Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church

323 Locust Street

Danvers, Massachusetts 01923

978-774-7582


email: nsuu@verizon.net

website: www.nsuu.org



Interim Minister, Rev. Carol Strecker

Visit our Website

Sunday services Zoom link

https://zoom.us/j/95156904873

Zoom service link

January 30, 2022 Sunday Service

10:30 a.m. via Zoom

"Hidden Signs of Life"

Rev. Carol Strecker speaking

Imbolc is the Earth-centered celebration of the first stirrings of new life. Believe it or not, this is the time of year when seeds begin to germinate, and the sap starts to rise in the trees. These signs of new life are so subtle, we hardly notice them, but they’re there.


Indigenous Study Group Forum this morning from 12 to 1 pm via Zoom. You will be able to go straight from our virtual coffee hour to the virtual forum. 

We will be exploring "Myths of Native American History and Culture." 

February 6, 2022 Sunday Service

10:30 a.m. via Zoom

"Moving from Grief to Justice"

Rev. Jo Murphy speaking

In a world where devastation is palpable every day, it is often difficult not to default to despair and fear. Though this despair is so present, I find there is hope in letting oneself grieve. Join me in investigating the importance of not defaulting to fear and despair, but to find space to grieve and then move from grief to justice work, sustaining ourselves and our communities. 

Update on Multi-Platform Services


With the number of COVID cases currently on the rise in Essex County, our plans for initiating in-person Sunday services have been postponed. While recognizing that this is a disappointment for those of us who long to gather together in person on Sundays, the Multi-platform Service Task Force has been continually monitoring the status of COVID indicators, and in tandem with church leadership has made this decision for at least the month of January. All services in January will be produced from our homes, not from the church sanctuary.
We recognize, however, that this is a dynamic situation which requires regular review and consideration. Beginning this month, the Task Force has made a commitment to meet every two weeks to assess and decide when, in accordance with health metrics and COVID safety guidance, we may begin to safely offer in-person services. We also plan to survey the congregation at some point in the future to find out from members to what extent, and under what conditions, you would be comfortable returning to in-person church. The results of this survey will guide other decisions related to tech resources, staffing, and protocols for those services.
The health of our congregants, staff, tech crew, musicians, and guests will always be the church's first priority. The Task Force will continue to communicate with church members through Good Things Are Happening and through email updates as necessary keep you as informed as possible. 


NSUU Church Board of Directors

The next congregational meeting will take place on

Sunday, February 27, 2022 following the service.

The congregational meeting will be held immediately following the service. All members are urged to attend, as important votes will be taken on amendments to the by-laws; updates on the Search Committee for a settled minister; and a kick-off of the Nominating Committee's search for new board members. New board member's terms of service will begin on July 1, 2022. Proposed by-law revisions will be published in mid- February.


November Board Meeting Minutes can be found

by clicking on the button below.

November 2021 Board Minutes

Book Discussion Group

 

Rev. Carol Strecker and Samantha McCune will be co-facilitating a discussion of Braiding Sweetgrass; Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. The author, Robin Wall Kimmerer, is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and a botanist. She weaves indigenous wisdom with science in a way that passionately and poetically grounds her writing, her work and her life in the interconnected web of life. 

 

From the cover: In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these lenses of knowledge together to show that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings are we capable of understanding the generosity of the earth and learning to give our own gifts in return. 

 

We’re planning on 4 sessions in March and April (every other week), but we’d like to get a sense of who’s interested and what day/time works for most people. One thought is Fridays at noon to accommodate people who are working. Please let us know if that works for you. If not, we can try to be flexible to accommodate as many people as possible. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, you can start reading the book. Cheryl Ferris has ordered a few copies that are available for loan. You can contact her at cbferris@gmail.com if you’d like to borrow one. Please contact Rev. Carol at danversuuminister@gmail.com to let us know you’d like to participate. 

 

We’re looking forward to discussing this powerful and beautifully written book with Rev. Carol and Samantha.

A note from the Administrator...

In the interest of safety, we are asking anyone using the sanctuary or fellowship hall not to block the door open once they are in the church. Please post someone near the door for late arrivals.

Social Action

Indigenous Study Group

The Indigenous Study Group has started to meet. Our next meeting will be in the form a forum on Sunday, January 30 from 12 to 1 pm where we will explore Myths of Native American History and Culture. Please join us for an informative and lively discussion on the topic. Also, please go to this link to see information about 5 legislative bills regarding Indigenous Rights that are in process and how to support them.

 https://actionnetwork.org/letters/move-our-bills-out-of-committee-before-the-deadline?source=direct_link&

 

MASC (Mass. Against Solitary Confinement) Pen Pal Program

There are over 50 people who are incarcerated patiently waiting for a MASC pen pal. Are you ready to answer this call? There will be a training on: Thursday, February 4 at 6 pm. Please use this form to sign-up and you will be given a zoom link before the training. LINK Let us know that you’d like to complete the training on your own by completing this form LINK. If you have questions, contact program volunteer, Hale, mascpenpal@uumassaction.org 

 

Operation Troop Support

Operation Troop Support still needs our help. Barbara Haight asks if we can please bring the following donations to the church: packages/cans of mac/cheese, ramen soup, tuna fish, peanut butter nabs, crackers, small boxes of cereal, snacks, peanuts, jerky, games/books, small cans of Pringles, toothpaste/brushes, loose wrapped candy, gum, etc.

February 14th

TSC is pleased to welcome Abigale Reisman, Klezmer violinist and historian, who will present a musical history of this traditional Jewish art form.

Abigale Reisman is a violinist, composer, improviser, and educator. She is a co-founder of Thread Ensemble, an experimental trio that creates music out of interactions with their audiences. She is a member of Tredici Bacci, which was featured in Rolling Stone's "10 Artists You Need to Know: November 2016." She is also a composer, arranger, and performer in the International Jewish Music Festival award-winning band, Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band. Abigale earned her bachelor's degree at The Manhattan School of Music in Classical Violin Performance and went on to receive her master's degree at The New England Conservatory in Contemporary Improvisation. She has toured the world performing klezmer, classical, pop, and experimental music. Abigale has had the privilege to share the stage with great musicians such as Father John Misty, David Krakauer, Amanda Palmer, Jeffery Zeigler, Sarah Jarosz, Hankus Netsky, The Ballroom Thieves, and Anthony Coleman.
The Zoom presentation includes historical pictures, a timeline of Klezmer music, artwork, music, and the function of Klezmer music historically and now.
 Cost for this presentation is $18.00 per person. Process payment at www.shalomcollaborative.org by using the donate button on the upper right corner of the TSC homepage and in the note field, indicate this is for the Klezmer presentation.
 Please note: This is a per person, not a per device/household fee.
 Please RSVP to Barbara Roberts at: brob120@gmail.com
*Anyone wishing to sign up for the event on February 14 should click on the "DONATE" button on the website. Both debit and credit cards are accepted. 
**Andrea Kaiser is happy to help anyone needing assistance. Please contact Andrea at 781 235 0555 email: ccstpg@verizon.net

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