Annual Ministry Theme: Unity
October Ministry Theme: Conversation
"…if we want to change the conversation, we have to change who's in the conversation."
-Margaret Wheatley
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A Message from Reverend Rebecca |
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Feedback Conversation Focused on Online Worship Service Experience
Sunday, October 3 from noon-1pm on Zoom
Tuesday, October 5 from 6:30-7:30pm on Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 968 7946 0713
Passcode: 249579
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,96879460713# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,96879460713# US (Chicago)
Feedback Conversation Focused on In-Person Worship Service Experience
Tuesday, October 19 from 6-7pm
Friday, October 22 (not October 23 as cited in the video message) from 11:30am-12:30pm via Zoom (link will be provided in next week's Steeple)
Sermon Talkbacks
Hosted on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays from 4:30-5:30pm via Zoom
Starting Sunday, October 10 with the sermon discussion on "You're Invited" and
Sunday, October 17 with the sermon discussion on "People of Promise"
(link will be provided in next week's Steeple)
FRS' Fall Festival, Saturday, October 30
(more information coming soon)
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
"Call and Response"
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Some creation myths describe speech, the word, as the first creative act. But it seems more likely that music came first. Humanity may have created itself with singing and in turn, learning to listen. Join us for a celebration of community and connection through song and rhythm led by guest speaker Matt Meyer.
Matt is a musician and worship leader who has led hundreds of services for UU congregations across the country. He has a degree in hand drumming and serves as Director of Community Life for Sanctuary Boston.
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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Reopening Sunday
By Patti Doten
The large front doors were a little creaky from being dormant for so many months and the FRS congregants a bit timid as they slowly walked across the courtyard and up the steps.
What would it be like inside the sanctuary? Where would they sit? What would the service be like? Would they sing hymns? Would there be a choir? Would Reverend Rebecca wear a mask? Would they be SAFE?
Many of these questions were soothed by the day's crisp air and dazzling sunlight pouring in through the windows and bringing breath once again onto the pews and pulpit of one of the most beautiful church interiors in New England.
Yes, it was good to be back.
But just how did this reopening transpire?
Very slowly. And very cautiously.
The church closed its doors on March 8, 2020. Several months later, in June, the first reopening team, led by John Mercer, head usher, met on Zoom. The group was treading into unknown territory. Never, in the history of the 220-year-old church, had doors been locked on the sabbath. And even though John had been born into the church, his parents having joined in the early 1940s, and John having been on almost every committee and served as a paid administrator for several years, this was all new. There were no precedents. No guidelines.
No answers or directives to cope with this worldwide virus.
But there was one silver lining.
"When the pandemic hit," said John, "the new video equipment had just been installed. I remember, I think it was Jeff Bard, saying that this would be a great way of reaching parishioners who were ill or not able to attend a service in person. Rev. Rebecca spoke up immediately, 'Oh, let's not talk about that now, that's somewhere way in the future.'"
"But it wasn't," John continued. "We were forced into it immediately. Sunday service was going to be totally on Zoom and YouTube."
The reopening committee, composed of Reverend Rebecca, Jeff Bard, Merryl Maleska Wilbur, Judy Fayre, and later Michelle Kimball, Meg Wiley, Susan Cooper, Cynthia Walsh, Diane Carroll met every other week for months as the pandemic tightened and loosened its grip. And they continue to this day with no end in sight.
Initially, John said, the group set out to find reliable science-based guidance. They also relied on a member connected to the local hospital to supply them with local COVID updates such as the number of infections, hospitalizations, deaths, etc.
But nothing was static.
"It was a little like shooting springtime rapids," John said. "Once you are in them, you try to understand the river and the currents. But really, it's all about balance in the face of what may be uncontrollable."
He said he did a good deal of reading about other viruses and was able to see how different COVID was from earlier ones. There just was no sure footing. With the emergence of vaccines, hopes were raised but then the Delta variant arrived on our shores. And vaccinations became politicized and misinformation infected the internet.
John also worried not only about protecting the health of parishioners but about the effects of the virus on the economic health of the church. But a successful 2020/2021 fundraising campaign helped stave off that wolf at the door. And membership has held up, with 27 new members joining since the pandemic descended and know us only virtually. Some live as far away as Connecticut.
About 180 people attended the reopening service in person, and 33 joined by YouTube, making total attendance about the pre-pandemic level.
Committee discussions began in earnest when a date was set for a September reopening. The top three of their concerns were: distancing, masking, and air circulation.
