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Weekly Newstter of the
First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton
September 25, 2024
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Note: On Sundays we welcome our children and youth to join us during the Time for All Ages. We encourage Parents to bring their children forward for this time. Following this time, we sing to them as they depart for our Sunday morning RE programs. | |
Worship Service: What Endures
Rev. Tom Schade
Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 10:15am
What endures through victory or defeat, despite the enthusiasms of the day.? Let's take some time out from the everflowing stream of events to consider the everlasting present.
Rev. Tom Schade is a retired UU Minister who served the First Unitarian Church of Worcester, MA from 1999 to 2013. He has also served in leadership positions for the UU Christian Fellowship, the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, including one term on the UUA board from 2019 to 2022. He currently is working with a Board task force on By Law Revisions. He lives in Plymouth, MA, with his spouse, Sue, and two little dogs.
You may also join us on Zoom: https://bit.ly/fuusn-worship-2024-2025
Submit your Joys and Sorrows here.
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From the Co-Ministers...
We have been with you now for a little over three weeks! FUUSN is beginning to feel like home; we hope you are feeling that way too. Thank you for your warm welcome, and your forbearance as we learn your names and how things work here.
In October, to get to know you and FUUSN better, we will be holding six appreciative inquiry sessions, and we hope you will sign up for one of them. We are holding them in person and on Zoom, during the day and the evening, so that as many people can attend one as possible.
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Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is defined as “an asset-based approach to organizational and social engagement that utilizes questions and dialogue to help participants uncover existing strengths, advantages, or opportunities” in their organizations, including congregations. We will create questions to help identify FUUSN’s strengths and opportunities. We want to hear what works well, when was FUUSN at its best, and what draws you to this congregation. We also hope that you’ll get to know us better as well. These conversations will help set the stage for our work with the congregation on mission, vision, governance, and strategic planning.
The sessions are scheduled as followed. Please sign up here for the session that best meets your needs. (Please plan to attend only one session.)
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Blessings,
Rev. Debra & Rev. Joel
- Tuesday, October 8, 7:00-8:30 pm. In Person, Alliance Room
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Thursday, October 10, 10:30-12:00. Zoom
- Wednesday, October 16. 7:30-9:00 pm, In Person, Alliance Room
- Friday, October 18, 10:30-12:00, In Person, Alliance Room
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Wednesday, October 23, 7:30-9:00 pm, Zoom
- Friday, October 25, 10:30-12:00, In Person, Basement Classroom
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Retirement Announcement
After 37 years serving the FUUSN community, our amazing administrator Fran Clancy has decided to retire. Fran has been an integral part of FUUSN for so long—through many ministers, religious educators, and music directors. She has worked tirelessly to support our staff, keep our building open, prepare orders of service, keep our tenants happy, keep our finances in order, know where everything can be found, and support our community in so many ways. We are incredibly grateful for all that she has done for FUUSN over the years! We will miss her greatly and wish her all the best in this new chapter.
Fran will continue working with us through the fall. We will be planning a BIG celebration on November 22. If you’d like to be part of this planning effort, please contact the Operations Council (opscouncil@fusn.org).
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Last Chance to Register for Ferry Beach!!!
Three Days on the Beach with friends from FUUSN! Register BY TODAY for our retreat at Ferry Beach, ME.
We already have 68 people signed up for the Indigenous Peoples Weekend retreat on the coast of Maine! Won’t you join us?
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Our sign up time is very short this year! We need all of those wishing to attend to register by September 25th! Don’t miss out on your favorite room! Thanks to early registration there are already 48 people registered including 6 kids - kids are free (with a paying adult).
Here is the link to learn more and to sign-up: Ferry Beach Registration 2024.
Questions?
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UU The Vote - Get Involved
UU the Vote (www.uuthevote.org) is our national UUA Side with Love initiative to help empower voters in key states on issues protecting our democracy. Strictly non-partisan, it is issues based. Help turnout young, low income, and otherwise disenfranchised voters this November to protect the right to abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, figh climate change, and promote racial equality.
Each week, Rev. Debra will post information about how you can volunteer in the coming week to protect democracy. When you sign up, please identify yourself as a member or friend of FUUSN. If you'd like to take a bigger role in the next two months in organizing FUUSN members to write postcards, make calls, or visit battleground states, please reach out to Rev. Debra at rev.debra@fuusn.org.
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UU the Vote & Yes on 4! Virtual Phone Bank
Thursday, September 26
3 – 5pm EDT
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Help us grow our movement to limit government interference with abortion!
Florida's proposed Amendment 4 creates a state constitutional amendment that explicitly blocks the implementation of laws that prohibit, delay, or restrict abortion access.
On Thursday, Sept 26, you're invited to join Yes on 4 and UU the Vote for a virtual phone bank session. We'll connect to voters to invite them to take action and support Yes on 4 this election cycle. No experience is necessary, we will provide training and support to you while you make calls. Your personal information is protected and all calls are made through the dialer system. We'll have fun and promise the conversations you have with voters will energize you!
REGISTER NOW
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Sanctuary Get-Out-the-Vote Parties
Join Sanctuary community members for two postcard-writing parties to get out the vote in swing states.
THIS Friday, Sept 27. 6:30-8:00pm
Wednesday, Oct 9, 6:30-8pm
RSVP here to get the address
If you live in the Boston area, please join us for either or both of these gatherings to help turnout the vote. The organizations we're partnering with, UU the Vote and the Center for Common Ground, have shown that sending postcards makes a real difference in turnout.
