You are invited to worship with First Church at 10am on Sundays in our Sanctuary at 38 South Winooski Avenue in Burlington OR on the FirstChurchBTV YouTube Channel. Worship services are live-streamed at 10am on Sundays on and the recordings are available on our YouTube channel anytime following the worship service. Fellowship time follows worship at First Church and online on Zoom) following the live-stream of worship.

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All are invited to worship at 1oam on Sunday August 7 – in person at First Church – or virtually on our FirstChurchBTV YouTube Channel. 

“Let’s Pull Together”

Our Dragon Boat Team name – “Pull Together” – is in sync with the theology that calls us to work in community to make a difference in the world.  Our worship this Sunday, August 7th, will celebrate this faithfulness.  The Rev. Joan O’Gorman will be preaching and leading worship – including Communion for all – before she hurries down to the Burlington Waterfront to paddle with our Dragonheart Team and with the Team from UVM Health and Hospice!   Expect the unexpected with music on Sunday – including a special pre-recorded piece from our “Dragonheart Choir” – along with guest musicians Jan Jackson, Judy Doerner and Karl Doerner – as Music Director Amy Shortt will be one of our “Pull Together” paddlers!

What else is happening on Sunday? 

• When you get to church you can have a good look at the progress on our Memorial Garden Accessibility Project – be sure to watch our Building & Grounds Team representative Doug Viehman’s two-minute video intro to the project by CLICKING HERE!
• Following the 10am worship – all seeking to explore church membership are invited to stay for First Church 101 with Creative Ministries Director Hannah Sachs.
• Our first Sunday of the month Silent Vigil for Racial Justice will be at First Church from 1 to 1:30 – all are invited to participate.

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A NOTE FROM OUR REGATHERING TEAM: At our most recent meeting, we updated our gathering guidelines to allow those speaking from the pulpit in the Sanctuary to opt out of wearing a mask while speaking if they choose.  Our masking guidelines for all over age 2 (to wear a mask while in the church building) remain in place.

Worshiping remotely on August 7?

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FIRST CHURCH 101: Want to learn more about First Church? Looking to get more connected? Considering membership? Come join this summer’s iteration of First Church 101!  We will meet on Sundays August 7, 14 & 21 for about an hour following worship.  Questions?Contact Director of Creative Ministries, Hannah Sachs at [email protected]  Use this link to sign up: https://tiny.cc/firstchurch101

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Our first Sunday of the month – Silent Vigil for Racial Justice –  is set for August 7 from 1:00 to 1:30pm.  All are invited!  Bring a sign – a chair and a water bottle if you want – and stand in solidarity for racial justice on the front lawn of First Church.

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Let’s Pull Together!

Our “Pull Together” Dragonheart Team – invites your support of the Sunday August 7 Dragon Boat Festival.

• Each paddler is asked to raise $75 or more in support of “The Cancer Patient Support Foundation” and “Dragonheart Vermont”.
• Want to help sponsor our paddlers?  CLICK on the FCCB Pull Together Team’s page on the Dragonheart VT website and give directly – or write a check to First Church, MEMO: Dragonheart ’22; or give through your Realm account selecting “Gifts to FCCB” and add the memo: Dragonheart ’22.
• Thank you!

Our 2017 FCCB “Pull Together” Dragonheart Team!

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What’s Next in the FCCB Vision Process?

The Vision Team is excited to invite you to participate in a Vision Project Team – we promise it will be a fun and interesting ride!

We’ve shared the six Vision Projects that received the most votes from the congregation – and have published expanded descriptions of the Vision Projects – including the preliminary proposals that support each of the six areas.  The Vision Team made some change to the process timeline in mid-July – keeping the Vison Project Team registration open through September 15. Learn more by opening the sign up form HERE.

• Participate in a Vision Project Team:
  • Learn more and sign up for a Vision Project Team using our ONLINE SIGN UP FORM by September 15.
  • Paper sign up forms are also available at church, or contact Caroline in the Church Office (802 862 5010, ext. 4; [email protected]).
  • CLICK HERE to learn more about each of the six Vision Projects and use this information to decide which team to join.

Thank you for participating in this important step toward forming a faithful future for First Church!   – The FCCB Vision Team: Rob Backus, Mandy Grace, Tony Hall, Jennifer Jorgenson, Susan Saunders, Charlie Smith, Kipene Tabu, and Claire Bamberg, Consultant

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What is a First Church Summer Life Event?
We are meant to do life together!  Our Summer Life Events are opportunities to grow, laugh, and connect with others this July and August.

Whether you are new to this community, or have been part of this faith community for years, we warmly invite you to join an event (or several!) and build community!

As with all First Church events, all are welcome!  Please feel free to invite a friend or neighbor to join you in signing up to participate.  Thanks you!

• CLICK HERE for the event sign up form.
• CLICK HERE for the brochure

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• Watch a video of the February VIA – Vermont Interfaith Action – educational event at FirstChurchBTV about VT Prop 2 – HERE

DID YOU GET A PEACE CRANE?  If not, you may pick one up in the Church Office Tuesday thru Friday 10am-3pm or on any Sunday morning.

• We hope that the paper crane will serve as a reminder of the Holy Spirit with you during the summer months ahead.
• During an upcoming worship service, we will feature photos of cranes in places that bring joy and peace. Take a picture of your crane on your kitchen table, in your garden, or on a mountain top – where is the Holy Spirit in your life?
• Please submit photos here: bit.ly/cranephotos2022

CLICK HERE for the “Sermons Online” page of this website – giving you access to video recordings of many past worship services at First Church.