Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

September 15 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Judy Brook, Worship Associate

"A Waggle Dance of Invitation"

Honey bees communicate to their fellow bees through something called a waggle dance, which is a kind of invitation and instruction about next steps for the health of the hive. What are our next steps for the health of our congregational hive? This joyful worship service will explore and present invitations to all of us for how to be of service in our spiritual home. Feel free to show up as your favorite pollinator. As part of this Sunday service, we will be introducing newer members of the FUUSB staff team. We’ll also be sending off our Director of Operations & Finance, Christina Fulton, on her 3.5-month sabbatical, offering her a congregational blessing. Rev. Karen is in the pulpit.

Join us for worship in person in the Sanctuary, or online. The livestream link and order of service will be shared at bit.ly/FUUSBWorship, or visit our YouTube channel.

Following the service, all are welcome to Coffee Hour outside, 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.

Looking Back to Sunday

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

Children & Youth This Sunday

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Children are encouraged to remain with their families in the Sanctuary for this multigenerational celebration, but childcare is available in the Nursery if needed.

At the end of the service we will celebrate the start of our Faith Development year, by inviting families with children and youth to process out of the Sanctuary together straight to a bagel lunch in the Parlors, in preparation for the Parent Circle and Children’s Festival to follow.

Annual Parent's Circle

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

September 15th 11:30am-12:30pm

After our light lunch (bagels and cream cheese, fruit, vegan options), parents are invited to remain in the Parlors for our annual circle, where parents and caregivers of the children in our congregation get to meet each other, Faith Development Staff get to share information about the programs that are about to begin, and we all get to dream together!

This year our programs for children in PreK- 8th grade will look a bit different than in the past and we would love the chance to tell you more.

Outdoor Children's Festival

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

September 15th 11:30am-12:30pm

The childcare staff, led by our new coordinator, Phoenix Crockett, have a special outdoor festival planned for kids! 

After a quick lunch with families in the Parlors (or maybe they just fill a plate to bring with them), children will be lead outside to the Memorial garden for carnival games, bubbles, facepaint, and fun! They won’t want to miss this kickoff for the Faith Development year!

Staff Retreat Tomorrow - Sept. 12th

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Attention: The FUUSB staff will be unavailable tomorrow due to their Staff Retreat.

Welcome Phoenix!

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

We are so excited to welcome Phoenix Crockett, a joyful, creative, father of three to the role of Childcare Coordinator; parents of preschoolers, toddlers, and infants can now look forward to having a consistent caring adult in the Nursery most weeks!

Phoenix Crockett was born in northern Maine and lives in Williston, Vermont. He studied psychology and human development at UVM before completing a Master of Teaching degree, also at UVM. In 2020 he won Vermont's Teaching for Social Change Award for his 6th grade social justice curriculum. He worked as a 7th grade teacher and as a pre-K director before landing in specialty care full time. In his down time he plays the harp and watches a lot of baseball.

The Lay-Led Effort for Summer Music

Rev, Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Molly Moerdyk, Member

Music enriches our services in so many ways, awakening our senses and evoking thoughts and memories. Summer services were special this year. While in the midst of staff transition, we had so many people step up to make music happen as we anticipated the arrival of our new Director of Music.

Our choir community stepped forward with so many talented vocalists who not only led hymns, but brought us some beautiful and moving pieces for prelude, postlude and the stone ritual.

Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.

To Sam Whitesell for working with hymn leaders, the tech team and Worship Associates for going above and beyond to create services that moved so many.

To those of you who not just filled in for Sam when he was away, but brought us your skills playing recorder, violin, ukulele, piano, guitar, autoharp and much more, thank you.

A special thank you to Linda Patterson for working magic with the worship associates to coordinate the Music and Poetry service.

And finally, to Molly Moerdyk for bringing all this talent together, working with the worship associates and tech team to create and sing our way through a harmonious summer of services.

Seeking LGBTQIA+ Chalice Circle Facilitator

Susan Ogden, Member

Are you interested in being part of a new Chalice Circle to explore topics and support for LGBTQIA+ members? 

We are seeking a facilitator of this new Chalice Circle and will provide support, training and participants.

Please contact: chalicecircles@uusociety.org

2024/2025 Pledge Statements

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

Your 24/25 Pledge Statement was sent via email on Monday, September 9th. It is essential that you open that email and click on the link to review your pledge statement. This first statement of the pledge year is where we often find mistakes: credit cards expire, automatic payment schedules expire, pledge amounts could be wrong, etc. We need to correct these problems before we get too far along in the pledge year. If you have any questions please contact Christina at xina@uusociety.org right away as I will begin my sabbatical on September 20th. After that, you may contact Töve at tove@uusociety.org and she will be able to assist you.

Realm and Your Pledge

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

How to correct the most common problem of recording your pledge payments correctly in Realm.

If you had an automatic pledge payment scheduled in your Realm account for a prior year and you just assumed that it was fine for this year . . .you are wrong. Sorry, but it is true. Each year scheduled automatic pledge payments need to be updated so that the pledge payment is credited to the new pledge year. If you do not make this update, then your pledge payments will keep getting credited to the prior year.

