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The First Religious Society Newsletter
The Steeple Biweekly
Scroll down to find these news sections.
- Sunday Worship
- Calendar of Events
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- Within Our Community
- Beyond Our Doors
- Journey of Faith
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Keep an eye on our website for latest news
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Sunday Worship
Sunday, May 22 at 10:30am
"As Good as Our Word"
Anna Smulowitz returns to our pulpit this Sunday. She will reflect on the power of speech, especially vitriolic speech, which is current in our present political climate. Are we as good as our word? Can we take back what we have said? Don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements, states: "Be impeccable in your word. It is the most important one, and also the most difficult one to honor... Word is the most powerful tool you have as a human. Depending on how it is used, the word can set you free or it can enslave you even more than you know." Read more...
Sunday, May 29 at 10:30am
Memorial Day Sunday-"Memory as Prayer"
This is the sermon I intended to preach last Memorial Day Sunday, but which was interrupted by a medical emergency. Poet Marge Piercy writes that "Memory is the simplest form of prayer." If we think of prayer not only as petition, not only as ritual and repetition, but also as a form of conversation, her claim begins to make sense. And if it is true, how much easier to follow St. Paul's advice to "pray without ceasing." The sermon will investigate.--Harold Babcock
Collection for Cause
Half of May's unpledged cash collection plate donations will go to Turning Point's Children's Campership. Turning Point's residential treatment facility helps women who have experienced trauma and addiction reunite with their children.
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Calendar of Events
Wednesday, May 18: Retired Ladies Lunch.
Black Cow, Newburyport, noon. Call Peg Mays to reserve.
Wednesday, May 18: "The Suffering of Change."
Lower Meeting House, 6:30-8:30pm. A dharma talk with Harold Babcock, presented by Thoughtful Life Studies.
Thursday, May 19: Friendship Table.
Salvation Army, Water St. 4:30pm. Provide and/or serve supper. Sign up with Monique Greilich.
Tuesday, May 24: Lunch with the Minister.
Lower Meeting House A&B, noon. The short story for discussion will be "Blow-Up" by Julio Cortazar. All are welcome.
Tuesday, May 24: Program Council.
Lower Meeting House, 7pm. Groups, committees, and event planners are invited to collaborate and plan next year's calendar.
Wednesday, May 25: Alliance outing to Essex.
Fully booked. Note that lunch is now $20 prix fixe, choice of three selections. Contact: Carol Kilty.
Saturday, May 28: Tour famous UU sites with Harold.
Save the date for an all-day tour of sites relating to famous Unitarian Universalists. Carpool to Mount Auburn Cemetery, Concord's Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the Old Manse and Concord Bridge. Sign up with Nicole Salemi (
X401), and please include: the name and phone number of each person attending, and whether you can drive for the carpool. Rain date is June 4.
Tuesday, May 31: Lunch with the Minister.
Lower Meeting House A&B, noon. The short story for discussion will be "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane. All are welcome.
Wednesday, June 1: Jazz Vespers.
Sanctuary, 8pm. Featuring Rev. Harold Babcock as the reader and the Vespers House band. Jazz Vespers celebrates the inspiration of Jazz, Blues and Swing music. All are welcome.
Wednesday, June 8: Alliance annual picnic.
Noon, at the home of Cecelia and Paul Healy. Bring your own bag lunch and if you wish a salad or dessert to share. Drinks and cupcakes will be provided. This is a gorgeous location overlooking the Basin with a lovely patio so send out wishes for good weather.
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Within Our Community
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Harold receives the congregation's gift of a clock from Rochelle Perry-Platine
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Harold feted for retirement
On May 14 at City Hall, FRS members and friends celebrated Harold Babcock's upcoming retirement. Harold was lauded for his "willingness and ability to be present in his full humanity so as to help us find and follow our way," (Stan Barrett), for teaching us to "keep hope and wonder alive" (Bettina Turner), for having the "motivation of a family member, accepting us in the way we are" (the Unitarians from Újszékely). You can read the speeches on our website.
Raffle winner chosen
Congratulations to Freeman Condon, the winner of Dinner for Two Anywhere in the World. Maureen
Condon sold the winning ticket. The raffle, a fundraiser for the FRS 2015-16 budget, grossed
$42,240. Thank you to everyone for participating, promoting, buying,
and selling.
