Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church

nsuu@verizon.net

nsuu.org

August 26, 2022

The NSUU gardeners planted these sunflowers at Endicott Park Community Garden

Check out our new nsuu.org website


As many of you have noticed, our website has a slightly different look and feel. The goal was for it to be more attractive and easier to use. Everything is still there. Some new content has been added, and things have moved around. It still has a description of the upcoming service. There is also still a link connecting you to the Zoom service and still a link to the Sunday Order of Service. Please take some time looking at nsuu.org to get familiar with its new design.

 

This is an ongoing project. We intend to add more photos and information with the aim of showing more clearly who we are as a congregation.


Bo Batty

Webmaster

 

Sunday Service

September 11, 2022

10:30 a.m.

In-person service and on Zoom



Water Ceremony and Ingathering

Rev. Carol Strecker, speaking

 

If you are a drop of water, then you will evaporate halfway; 

but if you go as a river, you will surely reach the ocean.

                                                                                    Thich Nhat Hanh

 

The Water Ceremony celebrates our connections with one another and with the Earth. We return to our beloved sanctuary in the woods on September 11th, bringing water from many sources that speak to us of those connections. Water symbolizes the power of community as drops gather to form rivulets that meet and merge to form mighty rivers flowing together to the sea. Bring a little water that has special meaning for you to pour into a common bowl. 


You can also send a picture of a watery place to Gary Nelson at ammodytes2000@yahoo.com. Gary has graciously agreed to create a slideshow of those places that quench our thirsty souls for our service. 


This service will include special music provided by the NSUU Singing Group under the direction of Georgia Bills, our new Music Director. 

 

In the interest of protecting the most vulnerable among us, we ask that you wear a mask inside the building. 



The Board invites everyone to join us after the service

for coffee and ice cream treats as we kick off this new church year.

Feel free to bring a bag lunch as well!  


Sunday services Zoom link

https://zoom.us/j/95156904873

Sunday service Zoom link

Meet NSUU Church Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 church year.

Back: Treasurer Bob Ferris, Rev. Carol Strecker, Board Chair Andrea Kaiser,

Hal Morse, Clerk Lynette Gray.

Front: Susan Haas, Kathy Ulman, Marcia Lassar, Jeri Kroll.


Northshore UU Church Board Retreat


The Northshore UU Church Board of Directors, Rev. Carol and the Church Administrator gathered on Saturday, August 20th at Andrea Kaiser's home for the annual retreat to prepare for the coming year. The Board welcomed Lynette Gray as Clerk and Kathy Ulman as a new member-at-large. This orientation and planning session helps get the board grounded in looking at their work through the lens of the NSUU Church mission: 


NSUU is a dynamic, creative congregation, providing an inclusive and welcoming spiritual home for all. We are guided by principles that promote caring relationships and the active pursuit of social, racial and environmental justice. 


(board retreat minutes here)

Congregational Conversations

At their retreat, the Board decided it was important to have ongoing conversations with the congregation to share their work and get feedback. They’ve scheduled three conversations: 

October 16, 2022 (includes pizza lunch)

January 22, 2023

March 12, 2023


The Board is in the process of creating a board covenant; promises they want to make to each other about how to be together that promotes caring relationships. How we do the work being just as important, if not more so, than what we get done. At the Congregational Conversation in October the Board will share this process with you and invite a larger conversation that will serve as the foundation for what we hope will be a congregational covenant. 


These conversations will also be a great place to learn how the work of the Search Committee is progressing and may even include ways you can be involved. Any member can contact a member of the board to request a topic of interest to be discussed at these quarterly conversations.


Without each and every one of you, there is no Northshore UU. Your voice is vital to helping NSUU be the church. We hope you will join us for these important conversions, culminating at the Annual Meeting on May 21, 2023. 

Coming Soon: Updates from the Ministerial Search Committee.

Bo Batty, Beth Blanchard, Sharon P. Clark, Terri Hansen, Julie O' Meara.

