Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

Sunday, March 3 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Melinda Lee, Worship Associate

“Our Potential, Only Together: A Mighty Oak Home”

Whether this congregation has ever been a tiny acorn could be up for debate. Yet, we are always in the process of touching and tapping our potential – of ever becoming a mighty oak! And not only a mighty oak for its own sake, but one we can call home. On this Stewardship Sunday, wear your dancing clothes, as the temporarily-assembled FUUSB House Band invites us to create a Generosity Parade celebrating how our communal acts of stewardship make our potential possible. Family Chapel takes place at the start of the service and then families – adults and children – will return to the Sanctuary so that we can dance and celebrate together. An abundant coffee hour is planned afterward.

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.

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!

Rowan Van Ness, Director of Youth & Emerging Adult Ministries

Sunday, March 3, 10 a.m.

Attention Parents! We will begin our morning together with Family Chapel in the Community Room on the lower level with about 15 minutes of child-centered worship, after which families can head upstairs for the remainder of the service in the Sanctuary. Nursery care is also available throughout both Family Chapel and the rest of the service, beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



This past Sunday included a delightful Time for All Ages that introduced a new modern Vermont myth based on Fuusbie the Vermont Eclipse-Eating Cow.

Our service included the poem "Verd Mont" by FUUSB member Tricia Knoll, from her new book of poetry published just this last week.

It also included this poem, by Naomi Shihab Nye, about Burlington's Public Library.

Here is the stone ritual table from this past Sunday.

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

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

Don't miss this Sunday's celebration of Stewardship! If you haven't already done so, you can complete your 2024/2025 pledge card online: Make a Pledge! Or you can make your pledge at the service on Sunday. Please take some time to carefully consider your gift to the society and consult the Giving Guide and the Giving Pyramid, which can both be found on our website. Need some inspiration? Watch Brian and Suzy Haas' stewardship testimonial! And please join us for an abundant coffee hour following the service. Thank you so much for your continued generosity to FUUSB and our mission.

Minister's Message

Rev. Karen's Latest Video Update

Help Spread the Word:

Eclipse Homestay & T-Shirt Fundraisers!

Susan Ogden, Eclipse Team

FUUSBIE’S: We are still counting on you to get the word out about our awesome astronomical event and Homestays!

An online purchasing platform, Auctria, can be viewed to see photos and descriptions of all available accommodations at: 

https://fundraiser.support/eclipse

Please share widely via Facebook and Front Porch Forum and with your personal and family networks.

And here is the link to order the awesome eclipse t-shirts designed by Sarah Rosedahl!

https://www.bonfire.com/eclipse-2024/

With Gratitude from the Eclipse Team

FUUSB First Friday Open-Mic Coffeehouse

Join Us for the FUUSB First Friday Open-Mic Coffeehouse!

Friday, March 1, 7–9 p.m. 

Join us dear ones, on this Friday eve 

For songs to be sung, and tales for to weave 

The company of friends, to inspire and delight  

Warm your hands and your heart at our open mic 

What: The Monthly FUUSB Open-Mic Coffeehouse. Share a song, spoken words, or other talent, or just come and listen.  

Who: Everyone! All ages! Invite friends and family

Where: The Sanctuary, First UU Society of Burlington

When: Friday, March 1, 7–9 p.m. 

Sign-up for the open-mic starting at 6:30 p.m. 

Cost: Free!

Questions? Email Todd Schlossberg here

Interested in Having a Meditation Group

at FUUSB?

Herb Schroeder

Join us on March 3 at 11:45 in the Parlors

Recently, interest has arisen in starting a new general meditation group for people in our congregation. This group would be for anyone who has practiced meditation or is interested in any form of meditation from any tradition. Join us for a conversation about what such a group might look like, how often it would meet, how it would be organized and staffed, and so on. We will meet in the Parlors after the Sunday service at 11:45 a.m. on March 3 to begin exploring the possibilities. Rev. Karen plans to join us for this meeting.

Anna Deavere-Smith Play Reading

Valerie Wood-Lewis

Build community, and grapple with issues of racial justice in a new and powerful way. You are invited to participate in a very moving experience, doing a group read-aloud of the searing work of Anna Deavere-Smith, award-winning playwright and documentarian. On Wednesday, March 6 and Tuesday, March 12, from 6:00-8:30 p.m., we will gather at FUUSB to read Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 and Fires in the Mirror: Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Other Identities respectively. No experience or preparation is necessary!

