May 24, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Sunday Worship
• May Shared Collection and Diaper Drive
• Join Us for a Dessert Buffet!t!
• RSVP for the FRS Annual Meeting
• Volunteers Needed for Annual Meeting
• Distribution of Shared Collection Allocation for 2023-2024 Church Year
• June PRIDE Celebrations
• A Visualization of Peace from Cynthia Walsh
• Love in Action – You can support the FRSUU Little Free Diverse Library! 
• Upcoming Fellowship Programming
• Parish Friends
• Thank a UU
• Weekly Wellness Programming
• Monday Night Meditation
• Tuesday Spiritual Practice
• Wednesday Guided Relaxation
• Beyond Our Doors: Events in the Greater Newburyport Area

Annual Ministry Theme: Peace

May Ministry Theme: Spiritual Teachers

“I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom."

-Rosa Parks

Sunday, May 28, 2023

“Service as our Spiritual Teacher”

10:30am in person and streamed on YouTube

What does it mean to believe in “service as our prayer”? Reverend Rebecca will explore the role that service plays in helping us to find meaning, connection and belonging.

I slept and dreamt that life was joy.

I awoke and saw that life was service.

I acted and behold, service was joy.

-Rabindranath Tagore

Attend on YouTube: http://bit.ly/FRSyoutube

May Shared Collection Partner - Emmaus

Each year Emmaus, Inc serves more than 2,000 homeless women, men, and children from the Merrimack Valley and North Shore. On any given night roughly 300 people call Emmaus “home.” More than 80,000 meals are served yearly to shelter residents, and many housing and program participants receive emergency food from Emmaus’s food pantry. And 91 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to Emmaus programs.

When: Sunday, June 11th at noon, in person or online

Please note that everyone is invited to have lunch, which will be provided in the Lower Meetinghouse prior to the start of the Annual Meeting

Our Annual Meeting is an important gathering for our congregation that demonstrates our commitment to shared ministry in decision-making and governance. It is an important time to reflect on our congregation's Values, Mission and Ends. We encourage all members to participate.

Important note: membership at the FRS is required to vote. If you are unsure if are a member, and or interested in becoming a member of the FRS, please email cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org.

Registration is required and lunch will be provided.

RSVP by clicking the blue button below!

We are looking for three volunteers to help support our Annual Meeting on June 11. To support our online participants, we are looking for a volunteer to "stand in" for any online participant who would like to make a comment or ask a question. We are also looking for a volunteer to carry a microphone to those participants in the meetinghouse who cannot stand in line. Finally, we are looking for a volunteer to be a timekeeper for comments and questions so that everyone has a chance to speak while keeping the meeting moving forward. If you are willing to help, please let Justin Murphy-Mancini know by email: justin.murphy-mancini@frsuu.org.

Thank you so much for your support of this important work!

Distribution of Shared Collection Allocation for 2023-2024 Church Year

The Community Outreach Group has the responsibility of scheduling the organizations that aid individuals and families in need that will receive one half of the loose plate offertory collected at Sunday service each month.

Prior to establishing the schedule for next year, we would like recommendations from the congregation. If you would like to submit a recommendation for an organization serving the Merrimack Valley, please click on the blue button below to complete the form by Friday, June 2, 2023.

Please email the form to Jeff Bard at jeffbard@hotmail.com.                                   

Saturday, June 3rd: Newburyport Pride Parade (meeting at Bartlett Mall),

kicks off at noon

The FRSUU Welcoming Committee invites you to participate in Newburyport’s first Pride Parade on Saturday, June 3. The parade will kick off from Bartlett Mall at noon, travel down Green Street, and end in Waterfront Park. The route is under one mile and slightly downhill. FRS is already registered to participate, and we would love for you to join us.

You can sign up by emailing Holly Cashman at holly.cashman@gmail.com or look for our sign-up table before and after church on Sunday, May 28. We will walk together with the FRS banner, wearing our FRS t-shirts (or solid-color shirts) in different colors of the rainbow.

All ages are welcome. Groups need to gather at Bartlett Mall near the courthouse (145 High St.) between 11-11:15am. If you have questions, please contact holly.cashman@gmail.com.

Sunday, June 4th at 12:30pm: Please join the Welcoming Committee's sponsored program which will feature Kimm Topping, Ed.M. (they/them/theirs).

Topping will present on “How to be an Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community.” They are a writer, educator, community organizer, and queer historian whose work values youth voice, leadership, and activism. Topping is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, focusing their work on gender and sexuality.

Their YA non-fiction book, Generation Queer, highlights stories of modern LGBTQ+ youth activists and is forthcoming from Tu Books/Lee & Low. This Justice Sunday is open to the public as it coincides with Newburyport’s first annual Pride celebration. All are welcome. Please note that prior to the start of this program, immediately following worship on Sunday, June 4th, we invite all parishioners to join us for our last Soup and Salad Justice Sunday Lunch.

