Our shared ministries are expanding, we have plans for more and we need your help.
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Inaugural meeting of Wizards and Sages
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- By Tom Stites
Here’s a happy trend: The ministries of our congregation are growing more robust, more varied and more comprehensive – and we’re just getting started.
Here’s an example: The number of people who shared food and conversation at Fellowship Dinners this year exceeded 140, a runaway record. Those of us who took part learned that potlucks can be not only shared meals but also shared ministries. The dinner I attended certainly qualified. Before breaking bread, we lit the chalice that young church made for each gathering, and we said opening words. The conversation advanced our understanding of one another – and of the spirit that fellowship elicits.
Here’s a brand-new ministry: This week was the second gathering of Wizards and Sages, a FRS ministry for seniors that includes a brownbag lunch, a brief mid-day worship service and conversation that explores meaning in the time of life they share.
Our membership is expanding – 455 as of this week. So is Sunday attendance. And our staff capacity will expand in the next church year – or it will if our Annual Campaign makes its goal. A bright spot of the campaign so far, with two Sundays remaining, is 40 first-time pledgers.
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If you’ve not pledged yet – whether you are new or a long-time parishioner, a member or a friend – you can
act now
.
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Ways to Pledge
Volunteer stewards will be following up with parishioners who’ve yet to pledge, but there’s no reason to wait for them to call. The quickest way to complete the pledge process is to fill out
the form
.
Remember that no money is due now. We are making pledges for the next church year, from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. And please remember that we welcome the pledged support of members, friends, and newcomers.
Other options:
Pledge cards will be in the pews for the next two Sundays. You can fill one out and put it in the basket, drop it off in the church office or mail it in.
You can
email
your pledge amount.
If you’d like to talk through your thoughts about pledging, contact the Annual Campaign director,
Susan Ricker
,
978-618-8389. She can also arrange for a volunteer steward to visit with you.
You can speak with a steward after church this Sunday or the final Sunday of the campaign, April 7.
If you’d rather speak with a staff person, contact
Kristen Fehlhaber
, the director of Finance and Administration, at 978-465-0602, or see her during office hours, 9am-2pm, Monday to Friday.
To see the budget and other aspects of the Annual Campaign, view the
canvass brochure
.
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Given a successful campaign, and with the energy and inspiration of our new minister, Rev. Rebecca Bryan, we can expect our expanding ministries to keep growing to meet the needs of a larger and more active congregation.
“The first year has been spectacular,” says Art Henshaw, chair of the Parish Board, who is looking forward to “a transformative second year.”
At the forefront is a new plan for religious education that continues our long-successful Young Church while adding new emphasis on programming for adults that ranges from spiritual development to social justice and more. Offering more ministries for adults does double duty: intergenerational programs will naturally expand.
The larger budget from a successful campaign will make it possible to add hours to the work week of Julie Parker Amery, the director of Religious Education, so she can design and oversee these new ministries, and take an active role herself.
Other advances the next year’s budget plans for:
- Additional resources to the music program being led by our new Director of Church Music, whether that takes the form of hiring an organist/accompanist or bringing in different musical offerings.
- A congregation-wide effort to revisit our mission and determine a vision for our congregation in the next few years.
- Fairness to our staff, which has been overworked, often putting in more hours than their part-time positions specify. Fixing this will add hours to the work weeks of Kristen Fehlhaber, the director of Finance and Administration; Nicole Salemi, the director of Community Engagement; and Diane Carroll, the office administrator.
- Establishment of a building reserve fund, a fiscally responsible acknowledgement of the continuing cost of maintaining our beautiful and historic building.
To see the budget and other aspects of the Annual Campaign, view the
canvass brochure
.
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Staff
Minister
–Reverend Rebecca M. Bryan,
Sexton
-Mike Baker,
Religious Education Assistant
–Sharon Broll,
Office Administrator
–Diane Carroll,
Director of Finance and Administration
–Kristen Fehlhaber,
Director
Youth Choirs
–Kristen Miller,
Director of Religious Education
–Julie Parker-Amery,
Director of Community Engagement
–Nicole Salemi
Parish Board
Chair
–Art Henshaw;
Vice Chair
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Karen Young,
Clerk
–Ann Haaser;
Treasurer
–Rich Johnson;
Finance Chair
–Tim Fountain; Maureen Adams, Rebecca Brodish, Micah Donahue,
Lynn Kettleson, Sophia Lyons, Ann Power, Forrest Speck
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First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950
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