TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Sunday Worship Service
- FRS Annual Meeting: RSVP Today!
- Your Recommendations Needed for 2022-23 Shared Collection Allocation
- Vestibule Project
- Unitarian Universalist Association Statement on Abortion
- FRS Spring Auction & Gala
- Report out from the FRS Walking Team for the Annual Mother's Day Walk
- Ways to Connect and Engage
- Spring Meet & Greet
- FRS & North Shore Pride
- Forest Walks and Meditation
- Upcoming Events
- Exploring Elderhood Together
- Beyond Our Doors:
- Congregation Ahavas Achim Celebrates 125 Years of Jewish Community in Newburyport
- Antiracism Workshop
- FRS' Weekly Wellness Programming
- FRS in the Community: Donate a book to our Little Free Diverse Library
- Thank a UU
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Annual Ministry Theme: Unity
May Ministry Theme: World Religions
"Each of the world religions has its own particular genius, its own special insight into the nature and requirements of compassion, and has something unique to teach us."
-Karen Armstrong
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Sunday Worship Service
May 15, 2022
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Sunday, May 15, 2022
Goddess for Our Troubled Times
10:30am, in-person and livestream on YouTube
Join us this Sunday as we welcome The Reverend Doctor Sushmita Mukherjee who will be speaking on “Goddess for Our Troubled Times: Kali, the Fierce and Compassionate Goddess of India.” She invites us to explore our own blocks to living fully the spiritual lives to which we aspire.
"We all carry around demons - of ignorance, of complacency, of addiction. Which of your demons are you ready to slay?"
- Sushmita Mukherjee
Following Sunday worship service, we will host a 30-minute social outside the church (weather permitting).
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Distribution of Sunday Shared Collection Allocation for 2022-2023 Church Year
The Community Human Service Committee has the responsibility of scheduling the organizations that will receive one half of the unpledged donations collected at Sunday services each month.
Prior to establishing the schedule for next year, we would like to solicit recommendations from the congregation. If you would like to submit a recommendation for an organization serving the Merrimack Valley, please click on the link below to complete the form by Friday May 20, 2022.
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FRS Annual Meeting Sunday, June 12th: RSVP Today! |
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The Annual Meeting of the First Religious Society will be in the afternoon on Sunday, June 12. Members will be voting on bylaw amendments to create a new Stewardship Committee, better align governing documents with current operations, alter the use of pronouns, as well elect officers, approve a budget, and potentially decide on items relating to facility use and physical accessibility. Staff and lay leadership are collaborating now to create the 2021-2022 Annual Report and official Annual Meeting Warrant, both of which will be shared by the end of May.
We are asking members to please register in advance for this year’s Annual Meeting to help us ensure that we have a quorum and plan for meeting logistics and lunch (to be provided). The meeting will be hybrid with in-person and virtual attendance options. Look for more details in upcoming communications.
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The vestibule to our sanctuary is in need of some TLC and this summer we are hoping to make some helpful modifications, which would include a fresh coat of paint and better lighting. As an entry point to our beloved church, the vestibule is a busy space, especially before and after worship or during other events that take place at FRS. For curious passers-by the vestibule provides the first glance into our church and often a first exposure to Unitarian Universalism.
As we begin to think about the vestibule and how we might better organize and use this space, we want to hear from you! If you are interested in learning more about this project and have some ideas for how we might be able to create a welcoming space that reflects Unitarianism, please email Cynthia Walsh at cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org or call 978-465-0602.
Over the next few days, we will begin to temporarily relocate some of the historical paintings that are currently hanging on the vestibule walls to make room for an art installation featuring art works from parishioners who participated in the FRS Community Art Project. The historical paintings will be hung in the upstairs Hayward Room, which is the large room located behind the organ. More details about the Community Art Project exhibit to follow!
