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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 Service
February 26 - Jazz Service - Tom Stites, Lark Madden and Jazz Vespers Band.
Jazz is an improvisational music, meaning that the players are inventing what they're playing in the moment they play it. Inventing in the moment is something that all of us are called to do from time to time in our lives, and Unitarian Universalism, as a creedless faith, actually requires us to take responsibility for composing our own religious lives as we live them. Our wonderful FRS Vespers Band will provide special music this morning that brings our theme of improvisation to life, and our own Tom Stites will preach We All Can Improvise. It will be the tenth jazz service that Tom has conducted at FRS since 2003. During Coffee Hour, enjoy a selection of soups and chili-it's Soup Sunday.
March Theme: The Time Is Now. . .
March 5 - To Care for a Resilient Self: Sabbath - Rev. Susan Milnor
- In a frantic paced world and particularly in stressful times, how do we act as loving, responsible stewards of our own spirits? It could be that the ancient practice of keeping a sabbath had wisdom and care embedded in it. Can you imagine keeping a personal sabbath for yourself?
March 12 - To Build a Strong Community: Celebration Sunday! - Rev. Susan Milnor and a Cast of Thousands.
This week we will celebrate what we love about this community with a cast of many. Young Church will join us for a "Time for All Ages" before going downstairs for a special activity. Youth Choirs and Adult Choir will sing, and we'll have generally fantastic music. Our teens will share something with us; we'll hear from congregants; and Rev. Susan Milnor will deliver a sermon on "The Time is Now - But Why?" Today is the kickoff of our annual stewardship drive, and it's important to consider the deeper meaning of stewardship in these challenging times.
Collection for Cause
Half of February's unpledged cash collection plate donations will go to the Unitarian Universalist Association. Half of March's collection will go to Our Neighbor's Table, which provides food assistance to individuals and families.
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Calendar of Events
Friday, February 24: Celebrating Black History Month. Film Screening: "Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North."
Lower Meeting House, 7-9pm. In "Traces of the Trade," producer/director Katrina Browne tells the story of her forefathers, the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. The film follows Browne and nine fellow family members on a remarkable journey that brings them face-to-face with the history and legacy of New England's hidden enterprise.
Read more...
Sunday, February 26: "Merchants of Doubt" Snow Date at the Firehouse.
The FRS Climate Action Project and Transitions Newburyport are co-sponsoring the film "Merchants of Doubt" at the Firehouse Center for the Arts at 3pm. This is a new date due to the February 12 snow storm. "Merchants of Doubt" takes audiences on a satirically comedic, yet illuminating ride into the heart of conjuring American spin. Read more...
Sunday, February 26: "The Krosnick-Dionne Duo," Wilson Music Series concert.
Sanctuary, 4pm. Please come hear this fabulous violin/piano duo perform a program of music by Bach, Brahms, Schumann, and Carter.
Wednesday March 1: Jazz Vespers.
Sanctuary, 8pm. Readings by Tom Stites, house band directed by Lark Madden. Jazz Vespers celebrates the inspiration of Jazz, Blues and Swing music, and includes readings and time for reflection. All are welcome.
Sunday, March 5: Film screening: "The Armor of Light."
Lower Meeting House, 12-3pm. "The Armor of Light" follows an Evangelical minister and the mother of a teenage shooting victim who ask: "Is it possible to be both pro-gun and pro-life?" The MA Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America together with the FRS Justice Action Ministry invite you to explore the relationship between the Second Commandment and the Second Amendment. Film screening followed by discussion. Light lunch will be provided. Read more...
Tuesday, March 7: Short Story Group
. Lower Meeting House, 12-1 pm. The story for discussion will be "The Beast in the Jungle" by Henry James.
Tuesday, March 7: Chuck Collins returning to Newburyport.
Belleville Congregational Church, 300 High Street, Newburyport, 7pm. Social visionary and activist Chuck Collins talks about the themes of his latest book, Born on Third Base: A One Percenter Makes the Case for Tackling Inequality, Bring Wealth Home, and Committing to the Common Good. Co-sponsored by the Belleville Congregational Church and FRS. Read more...
Wednesday, March 8: The Alliance presents "Container Gardening" with Maureen Condon, owner of Beach Plum Farms. Lower Meeting House, 1pm. Business meeting and brown bag lunch at noon.
Read more...
Sunday, March 12: Parish Board members hold listening post.
Parish Hall during Coffee Hour, 11:30am. Ask your questions and express opinions at this every-second-Sunday event. Two or three Board members await you.
Monday, March 20: Program Council.
Lower Meeting House, 7pm. At the last Program Council Meeting on January 10, we voted to support the church-wide project presented by Lynn Kettleson: a service project to thank the City for its support of our building project, and an open house. Jay Iannini and Rebecca Brodish are co-chairs of the project and will present at this meeting how we can become involved and make it a success.
Friday, March 31: Save the date
--for a brand-new intergenerational event! The FRS Un-birthday Party will be a fun mixer for all ages as we celebrate our un-birthdays together. More details to come...
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Within Our Community
Contribute food and personal items for Pettengill
During the month of February, the Community Human Services Committee will be collecting food and personal items for Pettengill House. We will also accept donations of money and do the shopping for you. Each Sunday a member of the Committee will be in the vestibule to accept your contributions.--Carol Kilty, Community Human Services Committee
Help shape our vision for the future
The Ministerial Transition team invites your participation in the second series of workshops to help us, as a congregation, create a shared, compelling vision of our future. We will re-cap main themes that emerged from Workshop series #1, including discussion of how we can build upon our strengths and address identified gaps in the next few years. Read more...
