Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

Sunday, March 24 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Betsy Ferries, Worship Associate

“A Fierce Form of Love: Resisting Fascism”

The rise of authoritarianism and fascism abroad and at home requires us, as people of faith and people of conscience, to access fierce forms of love. With another presidential election cycle at hand, what might skillful resistance look like? 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.

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

Sunday, March 24

Children will start out in the sanctuary with their families through the Time For All Ages, after which they leave for their exploration groups. 6th-8th graders will explore the March theme of Transformation, Undercover Kindness Agents (2nd-5th grade) will train for their next mission (2nd-5th grades), and Spirit Play (PreK-2nd) will wonder about the week's story and continue to explore the themes through free play. Nursery care is also available, starting at 9:45 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



Here is the text from Rev. Karen's sermon, A Compass, Not a Map.

Here is the text from the introduction to our ritual of lamentation to mark the 4th anniversary of the Covid lockdown.

Both texts are found on Rev. Karen's blog, Awake & Witness, to which you can subscribe in the upper righthand corner of the homepage.

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

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Thank you to all who have pledged so far. 

We are about $5K short of our first (bare minimum) goal!  

We are about $35K away from matching last year's pledge total - We are hoping to get there and we can WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION.

The total amount of your pledges are what we base next year's budget on. The higher the total, the more we are able to do as a congregation to live into our mission, to ensure that our staff are compensated with integrity, to continually be here for each other and the wider community.

Thank you to the Board who made calls last week and continue this week to those we haven't yet heard from. We're on our way!

Here is a link to the online pledge card: Make a Pledge! Or you can email your pledge directly to Christina at [email protected]. 

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



This Sunday (3/24), Rev. Karen is preaching about resisting fascism. The following Saturday morning (3/30), in the Meeting House, there will be a screening of the powerful lecture by UU minister and current UUA Deputy Director of Ministries and Faith Development, Rev. Dr. Cecilia Kingman, titled "My Little Pony Was Right: Reflections of Fascisms Without and Within." This lecture was given as the 202nd Berry Street Lecture, a public lecture given as part of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association.

Are you concerned about the rise of authoritarianism in our midst? Do you want to connect and organize with other UUs about this? Come spend Saturday morning, bring your friends, and let's see what happens when we gather together, rather than stay scared in our isolation...

The Egg Hunt Is Coming!

Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Sunday, March 31, 11:30 a.m. (or about 20 minutes after the service ends) - Memorial Garden

Our annual egg hunt for children of any age (if they still want to take part, they are welcome!) is happening after the multigenerational service. All kids are welcome, whether they are Faith Development regulars or visitors from out of town, and we have methods for making sure every child has a chance to find some eggs. The hunt will happen rain or shine (or snow)!

Volunteers needed: We need volunteer egg-hiders to hide the eggs at 9:15 on 3/31. Please email [email protected] if you are available to help. 

Egg Donations: We are returning to the tradition of asking each family that plans to come to bring 8-12 stuffed eggs per child, and have them here before 9:15 on the 31st. The easiest way to do this is to bring them with you on the 24th and leave them in the labeled containers near the entrances. We have many plastic eggs here that you can reuse, so you can also bring items in and stuff the eggs here. Eggs should be stuffed with non-food items, and fillings can be reused or upcycled! Our hunt has always been quirky with items like seashells, pocket change, flower bulbs, and mini origami, and can be a great way to get rid of excess party favors and small plastic toys!

April 7: Four Things to Know about Our Sunday Service

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



Summary: eclipse t-shirt; congregational photo; documentary filmmakers; guest worship leader

• If you have one, please wear your eclipse t-shirt or sweatshirt. (This is probably the last week you can purchase them and be sure to get them in time in the mail. Click here to see the options - sizes from youth to 4XL and lots of different colors!)

• After the service, we will be taking our first-in–over-a-decade congregational photo. Thank you to congregant James Buck, who has agreed to wrangle us into this opportunity. The weather will help us decide that morning if it will be in the sanctuary or outside on our front steps. Please come!  

• During the service, we will have filmmakers from Armadillo Collective in the house. They are making a film about eclipse activities in Burlington. In the sanctuary, we will designate sitting space for those who want to be confident to not be included in the filming. Rev. Karen will approve any footage that gets edited into the final film.

• The service will have a cosmic connection theme, led by popular UU musician, Matt Meyer. It’s a multigenerational service - great for all ages. Matt is a wonderful storyteller. Hope you will make it part of your eclipse weekend activities.

Eclipse News

Susan Ogden, Eclipse Team

Watch this very cool video from NASA about the interplay of the MOON, SUN and EARTH on April 8.

And please continue to promote our FUUSB Homestay program! https://fundraiser.support/eclipse

Questions? Email [email protected]

RSVP for Rev. Karen's May 4th Installation

If attending in person please RSVP here: bit.ly/RevKarenInstallation

Save the Date: FUUSB Annual Meeting

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Please mark your calendars for this year's FUUSB Annual Meeting. Formal announcement will be forthcoming - this serves as a Save-the-Date.

To be as inclusive as possible, we are following our successful model of recent past years, holding the Annual Meeting virtually. It will be on Monday, June 10, exact time to be announced closer to the date.

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 register now if you plan to stay overnight! Follow this link for more information and to register!

Richard Kemp Center Sankofa Trip to D.C.

Zoe Hart, Kathie Walsh, & the Racial Justice Team

Please join your Racial Justice Team and Rev. Karen in supporting the Richard Kemp Center and their second annual trip for Black youth to Washington, D.C. and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in April. Take a minute to view this video invitation from Rev. Karen.

And then, please donate as you are able: Donate to Sankofa '24 ~ Richard Kemp Center Trip to NMAAHC. You can learn more about the trip at 2023 Richard Kemp Center Trip to NMAAHC. 

Invitation to Ruach haMaqom Book Group

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister



Ruach haMaqom is hosting a 3-session book group on The Amen Effect by Rabbi Sharon Brous. The book group will be facilitated by Cheryl Herrick and some other RhM folx. FUUSBers are invited to participate either in person or via Zoom. To participate online, reach out to Rabbi Jan (click here to email her), or attend the session - the first one is Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m.

(Click on the image below for more event details.)

Eckhart Tolle Chalice Circle

Jeff Byam

The Eckhart Tolle Chalice Circle is currently accepting new members. We meet every two weeks on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. virtually with occasional in-person gatherings.  If you would like to join or if you would like more information please email Jeff Byam here.   

Memorial Services

The memorial service for FUUSB member Debby Bergh will be held at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne on Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m.

A memorial service for FUUSB member Harriet Long is scheduled on Sunday, April 14 at 3 p.m. at the First UU Society of Burlington.

Online Joys, Sorrows, & Gratitudes Form

If you would like to share a joy, sorrow, or gratitude, we invite you to fill out our online form, available at this link and in each week's eNews. It can be found in the gray column on the right side of each issue, or if you are using a smartphone, this area is found at the bottom of the eNews.

The form can also be found on our website on the Live-Streamed Worship page.

Joys, sorrows, and gratitudes are shared in Sunday worship services as much as possible. Since our live-streamed services are available publicly on the FUUSB YouTube channel, we will not read full names or personal details.

Burlington Eclipse Road Closure Map