Pre-registration is required for this event, as enrollment is capped at 7. Please email Valerie Wood-Lewis here with questions or to register for one of the evenings, and I will send a confirmation email with more details!

What We Can Do About the Climate Crisis

A Message from Your FUUSB Climate Justice Team

Lisa Lax

Individual changes in response to the climate crisis are important. Depending on our means and situations, we can weatherize, use an electric vehicle, install heat pumps, cut back/eliminate air travel, and/or eat a plant-based diet.

However, not everyone can do these things. Ultimately, the most important action someone can take is to use their voice and vote to bring about meaningful and timely change to reduce carbon emissions.

We urge our fellow UUs to join us in the work for climate justice policy and legislation. One of the best ways to get involved is through an advocacy organization. There are some great organizations that make it easy, and there is no better time than now.

Below is a list of organizations we recommend. We invite you to choose one, get on their email list, and use their tools to get involved.

Climate Justice Advocacy Organizations

• Sunrise Movement (multiple chapters in Vermont)
• Third Act Vermont
• Vermont Interfaith Power & Light
• Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC)
• Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG)
• 350Vermont

If our message inspired you to get involved in one of these organizations, we would like to know. Please email Lisa Lax here. We would like to see 50% of our membership become involved!

A Message from Our Administrative Specialist

Dear Members and Friends of FUUSB,

I wanted to share the news with you that I have decided to leave my role as Administrative Specialist for the First UU Society at the end of March. Since I joined the staff in August 2017 as the Society Administrator, I have gotten to know many of you, and I continue to appreciate your kindness and respect. I have found it rewarding to work in support of FUUSB’s mission and your work as a congregation, both in the justice ministries and your focus on caring for this community. Thank you for all you do to make the First UU Society the welcoming and mission-focused community that it is.

I would also like to shine a light on FUUSB’s dedicated staff - I am grateful to have been able to work with such a kind and talented group of people. Throughout many changes (including a global pandemic), they have been a supportive, creative, and resilient team. Your next administrative staff person will be lucky to join them.

My last day of work is planned for March 28. Since I will be staying in the area, I know I will see many of you as our paths frequently cross in the future.

With Best Wishes,

Mary Williams

FUUSB on Facebook

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

There's been some confusion recently about the Society's Facebook accounts. We have two Facebook accounts: one Facebook Page and one Facebook Group.  

The Facebook Page is open to anyone on Facebook. There are only a few staff members who can post things to this page. People can like and comment on posts on the page, but they cannot write messages to the page. The address for the Facebook Page is facebook.com/fuusb. If you haven't visited this page, you should do so. I often repost things from the UUA and the UUA President. While you're there visiting, make sure to like the page so that you see our posts in your newsfeed.

The Facebook Group is a private group limited to members and friends of the congregation. You must ask to join the group and if you are a member/friend of FUUSB, then the moderator (me) will let you into the group. Once you are in the group, you may post to the feed as long as you abide by the group's rules found in the About section on the page. Members post all kinds of things in this group, from events happening at the UU to local happenings that you, as a member of FUUSB, might be interested in.  

Requesting Space & Zoom Meetings

Erin Barbot, Ceremony & Scheduling Coordinator

Mary Williams, Administrative Specialist

If your FUUSB team would like to request Meeting House space or schedule a Zoom meeting, we have online request forms that we ask everyone to submit. Form responses go into a spreadsheet, which helps us keep track of and schedule each request. Emails can get lost, so filling out a quick form is the best way to request a meeting. (If you are planning a hybrid meeting, please submit both forms.)

• Space Use Request Form 
• Zoom Meeting Request Form 

The forms can also be found on our website on the Forms page and the Space Use page.

For questions about Space Requests, please email [email protected]g. For Zoom questions, please email [email protected]. Thank you!

Obituary for Debby Bergh

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Here is the obituary for FUUSB member Debby Bergh.

Please note that the memorial service has been scheduled for Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne.

Marking the Passing of Elliot Isaac Ruggiero

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

The Ruggiero Family - Katherine, Willa, Louisa - marked the death of their son/brother, Elliot Isaac, who died in stillbirth this past December. They held a ritual at home with Rev. Karen on Sunday, which would have been his due date. The ritual included FUUSB homegrown holy water and Willa and Louisa receiving knit and sewn "hugs" from the FUUSB Prayer Shawl Ministry. They thank you for your support during this tender time of loss and the congregation's recognition of their whole family.