January 14 –
The Legacy –Family Service. Rev. Susan Milnor, Julie Parker Amery, Young Church Choir, Teen Choir, Adult Choir.
We will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with music, readings, and story.
January 21 - “Ageless Soul” - Rev. Susan Milnor.
Life is better for us all if we truly make place for the wisdom and experience that can accompany aging
and
if we are open, in our hearts, to becoming elders. But what does it take to be a true elder? Bettina Turner will share her Journey of Faith. Today is Soup Sunday—enjoy a selection of soups and chili at tables in the Parish Hall. Suggested donation: $5.
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January 28 – "My Heart Can Take All Forms": The Contemplative Practice of Islamic Universalism - Amer Latif.
In the Qur'anic vision of reality, everything in existence, "the sun, the stars, the mountains, the birds spreading their wings," all participate in one religion. Amer Latif will share one of the ways in which Muslim contemplatives have realized this vision and, on this basis, will outline a method of finding common ground among religious traditions.
Amer Latif teaches religious studies at Marlboro College in Vermont. Having grown up in Pakistan and with an undergraduate degree in Physics, Amer thrives on studying and creating containers that are capacious enough to hold seeming contradictions such as science and religion, East and West.
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Wednesday, January 10:
“No Place to Go When It's Cold: Finding Solutions for Homeless in Our Community.”
Upper floor of Parish Hall,
7pm. A JAM/Pennies for Poverty Presentation. Here's the 2017 homeless count from Greater Newburyport. Total homeless 467: children 334, adults 133, women 41, men 81, seniors 7, veterans 4. Come hear our needs and others' solutions.
Tuesday, January 16: Short Story Group.
Lower Meeting House, 12-1pm. The story for discussion will be “Walker Brothers Cowboy” by Alice Munro. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch. (This group meets regularly the first and third Tuesdays of every month.)
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Sunday, January 21: Climate Café: Saving the Great Marsh.
Parish Hall 2
nd
floor, 11:45am to 1:15pm. The Climate Action Project will be hosting a discussion led by FRS teens from Becky Dill’s Young Church group. Given that climate change is impacting the Great Marsh, and that it protects our communities from sea-level rise and maintains the health of local ecosystem, what can we do protect the Great Marsh? Bring your soup from Soup Sunday!
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Wednesday, January 31: Climate Reality: Real Facts & What We Can Do About It.
Newburyport Senior Center, 331 High St., 7pm-8:30pm. The FRS Climate Action Project together with Citizens Climate Lobby and Storm Surge hosts a presentation on climate change and current state legislation to meet Massachusetts’s goals to reduce carbon emissions.
Wednesday, February 7: Jazz Vespers.
Sanctuary, 8-8:45pm. Enjoy the house band of Lark Madden, Tomas Havrda, Susan Creamer and Michael Gruen. Jazz Vespers celebrates the inspiration of Jazz, Blues and Pop music, and includes readings and time for reflection.
Saturday, February 10: Mid-Winter Party.
An annual FRS event at a member’s home, 6-9pm. Details to come.
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The ministerial records arrive!
The Ministerial Search Committee is excited to get our first look at prospective ministers. Last week we got a list of names of ministers interested in joining our community and a chance to look at their Ministerial Records. These give us information about their experience, their beliefs, and how they understand the role of a minister.
Read more...
FRS Governance Committee seeks nominations for key FRS leadership positions
Our church is governed by us! – by congregational members, primarily through Congregational Meetings, where members have a vote on issues and budgets, and through election of members to positions in the lay leadership who otherwise represent us throughout the year. The Governance Committee is charged by our bylaws with developing a slate of nominees for leadership positions for the 2018-19 church year. The slate will be presented to the membership of the FRS for approval at the annual meeting in May.
Read more...
Be part of the fun on Soup Sundays
Here’s an opportunity to get to know some folks at FRS and serve the church at the same time. Join the crew for one of our monthly Soup Sundays. You can set up tables, bring fruit, cornbread, veggies, soup, or dessert, serve soup, or wrangle dishes. The next Soup Sunday is January 21. Contact lead organizer Susan Clark to learn more or sign up.
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FRS publications get new design
This edition of
The Steeple
is another step in the creation of a more recognizable visual identity for all our communications—an identity that better reflects the excitement and direction of FRS. The logo was designed for us pro bono by local designer Katie Beaudoin,
www.katiebeaudoin.com
. The logotype and newsletter design were created by FRS member Vern Ellis and adapted by Office Administrator Nicole Salemi, and the colors were chosen for us by FRS member Janet Sutherland. What great fortune to have such talented people in our midst!
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Volunteer opportunity: Do you like to help find great thrift store deals?
The Small Solutions Thrift Store is looking for volunteers who can offer a couple of hours a week to help in the store with sorting and hanging clothes. The store’s profits benefit children's education programs in Africa. Then there is an opportunity for some enterprising young fashionista to help the store managers pick out items to sell on their online store and manage the online sales promotion. Contact Lilliane Mandungu at 978-876-4360.
Gloucester UUs celebrate MLK Day
On
Monday, January 15
, 2-5:30pm, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation will host a second annual celebration of
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
with a series of informative and thought-provoking presentations. From both an historical perspective and a candid view of our own time, we will hear about the struggle for equal rights and liberty among people of diverse ethnicity, racial background and culture. Corner of Church and Middle Streets, Gloucester, MA. More info at
gloucestermeetinghouse.org
.
Alternatives to Violence Basic workshop.
January 14-15. Glen Urquat School,
74 Hart Street, Beverly, MA
. Sunday Noon-7:30pm; Monday 8:45am-5pm. To register, email
Denny Dart
. Donation to AVP appreciated. Develop your ability to resolve conflicts without resorting to manipulation, coercion, or violence. AVP was created by prisoners and Quakers in response to prison riots, and has expanded to use in schools, businesses, homeless shelters, youth clubs, and religious organizations.
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The deadline for the January 23 Steeple Biweekly is Friday, January 19 at noon.
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Staff:
Interim Minister–The Rev. Susan Milnor, Director of Religious Education–Julie Parker Amery, Religious Education Assistant–Sharon Broll, Interim Music Director–Dana Maiben, Youth Choirs Director–Kristen Miller, Director of Community Engagement–Diane Young, Business Administrator–Kristen Fehlhaber, Office Administrator–Nicole Salemi, Sexton–Ed Mair.
Parish Board:
John Billington, Barbara Garnis;
Chair
, Alex Gramling, Ann Haaser, Art Henshaw;
Vice Chair
, Jay Iannini, Lisa Johnson, Richard Johnson, Lynn Kettleson, Lark Madden, Frances McLaughlin, Julie Menin, Ann Power, Karen Young.
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First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950
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