Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

November 1 at 10 am

Lance Smith & Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Dan York, Worship Associate

Singing for Joy & Courage

With the mid-term elections just a few days away, and political corruption and threats happening across the country, as we collectively practice our value of democratic processes, we need to feed our spirits. To do so, let us sing!  Worship will be led by Rev. Karen and Lance Smith with special guests.

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 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

This is a Family Chapel week (Erika's last Chapel before her sabbatical and Bianka's first)! Parents & caregivers, children, youth, and FD guides will begin on the lower level for 15-20 minutes of child centered worship. After that, parents will be sung out to the service already in progress, and children & youth will split into their Exploration Groups.

The Nursery opens at 9:45am and remains available throughout the service for infants & toddlers.

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Here is the text to Rev. Karen's sermon, "Memento Mori."  

Here is a link to the two poems we heard:

"When Death Comes" by Mary Oliver

"Feeding the Worms" by Danusha Lamerís

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

Time to Fall Back

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

On Halloween night, after you've eaten all your candy, remember to turn your clock back one hour before you go to sleep! This will give you one extra hour of sleep before coming to FUUSB on Sunday, November 1st. If you forget, and you arrive one hour early, you will be recruited to help clean up after Sunday Morning Breakfast. (which would also be ok.)

Avery Hamill, FUUSB Board Member

The Board met last Tuesday. The Board talked about the Nov. 8th special congregation meeting, where the congregation will vote on the Apartheid Free Community Pledge and whether the congregation can take no more than $70,000 from the Meeting House Fund to help with the boiler project. 

There will be more information on this meeting coming from the board soon, but people with questions are asked to reach out to the board at Board@uusociety.org. 

The Board will hold a listening session on Nov. 22nd; more information to come.  

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16th at 4:00 pm in the parlors. A Zoom link will be posted on Community Messenger on that Tuesday. Please email board@uusociety.org with any questions.

Special Congregational Meeting:

Frequently Asked Questions

FUUSB Board of Trustees

What is the purpose of this meeting?

The meeting is to address two items: 1) The first question is whether to approve up to $70,000 from the Meeting House Fund to pay for repairs to the boiler. 2) The second question is whether to endorse the Apartheid Free Communities Pledge. You can read the actual questions and review the agenda of the meeting on the warning that was sent to all members and is available on the FUUSB website, www.uusociety.org.

When and where will this meeting be held?

The meeting will be held in the Sanctuary, following Sunday service on November 8, 2026.

Who may be present and who may vote?

Any congregant may be present at the meeting, but only FUUSB members may vote at the meeting. Members must check in at the beginning of the meeting to receive a ballot to vote.

Is there an option to attend by Zoom?

Yes, if you wish to attend by Zoom, you must register ahead of time. You can find information on how to register on the FUUSB website, www.uusociety.org. Members who attend by Zoom may vote; information on Zoom voting will be provided once you register.

How will the voting occur?

According to the FUUSB’s Bylaws, the meeting will be conducted using Robert’s Rules of Order. Voting on the first question (use of the Meeting House Fund) will be held by a voice vote and on the second question by a paper ballot. 

How many people must vote for a question for it to pass?

A quorum of at least 10% of the membership must be present (which means at least 39 people) for a vote to be held. Actions are taken by a simple majority vote of those present and voting. 

Can I abstain from voting?

A member may abstain by not voting. Only those who vote “yes” or “no” will be counted toward the simple majority required.

What if there is a tie vote?

The question fails (does not pass).

Will there be any discussion on the questions at the meeting?

Information about each of the questions will be available soon on the FUUSB website, uusociety.org. On the second question, we anticipate that there may be many speakers, and to be sure that everyone who wishes to speak has a chance to do so, we will limit comments to two minutes initially. Speakers will be asked to come forward and speak from the microphone at the podium. Each person will be allowed to speak only once until everyone has spoken. After everyone has spoken once, those who wish to speak again may do so until discussion is completed or a decision is made to call the question. We will ask that everyone keep in mind our congregational covenant and abide by certain ground rules that will be announced at the beginning of the meeting.

Will a decision on the questions be announced at the meeting?

Yes, members of the Board will collect all the ballots (and votes on Zoom) and will count the votes. While that counting is occurring, we are planning an activity for those remaining in the Sanctuary. 

Will there be any food or drink?

           We will have some snacks and water available in the front lobby at the back of the Sanctuary but ask that folks not bring anything but water into the Sanctuary.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to email the Board at board@uusociety.org.

Click here for a link to the livestream.

Calling all crocheters and knitters!

Shawl Ministry

Come learn to make chickens and to have a yarn swap! We’ll show patterns for little chickens and big chickens, and all are soft and cuddly! 

The idea is to have chickens made to give to kids and adults who are in need of some comfort. We will continue to have shawls available. And we hope having chickens will provide more comfort options.

We will gather Sunday, 11/1 at 11:30 in the parlors.

Bring yarn you would like to swap and any chickens and chicken patterns you have! Making these chickens is a great way of using small amounts of yarn you have in your stash! We will have a limited number of printed patterns available on Sunday. 

We will have snacks to share, too.

Brianna and Peggy

Parking Reminders

Special Congregational Meeting

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

The FUUSB Board has called a special congregational meeting to be held on Sunday, November 8th at 11:40 a.m. This meeting will be held in the Sanctuary and on Zoom. As always, anyone is able to attend, but only members will be able to vote at this meeting.

There will be two questions voted on at this meeting:

1. “Shall the Congregation approve the use of principal from the Meeting House Fund in an amount not to exceed $70,000 to pay for Meeting House boiler repairs, including partial replacement as necessary during the 2026-2027 winter and eventual replacement and possible increase in request to the Meeting House Fund?”
2. “Shall the Congregation of First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington endorse the Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge (AFCP) organized by a coalition sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee?”

