Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

Sunday, February 4 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Warren Baker, Worship Associate

“Forget Your Perfect Offering”

Creating more than the sum of our parts means to come as we are, perfect in our imperfection. It means to come with the means we have, knowing that we cannot control the outcome, but must practice trust that it will be enough and more. With music and words, we will make our way into recognizing the strength, the weakness, and the just-right-ness of what we have to offer as stewards of this community, and hopefully, of this world. 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 in the Community Room.

We are temporarily requesting that everyone mask while in the Meeting House. 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

Sunday, February 4, 10 a.m.

Community Room

Family Chapel

Attention Parents! We will begin our morning together in the Community Room on the lower level with about 15 minutes of child-centered worship, after which parents can head upstairs for the remainder of the service in the Sanctuary, while children break into their exploration groups. 6th-8th graders will explore the February theme of Justice & Equity, Undercover Kindness Agents will train for their next mission (2nd-5th grades), and Spirit Play (PreK-2nd) will wonder about the week's story and continue their cardboard creations! Nursery care is also available.

Here is the text for Rev Karen’s sermon.

Here is the link for the video recording of last Sunday's service.

Eclipse Homestay Project

Susan Ogden, Eclipse Team

PLEASE SHARE!! The Eclipse Homestay Website Is Launched:

https://fundraiser.support/eclipse

And be sure to check out the awesome t-shirts for sale commemorating the 2024 Eclipse!

https://bit.ly/EclipseCowShirts

Care for Each Other, and Our Community

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

The title of this article says it all. Covid is everywhere right now. Many staff members either currently have it or have had it in the past few months. Many members of our community also have Covid. And the rest are trying really hard to not get Covid. Local hospitals and doctor’s offices are once again ramping up their masking policies. Therefore, we are changing our Covid/Flu statement to the following:

1. We are temporarily requesting that everyone mask while in shared spaces in the Meeting House.  
2. If you have any of the common Flu Symptoms or the common COVID Symptoms, please stay home.  
3. If you have been exposed to COVID but have no symptoms, please stay masked in the building.
4. If you have tested positive for COVID, please isolate.

Remember, staying home doesn't mean you will miss the Worship Service; you can always watch the live-streamed service. And meetings can be held via Zoom, by scheduling a Zoom link with Mary.

Masks can be found in the wall dispensers at both entrances.

Thank you for helping us keep all our members, especially those most vulnerable to illness, safe in our Meeting House!

FUUSB First Friday Open-Mic Coffeehouse

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

Friday, February 2, 7-9 p.m. 

Mark this down, don’t miss the date

This open mic is sure to rate

With poems and music, warm and sweet

And be assured, there will be heat! 

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, February 2, 7-9 p.m. 

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

Cost: Free!

Questions? Email Todd Schlossberg here

Rowan Van Ness, Director of Youth & Emerging Adult Ministries

Saturday, Feb. 10, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

All ages are welcome.

Save the date for a midwinter retreat—a chance to find the warmth of community in the cold of winter. Join us for workshops that sample the joys of building connection - from playing games, to gong relaxation meditation, beadmaking, singing, and more! For more information and to register, please see our registration form.

Come one, come all, and look forward to a fun morning at the Meeting House. If you're hungry for more, you can register for the UU Silver Bay Retreat coming up on October 11-13! 

Giving Statement for Tax Year 2023

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

On Sunday, January 21, I emailed out your Giving Statements for Tax Year 2023. This statement is strictly for tax purposes and does not represent any particular pledge. So you only need this statement if you claim charitable contributions on your taxes. If you do not recall seeing this statement, please look at that date in your inbox, trash, and spam folders. If you still cannot find it, please contact Christina at [email protected].

New Exhibit in Arc Gallery

There is a new exhibit by Claire Graham-Smith in the Arc Gallery on the second floor. Claire has been making quilts and doing textile work for over 20 years. She is fascinated by historical quilt making and how it informs modern quilting textile design and techniques. Claire describes herself as a Modern Art Quilt maker who straddles the line between art quilts and modern quilts. Next time you’re in the Meeting House, take a few minutes to check out this wonderful exhibit. If you’re interested in showing your own artwork in our gallery, please email Nina Dahlstedt Buss here.

Annual FUU Campout!

Elmore State Park, June 14-16 

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

For more than 20 years, members of First UU have gathered at this beautiful state park in mid-June to commune with nature and each other! This loosely planned weekend will include a Friday night potluck dinner, group campfires, sing-alongs, and an informal closing circle worship. Climbing the mountain and the firetower are optional but inspiring activities! There will be children; there will be youth, there will be adults, younger and older. If you like camping and UU fellowship, please consider joining us! (If sleeping in a tent is not on your to-do list, we welcome day trippers for the Friday potluck or Saturday beach and mountain fun!)

Please follow this link for more information and to register!

Socially Responsible Santa - Thank You!

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

The Socially Responsible Santa program raised just shy of $4,500 this year! With those contributions, we were able to provide area people and families with cash gifts of anywhere between $80-$300, depending on their needs. We know these families are blown away by the generosity of this congregation. So thank you for helping us to continue this beautiful tradition that allows people to make their own decisions around their holidays and how they would like to celebrate. 

One more announcement: As many of you know, Maggi Hayes was the "Chief Elf" of this program for many years. Over the past six years or so, I have been working to keep this tradition alive. Next holiday season, we have a new person who will be taking the reins, someone who has been assisting me for several years, Ellen Wollensack. I know how much this tradition means to Ellen and I'm sure she'll do an amazing job!

A Note of Appreciation from Gene Ashley

I thank Reverend Karen and members of our Society for helping me observe my birthday this year. I turned 101 years old on January 6th. She mentioned this in the January 7th service and there followed a singing of "Happy Birthday."

In the following week I received hand delivery by Hope Baker-Carr of the elegant birthday card signed by many of our Society with signatures and salutary comments. 

There followed many birthday cards in the mail.

It has been a heartwarming experience, and I thank you all.

I wish my wife Jessie could have shared in this. Jessie died of cancer in 2005 after 57 years of our wonderful marriage.

Gratefully,

Gene Ashley

From the Immigration Justice Team

Sal Millichamp

If you would like to be of service and volunteer now and then...well, Migrant Justice has an opportunity for you. Migrant workers from all over Vermont need rides to meetings and to be in community with each other. Usually the meetings are in Burlington, but not always.

If you have the time, you would be helping a worthy cause.

Please contact Madeline Sharrow at [email protected] or 802-540-8370.

In Memoriam

We share the sad news that long-time FUUSB member, Ed Amidon, died on December 26, last year. Ed signed the book in 1975 and was an active member, including volunteering in the Faith Development program, and supporter of the congregation until quite recently. You can read more about Ed in his obituary, as well as about plans for a memorial service in early April in his hometown of Charlotte.