Join us at 10 a.m. on August 13 in the dappled shade under the sheltering maples and elms in our front yard at the top of Church Street for this special annual service of music, songs, and mostly original poems. We’ve got sweet harmonies, sassy brass, and your new favorite poem—something for everybody—followed by social time. Hope to see you there.
Sunday morning worship will be held outdoors at the First UU Society each week through September 3. The service will also be live-streamed. The live-stream link and order of service will be shared at bit.ly/FUUSBWorship, or visit our YouTube channel.
Summer Garden Childcare will be available in the Memorial Garden. Following the service, all are welcome to Outdoor Coffee Hour.
There will be chairs, but please bring a portable chair if you can. We are expecting a larger attendance on upcoming Sundays!
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.
In the event of inclement weather, Sunday services, childcare, and coffee hour will move indoors.
Water Ingathering Sunday, Sept. 10
Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister
Even in a time of transition here at FUUSB, some things stay the same. We will be celebrating our Ingathering on Sunday, September 10th.
As part of that service, we will gather waters together, brought by YOU, from wherever you would like - your home faucet, travels near or far. So this is a reminder: be sure to gather water sometime between now and then.
Re-Introduction from Rowan Van Ness
Hello everyone! I am thrilled to be returning to the UU Society, albeit in a new role: Director of Youth & Emerging Adult Ministries. I'm going to be working with Erika Reif in a variety of roles, from supporting high school youth (roughly ages 14-18), "emerging adults" (roughly ages 18-24), and a smattering of other initiatives including adult faith development, nursery/childcare, and more.
You may remember me from my ministerial internship at this UU Society in 2021-2022. This past year, I supported the Unitarian Church of Montpelier as their Acting Director of Lifespan Spiritual Exploration. I live in South Burlington with my wife, Caitlyn, and daughter, Seneca. This summer, I have been enjoying camping in Vermont and Quebec, reading poetry, and learning to play pickleball.
Pledge Payments & the New Year!
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
It's a new fiscal year, and that requires some updates to your pledge payments. Please log into your Realm account to make sure the following things are correct:
Automatic payments are scheduled - Sometimes when people schedule automatic pledge payments, they give it an End Date of June 30. If you did that, you will need to schedule new payments for this year.
Automatic payments are for the correct amount - If you changed the amount of your pledge during the stewardship campaign last spring, you will need to change the amount of your automatic pledge payment in Realm. This does not happen automatically; you must log in and do it yourself.
Automatic payments are for the current pledge year - If you had automatic payments scheduled last year and you want to just keep it going, you need to make sure that those payments are being credited to the new 2023/2024 pledge year. I did try to update these, but you should log into Realm to make sure.
Set up automatic payments - If you don't already have automatic payments, but would like to, now is the time to do it!
If you have any questions or concerns about updating your automatic giving, please contact Christina at [email protected].
Faith Development Guides & Helpers Needed!
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
We are hoping to offer a rich and inviting set of programs for children and youth this year, and in order to make that happen we need you!
To be a Faith Development Guide, you do not need to have all of the answers; in fact, serving in this way can help adults on their own faith journeys. Consider modeling lifelong learning and spiritual development by caring for our community, seeking truth, and acting for justice, with our younger UUs.
There are opportunities both big and small. Fill out this quick form to indicate interest, and see a list of ways to help, including those that do not involve supervising kids and do not need to happen during the service on Sunday morning. Please reach out to Erika Reif with any questions!
Circles: August Facilitator Trainings Through Soul Matters
Rowan Van Ness, Director of Youth & Emerging Adult Ministries
New Facilitator 2-hour Training
Aug. 22, Aug. 26, Sept. 16 & Oct. 2
This training introduces new facilitators to our small groups model and provides tips for handling group dynamics. Also a great "tune-up" for longtime facilitators.
Advanced Facilitator Trainings & Groups
We offer three types of advanced facilitator trainings:
One is lecture-based and meets monthly for 3 months.
Another is single sessions focused on start-up and adaptation work.
And our most comprehensive is an "experiential-based" group that meets monthly for 5 months, Sept.-Jan.
Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance
The Arc Gallery on the second floor of the Meeting House is ready for another artist to show their work. If you're an artist who would be interested in hanging a show, please email Christina at [email protected].
Register for OWL in the Fall!
Erika Reif, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
We are excited to offer Our Whole Lives (OWL) for youth in 8th and 9th grades starting in September. 1.5 hour classes will be held on Wednesday evenings through early April 2024. This program is open to the broader community, not just First UU, so please spread the word! Sign up with this link. For more information about lifespan OWL curricula follow this link. For more information about this program contact [email protected].
Jean Lincoln Remembrance
A Remembrance and Interment Ceremony for Jean Lincoln will be held in the FUUSB Memorial Garden on Saturday, August 19 at 1 p.m. Those who knew Jean through her years in the women's group and in the community are welcome to attend.
VIA's Statewide Convention
Vermont Interfaith Action's Eighth Annual Statewide Convention will be held Wed., Sept. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, 43 Hebard Hill in Randolph, VT. Everyone is welcome to join us for:
Reports about our issue work
Opportunities to talk with justice-minded people from all over the state and across the spectrum of faith traditions
Training on three foundational aspects of community organizing
Sharing a meal together
Celebrating interfaith worship together
Approving our Revised By-Laws during a brief business meeting
