Annual Ministry Theme: Unity
September Ministry Theme: Invitation
We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.
-Dorothy Day
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Photo taken by Diane Carroll, Office Administrator at FRS, 2019
Diane shares this photo was taken as she was leaving work one afternoon and walking through the parking lot noticed a crowd of people looking past her pointing to the Steeple.
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Sunday Worship
"People of Promise"
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Covenant is foundational to Unitarian Universalism. An alternative to creeds, covenant guides our ways of doing church and being together. Our priorities, focus, and vision are informed by the promises we make to one another and by our larger Unitarian Universalist faith. We also have covenants in other relationships including marriages, organizations, and friendships. Reverend Rebecca will be preaching about the origins of covenant in our faith and will explore how we live as people of promise in all areas of our lives.
Service will be in-person and online. To watch the livestream online click here.
To attend the service in person, advance registration is required.
In-person attendance is limited to 200 people, with assigned, distanced seating.
If you plan to attend with another person or as part of a pod (three to six people), please assign one person to make the reservation for your group. You will be seated with the people with whom you signed up.
Masks are required in worship, and inside church buildings at all times.
To register for this Sunday's Worship Service, click the button below:
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30-Minute Fellowship Following Sunday Worship Service
Join us on the brick area in front of the church following the service (weather permitting) for a beverage and in-person fellowship, or click on the Zoom link below to say hello during virtual fellowship. Good company and great conversation!
Meeting ID: 937 4167 7716
Passcode: 303533
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,93741677716# US (New York)
+13017158592,,93741677716# US (Washington DC)
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International Day of Peace
Pinwheels for Peace
September 21st
Students at Newburyport Montessori School showcase an art installation on FRS' front lawn. Photo taken from the 2nd floor window of our sanctuary.
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Request Your FRS Name Tag Here!
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New Process for Sunday Service Joys and Sorrows
For everyone's safety, the journal near the altar for recording joys and sorrows before Sunday services will no longer be available. If you would like to submit a joy or sorrow to be read during the Sunday service, there are several ways to do so:
- Fill out a "Joys and Sorrows" form from the visitors' table in the vestibule and place it in the basket on the table before the service begins. The Worship Associate at the service will bring the completed forms to the pulpit prior to the start of the service.
- Write your joy or sorrow on a piece of paper at home and place it in the basket on the visitors' table before you enter the sanctuary.
Please note that joys and sorrows will not be published in the Monday morning Between Us email unless they are submitted to betweenus@frsuu.org.
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Come Back! FRS Buildings Open for Small Group Gatherings
Thank you to the FRS Reopening Team for carefully thinking through and developing plans that have enabled our parish to reopen for in-person gatherings.
Space is available in the sanctuary, robing room, Hayward room (old choir room), the lower meeting house in the evening, and the first and second floors in Parish Hall. We also have AV equipment available for use that will make hybrid meetings possible.
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Registration is underway for 2021 Zoom Chalice Circles
"My Chalice Circle offered profound ways to connect: exercising my own growing ability to deeply listen, trusting other participants' openness."
Chalice Circles offer a chance to bond in a small group to explore thought-provoking topics of spiritual relevance through reflection, deep listening, and sharing, all facilitated by a trained Leader. Now in its 7th year, the Chalice Circle Program is an important part of the shared ministry of our congregation.
For Zoom, we've shortened Circle sessions to 90 minutes and reduced the number of sessions to seven. A Tech Check meeting will precede the first session to ensure a distraction-free start.
This fall, Zoom Chalice Circles offer two very different schedules. For your convenience, you can see all of the dates listed on the registration page https://bit.ly/FRSChaliceCircles2021, or see below for an overview. The two 2021 Circle options are:
- Tuesdays, October 12-November 30 from 10-11:30am (with Tech Check meeting on Tuesday, October 12 and then seven sessions).
- Thursdays, October 21-December 30 from 1-2:30pm (with Tech Check meeting on Thursday, October 21 and then seven sessions).
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Your Journey of Faith—In-person and Zoom options!
In-person sessions on Wednesdays, October 13-November 17 from 7-8:30pm
OR
Zoom sessions on Fridays, October 15-November 19 from 9:30-11am
Want to explore your spiritual journey? Take a look at how your spiritual beliefs and practices have evolved over your life? What events, people, places have informed your faith and your growth? Want to discover patterns, articulate what gives your life meaning, share your story with others? If so, we hope you can join us for this virtual five-session workshop series—whether you hope to eventually share your Journey of Faith with the congregation or not. This will prepare you to do so, but producing such a piece is an option, not a requirement.
