Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

September 1 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Stevens, Guest Minister

Warren Baker, Worship Associate

"Pancakes & Process Theory"

Rev. Dr. Stevens will introduce us to Process Theology, a metaphysical and philosophical framework inspired by quantum physics. She will also sing camp songs and offer tips on getting adolescents out of bed…and on creating the world we are longing for.

Elizabeth Stevens has been a UU Minister for 25 years. She's a graduate of Yale University, and received her M. Div. and her D. Min. from two different seminaries in Berkeley. She currently serves our congregation in Moscow, Idaho.

Please join us for Sunday morning worship at 10 a.m., which will be held outdoors at the First UU Society each week through the beginning of September. The service will also be live-streamed. Find the livestream link go to our YouTube channel.

Summer Garden Childcare will be available in the Memorial Garden. Following the service, all are welcome to Outdoor Coffee Hour.

There will be chairs, but feel free to bring your own portable chair, or a blanket if you’d like to sit on the ground. 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.

Holding Space after the Service

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

As many are aware, last week a member of our congregation, Jason Gerrard, was taken into police custody after threatening an outreach worker. Jason grew up in our congregation and is known to many as the man who plays the piano after the service. On Sunday, Sept 1, our guest minister, Rev. Elizabeth Stevens, will stay after the service and be available to help those in attendance process this incident, holding space for questions and concerns. Rev. Elizabeth has extensive trauma training and a loving, compassionate presence. Christina Fulton, our Director of Operations & Finance, alongside a Board member, will be present for that session as well.

Looking Back to Sunday

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

Website is Down

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

As many of you are already aware, our website is not working. The company that hosts our website uses another company's server to "hold" our website. That company has proven to be unreliable, as our website has been down 3 times in the past month. Therefore, they are moving our website to another server. I am unsure how long this will take, but I know they are working on it and will do it as quickly as possible. My apologies for the inconvenience.

In the meantime here are some links that you might find helpful:

• Sunday Livestream Worship Service
• Online Giving
• FUUSB Events Calendar
• Sunday Morning Breakfast Sign Up

With Outdoor Worship Comes

Summer Garden Childcare

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Weather permitting, childcare providers will be expecting children of all ages who prefer to engage in free play during the worship service to join them in the Memorial Garden. You can sign your children into their care before the service begins or at any point during the service.

This week we expect to bring out the bubble machine and the face paint station! You will also find a basket of coloring supplies, sidewalk chalk, and manipulatives in the worship area for anyone who likes to keep their hands busy during the service.

Building Hours

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

It's the announcement you've waited all summer to hear!

Effective starting in September, FUUSB will have the following building hours:

Mon. 11am-1pm

Tues. 11am-3pm

Wed. 11am-1pm

What does this mean?

As a safety measure we keep our doors locked at all times (excluding Sunday Services, events, etc.). While necessary, this can be a challenge for those needing access to the building for committee projects, drop-offs, general questions or other services. These hours are times that the congregation can be let into the meetinghouse.

• If you need to meet with a specific staff member, please contact them in advance to make an appointment.

• If you need to get into the building during a time not listed here, feel free to reach out to tove@uusociety.org to make arrangements.

Note: Every effort will be made for a staff member (mostly Töve) to be available during these times to let people in. However, sometimes unavoidable circumstances may occur that could prevent this from happening. Apologies in advance if this occurs.

Water Ingathering - Sept. 8th

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Come to our Sunday service to celebrate the new year! And Pride!

Bring water from a source - far away or close-by - meaningful to you to add to our collective waters that we will all bless

If you can't be there, but have water you want included, please drop it by the Meetinghouse and leave the small container in this basket, found on the shelf as you come in the Clark Street door.

If you attend virtually, and want us to say your first name to affirm your presence and participation, write to Rev. Karen by Friday, Sept 6th to let her know you want to be included and which names to say.

After the service, we'll have an abundant coffee hour. 

All are invited to walk together as part of the Pride march - we'll walk together to the starting point or you can find us there (more information about where that is the week before the service).

2024 Pride Vermont in Burlington

Please mark your calendars for this year’s Pride Vermont Festival and Parade in downtown Burlington!  FUUSB will again be taking part in the Pride Parade on Sunday, September 8th starting at noon.  We will be gathering after the morning service to take part as a group. Further details to follow regarding the gathering location and parade route.  We are hoping that once again this year FUUSB will have a vocal and spirited presence! 

You can follow this link https://www.pridecentervt.org/pride/ for the website regarding the parade and festival. You may also contact Darryl Loiacano at darrylkl@hotmail.com with other questions.

FUUSB Board Update

Kim Watkin, Board Member

I am Kim Watkin, the newest member of the FUUSB Board of Trustees. Your FUUSB Board is meeting on the third Tuesday of each month* at 4pm to 6pm at the Meetinghouse. We recently met on August 20th. 

As part of our monthly meeting, we heard from Director of Operation & Finance, Christina Fulton, about the FUUSB 2023-2024 Year End Financial Report for the Year Ending: June 2024.  With gratitude the Society was the recipient of two large bequests to the First UU Trust that will be added to our assets.  We spent time discussing the anticipation of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) and the process we will use to distribute these funds in the future.