"We thought the best time to open would be September 12 because the weather would be cooler, the windows open, and the air circulation good," said John.
He and Jeff Bard went around with tape measures and concluded it was best to use half the space in the sanctuary, which translates into 150 people downstairs and 50 upstairs. They would put a single person and a couple in every other central pew and the side pews would accommodate pods of folks from the same family or close friends.
EVERYONE would wear masks.
Including Reverend Rebecca.
And NO ONE would have a choice in seating.
"We knew we'd encounter a bit of a problem about seating," said John, who now has to round up 12 ushers per service instead of two in the past. "People have been sitting in the same spot for years and they weren't going to be able to have that choice. We didn't alert them to this fact. I thought it best to just do it at the door."
"It's understandable," John continued. "People like predictability. They don't like change. But these are not normal times. We are trying to have everyone safe in the face of a pandemic. That's my main concern."
And it will continue to be as the team grapples with every new and changing situation. Some of the topics discussed at a meeting after the reopening included the inability of some to hear Rev. Rebecca, especially during her sermon. Should she be maskless? Would that be safe? Would that set a bad example?
They also talked about the improvements being undertaken to the sound system, bathroom accessibility, an alternate plan for name tag pickup to avoid inclement weather outside and congestion inside, and air quality as colder months loom and the windows are closed.
Reverend Rebecca spoke to this last topic saying that air quality is her number one priority. It's a challenging problem, she was told by the group, because the cost of installing an HVAC system would be exorbitant and the work lengthy. All options are to be explored by a new subcommittee. One suggestion was looking into renting space elsewhere.
So discussions go on. And John Mercer and his team will continue to give their time and energy.
Changes will be made and adjustments ongoing in this unsteady world.
But as Reverend Rebecca reminded folks near the end of her September 12 sermon:
"Elephants have the longest gestation period of any animal, with the average length being 95 weeks, or 23 weeks longer than the 78 weeks we have been apart. Thus, in addition to the gentle reminders to be kind, emotionally intelligent, and loyal, elephants model to us the importance of patience and perspective."
Postscript: The FRS Reopening Team recently changed mask guidelines for Reverend Rebecca who will not be wearing a mask when delivering the Worship Sermon as she will be taking a rapid COVID test prior to each Sunday Worship Service.
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Photos of the "houses" painted by parishioners
who participated in the art project led by Bettina Turner.
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What I Did on My COVID Vacation
by Lynn Kettleson
As you survey the members seated in the sanctuary on Sunday, do you wonder how they've spent the past 18 months? The pandemic lockdown in March of 2020 ushered in an 18-month period that altered our culture of human interaction.
Of course, some indeed contracted the virus. That March, both Yvonne McQuilken and her husband Art Henshaw were among the first in Newburyport to be diagnosed with COVID. Returning from a February ski trip to Austria, right across the border from Italy where the disease was beginning to infest the populace, both became sick upon their return and self-quarantined.
Art's symptoms were less severe, and he recovered. Yvonne, on the other hand, developed a high fever, with a cough and tightening chest congestion. At Anna Jaques Hospital, the nurses had no experience with the disease and the doctors were not sure what would work. Thankfully, both Yvonne's daughter, a pediatrician, and Art sought answers. With medical help, Yvonne slowly recovered from the fever and severe symptoms.
While her sense of taste has slowly returned, she became what has come to be known as a "long hauler." Today, she still struggles with fatigue, anxiety, and brain fog. Having joined a number of medical studies through Spaulding Rehabilitation and Massachusetts General Hospital, Yvonne now has six doctors. "Because I've gotten into a number of post-COVID programs, my name has been passed around to a number of people," she said. She has just learned that MGH and Mount Sinai in New York have received grants to study post-COVID.
For those of us who were fortunate not to become infected, a year of forced isolation has skewed our views of our fellow humans. John Harwood articulated life in the past year. "After too many months of isolation that suppressed my spirit, my heart was lifted, first by the birth of a daughter next door and the chances to see her grow. Later, I saw my Rhode Island son and his boys during their camping trip to Salisbury Beach. Then, I traveled to Roxbury to share a picnic lunch with our daughters and son-in-law at a pocket park. The face-to-face contact means so much."
Those who work in the medical and education professions faced a tough year. Erin Hutchinson-Himmel is a severe special needs teacher who deals with an immigrant/first generation American caseload, and she missed the contact with her students as she worked from home. It's a challenging job in the best of circumstances.
