Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church

nsuu@verizon.net

nsuu.org

978-774-7582

December 2, 2022

Holiday Swag-making Workshop


We are planning our annual Holiday Swag-making Workshop after the service on Sunday, December 4th.


Due to this summer's draught, my usual sources of greens have diminished. If anyone has access to spruce or fir greens, please let me know. I am available to come and cut them or pick them up.


Please email me at tke.swan@comcast.net.


Thank you,

Tracee Kneeland

Sunday Service

December 4, 2022

10:30 a.m.

In-person service and on Zoom


"The Gift of Wonder"

Rev. Carol Sprecker speaking


We’ll kick off the holiday season by celebrating the eye-opening, heart-quickening “WOW” moments of wonder that wake us up to the daily gift of life. After an abbreviated service celebrating those gifts, we’ll spill out into the Fellowship Hall for more festivities including swag-making, more music and plenty of opportunity for good fellowship.


Our special musical guests will be The Northshore Ukulele Players.

Sunday Service

December 11, 2022

10:30 a.m.

In-person service and on Zoom


"Hope is...."

Rev. Carol Sprecker speaking



Emily Dickinson wrote,

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -


What is hope and why is it so important? How can it help us to turn towards healing and wholeness when so much has been broken? I hope so… 


Our special guest musician, Tim Deik on trumpet, will brighten our souls and fill the room with the exciting sound of brass. 


Sunday services Zoom link

https://zoom.us/j/95156904873

Sunday service Zoom link

From the Board

The agenda for the NSUU Church Board of Directors meeting to be held on December 14th can be found by clicking on the below button.

Agenda Dec. 14, 2022

Listening Circle


Sunday, December 11,2022

12 noon


This is such an exciting time for Northshore Church! The Search Committee has been hard at work collating information from the Congregational Survey and Cottage Meetings for prospective ministers. But before we can move full steam ahead, there were a few comments of concern related to our past that we want to address before we can move forward. 


Specifically, there are still unresolved feelings related to the Rev. Julie Lombard’s departure.  To that end Rev. Carol has offered to facilitate a “Listening Circle” to give people an opportunity to share their stories in an open, non-judgmental and respectful manner and to talk about how to move forward together. We can’t fix the past, but we can demonstrate our care for one another by listening to each other's truths and finding ways to walk together into the future in love. 

 

Please join Rev. Carol and the Search Committee on December 11th at noon in the sanctuary.


Music notes from
Georgia Bills
   Northshore Church Director of Music

Special December music events planned for NSUU (and beyond)


Guest musician Tim Deik, a busy Greater Boston trumpet player who will bring us the exciting sounds of brass on Sunday, December 11. Included in the service will be “Meditation on I Wonder as I Wander” a trio for Trumpet, Tim Deik, Trombone, Georgia Bills and Piano, Judy Putnam. A haunting, ethereal piece not to be missed.


Off site, for those who enjoy jazz, I will be playing jazz trombone at Beverly’s own historical Larcom Theater on Friday, December 16 at 7PM with a 16 player Swing Band, The Avocates. We will be playing both holiday swing tunes and jazz standards. 


The Solstice Service on Wednesday, December 21 at 6:30PM will include music new and old with Rev. Carol adding her fiddle for a “jolly wassail”. Some of our own NSUU souls will dance a Morris Sword Dance, an ancient dance featuring a magical moment not to be missed.


Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24 6:30PM, Leslie Vincent (Bob Vincent’s granddaughter) returns from the West Coast to NSUU and will treat us to a heartfelt mellow song wrapping us in the best of the season. Together we will sing many of the familiar seasonal songs as we celebrate together.

Social Action Committee



Operation Troop Support

This is a special appeal for the following items to be donated for Operation Troop Support. Items include white work socks, fleece throw blankets, peanut butter crackers, soups, mac and cheese, hygiene products for men and women. These items are to support troops who are spread out throughout the mid-east. Items are needed by DECEMBER 4th. There will be a big holiday packing at St. John’s Prep on 12/5. You can bring them to church or call Barbara Haight for a pick-up at 978-729-5422.


Holiday gift-giving for refugee families

We are again supporting our refugee friends from the Congo and Ethiopia with $25 gifts via two options:

  1. Come to the Sunday Holiday Swag-Making Workshop on December 4th and choose a name from the Giving Tree. You will have the opportunity to make a simple origami box to hold your gift (optional).


  1. Choose a family member by signing up on-line (available soon). Go to Social Action, Refugees and Immigrant families and click on Gift sign-up button.



Antoinette from the Congo repeatedly communicates how she appreciates the love and support from our church family and says, “We love you.” The family works hard to budget their money and our contributions help. Money is preferred to toys so she can best determine their needs. Since arriving in Gloucester 5 years ago, two of her brothers have graduated high school and gone on to college.


Transgender Inclusion in Congregations

The Social Action Committee would like to kick off the new year with a series of six videos and discussions on transgender issues and how we can make our church more welcoming to all people of the LGBTQ and plus community. This will be open to all church members. The series was designed by the Transforming Hearts Collective with pre-recorded videos and reflection questions and resources. The videos can be watched prior to the discussion or with a group with a discussion after. We will be looking for people to join as attendees and also as discussion group leaders. We will set aside a date in early January to discuss and prepare for this event. For more info go to: https://www.transformingheartscollective.org/online-courses

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