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Unitarian Universalist Association Statement Released on May 3, 2022:
The Fight for Abortion Access Isn't Over
Since well before Roe v. Wade, Unitarian Universalists have declared unequivocally that we support every person’s right to make decisions about their own bodies and reproductive health, including the choice to seek abortion care. To read the full statement click here!
If you are interested in getting involved in this issue, we invite you to join a newly formed working group to discuss next steps. Please sign up here!
Mark your calendars: Join Side With Love and the National Network of Abortion Funds for our upcoming political education event, Heart-to-Heart: Abortion Conversations & Action for a Post-Roe World on Tuesday, May 17 at 8pm ET/5pm PT.
Register here for this online event.
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We have been having technical issues with the online Auction Donation Form, but it is now fixed. If you submitted an auction donation during the last 3 weeks, please resubmit it. Thank you for your generosity.
DONATIONS NEEDED!
For the FRS Spring Gala and Auction
Do you love to cook dinner and entertain?
Do you have a specialty dinner that everyone loves?
Do you enjoy putting on a wine tasting? Maybe know your cheeses as well?
Do you have a vacation home you could share?
Can you offer a pizza palooza party?
Can you offer a day trip in your boat?
Do you have sports tickets to share?
Can you provide a whiskey and chocolate tasting party?
Tell us what you can do
Help us make the FRS Spring Gala and Auction an evening to remember!
Join us in Fellowship
On the evening of June 10, 2022
At the Newburyport Community Center
More details coming soon...
P.S. You can also look for the Auction table at Sunday's social after worship service!
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FRS Walking Team at the Annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace in Dorchester, MA |
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Report out from Annie Madden, FRS parishioner who organized our walking team:
Thanks to all who came to Roxbury and Dorchester on a brisk and sunny morning to support the Louis D Brown Peace Institute and the communities and families who have lost loved ones to violence. Thanks too to our many supporters, friends and family members who rooted us on and supported the team in one way or another, including as donators to the fundraising. Thanks in particular to David Livingstone for leading us in prayer at the beginning of the walk, and for being there with us.
I may have missed some, but to my count we had 20 walkers and at least 26 funding supporters, and lots of help from staff at FRS for helping with the publicity, and to Vern Ellis, who designed and facilitated the new FRS banner.
Our team raised over $2600, and though this was not a competition, we were 34th out of 143 teams for fundraising support.
I’d also like to thank Ann Haaser for the inspiration to join in this effort. We missed her presence with us this year! It was very meaningful to walk in community for this cause, and with you all. Thanks!
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Ways to Connect and Engage |
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Spring Meet & Greet
When: Sunday, May 15, in the FRS Courtyard, following Sunday Worship Service
“A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.”
-Maya Angelou
Whether you are newer to FRS or have been a parishioner for a while and are looking to build connections, please join us at our Spring Meet & Greet. We will enjoy a picnic lunch provided by FRS and have fun with getting-to-know-you activities, plus you will learn about all the exciting projects and programming happening in our parish and FRS's impact in the greater community.
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FRSUU & North Shore Pride
Planning for North Shore Pride celebrations are underway, and FRS has been invited to participate in planning the interfaith service for Thursday, June 23rd at 7pm which will be held this year at Tabernacle Church in Salem. If you would like to assist in planning the interfaith service as a representative of FRS please contact Christine Doherty at christine.doherty@comcast.net. Meetings will be a combination of Zoom, email correspondence, and a minimal number in person. These volunteers would also be expected to attend the service. Christine will connect you to the committee’s contact person.
Additionally, mark your calendars for the primary North Shore Pride daytime celebration — a parade and activities in Salem, MA on Saturday, June 25th. The Welcoming Committee, in collaboration with the FRS Intergenerational GSA, will be coordinating a group of FRS members to attend Pride events that day. We hope to travel together or meet up there, have fun, and represent FRSUU and Unitarian Universalist principles in action. More information will be available soon, but if you’d like to express your interest, please contact Christine at christine.doherty@comcast.net.