The full text of the AFCP reads:

“We affirm our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people; we oppose all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression. We declare ourselves an apartheid-free community and to that end, we pledge to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation.”

Please note that if you plan to attend via Zoom, you will need to register ahead of time. Once you register, you will be sent the link to the meeting. In order to facilitate online voting, please try to only have one member per device logged into the meeting.   Ballots have been mailed to all Life Members of the Society. They are the only members who may vote by absentee ballot. All other members have been mailed a copy of the Warning. You can go to our website www.uusociety.org, and click on the box in the middle of the page for the Special Congregational Meeting to view the Warning, Agenda, and Zoom registration link.

Please consider joining the

Stewardship Committee

Amy Taylor, Vice President of FUUSB Board

Fellow congregants, we are looking for a handful of volunteers to join the FUUSB Stewardship Committee. As a committee, we seek testimonials, organize stewardship events, and contact fellow members to communicate the gratitude we all feel for the time, talent and treasure shared to make this society sustainable.

Come join us on Sunday, November 1st following the service. We would love to have you work with us to fill this important and necessary role.

The 2026 Holiday Bazaar Needs You!

FUUSB Holiday Bazaar Team



Do you like fun? Do you like to help our UU and the local community? Do you like to smile? Imagine, you can do all that at once by participating in this year’s Holiday

Bazaar!

The Holiday Bazaar is Saturday, December 5, from 9-2 in the Community Room. There will be household items, holiday

décor, art, toys, and baked goods for sale, a luncheon in the Parlors and lots of holiday cheer!

But we need you to add even more smiles to this festive

community event!

If you are interested in volunteering at this year’s Holiday

Bazaar, please reach out to Kim Watkin at watkinfam@aol.com.

There are other ways you can help too! You can start now

by saving items to donate and thinking about homemade baked goods, jams and jellies you could contribute to be sold as part of this annual fundraiser.

We are excited to have you be part of the merriment!

2026 FUUSB Fundraiser -

Holiday & Memorial Wreath Sale!

FUUSB Holiday Bazaar Team

Support the FUUSB and order a gorgeous, premium quality wreath with a beautiful bow of your choice for your home or for a gift. And you can also remember a loved one this year with a Memorial Wreath that will decorate our Meetinghouse Sanctuary and outer doors during December.

All wreaths are hand-made in the Northeast Kingdom at the Michaud family farm and measure about 24” across. Order now online through the FUUSB Fundraiser link: FUUSBWreaths.auctria.events

 Preferred wreath pickup Thursday 12/3 or Friday 12/4 in the Community room, 10am to 7pm. Come and pick up your wreath when you drop off your donation box for the Bazaar!.

Wreath pickup is also available Saturday 12/5 during the Bazaar or Sunday after service in the Community room.

Any questions? Contact Kim Watkin at watkinfam@aol.com 

Q&A about the Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge: Sunday, Nov. 1, 11:30 am

Palestine Solidarity Team

Join our Question and Answer sessions about how our congregation can endorse the Apartheid-Free Communities pledge(AFC), led by FUUSB’s Palestinian Solidarity Team. We will begin with the UUA's 2024 Action of Immediate Witness (AIW): “Solidarity with Palestinians,” which calls on all UU congregations to “sign, amplify, and carry out” the Apartheid-Free Communities pledge. Then, in the UU spirit of seeking truth and holding conversations with love and accountability, we will have a pair-share activity. All questions and answers are welcome. 

Learn why Palestinian solidarity has been a UU issue for over 50 years, and what it means to join others globally in working to end all support to Israel’s apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation. 

Q&A sessions are offered on Sunday, 11/1, 11:30 am-12:30 pm (Snacks provided!) and on Friday, 11/6, 12:15-1:30 pm (Light lunch provided), at FUUSB. RSVPs helpful: PalestineSolidarity@uusociety.org 

Look for us after the service to pick up printed copies of the pledge, the AIW, our Q&A document about endorsing the pledge at FUUSB, and a Q&A developed for UU Congregations by Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East. (Pali Answers.com is a great place to ask your questions.) This video celebrates UU endorsers.  

Invite a Friend to an Event Hosted by the Palestinian Solidarity Team 

Palestine Solidarity Team

• October 28 (Wed) 7-8:30 pm Is Israel an Apartheid State?: An Evening with Mousa Ishaq, a Palestinian Vermonter and Chair, the Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad Sister City Program.

• Nov. 1 (Sun) 11:30 am-12:30 pm  Question and Answer Session* on the AFC Pledge In-person, at FUUSB. With snacks.

• Nov. 4 (Wed) 7-8:30 pm  Book Discussion: Perfect Victims and the Politics of Appeal by Mohammed El-Kurd. In person/hybrid, at FUUSB … a New York Times Best Seller. Winner of the 2025 Palestine Book Award. Copies of this book are available at discount to congregants. (Zoom link by request to or5ka@yahoo.com). Cosponsored by the Peace and Justice Center.

• Nov. 6 (Fri) 12:15-1:30 pm  Question and Answer Session* on the AFC Pledge In-person, at FUUSB. Lunch provided. 

• Nov. 8th (Sun) 11:40 am  First UU Society Members can vote to endorse the Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge Locations: in the Sanctuary and via Zoom by registration only

• Nov. 10 (Tues) 3-4 pm  Palestinian Solidarity Team meeting in person/hybrid, at FUUSB 
• 

* Our Q&A events are intended to prepare UU Society members for our Apartheid-Free Communities Pledge vote on Nov. 8. Your RSVP by email, PalestineSolidiarity@uusociety.org, or via Realm is helpful. You can go to www.PaliAnswers.com and see where your perspectives are similar and different.