Contact Julie Parker Amery, Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration, at julie.amery@frsuu.org if you have any questions.
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Thank a UU
Take a moment to thank a fellow parishioner. Once a month, The Steeple will publish a list of thank you's highlighting brief messages expressing thanks to someone who made a difference in your day! Send your "Thank a UU" submission to cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org.
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New Online Series "Pause for Poetry" with Reverend Rebecca:
A three-week online small group reflection pulling from David Whyte's book of poetry, Essentials.
Join Rev. Rebecca for a 45-minute midday respite as she leads us in reading, centering, and reflecting on these evocative poems.
We'll meet on three Fridays: September 24, October 1, and October 8 starting at 12pm.
Sign up here. Zoom information will be sent prior to the first meeting.
If you would like to participate but need a different time of day, email Julie Parker-Amery, Director of Faith Foundation and Spiritual Exploration, at julie.amery@frsuu.org.
We will consider offering the series again if there is enough interest.
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Passion Action Fair
"Where the heart and mind meet to nourish the soul"
Join us for this fun and interactive event to learn more about the many ways to engage in ministry, service, and learning for both faith and spiritual development at FRS.
When: Sunday, September 26 from 11:30am-12:30pm (weather permitting)
For more information and/or if you would like to reserve a space at the fair to expo, please contact cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org.
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Live Your Best Self and Change the World: A workshop for FRS members
Over the past 40 years, Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) workshops have been used in diverse settings to help individuals reduce conflict, trauma, and isolation in their lives and strengthen their community connections. A focus on resilience and connection in the face of challenges is central to the AVP design.
Many people have found participation transformational in their lives. Our workshop series will be held on five consecutive Wednesday evenings from October 20-November 17 from 5:30-9pm.
For more information and to register please click here.
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Please check out the "Latest News" section on our website to view the full calendar of events taking place within our congregation.
Click on the yellow button below:
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FRS Volunteer Opportunities |
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Writers Wanted!
The FRS Communications Team is looking for people who would like to join our writing team to help cover parish and community related stories for our Steeple newsletter. You would be supported by a team of experienced journalists, print designers, and people who love to learn and share stories about our parish.
We meet on the 4th Thursday of the month from 5-6pm via Zoom. In the future we hope to be able to meet in person and share a meal as we brainstorm ideas for stories. This role will bring laughter and enjoyment as you build connections with fellow parishioners.
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Community Events Beyond Our Doors |
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Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence Annual (MCPGV) Fundraiser
The Peace MVP Awards is their largest fundraiser of the year!
Join MVP in honoring the work of Cindy Diggs, Peace Commissioner, founder of Peace Boston, longtime Coalition member, and activist for peace and economic security in Boston neighborhoods.
This year MCPGV's fundraising goal is $60,000, which will be used to educate, advocate, and organize in even more communities throughout MA.
For more information click here.
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Jeanne Geiger Center's Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence: 40th year!
When: October 3 from 8-11am in person at Waterfront Park, 36 Merrimac Street, Newburyport.
This annual Walk Against Domestic Violence is one of the Jeanne Geiger Center’s largest fundraisers of the year. Proceeds from this event allow the Center to continue to provide an extensive array of programs and services to 16 local communities.
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Minister–The Reverend Rebecca Bryan; Affiliate Minister–Stan Barrett; Affiliate Minister–Helen Murgida; Minister Emeritus–The Reverend Harold Babcock. Staff: Office Administrator–Diane Carroll; Director of Children's Ministry–Mara Flynn; Director of Church Music–Justin Murphy-Mancini; Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration–Julie Parker Amery; Director of Church Operations–vacant; Director of Congregational and Community Engagement–Cynthia Walsh; Sexton–Donny Rogers. Parish Board: Chair–Holly Cashman; Vice Chair–Tina Benik; Finance Chair–Tim Fountain; Governance Chair–Juliana Beauvais; Endowment Treasurer–Kim Kenly; Finance Treasurer–Micah Donahue; Parish Clerk–Kathy Desilets; Vern Ellis, Minnie Flanagan, Michelle Kimball, Lucy Litwin, Annie Maurer, Jim Supple, Renée Wolf Foster.
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First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950
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