Music notes from GB

                                                 

                                                              NOTES from GB Georgia Bills

                                                            NSUU Church Director of Music

Add YOUR voice to the mix! The Singing Group begins Wednesday rehearsals on September 7 at 1PM in the sanctuary. I have made recordings to use from your computer or phone to work the pieces. Remember, if you want to sing with “TSG” but are unavailable for the Wednesday rehearsal, you can join us on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM for the brush up. Email me at gbills01915@gmail if you would like to have the recordings sent to you.

     “If I cannot fly, let me sing.” - Stephen Sondheim

Good Things Are Growing in the Garden!

Hello from site #1 at Endicott Park’s Community Garden. We are having a very good year in spite of the lack of rain. Yes, crab grass is drought tolerant (not something you want in a weed!)

 

We had a great crop of potatoes. I had never had a home-grown potato before and there is quite a difference. We harvested garlic which is curing in my laundry room. We are picking cucumbers and zucchini. Folks at the food pantry loved the mint, sage, and parsley that we picked as well.

 

Now I am volunteering at Aurelia's Garden in Wayland too. "Why, you might ask?" Well, I want to learn as much as I can from Hannah Traggis who is an exceptional Master Gardener, and lead at Aurelia’s. The garden is huge and supplies fresh produce to food pantries.

 

While weeding last Friday I mentioned to another volunteer that I love potatoes. She referred me to Wood Prairie Family Farm in Bridgewater, Maine. In the spring we will be getting seed potatoes for planting called Caribou Russets, Charlotte, and Keuka Gold. I can’t wait to taste them.

 

We are planting a fall crop now including carrots, snow peas, beans and squash. We still need lots of large cardboard boxes to lay down to prevent weeds. Thanks to Dona McDuff for dropping off boxes. More boxes, please!

                Thanks, and see you in Church September 11th! Susan Haas

SAVE THE DATE

Join us for the 7h Annual

100-Mile Potluck Picnic


In person

at

Northshore UU Church

   Saturday, September 17       

5 pm to 7 pm





Support your local family farms and small businesses and make a dish with ingredients from within 100 miles of home. *


It can be as simple as a salad from your garden or local ice cream with local peaches. Or let your imagination run wild with a favorite recipe. You’ll be amazed at the variety of local produce and products available to us.

 


* Basically, this means all of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and as far away as Portland, Maine, and

St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Northshore Church to host its first Fundraiser/Friendraiser in more than 2 years!

Saturday, October 15 from 1-5:30 pm

(rain date October 16)


A small committee has been hard at work planning a fall fundraiser to be held at the church. This event stems from an incredibly generous donation from both Shirley Guerriero and the family of Elaine Chipman. Both artists have donated more than 50 works that we will sell (100% of profit going to NSUU Church). 


We will ticket this event by reservation for a 1 pm-2:30 pm time slot, 2:30 to 4:00 pm time slot, and a final slot from 4 pm to 5:30. Attendees will be treated to live music and refreshments of savories, sweets and drinks. Most of the work is already framed and prices are reasonable, as set by the artists, ranging from $30 to $300.  


This volunteer effort will require many helpers to pull it off successfully. We are

planning a large-scale effort to market this event to both our members and to the

general public. We all know that "word of mouth" is the best marketing, so we need every member to invite friends, family and neighbors. We need help with set-up and clean-up, food preparation, greeters, people to host our NSUU Church Information Table, etc. We would be so happy to have as many of you volunteer as possible.


This event will be free to the public. The profit will come from the sale of the work. Think about how lovely it would be to purchase art for holiday and special celebration gifts!

Social Action Committee


We hope you are all enjoying the summer months and taking the time to refresh and rejuvenate.

 

Join Us

The Social Action Committee is always looking for more people to join us. We will be having our first planning meeting for the new church year on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 6:30 pm via zoom. Join or come and take a peek. Please contact Cheryl Ferris: cbferris@gmail.com or 978-660-7104

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