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Over 60s Yoga Presentation
September 29, 2024, 12-1:30pm
Yoga - Presentation plus Practice with Helena Froehlich and colleagues - Alliance Room
The Over 60's Committee, Helena Froehlich, and colleagues from the Isha Foundation will have a presentation and yoga practice for beginners and practitioners alike. View our flyer.
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Sign Up to Receive Text Messages
You can now receive SMS text messages from FUUSN! We will send no more than five texts per month, and they will only be official FUUSN business and reminders: for example, "Please bring water to our Water Ceremony this Sunday" or "The FUUSN Office is closed for painting this Monday."
Sign up here!
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This month, we remember loved ones, friends and members of our community who have passed but who are still with us in spirit. We also hold in our hearts the memory of the following FUUSN members who died in the month of September in years past.
Noreen Kimball, 2013
Joan Witt, 2015
Marion Bullitt, 2017
David Svendsen, 2017
Bill Saunders, 2018
Cheryl Muise, 2018
David Morocco, 2020
Helen Goldstein, 2021
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Friday, September 27
6-6:30pm: Zoom Vespers, online
7-9pm: UU Plant-Based Eating Club Movie Night (full)
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Sunday, September 29
12-1:30pm: Over 60s Presentation: Yoga for Beginnner's Mind, Alliance Room
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Newton Green Expo - October 20, 2024, 11am-4pm
The Newton Green Expo will take place on October 20th. We could have a table if we have folks who can help staff it. It's a great way to get FUUSN's name out in the community. If you're interested, please sign up here.
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Volunteer for the Yard Sale - October 26, 2024
The Yard Sale is coming up faster than you think! Please sign up here to help make this year's Yard Sale a fantastic success!
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Submit Poetry for the Wheel of Life Service - October 27, 2024
The lay ministers have begun preparing for this year’s Wheel of Life service, which will center on the theme of “deep listening,” and we want to include poetry that seems meaningful and appropriate, especially poetry written by members of the congregation. In this context, we are focusing on inter-generational listening, what we have heard and learned both from our elders and those younger than us, whether easy or challenging to hear.
If you have poetry you’d be willing to share for this purpose, please contact Nancy Mattei.
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Join Rev. Debra for a Tashlich Ceremony
October 3, 2024 at 1pm
Tashlich is a traditional Jewish ceremony that takes place on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah to symbolically cast off the negativity of the previous year. The word Tashlich translates to "casting off." The ceremony is traditionally performed by throwing breadcrumbs or pebbles into a flowing body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean.
We will meet at the Charles River right behind the Watch Factory Lofts, 185 Crescent Street, Waltham, MA. (There is a public parking lot across the street.). We will sing a traditional song, have private time for reflection, individually toss our “sins” into the water, and then regather together for sharing and a traditional round challah with honey to wish each other a sweet year.
You don’t need to be from a Jewish background to join. All are welcome, including children. Instead of breadcrumbs, please bring a small bag of 10 – 20 nature-friendly elements like small stones, leaves, pine needles, untreated wood chips, seashells, or twigs.
Please sign up HERE to let Rev. Debra know how many to expect.
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Indigenous Speakers at FUUSN
Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 11:30am, Alliance Room
Come hear Hiawatha Jon Brown and Dr. Darlene Flores, two key organizers of the annual Indigenous Peoples Day Ceremonial Celebration.
View the Flyer - Join us on Zoom
The Indigenous Peoples Day Ceremonial Celebration takes place in Newton, MA on Monday October 14th, a free, family-friendly, day event with a Sacred Pipe Ceremony with the Indigenous Native American Dignitaries, Chiefs, and Medicine peoples from Federally recognized Tribes.
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Social Action Speaker Lunch: Short-Term Hosting of Immigrant Families
Sunday, October 13, 2024, 12-1:30pm
Everyone is invited for our monthly free lunch after coffee hour in the Alliance Room. UU Rev. Kathleen McTigue will speak about her experiences with short-term hosting of small immigrant families who are desperate for privacy and support.
Learn more
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Teen Depression Workshop for Trusted Adults - Tuesday, October 22, 6:45-8:15pm
The First UU Society in Newton will be partnering with Families for Depression Awareness (FFDA) to offer loved ones and other trusted adults an opportunity to learn about teen mental wellness and how to support the teens in their lives. Families for Depression Awareness helps families recognize and cope with depression and bipolar disorder to get people well and prevent suicides.
Register for the Workshop
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Thanks to everyone who ran a table at this year's Community Expo, and special thanks to our Member Services team for making it all come together: Wendy Schwartz, Denise Bousquet, Gran Gardino, Jen Van Campen, Paul Densmore, Lisa Carbone, Robert Lakomski, John Dundon, Julia Huston, Roger Luckmann, Connie Stubbs, Neil MacGaffey, Emily Gelbert, Jean Chaisson, Bob Persons, Jacki Rohan, Pat Rohan, Jenise Aminoff, Glenn Palmer, Norm Thibeault, Jay Flynn, Barbara Niles, Helen Jordan, Kit Ryan, Mike Arnott, Donna Lamontagne, Kate Thibeault, Lynne Karlson. We apologize in advance for those we missed on this (thankfully) long list!
Photos by Kate Thibeault
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Have a news item you want to share? Want to schedule a FUUSN Event? Please use our web forms! Note that any event using physical space at FUUSN must be approved by Fran, and until you receive confirmation from her, that event will not be scheduled or added to our Events calendar.
Submissions for each newsletter must be sent in by the preceding Tuesday at 9am.
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First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton www.fuusn.org | 617-527-3203 | | |
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