Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

April 27 at 10 a.m.

Andrea Van Liew, the FUUSB Climate Justice Team & Guests

Judy Brook-Worship Associate

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

"Our Power, Our Planet"

We celebrate Earth Day (April 22) and the power of this planet to sustain life and our power to protect this planet, our only home. Led by FUUSB’s Climate Justice Team, the FUUSB choir will sing “Living Planet” and we will spend time together connecting with the source of all living and our commitment to do what we can to save what can be saved.

We are marking Earth Day with an array of activities - on Saturday, April 26, there is a workshop on Facing Extinction: Processing Eco-Grief (registration required; look in Realm) and on Sunday at 1pm, open to the community, there is a workshop on green burials.

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 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

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Families will begin worship together in the Sanctuary. After the Time For All Ages, children and youth will be sung out and escorted downstairs for Chalice Choice activities.

Parent Surveys

Töve Johnson, Program Assistant

Calling all parents: Help us strengthen our program by completing a short Faith Development Survey!

This Sunday during Coffee Hour, we will have a table where parents can give feedback on Faith Development programming. We will have paper forms available and a member of the Faith Development Support Team to answer questions.

Looking Back to Sunday

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



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

Here's the text to Rev. Karen's sermon from this past Sunday, Transformation: An Easter Sermon. In it you will find the poem, "How I've Started to Pray" by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer as well as Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbon's " A Humanist Speaks of Easter."

Meet the Budget

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

If you are interested in seeing the proposed budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, please join us for a Meet the Budget presentation on zoom, Monday, April 28th at 6:30 p.m. Christina will give a brief update on where we stand on the current budget, and then will walk you through the proposed budget for the 25/26 fiscal year. There will be plenty of opportunity to have your budget questions answered by Christina, Rev. Karen, and the Board. We hope to see you there!

In Memoriam

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance



We share with you the sad news that long-time FUUSB member, Rich Cassidy, died on Monday, April 23 after a long illness. At his side was his wife, Becky (also a member). Rich signed the book in 1989. He served as legal counsel for FUUSB and for two decades, was the Moderator of our Annual Meeting. A memorial service is being planned, to be held here, on Friday, May 2nd at 4 p.m.

Immigration Justice Event Tomorrow- 4/24

Additional Resources:

• Click here to access Vermont Digger article with details about the arrest.
• To learn more about the 6pm emergency rally at City Hall click here.

Climate Justice Offerings this Sunday

Andrea Van Liew, Climate Justice Team

After this Sunday's service, we have two special offerings for the congregation –

First- everyone is invited to take a seedling with you to honor Earth Day and our collective Climate Justice actions. The seeds were started by children during a Faith Development’s Chalice Choice, then nurtured and transplanted so they would be ready to hand out today – there are both veggie and flower seedlings. Enjoy!

Second – Saturday, May 3, is Vermont’s cherished Green Up Day! There will be Green Up day trash collection bags available during coffee hour this Sunday and a sign-up sheet to identify where you will be collecting trash. Thank you for participating in this important effort to keep Vermont Green!

Join Us for New UU Part 1:

Getting Acquainted -April 27th at 11:30am

Kim Watkin, Board Member

Are you interested in learning more about the First UU Society of Burlington? Interested in finding out what it means to be a "member" of the FUUSB? 

Come join us at our New UU Class- Part 1: Getting Acquainted on Sunday, April 27th at 11:30am to 1:00pm in the Parlors.  

To learn more about this class and register for this class, click here.

May 1st events from Migrant Justice & partners

Caitlin Waddick, Immigration Justice Team

Many members of the Immigrant Justice Team will participate in actions organized by Migrant Justice: 

"This Mayday, farmworkers will return to the Hannaford in Williston. Join us on the picket line any time from the store’s opening at 7am to its closing at 11pm! At 5pm, community groups will gather at a nearby park (28 Walnut St, Williston) before marching past the offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and joining workers at the Hannaford for a large rally at 7pm." This effort is part of the Milk with Dignity picket!"

#MilkWithDignity  Migrant Justice need people, like us, to drive, as volunteers. Please contact Madeline if you can drive to support International Workers Day on May 1st. (She needs to know your availability is on May 1st, Where you'll be coming from, How many passengers you can bring in your car, and a good cell number for you.)  

Migrant Justice is also collaborating with the Vermont Labor Council, which is planning a big Workers Fight Back rally at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier from 4:30-7pm. 

Minute of Us

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Since February, we have been holding an online Moment of Silence, initiated by the good folks at Choose Democracy. These have taken place at 12:53 for 3 minutes, after which those in attendance speak to what is on their heart - lamentation and joy related to what is going on in the world.

Wednesday, April 30 will be our last session of this. You can do this by joining this congregational Zoom link at 12:50.

FUUSB Game Night!

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Saturday, May 10, 5-8 p.m.

Community Room

Our multigenerational Game Night is back! All ages are invited to play, eat, and be together.

We have lots of games at the ready, but feel free to bring the one you want to play. In the past we've done jigsaw puzzles, Dominoes, Ticket to Ride, Rumikub, Azul, group card games, Pictionary, and more. There are generally several things happening at once. It's okay to come with a group of friends and the intention to play a particular game. You can bring children and play with them or have them play with childcare staff while you try out a game with an older crowd. Make it what you want!

We'll have a "no-stress" potluck; you can wow us with your culinary skills or pick up a loaf of bread and a tub of hummus from the market. The point is to have fun together and not go hungry. We'll have decaf and tea available, plates and utensils.

Come for a little bit or stay the whole time. Come ready to make new friends and reconnect with the old!

April DwDC

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Date with Death Club is a monthly, adult faith development offering, facilitated by Rev. Karen (who is also the author of the curriculum). Participants are required to register - slots fill up quickly. Open to congregants who are a part of FUUSB, to register, click here.

This month's session on April 26 is Facing Extinction: Processing Eco-Grief.

Each session stands on its own - it's okay if you did not attend a previous DwDC session. Sessions will run on the last Sunday of each month through the end of June. More sessions will begin in August on the 4th Saturday or the month. Registration opens on the first Wednesday of each month.

Theme Circles

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Hi Friends-

Discover Joy in Community- Join a Theme Circle in May!

How do we cultivate joy in our Lives? Join us for a Theme Circle at FUU where we'll explore this question together using The Path as a spiritual guide for reflection and conversation.

Choose a session: May 20: Tuesday, 2-4PM; or May 20: Wednesday, 6-8PM.

Theme Circles are small, facilitated groups where we share, listen, deepen our spiritual journey as we connect, reflect and discover the many ways joy takes root in our lives.

For more information about or to sign up for Theme Circles, please email ThemeCircles@uusociety.org.

A number of Chalice Circles are accepting new members. Please email ChaliceCircles@uusociety.org.

Learn more & RSVP at www.bit.ly/OrdainRowan.

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.