Photo submitted by Cynthia Walsh: "spring light"

To view the Top Ten Challenged Books of 2022 in the U.S.,

a report compiled by the American Library Association, click here!

Love in Action – You can support the FRSUU Little Free Diverse Library! 

We’ve all heard about increasing book bans across the U.S., and increasingly these bans focus on books that feature protagonists of color or characters who reflect the LGBTQ+ experience. Now is the right time to ask how you can help support the FRSUU Little Free Diverse Library! Director of Children’s Ministry Mara Flynn will be speaking at this Sunday’s service about ways you can get involved: 

• Book donations: Click here to access the LFDL Wishlist on Amazon. You can purchase books here or get title ideas and purchase books at a local bookstore – or better yet – a black-owned bookstore! 

• Become a Library Steward this summer: Mara is looking for volunteers to commit to checking in on the Little Free Diverse Library over the summer, every couple of weeks. Duties include removing book donations that are clearly not “diverse” titles and restocking diverse books. To sign up, or to learn more, please email mara.flynn@frsuu.org.

Do you know of anyone in our church community who could use a helping hand or an encouraging word? If so, please reach out to the FRS Parish Friends. For example, a member may need a ride to an appointment or appreciate a card to let them know we hold them in our thoughts. Or any other temporary support such as a family with a new baby who may welcome a meal! If so, please contact Susan Ricker at parishfriends@frsuu.org. You may also reach out to the church office at info@frsuu.org or call 978-465-0602.

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!

If you would like to thank another parishioner, please email cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org.

Each week, the FRS offers a series of wellbeing and spiritual practice sessions. These sessions are open to everyone, and we invite you to join us anytime! To learn about Monday Evening in-person Meditations, Tuesday online Spiritual Practice, Wednesday Morning online Guided Meditation click on the pink button below:

Theater in the Open Presents: Petrushka's Flying Puppet Circus

When: Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm, May 20th-June 11th at Maudslay State Park

Pay what you will.

Full Moon Story Slam by the Actors Studio: "Pronouns"

When: Saturday, June 3 at 7pm at Zach Fields Drum and Music Studio, 6 Chestnut St, Suite 119, Amesbury

For more information, please visit www.newburyportacting.org

Among Friends at St. Paul’s Church

The Community Outreach Committee has committed to providing volunteers for the meal program at St. Paul’s in Newburyport. They provide meals to 85+ guests three days a week. Our dates are May 29, July 31, and October 30. These are all Mondays. We will need a total of six volunteers for each of those dates. Our tasks will be preparing, serving, and cleaning up. We will determine the menu and all the ingredients will be provided. The time is 2-6pm.

Since May 29 is Memorial Day, many have plans, but if you don’t, Ann Power still needs three volunteers to join her. The meal will be simple so there will be minimal cooking this time. Please email Ann at amp486688@gmail.com or call 603-520-1781 if you would like to help.

Ferry Beach Offers Summer Camp for Grown-Ups!

Save the Date: August 27-30

The Ferry Beach Getaway is perfect for those who long ago aged out of summer camp but still yearn for the camaraderie and activities of camp. This year’s offerings include Eco-Printing, a nature walk, New England Country Dance, yoga, and a bocce tournament – along with beach walks, hanging out with new friends on the porch and the beach, and lots of laughter during evening games. You’re a grown-up now so you can do as much – or as little – as you wish. For more information: https://www.ferrybeach.org/the-beach-getaway.html

Minister–The Reverend Rebecca Bryan; Affiliate Minister–Rev. Stan Barrett; Affiliate Minister–Rev. Helen Murgida; Affiliate Minister-Rev. Jane Tuohy; Minister Emeritus–The Reverend Harold Babcock. Staff: Director of Church Operations–Rob Authier; Office Administrator–Diane Carroll; Director of Children's Ministry–Mara Flynn; Director of Church Music–Justin Murphy-Mancini; Director of Church Music Emerita–Barbara Owen; Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration–Julie Parker Amery; Sexton–Donny Rogers; Director of Congregational and Community Engagement–Cynthia Walsh. Parish Board: Chair–Tina Benik; Vice Chair-Jim Supple; Finance Chair–Renée Wolf Foster; Governance Chair–Tom Himmel; Endowment Treasurer–Kim Kenly; Finance Treasurer–Laurie Evans-Daly; Stewardship Chair–Vern Ellis; Parish Clerk–Kathy Desilets; Holly Cashman, Marissa Dewey, Minnie Flanagan, Bob Higgins, Michelle Kimball, Annie Maurer.

First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950

978-465-0602 | frsuu.org