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Forest Walks and Meditation
When: Fridays, May 13 and 27, from 9-10:30am
Maudslay State Park, Newburyport
Much research in recent years has brought to light the benefits of being in nature mindfully, using all the senses, giving rise to practices such as Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) in Japan and Scandinavia. Join us for four such walks, experiencing the emergence of spring. Walks will be silent and will include a number of mindfulness practices, and will be followed by tea and conversation.
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Exploring Elderhood Together
When: Thursday, May 19 from 1-3 pm
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Presenters: All of Us
Please join us to celebrate our Exploring Elderhood Together community and help generate ideas for its future. To make this occasion a bit festive, we hope to meet and greet in person, and serve up some ice cream.
We have a lot to talk about. We’re now a few years into this Elderhood exploration and as we look ahead, we invite you to join not only in celebrating EET, but in brainstorming together about EET’s future. Whether you’ve been active in EET or not, we want to hear from you and welcome your open hearts and minds, and your ideas.
Some questions to ponder --
What’s best about Exploring Elderhood?
What could we do better?
What about growing older interests you?
What suggestions do you have for programming topics and structure?
This is sure to be an interesting, even thought-provoking, meeting. And meeting in person at FRS would be a celebration in itself. But keep in mind that we will be monitoring COVID guidelines and confirm where/how we’ll meet closer to May 19.
Please note this will be our LAST MEETING UNTIL FALL.
Exploring Elderhood Together provides FRSers, age 60 and older, with an opportunity to explore what it means to age in the 2020s. Our mission is to reflect on and discuss topics of interest and, through sharing from our own lived experience, to build a greater sense of belonging within our community.
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Where Do We Come From? Where Are We Going?
Community Art Project
The FRS community art project will be installed in the vestibule and ready for viewing this Sunday! Be sure to take in the diverse interpretations of the prompt “Where Do We Come From? Where Are We Going?” in a variety of media from FRS members and friends.
A “meet the artists” reception will be held on June 5 after church.
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FRS' Weekly Wellness Programing |
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Congregation Ahavas Achim Celebrates 125 Years of Jewish Community in Newburyport
When: Sunday, May 25 from 4-6pm at Congregation Ahavas Achim, Newburyport
Click here to download the flyer!
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Antiracism Workshop Featuring Debby Irving, Racial Justice Educator and Author of Waking Up White
When: Sunday, May 15 from 2-5pm at Church of St. Andrew, Marblehead, MA
The workshop, titled "I'm a Good Person! Isn't That Enough?" is designed to support white people in making the paradigm shift from "fixing" and "helping" those of other races, to acknowledging internalized views of white superiority and understanding how such views perpetuate racism at all levels.
During the first hour, Irving will discuss how, socialized on a narrow world view, she used her white-skewed belief system to interpret the world around her. She will offer first-hand insight into the everyday perpetuation of racial inequality by well-intentioned white people. The remaining time will be more interactive, with questions and answers, discussion, and small-group work.
This free workshop will be hosted by the Church of St. Andrew in Marblehead.
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Give the Gift of a Book to FRS's Little Free Diverse Library (LFDL)
Help us amplify and empower diverse voices and stories in our community by donating a book to our Little Free Diverse Library on Pleasant Street.
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THANK A UU!
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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Minister–The Reverend Rebecca Bryan; Ministerial Intern–David Livingstone; Affiliate Minister–Rev. Stan Barrett; Affiliate Minister–Rev. Helen Murgida; Minister Emeritus–The Reverend Harold Babcock. Staff: Director of Church Operations–Rob Authier; Office Administrator–Diane Carroll; Audio-Visual Engineer–Rob Close; Director of Children's Ministry–Mara Flynn; Director of Church Music–Justin Murphy-Mancini; Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration–Julie Parker Amery; Sexton–Donny Rogers; Director of Congregational and Community Engagement–Cynthia Walsh. 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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