Collecting memories for Harold
We'll be compiling a "Memory Book" for Harold that may include poems, sentiments, photos, memories...whatever you would like to share. Each contribution should be 8.5" X 11" (standard paper size) or less so we can add them to the book. We'll be collecting these until the end of the church year. You can drop them off at the church office during office hours (Mon-Fri, 9-1). Thanks for participating!--The Harold Celebration Committee
FRS receives Preservation Award
On May 15, FRS received a 2016 Historic Preservation Award from the Newburyport Preservation Trust. Each of the following contractors on our projects also received a Preservation Award: Painters Pride, Matthew Construction, Rich Duca Designs, Youngs Woodworking, Anthony and Associates, American Steeple and Tower, Construction Engineering. Thanks to you all for the commitment and willingness to envision a generational solution to the challenge of preserving our historic meetinghouse.--Bill Heenehan
Steeple project update
After two years of commitment and dedication of the congregation, and a great deal of hard work by many contractors, the project will be substantially complete in June. All of the structural work in the steeple was completed through the winter and what remains is completion of the copper covering of the bell deck, reseating the bell, completion of finished carpentry at the bell deck, installation of lighting at the bell deck level and final painting of the pediment and front facade. Read more...
Update from the Music Director Search Committee
The candidates are here! We interviewed and auditioned two candidates on May 12, and will be doing two more on May 19. Their visits consist of a meeting with the Search Committee, meeting with Harold, meeting with Kristen Miller, meeting with the rest of the staff, a choir audition, and a keyboard audition. Read more...
Seventh-graders thanked for service
Thank you to our 7th grade Young Church class for planning and leading such a beautiful worship service on May 15: Sadie Fountain, Alex Iannini, Kelly Kane, Andrew Litcofsky, and Stella Okaya. They took the initiative in becoming involved with the worship planning and worked hard on it for several weeks. Read more...
Needed: home with big screen TV!
UU CONNECT is organizing home viewing gatherings for some of the events at the national UU General Assembly June 22-26, including the service where Harold will be honored. If you have a large screen TV connected to the Internet, and a decent-sized living room, would you consider hosting one of these events? It would be so much fun to watch in the company of our friends and spiritual journeyers, instead of alone at home. Contact Forrest Speck, Art Henshaw, Lea Pearson, or Sophia Lyons.
Alliance calls for speakers
The Alliance welcomes applications for presenters for its 2016-17 season. The deadline is June 19. Our church community overflows with talented, educated and interesting men and women. If you are one of these people, please consider sharing your specialty by giving a one-hour lecture/presentation at one of the Alliance's five Wednesday afternoon meetings. Read more...
Alliance seeks new officers
The Alliance will be electing new officers in June for 2016-17: president, vice-president and recording secretary. To express interest or find out more, contact Patty King, current Alliance president
. Learn more about the Alliance on our website.
Parish Friends tally up the church year
[This report is an addition to the FRS 2015-16 Annual Report.] During this church year, Parish Friends delivered 9 meals, made 9 visits to shut-ins, gave 2 rides to a doctor's office, gave 20 rides to church, gave 8 rides for errands, gave a shut-in help about the house, made 12 grocery shopping trips, sent cards to 3 parishioners, and helped a shut-in get her printer working. Read more...
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Beyond Our Doors
Join Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway in Boston and #WearOrange, the symbol of gun safety, on Thursday, June 2 at 7:30pm for a rally in support of National Gun Violence Awareness Day. To commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Day, the FRS steeple will be illuminated in orange on the evening of June 2.
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Louise Mold gave this Journey of Faith on May 8, 2016.
So much theology, so little time. I think I could write a Journey of Faith every day. Every week, every month. And certainly every year.
I have participated in numerous and diverse flavors of religious, spiritual, and transcendent worship services. Traveled in a dozen countries visiting their great cathedrals, monasteries, temples and mosques.
So, where is God? Who is God? One or many? I have finally learned the meaning of the phrase God is within you. This is very personal. I didn't know God until I needed God.
Read more...
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