How to Fix It: Go into your Realm account and choose "Giving." Now click on the button "Scheduled" and make sure that your scheduled payment is going to the 24/25 Pledge Year. If it says 2023/2024 Pledge Year, then you need to fix it. Click on the three dots on the right and choose Edit. Where it says "Fund" click on the drop down arrow and choose 24/25 Pledge Year. Contact Christina and she will update any payments that went to the prior pledge year.

Climate Justice Revival!

Save the Dates- Sep. 28 & 29

Climate Justice Team

Save the Dates! Please join our Climate Justice Revival!

On Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29, FUUSB will join UUs across the country in gathering our congregation to scope out the challenging realities we face in our communities. These may include economic justice, racial justice, immigration justice, farmworker justice, LBTQ+ justice, and other social issues that intersect with climate justice. As a spiritually-guided community, we will envision a flourishing future of liberating possibilities and consider our roles in creating our collective liberation. Our discussions will lead this congregation into climate actions through the year, and will be honored in Sunday services with a climate resilience tree. (Thank you, Faith Development Team.) 

We are also offering an all-ages, vegan cooking activity for families on Saturday, beginning at 10 am, and leading into the potluck lunch. To facilitate shopping and preparation, we need RSVPs for the cooking activity. Please email us and say how many family members seek to join the cooking activity:   climatejustice@uusociety.org.

Please join your Climate Justice Team on this journey: 

Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 am to noon, followed by a potluck lunch.

Sunday, Sept 29, a 10 am service led by Rev. Karen, followed by the Revival wrap-up from 11:30 am to 1 pm. 

As introduction to the Climate Justice Revival, on Sunday, Sept. 22, 11:45 am to 12:45 pm, we will show an 18-minute video on “Climate Justice and UU Values,” with discussion led by Rev Karen; snacks provided. 

Sabbatical Communication

The Sabbatical Team

As many of you have heard, our indefatigable Director of Operations and Finance, Christina Fulton, is going on sabbatical for three months this fall. Because Christina plays such a central role in our Society’s operations, a Sabbatical Planning Team, consisting of Brian Haas, Alana Shaw, Tracy Titchner, and Eileen Blackwood, has been working with Christina and Rev. Karen to prepare for her absence. Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions:

FAQs:

When is Christina’s sabbatical? Christina’s sabbatical begins on Sept. 20, 2024 (after the Board’s Sept. 17 meeting), and she will return to work on January 2, 2025. 

Why is she having a sabbatical now?  Our personnel policies provide that beginning after six years of service, full-time director-level positions are eligible for one month of sabbatical leave for each year of service up to a maximum of six months. Christina’s last sabbatical was seven years ago and was only for two months, so it is high time she gets to take her promised time off.

Who will be handling the Society’s finances in her absence?  In addition to Rev. Karen and our Bookkeeper, Anne, our existing Finance Team, which consists of Brian Haas (our Society Treasurer), Tom Porter, Tom Hyde, and Phil Brentwood, will continue reviewing and overseeing the Society’s financial situation. Specific tasks that Christina normally handles have been distributed to different individuals. Everyone has been trained and is ready to go! 

Who will be handling Christina’s management duties?  Christina directly supervises four employees, and Rev. Karen will take over those management duties while Christina is out. 

What if I have a question about Realm or Community Messenger?  Contact our Program Assistant, Töve Johnson at tove@uusociety.org.  

What if I want to schedule use of a space at the Meetinghouse? If you need to schedule space or a zoom call, please use the forms on our website: www.uusociety.org. Under the Members section, click on Forms. Or you may speak directly with our Events & Scheduling Coordinator, Erin Barbot, at erin@uusociety.org.    

Can I contact Christina during her sabbatical?  Please do not contact Christina during her sabbatical, as this is her time to have a break from work. If you see her at an event or the grocery store, please say hi, but do not talk about Society business with her. Rev. Karen will contact Christina if there is something particularly urgent that Christina should know.  

Is Christina’s husband Woody working during her sabbatical?  As many of you know, Woody is a very active volunteer for our Society and is involved in many activities. To allow Christina to fully disengage, Woody will also be taking a break from Society business. He may, however, continue to be in the choir. Liam Hart and Michael Wright will be handling technological matters for services and other activities.  

What if I have other questions?  Töve can probably answer, or refer you to someone who can answer questions about administrative matters. You can also contact the Sabbatical Planning Team by emailing sabbaticalteam@uusociety.org and one of us will help to connect you with the right person to assist you.

Calling All Singers!

Liam Hart, Music Director

The FUUSB Choir rehearses every Wednesday from 7:15-8:45pm, please contact the Music Director, Liam Hart (liam@uusociety.org), if you are interested in participating.

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.

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). If you register, please also add your name to this spreadsheet, so we can coordinate!

Each month FUUSB has an Earth Teacher and a packet of materials to help you connect with and make meaning in your life in relationship with that Earth Teacher. Check it out.