Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9am

Newton's 57th Annual Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. is right around the corner, and this year, FUUSN was selected to host the event.  

Join FUUSN, the Harmony Board and the City of Newton, dedicated event partners, and fellow community members on Monday, January 20th, starting at 9am, for reflection, music, student voices, children's programming with Story Starters, and a community reception.

This year's theme will be "Only When It Is Dark Enough Can You See the Stars". 

Learn more here about the event and program and our annual food drive (Jan. 13-18) organized by the Rotary Club of Newton and Village Bank. 

Please note that registration is requested to help with our planning and to ensure we are able to communicate with you in case of a weather emergency (or as needed). 

Kindly register using this link: bit.ly/NEWTONMLK25.

If you have any questions at all, please send an email to harmonyfoundationnewton@gmail.com.

Minister's Musings

Rev. Joel Miller

Thank you to so many at FUUSN who attended both memorials and the Sunday Worship Service the first weekend of this year. The Celebrations of Life for Rosie Walker and Ed Lerner were filled with your love for them and their families. Your care is evident in how you show up for each other.

Showing up, or being present for one another, is an essential part of how we all are part of this congregation’s ministry. And FUUSN also has a great team of Lay Ministers (read about them on our website) who are present both online and in-person for Sunday services as well as Celebrations of Life. These members meet and train regularly and make our congregation a greater presence in the moments when we need it.

And we have a great Care Crew that also provides support in tough times, bringing a meal or two or reaching out in other practical ways. You can reach out by contacting me or Rev. Debra or the Lay Minister who is on-call each month. Our contact information can be found here in The Chime each week in the last section titled “Contacts.”

Boston Women's March

Saturday, January 18, 2025, 11am-1pm

Join the Boston's Women's March on Saturday, January 18th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Boston Common Parade Grounds on the corner of Charles Street. and Beacon Street. Wear your Side with Love T-Shirt if you have one and look for other UU's. 

Learn more...

Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice Virtual Vigil

Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 7pm

UUSJ proudly co-sponsors “Together, We Light the Way” hosted by the Workers Circle and the Center for Common Ground on January 19th, at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT.

• Register now! ASL and closed captioning provided. 

Join us for 30 minutes via Zoom on Sunday, January 19, for a special evening of inspiration, connection, and power.

Learn more...

Photographers Needed for MLK Day Event

Monday, January 20, 2025, 9am

Are you a good photographer who's planning to attend the Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday? If so, please take LOTS of photos and contact the Communications Team to donate them to our photo archive.

Fun and Games for All Ages

Friday, January 17, 2025, 5:30-7:30pm, Parish Hall

Fun and Games for All Ages is held on Friday evenings 5-8pm. Bring board games and food to share to a low-key gathering of FUUSNites of all ages! This is a lovely opportunity to get to know FUUSN folks better. Sign up here.

New to Unitarian Universalism Class

Saturday, January 18, 2025, 9:30am-noon, Children's Chapel

The New to Unitarian Universalism class from 9:30am to Noon in the Children's Chapel is an opportunity to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and FUUSN and to find out more about becoming a member of our congregation. It's a great opportunity to learn more about us, and we strongly urge you to attend.  Please RSVP.

Alternative Coffee Hour

Sunday, January 19, 2025, 11:40am

Are you looking for a different way to experience coffee hour? After you grab your coffee, feel free to join a small group (7 or 8) of fellow FUUSNites to discuss topics arising from the service. Just come to the Member Services table and you will be assigned to a group and meeting room at random.

New Greeter Team Training

Sunday January 26, 2025 after service

We are seeking new members for our team of people who welcome visitors and newcomers to FUUSN each week before the service. If you are extroverted, love FUUSN, and can volunteer at least twice a month, please join current greeters for a training on how to best welcome and engage visitors. Sign up here. Current greeters, please sign up as well.  

Over 60s Presentation: Philosophic Religion, FUUSN's Heritage

Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 12pm, Alliance Room

Arthur Anderson, JD. Author, Researcher

As a religion researcher, Arthur Anderson will trace the classical Greek philosophical religious way of life perspective to their resurrection in the 19th century Transcendental movement and the founders of FUUSN. Arthur’s expansive historical perspective powerfully enlarges our understanding of our UU roots and FUUSN’s foundation. Discussion and lunch bites. Learn more.

Fabulous FUUSN Mardi Gras Services Auction is Coming!

Don't miss our Mardi Gras Services Auction on Saturday, February 1! This party is one of the more enjoyable Saturday nights you will have all year.

• Doors open at 5:30pm for dinner, socializing, and browsing raffle and auction items.
• Live Auction starts at 6:30pm. Optional bidding on great items such as weekend vacation homes, gourmet dinners, and other services. End time 8:30/9:00pm.
• $10 per adult entry INCLUDES dinner and drinks!! (Wine/beer as well as non-alcoholic options.)
• Childcare in the Children’s Chapel included throughout the evening! There will be games, crafts, and movies for the kiddos while adults relax, enjoy each other’s company, and are entertained by the auctioneers. Kids can bring PJs and sleeping bags for the movie.
• No need to RSVP.
• You are encouraged to wear your most festive Mardi Gras party outfits - nothing is too silly!

The success of the auction is by nature dependent on the donation of services by FUUSN folks. We are always looking for donations of services, particularly from folks who have not donated services in the past. You can view last year's auction catalogs. Feel free to be creative in thinking about what service you can donate. 

As part of the auction activities, we also sell raffle tickets for special offerings leading up to the auction itself. We will have a Services Auction table set up in the Parish Hall after services on January 11, 18, and 25. We will be selling raffle tickets and/or you can sign up to donate a service. Or if you just want to learn more about the Services Auction, this is the place to come. 

Questions or if you want to discuss offering a service? Please contact Pat Rohan.

Food & Plastic: Hearing the Cry of the Earth with Professor Philip Landrigan, MD

February, 6, 2025, 7:30-9pm

Our Lady Help of Christians’ Lower Hall

The Sacred Heart and Our Lady Help of Christians Collaborative Creation Care Team invites you to hear from a global environmental health expert, Professor Philip J. Landrigan, MD, Director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College. From 2021 to 2023, Dr. Landrigan chaired the Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health, which studied plastics’ impacts on human health and helped shape recommendations for the UN Global Plastics Treaty. Learn More

Annual FUUSN Musicians Concert

February 23, 2025, 2pm

Rehearsals have begun for the annual concert to benefit the UU Urban Ministry. The Band is busy preparing music by Talking Heads, James Taylor, and more! Learn more...