So, Issues are ok and Candidates are not.  

If you are unclear or have any questions, contact Christina at xina@uusociety.org.

FUUSB Late Spring Auction

Click to donate your auction item here.

If you have questions you can reach out to: SpringAuction@uusociety.org.

June 2nd Annual Picnic

Kim Watkin, Membership Team

We're getting ready for the Annual Picnic on Sunday, June 2nd. We are in need of people to help set up tables and chairs on the lawn at 9am as well as people to help bring tables and chairs back inside at the end of the picnic. It is a POTLUCK so we will need some help with food too! Click here to access the Sign Up Genius but you can also contact Kim Watkin at watkinfam@aol.com if you have any questions/comments.  

Spring 2024: Virtual Hymnal update

& sneak peek!

From the UUA

In January Rev. Erika Hewitt and Camille Hatton gathered the curious to learn about how we've designed our virtual hymnal "container" and licensing agreements. Thanks to our participants, we received helpful questions and ideas that the Virtual Hymnal Task Force reviewed.

We now have a set of exciting updates to share with you about our virtual hymnal prototype! We'd like to reveal our working model, show off its bells & whistles, explain its testing phase, and present the financial details that are emerging. Each gathering will also include a poll of your most cherished public domain hymns—information that will be folded into the Beta version of the virtual hymnal.

We invite you to join us in a Zoom webinar space for any or all of our three offerings:

• Thursday, May 30th at 4 pm Eastern / 3 pm Central / 2 pm Mtn / 1 pm Pacific
• Wednesday, June 5th at 7 pm Eastern / 6 pm Central / 5 pm Mtn / 4 pm Pacific
• Monday, June 10th at noon Eastern / 11 am Central / 10 am Mtn / 9 am Pacific

Please note that we ask you to register in advance, and that preregistration includes your agreement to honor basic covenantal principles.

If you can't attend but you want to view the recorded compilation of these sessions, you don't need to register at all. The recording will be available on this page in July 2024.

Vermont Interfaith Action

Introductory Organizing Trainings

Debbie Ingram, Vermont Interfaith Action

VIA Staff will be conducting introductory organizing trainings.

Join us for one of three identical half-day trainings, including a light meal, to learn organizing fundamentals so that we can achieve maximum impact on social justice issues.

Each of these will be offered from 4 to 8 pm, with a half-hour break for a soup/salad supper. Attend the one nearest you -- in Brattleboro, Bennington, or Waterbury:

• Tues, May 28, Bennington

Second Congregational Church, 115 Hillside St

•  Thurs, May 30, Waterbury

Waterbury Congregational Church, 8 N. Main St -- this one is

intended for folks from the Burlington area and from

Central Vermont

• Tues, June 4, Brattleboro

St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 16 Bradley Ave

Click here to register (and feel free to invite others).

Childcare will be offered if needed; please mark the appropriate place on the registration form.