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The First Religious Society Newsletter
The Steeple Biweekly
Scroll down to find these news sections.
- Sunday Services
- Calendar of Events
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- Within Our
Community
- Beyond Our Doors
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Sunday Services
September 24 - Being Possible - Rev. Susan Milnor.
The "deepest craving" of human beings, according to one famous thinker, is for appreciation. How can appreciation transform relationships, and what is the difference between true appreciation and mere praise? Today we will take a moment in the service to appreciate our departing business administrator, Bill Heenehan. It's also Alliance Sunday, making it a good day to reflect on appreciation. Steve Costello will share his Journey of Faith.
October Worship Theme: Acceptance and Diversity
October 1 - Monuments to the Future - Rev. Susan Milnor.
Recent events have brought much debate over monuments: which are good, which are not; which should be kept; which should not. For people of faith, is there a more meaningful way to think about monuments and what we commit to the future? How does reckoning with the past and committing to the future come into it?
Collection for a Cause
Half of September's unpledged cash collection plate donations will go to the Jeanne Geiger Center, which serves victims of domestic violence.
October's Collection for Cause recipient is Community Action: Headstart.
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Calendar of Events
Wednesday, September 20: Retired Ladies Lunch.
Boat House, Essex, MA, noon. Call Peg Mays to reserve. First-timers are welcome.
Thursday, September 21: JAM (Justice Action Ministry) planning meeting
for panel program on October 4. Conference Room, 5:30pm. Visit frsuu.org/jam
Tuesday, September 26:
Program Council. Lower Meeting House, 7pm. Come to collaboratively plan the 2017-18 church year. We'll work up the calendar for the year, get a demo of our membership database, Realm, talk about welcoming newcomers to our committees, and more. Committees, please send at least one member to this meeting.--Program Council Core Group
Friday, September 29: Deadline to sign up for Chalice Circles.
Sign up online
or use the form in Sunday's Order of Service.
Sunday, October 1: Jeanne Geiger Center Walk.
Join the FRS team to support the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center's work to put an end to domestic violence.
Click here to sponsor the team or join as a walker.
The walk starts at 9am, and is short enough to complete and still get to church by 10:30!--Ann Haaser, Community Human Services
Tuesday October 3: Short Story Group.
Lower Meeting House, 12-1pm. The stories for discussion will be "Bliss" and "The Fly", both by Katherine Mansfield. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch. (This group meets regularly the first and third Tuesdays of every month.)
Wednesday, October 4: Can You Afford to Live in Newburyport?
Lower Meeting House, 7-8pm. A panel including a real estate agent, a developer and other perspectives will look at the big picture of the benefits of and impediments to creating more affordable housing. Presented by JAM (Justice Action Ministry) and Pennies for Poverty.
Tuesdays, October 10: ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out).
Connie's Stagecoach, 95 Elm Street, Salisbury, noon. RSVP to Alec White.
Tuesday, October 10: Membership series, session 1.
Want to know what becoming a member of the First Religious Society is all about? Sign up for this program of three consecutive Tuesdays with Diane Young, Director of Community Engagement
, X409
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Wednesday, October 11: The Alliance presents "A Plum Island Mystery."
Marise Fraser tells the story of 1896 when a young woman dies suddenly on Plum Island. A mystery just in time for Halloween. The program is preceded by a brown bag lunch and business meeting at noon. Drinks and desserts are provided.
Wednesday, October 11: Jazz Vespers.
Sanctuary, 8pm. Enjoy jazz and pop music with our house band, and a few minutes of readings and silent reflection.
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Within Our Community
Register now for a Chalice Circle
The third year of our Chalice Circle program begins in early October. Chalice Circles provide a chance to deepen our spiritual lives, develop relationships with other members of the congregation, and engage in conversation on topics such as friendship, spiritual practice, or forgiveness. Consider signing up this year. Registration ends on September 29. Read more...
Sign up for "Beyond Categorical Thinking"
"Will the new minister hear me? Will my concerns and needs be met? Will the minister understand what I'm living with? How will the community respond to our minister?"
In answering these questions, a picture of the "ideal minister" (categorized by age, gender, gender identity, nationality, physical ability, race, and sexual orientation) comes to mind. With this picture in place, it can be easy to unintentionally exclude ministers who fall into certain categories.
Read more...
New bike rack encourages cyclists
It is our great pleasure, as members of the Climate Action Project, to dedicate the new bike rack in front of the Parish Hall in honor of the FRS Alliance, which so generously and without hesitation underwrote the cost. We also applaud CAP member Jeff Clark, who took the lead in managing the acquisition and installation of the bike rack. It is our hope that the presence of the bike rack will encourage more FRS members to bike, rather than drive cars, to church, for climate (and any other!) reasons.--Pat Skibbee, CAP
Donate flowers or steeple lighting
Help create our new membership directory
Over the summer, we launched a new database that will serve as an online membership directory for FRS. It's called Realm. Check your email for an invitation with the subject line "Join your church family." Need help setting up your account or using Realm? Watch for scheduled help sessions or contact Diane Young,
X409.
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Beyond Our Doors
Sunday, September 24: "Concert Across America to End Gun Violence."
Presented by HUGS (Hands Up For Gun Safety) and the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.
Topsfield Town Common (rain location: Topsfield Congregational Church Meeting House), 4:30-6:30pm. This is a family-friendly event and all are welcome. Read more...
Thursday, September 28: Affordable Housing Trust Presentation
of updated city plan for Affordable Housing. Newburyport Library, 6:30pm.
See city website for more info.
Saturday, October 14: A Run through History.
Oak Hill Cemetery, Brown and State Streets, Newburyport, 10am. Participate in a 1.5-mile walk/jog. View over 50 resting places of people important to Newburyport's history, including Minnie Atkinson, author of A History of the First Religious Society. Details are being finalized by organizer Ghlee Woodworth.
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The deadline for the October 3 Steeple Biweekly is Friday, September 29 at noon.
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First Religious Society |
info@frsuu.org | 978.465.0602 |
frsuu.org
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