The Board also heard from Rev. Karen on issues ranging from our fundraising efforts, meeting with downtown clergy about recent events, planning and preparing for the new congregational year with our Staff and Board, and her priorities for “Year Two” of her ministry. Our meeting ended with the question, “how have we done with our adherence to the 8th Principle at this meeting”?

We welcome you to attend our FUUSB Board Meetings in the future. 

*Oct meeting will be Oct 22nd

A Special Thanks to Bob Furrer

Devin Fallon, Facilities Manager

As you may have noticed, our Meeting House Roof received a major facelift this summer. This considerable project was made possible through the generosity of a Historic Preservation Grant award from the State of Vermont and a subsequent matching grant. We all owe Caretaker Bob Furrer a special thank you for securing the $17,000 matching grant which was essential in funding the recent repairs made to the Meeting House roof.

The project was awarded to Stewardship Slate LLC to inspect, access, and repair our slate roof. Missing and damaged slates were replaced and loose slates secured. Stewardship Slate also provided all materials and permitting needed to complete the project. The total project cost was $34,000.

On behalf of the Property Team and the greater community, I’d like to thank Bob for taking on the responsibility of the entire project, including writing a competitive grant application, soliciting bids from contractors, overseeing the work of Stewardship Slate, and liaising with the state throughout the grant process. Your efforts are integral in maintaining our infrastructure so FUUSB can continue to serve as a safe and welcoming space in the community.

Faith Development Registration

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Back to school means back to Faith Development programs at FUUSB! If you have children or youth who plan to take part in Faith Development programs at First UU this year, please take a moment to click on the link below and register them. From infants in the Nursery to high school youth, registration helps us plan and provides us with important contact information.

Click here to register.

Sign-Up at Coffee Hour

for Sharing Circles

Gail Beck, Member

It's that time of the year and we are beginning to offer information and sign ups for Circle Groups.

Stop by the table at Coffee Hour and find out what's going on.... maybe you would like to see a specific Circle formed, maybe you are looking for more connection and a safe place to discuss different topics. Maybe you are interested in facilitating...

Any Questions? Email:

ChaliceCircles@uusociety.org or ThemeCircles@uusociety.org

See you Sunday!

Child Dedications - November 10

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Child Dedications are a joyful covenant between a child’s family and the congregation, recognizing that the raising of a child is a community blessing. Senior Minister, Rev. Karen G. Johnston, and the Director of Lifespan Faith Development, Erika Reif, will be leading such a ceremony for a group of children during the service on November 10th. Dedications can happen soon after birth or adoption; they can happen for an infant, a toddler, a preschooler, or an older child.

If you would like to have your child dedicated at First UU on that morning, or to find out more, contact Erika, erika@uusociety.org.

Recruiting Volunteers

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Help Wanted! It takes a village…Please consider supporting our multigenerational community by volunteering in the programs for children and youth. 

• Concerned about missing worship? We are looking for people who can make once-a-month commitments. 

• Worried you’re not an expert? We have curricula for that. You can model a growth mindset by learning alongside the young people you supervise.

• Are you an expert? Would you like to offer an activity you are passionate about? Share a skill you have as a one time special offering or more regularly? Let us know!

Contact Erika to find out more about opportunities this fall! erika@uusociety.org

New Tuesday Meditation Group Starting Next Week

Marty Garrett, Member

Announcement: Meditation group starting Tuesday, Sept 3 at 5:15.

Location: Second floor of church.

Join us for a 45-minute session each Tuesday at 5:15. Open to all meditative, silent-leaning approaches, informed by Buddhist meditation practices, this group is for beginning meditators, as well as seasoned practitioners. Please arrive a few minutes early so we can start on time. Leadership of each Tuesday’s session will be shared among a rotating group of established meditators, each bringing their own style of leading to those gathered. . You are welcome to sit on a chair or cushion.

Our purpose and hope is:

• to provide an opportunity for those who are interested in deepening their already established meditation practice or in exploring meditation as a new spiritual practice for themselves.  
• to create and sustain a community of meditators (what, in Buddhist circles, is called sangha)

Feel free to drop in to check it out or to come every week. Hope to see you there.

There is Room at the Inn!

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

In a blink of an eye, the summer season is quickly ending. But don’t despair! Plan now to enjoy a beautiful fun-filled weekend with fellow UUs enjoying peak foliage in the Adirondacks. Join others from FUUSB in signing up for the UU Weekend at Silver Bay from October 11-13, 2024 (with an option of an extended stay until 10/14/24.) 

Catch the leaves from the Inn’s porch, a kayak, a tour boat, or from a mountaintop! Access additional information about Silver Bay and UU weekend, including the registration form, the schedule of events and activities, and a slide show, at: this link.

Children under 6 are free and there are substantial discounts for older children and youth. Remember – your room, all meals from Friday dinner through Sunday or Monday lunch, programs, activities and entertainment are included in the rates.

If you need financial assistance, please reach out to Linda Way, the Registrar (our congregation can help as well! Contact erika@uusociety.org).

Click here or the image below for details & descriptions for Summer Services at FUUSB.