A note from Bill Heenehan
Early in February you should have received a statement of your giving to the church. It included two sections. The first provided the total giving in calendar year 2016 and was provided for tax purposes. The second part provided the status of fulfillment your pledge, if you made one. Read more...
FRS Muslim solidarity elicits community support
On February 5, the congregation chose to hang a banner on the front of the church proclaiming, "We Stand with Our Muslim Neighbors." A photo of that banner on our public Facebook page has reached over 4,000 people, because so many shared it. For comparison, our usual reach for a Facebook post is 80 people. And after FRS members visited the Yusuf Mosque in Brighton on January 27, new member Howard Mandeville wrote a letter to the editor of the Newburyport Daily News, reflecting on the imam's words that day.
They're going fast!
The Historical Committee is now selling lovely blank note cards with exquisite images of FRS artifacts, by committee member/photographer Paula Renda. Buy 1 or a set of 10, at $2 each, during Coffee Hour on February 26. Proceeds support the Steeple Restoration Project.--Lin Faye, Historical Committee
Minister emeritus thank-you letter
Immigration Documentary and Discussion
Please join the B'Link (youth immigration justice trip) group for a viewing of the documentary "Harvest of Empire," followed by discussion, on March 19, noon-2pm in the Lower Meeting House. "Harvest of Empire" tells the story of how US social and political policies have driven millions of people to migrate here from Latin America. This will also be an opportunity to hear more about the trip we will be taking to Tucson and Mexico in June.
Call for nominations
Interested in being a part of the leadership of our church? Want to be in the know and potentially make a difference at the First Religious Society? Each year at the Annual Meeting, the membership votes to elect new officers of the church. This year these officers include 3 members to the Parish Board, 2 members to the Trustees of the Endowment, a Parish Clerk, a Governance Committee chair and 8 delegates to the UUA General Assembly (to be held in New Orleans in June). Who wants to be a part of this leadership? Read more...
Women's March group meeting weekly
The FRS group that has formed to follow up on the women's marches in Washington, D.C. and Boston will have met weekly on four Sunday mornings as of February 19.
Close to 500 people saw a Facebook post announcing the group's first meeting, with a call to "Take your pink hat off the hook!" The post, on FRS's public Facebook page, attracted the attention of many from outside the church. Total attendance for the new group is some 100 people for the first three sessions, one of which was held during a snowstorm. Read more...
JAM incarceration action items: End Mass Incarceration
1. Support Legislation and Meet with Representatives to get their buy-in
Monday February 27, 2017, 8:30am Rep. Kelcourse, 23 Green St. Nbpt
2. Initiative to support recently incarcerated men and women
Action: February 20, 2017, 10am, Battlegrounds Café 39 Washington Street Haverhill. Read more...
Hikers, come together
Michael Veves is trying to generate interest in a walking and, eventual, long distance hiking group that could hike state parks or climb 'easy' mountains. Interested? Email Diane Young for Mike's contact info.
Worship Committee issues new policy on announcements
The Worship Committee has had a number of requests about what is expected of someone giving an Announcement. In response to those requests, in addition to our own awareness that Announcements have in the past been rather fluid and have varied considerably among individuals and committees, a Worship Committee sub-group met several times during Fall 2016 with Rev. Susan Milnor to discuss a
Policy for Announcements given at the start of the service. Read more...
Thank you's to the congregation
Carol Kilty writes, "I want to thank everyone who purchased one of my alpaca and silk scarves. I was able to donate $360 to the Steeple fund-a drop in the bucket, but drops add up."
And for contributions made from 1% of last year's pledge total, the Amesbury Holiday Program writes, "Your support helps us stay true to our mission-'It is all about the kids!'" Turning Point, Inc.'s Safe Recovery Program is "so grateful you remember us year after year." The House of Peace in Ipswich writes, "Your support is a shining star in the darkness... Our newest Iraqi child and his father are directly experiencing your tremendous support." Read the full letters on the Parish Hall bulletin board.
How we govern at FRS: the Parish Board
In the first article on Governance we looked at Congregational Polity, and the role it plays in how we govern ourselves. We defined Congregational Polity as the system in which the congregation governs, answering to no authority other than the membership. In that article it was explained that the Parish Board is the vehicle in our church governance system by which the membership exercises its rights to govern. In this article we will explore the Parish Board; its makeup, and how it represents the congregation. Read more...
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Beyond Our Doors
Attend the UUA New England Regional Assembly
April 21-22, 2017 in Woburn, MA. Your New England Region UUA is bringing you a unique opportunity to gather with New England Unitarian Universalists for a celebration of spirit. Worship with acclaimed liturgist-singer-music director Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and UU/UCC preacher Rev. Robin Bartlett. Sing with composer-musician-song leader Dr. Ysaye Barnwell. Attend a UUA Presidential Candidates Forum. Meet and greet your New England Region UUA staff, and choose from three workshops being offered. Register at
new-england.eventbrite.com
Organize a UU singles potluck
Last October, South Church in Portsmouth, NH held a successful singles potluck dinner. It drew singles from the Newburyport, Kennebunk, and Exeter congregations for a fun evening. They're hoping that this event can continue and are looking for other congregation who would be willing to host this spring. The evening is easy to organize and requires very little support staff. Contact Paula Boivin
if you'd like to host the event. She'd be happy to work with you.
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The deadline for the March 7 Steeple Biweekly is Friday, January 3 at noon.
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First Religious Society |
info@frsuu.org | 978.465.0602 |
frsuu.org
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