She's used Spanish, French, Albanian, Moroccan, Italian, and a Mongolian dialect over the past year to communicate to her charges. That meant reaching them often through older siblings doing sessions with Erin. With a few families, she actually dealt with a mom or grandmother. And all of this while her own children were doing school at the kitchen table or upstairs.
Despite the challenges, Erin was able to help her students. "Remote was good for them," she said. "In some cases, I was finding out that they were still being fed by hand, so I worked with the families on life skills. By the end of the year, I had a couple students who could communicate with their families what they needed."
Maybe you were one of the members in the past year who joined in the church's Community Art Project. At the beginning of the year, Bettina Turner, who has a degree in expressive arts therapy, was asked in a meeting what the church community could do in a positive way. "When people make things with their hands, it makes them feel good," she said.
The result: some 60 church members from young to old participated in painting little wooden houses that were provided. Participants took them home to complete the task. The results were displayed in front of the church at the end of October 2020. One person knitted little coats, a seven-year-old painted with watercolors, others decorated them with pinecones and dried leaves, and many wanted their creations back.
Last spring, Julie Parker Amery asked Bettina to do something like that again. This time, it was 150 wooden bird templates. About 80 participated. The results were displayed in front of the church, and Bettina reported that they disappeared within four to five days.
"Some really got into it," she said. "They wanted to make multiple entities. They said, 'I'm not crafty, but I did this.' Making things with your hands makes you feel good, and the participation generated positive feelings."
Or take the example of Cyd Raschke. In the wake of the church's anti-racist initiative last year, Cyd decided: "If you care about racial prejudice and you don't do anything, you're part of the problem."
She more recently learned that an area of Newburyport was home to a community of African Americans in the late 1700s up through the 19th century. Located generally in what was then a swampy area of today's Low, Pond, and Auburn Streets, it was known as Guinea Village in reference to the African homeland of some of the residents. Many of those in the 1800s operated successful businesses in the downtown area and others were housekeepers, laborers, and mariners.
Cyd is now working with Geordie Vining, senior project manager of the Clipper Rail Trail, as well as others to create a history panel on the rail trail which would commemorate the former village. "We need to make sure that ALL of our history is shared and is representative of all the residents of our city."
Suppose you decided that this past summer would be the time for a nice, five-week-long bike ride – say from Seattle to Annapolis, MD. Bill Zarakas had always wanted to do that, and, at 65, he knew that he'd better do it soon. A discussion with a friend and fellow biker, Mike Beck, was a short route to a companion on that trek.
Achieving their goals meant biking an average of about 100 miles daily. Lodging for the coming evening was arranged each morning – and they quickly learned that in places like eastern Washington and Montana, the available sites were few and far between.
Temperature swings on those bikes ranged from 34 degrees in the Washington Cascade Mountains to 114 degrees across the plains of North Dakota. They also experienced a remarkable storm with high winds, lightning, and hail in the center of North Dakota where they managed to eventually find shelter under an underpass.
"I learned to focus on being in the moment," Bill said. "To be in the moment more than I had been in the past." Another benefit, he said, were the positive interactions with people who were "as much different as I could imagine, and it was nice to see that side."
One example occurred in North Dakota where they came across a guy on a motorcycle who recognized Bill's New York accent and who introduced himself as Pastor Phil. After a nice discussion, Pastor Phil "blessed" them, then they continued on their way. "There was never a question of finishing, but as soon as we were in Minnesota, it was just like we were almost home," he said. That almost was another 1,200 miles and 15 days before they arrived at their destination goal.
One family merely found a way to connect and bring joy to their Newburyport neighborhood. Joanna Fernandes, Christian Hansen, and their son Nash began posting jokes outside their Hill Street home where they've lived since 2013. Christian said that the area across from the Highland Cemetery has a lot of walkers.
Last March 2020, Christian noticed a Facebook post about front door jokes, so he did one and people responded, saying it was super funny. That was 1,388 jokes ago. Winter jokes, Halloween jokes, Trump jokes. The family posted three a day, one from each family member, from March 2020 to late May of 2021 when both Christian and Joanna were fully vaccinated.
"Every day felt like Groundhog Day," Christian said, referring to the 1993 Bill Murray movie. "Sometimes, I would stay up late, knowing people were counting on it. I work from home, and I'd see people pull up, the same day after day. We'd keep the community laughing and we could do it together as a family." They'd find most jokes online, but along the way three to four different neighbors would drop off jokes.
"We'd see people laugh or just not get it and walk away. What was really nice is that we could look out and see the people, but they couldn't see us. It became a ritual part of our day."
Like many of us, he said, they learned about the joy of connection. "This gave everybody a reason to stop and talk and allowed us to get to know our neighbors better. The jokes got us through it."
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FRS' MUSIC PROGRAM
by Justin Murphy-Mancini, Director of Church Music
The music program has adapted to our emerging worship style with as much grace and commitment as it did during the height of the pandemic. The fully-vaccinated choir rehearses (distanced) in the Sanctuary on Thursday nights and records an anthem that is then shared on Sunday morning. Members of the choir have also volunteered to lead the hymns during Sunday worship until it is safe for the congregation to join in singing again.
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ADULT FAITH FORMATION AND SPIRITUAL EXPLORATION
by Julie Parker Amery, Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration
Spirit Groups: Beginning the week of October 17
Spirit Groups is a congregation-wide program we're starting this fall. A Spirit Group is a group of four or five people that comes together virtually for one hour each week to delve into an array of issues relating to the spirit. The purpose of the Spirit Group is to deepen connections among FRS parishioners as you explore your own beliefs and values.
Spirit Groups will be randomly assigned. Once the group is formed, members will determine a day and time to meet regularly. (Groups may determine on their own if they'd prefer to meet safely in-person.)
Each week, all Spirit Group participants will receive a prompt, something on a spiritual or philosophical theme. This might be a provocative quotation, or a link to a brief article or video. Themes/questions might include:
- Do science and spirituality complement or contradict one another?
- Are humans innately good?
- What role has fate played in your life?
- Is one born with an innate purpose in life, or does one create it?
- Where does evil come from?
- Is your perception of reality the same as mine?
- Is suffering a necessary part of the human condition?
- Is there life after death?
- What is the purpose of prayer?
One person in each Group will serve as facilitator—to ensure that all members are heard, and to keep things running smoothly.
Each weekly conversation will last for an hour and will include a chalice lighting and brief reading, personal check-in, reflections on the theme, discussion, and closing. These are, of course, big questions, and not meant to be "covered" in the span of an hour. The time spent with your Spirit Group is intended to expose you to different ideas and to give you food for thought and further reflection.
Spirit Groups will run for 10 weeks, after which time the group may choose to continue. If the whole group does not wish to continue together, individual members might choose to join a new group. The first session will be spent on extended introductions, icebreaker questions, and reviewing/amending a group covenant.
Questions? Contact Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration Julie Parker Amery at julie.amery@frsuu.org.
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YOUNG CHURCH UPDATE
by Mara Flynn, Director of Children's Ministry
We've had an excellent time being together again in Young Church the last two Sundays-with students ranging from Pre-K to 8th grade!
We've been getting to know one another and sharing in Chalice Lighting and Joys and Sorrows (Rose, Bud, Thorn) rituals. Last week, all the “Backpack Blessings” were printed onto tiny scrolls. Some students hid the blessings (like an Easter Egg hunt), the rest of the students found them, and we came into a circle to read them aloud. Thanks to all who sent in blessings–they were beautiful, and the children loved them.
This past Sunday, we read, discussed, and asked questions about the book Who Are You?: The Kid's Guide to Gender Identity written by Brook Pessin-Whedbee and illustrated by Naomi Bardoff. We talked about the seven UU Principles, and the children made lovely peace flags to adorn our outdoor classroom.
We also shared the exciting news that Sophie Himmel (they/them – 7th grade) and Alice Mead (they/them - 11th grade) are starting a new group at church: the FRS All-Ages GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance). Their goals are to "create a safe and supportive space to learn and grow together, and to advocate for change." For more info and to receive updates, email Alice at alicemead13@gmail.com.
And as you may have seen, the tent that Theater in the Open is loaning us for our outdoor classroom is UP! I want to give a heartfelt thank you to Esme and Ginny's dad, Teddy Speck, for making this happen. He brought the tent, tools, and ladder, he mindfully cut down tree limbs so the tent would fit, AND he put up the tent! Thank you, Teddy! I am so happy to have a safe and cheerful space for Young Church - it's wonderful to be outside and together!
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FROM THE OFFICE
by Diane Carroll, Office Administrator
Many of our members and friends donate a flower arrangement for a Sunday worship service or sponsor the church steeple lighting for a week in memory of loved ones or in celebration of an event. A dedication message from the donor or donor family is published in that Sunday's Order of Service. Flower arrangement donations and steeple lighting sponsorships may be one-time or annual gifts.
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Donating a Flower Arrangement for a Sunday Worship Service
Typically, the arrangement is ordered by the church office from Denise's Flower Shop for a donation of $35. Denise's will invoice the donor directly. The following Sundays are available through the end of the church year:
October 3
October 24
November 7
December 12
December 26
January 2
January 23
February 7
March 20
May 8
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Sponsoring the Church Steeple Lighting for a Week
The steeple lighting sponsorship donation is $75 for the week and may be given via our online donation form or by check mailed to the church office. The following weeks are available through the end of the current church year:
October 3
October 17
November 28
January 9
March 20
March 27
If you would like to give a Sunday flower arrangement or sponsor the steeple lighting, please contact Diane Carroll, diane.carroll@frsuu.org or (978) 465-0602 ext. 401 for more information.
Thank you for your support!
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VOICES FROM OUR CONGREGATION |
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Minnie Flanagan here to share some of my extraordinary experience as an AVP (Alternatives to Violence Project) facilitator. I retired from a rich and rewarding social work career in 2013, after which I was inspired to do volunteer work in the prison system, my interest kindled by the work of the Innocence Project.
When I looked into opportunities there, I discovered there was no role for me. I was disappointed, but not for long as, in 2015, Sandra Thaxter introduced me to AVP. I was quickly enrolled in a series of three workshops, held at Essex County House of Corrections jail in Middleton. "The rest is history," as we say.
I participated as a peer with the inmates at Middleton, an extraordinary experience for starters, then proceeded to co-facilitate AVP Workshops at Middleton and Lawrence pre-release facilities with "inside" (inmates) and "outside" (volunteers) facilitators. I've been doing so ever since (except, of course, when we were shut out during COVID).
At first, I was uncomfortable, not believing I could ever work so openly, honestly, and securely with the men, who were from worlds so totally foreign to me. I quickly learned we were not so different. Actually, we've far more in common than I'd ever imagined and so much to give to and learn from each other.
The AVP program, while carefully designed, intentional, and structured around skill building activities, works its magic as it sets the stage for community building and inspires deep reflection in next to no time.
I've learned so much from AVP: how to listen better and really hear, through spoken and non-verbal language; how to respond and to share more respectfully, effectively; how to approach and even resolve conflict so the parties to it are fulfilled by the process and are satisfied with the outcome.
And, most of all, the AVP experience has opened my mind, my heart, my world, and myself.
Here's hoping to see many of you in our upcoming AVP Basic Workshop, beginning October 20th at FRS.
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Thank Our UUs
If you would like to thank another parishioner, please email cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org. Once a month we will publish a list of thanks to all who help to make our day a little brighter and our community stronger!
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Paula Francese shares, "I'd like to thank Diane Carroll for her beautiful photograph of FRS (see photo). I'm going to add it to my desktop if I can figure out how to do that!"
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Shout out to the Hospitality Team for hosting Opening Sunday's Social Hour! |
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FRSUU wishes to thank Theater In the Open (TITO) for loaning us their tent so that we can hold Young Church Services outdoors as much as possible - thank you TITO! |
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Much appreciation to Susan Cooper and Michelle Kimball from FRS' Newcomer's Team for hosting a lovely Newcomer's Tea. The day was beautiful and the conversations were engaging and fun! |
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Thanks to everyone who participated in Sunday's Fall Passion Action Fair. So much gratitude to all who hosted tables and provided information on how to engage here at FRS and beyond. Special thanks to Aster Shepherd for providing beautiful music for all to enjoy! |
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Jeanne Geiger Crisis 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 Crisis 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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Family-friendly gathering, open to all neighboring communities.
Our goal is to respectfully honor the history of the natives of the greater Newburyport region and elevate our voices and spirits in support of cultural reparation and a permanent shift to sole recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day at the city, state and national level.
The observance will include a land acknowledgment, local history, music, stories and reflection.
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Race and Slavey in New England Symposium hosted by the Museum of Old Newbury
Monday, October 11 from 8:30am-5:30pm at Wilkie Center for Performing Arts, The Governor's Academy, Byfield.
Writers and historians will explore the lives and work of Black New Englanders and abolitionists through a fresh examination of the historical record and recent research. Attendees will engage in person (or virtually) with complex issues of race and slavery in New England, from colonial times to just after the Civil War. Topics include a detailed look at Black civic life in Essex County, new scholarship on the abolitionist movement, and detailed investigation of the lives of free Black men and women as well as the enslaved and enslavers in the region.
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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; Tina Benik, 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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