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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Sunday Worship
- Photos from Opening Sunday
- An Invitation from Program Council
- Justice Sundays!
- Faith Formation and Spiritual Development
- Spiritual Deepening Through UU Wellspring
- Wizards and Sages
- Register for Chalice Circles
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Join Us to Create Stewardship & Fellowship at FRS
- Welcoming Committee Seeks New Members
- Help Plan the Nov 27th Welcoming Worship Service
- Last Chance: Order Your FRS T-shirt
- Seeking Submissions for Next Year’s “Daily Muse”
- Upcoming Events
- Rage Over Roe
- All-Ages GSA Invites New Members
- Jeanne Geiger 31st Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence
- Short Story Group
- Indigenous Peoples Day
- Weekly Wellness Programming
- Monday Night Meditation
- Tuesday Spiritual Practice
- Wednesday Guided Relaxation
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Annual Ministry Theme: Peace
September Ministry Theme: Making Room
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Sunday Worship Service
September 25, 2022
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Sunday, September 25, 2022
Non-Apparent Disabilities
10:30am in person and livestream on YouTube
“In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”
-Maya Angelou
This Sunday Rev. Helen Murgida, Affiliate Minister, will give a sermon titled “Non-Apparent Disabilities.” One of our church’s commitments, together across the lifespan, is to “welcome people in all their diversity and create belonging for one another.” We are all different with varying challenges and needs, as well as abilities and attributes. Let us expand dialogue on this topic!
This service will be co-led by the Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry (AIM).
Rev. Rebecca will be participating in Rev. Sophia Lyons’ Installation at the First Parish of Watertown. Guests are invited to attend online only at 10:30am. To receive the link, please send a request to office@fpwatertown.org.
Attend on YouTube: http://bit.ly/FRSyoutube
This Month's Shared Sunday Collection
This month we are supporting the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center. Every year the center helps over 1,200 victims of domestic violence, both adults and children.
To attend worship in person, you must be vaccinated. Those who are unvaccinated are welcome to attend services online. Masks are not required for in-person worship. Socially distant seating is available in designated areas of the sanctuary.
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An Invitation from Program Council
This year's annual ministry theme is peace and we invite you to submit a photo that best represents your visualization of peace - a personal representation or a broader representation of peace in the community or the world.
You can email your photo to cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org or text your photo to 978-701-5352. Please provide a photo caption and your name.
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Photo submitted by Jeff Bard, FRS Jeanne Geiger Walk Team | |  |
Photo Submitted by Susan Stone: "Spiritual Path" | | |
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October 2nd
November 13th
December 11th
January 29th
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February 5th
March 19th
April 16th
May 28th
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As Unitarian Universalists, we’re called on to advocate, organize, and act for justice as we strive to live out our faith in the world. Unitarian Universalism challenges us not only to seek our own truth and meaning, but to walk a path that honors the inherent worth and dignity of every person, as well as the interdependent web of all beings. Our Justice Sundays bring together the cornerstones of Unitarian Universalism: normal Sunday worship to feed our spirits followed by time enjoying lunch together as a community to grow in fellowship, and justice learning and action to help us live our faith. On these once-a-month Sundays, join us in the lower meeting house after the worship service for a communal lunch of soup and salad and return to the sanctuary (or to a designated location in the community) at 12:30 for an hour of justice learning and action. Each month will have a different focus, though all are interrelated. Learn. Act. Connect. Live your faith. Join us! | | |
Faith Formation and Spiritual Development | |
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Spiritual Deepening Through UU Wellspring
When: Mondays, 4-6pm in person, beginning October 3
UU Wellspring is a 10-month spiritual deepening course for Unitarian Universalists, used in congregations across the continent since its development in 2005. The program runs from October until June, meeting generally every other week (exceptions for holidays, etc.). Participants experience deep listening and spiritual reflection in a small group of about ten, inspiring personal and community transformation. Participants read, view, and respond to pre-session assignments that are focused on spiritual topics and UU theology.
In addition to the meetings, participants engage in a spiritual practice of their choosing, and find a spiritual companion to meet with outside of the sessions.
Some of the themes explored in this first offering of Wellspring include: Everyday Theology, Your Own Prophetic Voice: Vulnerability and Courage, Nature as Spiritual Guide, Good Without God, and UU Perspectives on Death and the Afterlife. To learn more about the Wellspring program, you can check out the website here: https://uuwellspring.org/.
To register, or for more information, contact Julie Parker Amery, Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration, at julie.amery@frsuu.org.
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Wizards and Sages: A Mid-Week Gathering for Worship, Reflection, and Fellowship with Reverend Rebecca, Church Staff, and FRS Friends
When: Wednesday, October 5 from 12:30-2:30pm
Wizards and Sages is back after a long break through the pandemic! Join us for worship in the sanctuary, followed by conversation over lunch in the lower meeting house. The worship service is briefer and less formal than a Sunday service—providing a slightly different experience that includes music, quiet, and reflection. Bring a bagged lunch to enjoy in fellowship with Reverend Rebecca, church staff and other parishioners and friends. All are welcome.
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It’s Time to Register for Chalice Circles
(In-person options & Zoom option)
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Chalice Circles offer a chance to bond in a small group to explore thought-provoking topics of spiritual relevance through reflection, deep listening and sharing, all facilitated by a trained leader. Open to members and friends, and especially recommended for newcomers, the program is an important part of the shared ministry of our congregation.
To register or learn more, select “Chalice Circles” at: https://www.frsuu.org/spiritual-development/
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Join Us to Create Stewardship & Fellowship at FRS
The Kick-off Stewardship/Fellowship Meeting is Wednesday, September 21 at 6:30pm via Zoom, https://bit.ly/3Rvp2FK
Activities and Events in discussion are:
- Creating the fall art show/sale, a follow-up for the artwork we couldn’t include in the spring auction
- Fall Festival, October 16
- Auction this year
- The 2023 Daily Muse calendars
- Fellowship Dinners
- New ideas for fellowship and fundraising
- Getting more folks involved
For more information contact Vernon Ellis at vellis@ellisdesign.net or
617-686-9123.
The primary mission of the Stewardship Committee is to invite and inspire members of the congregation to join in fellowship to generously invest gifts of time, talents, and treasure within our congregation and the UU faith.
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Welcoming Committee Seeks New Members
The Welcoming Committee is seeking new members to join the committee this year. The committee coordinates efforts that help FRS foster a climate of “welcome” and support for the LGBTQ community. As a member of the Welcoming Committee you’d help plan Welcoming Worship Services, educational programming, FRS Pride events participation and other efforts to uplift LGBTQ+ issues in the congregation and the community. If interested, please contact Christine Doherty (she/her) at christine.doherty@comcast.net.
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Help Plan the November 27th Welcoming Worship Service
The November 27th Sunday worship service will be dedicated as a Welcoming Worship Service which uplifts LGBTQ+ experiences and issues. If you are interested in being involved in planning the service, please email Christine Doherty at christine.doherty@comcast.net. Rev. Rebecca will convene a planning meeting in early October. All are welcome to be involved.
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Last Chance to Order FRS T-Shirts! | |
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The deadline to order your FRS t-shirt is September 23. Shirts are $20/each and come in a variety of solid colors with our chalice logo and First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist printed in white. Payment will be due when t-shirts will arrive in early October. Most colors are available in most sizes, although inventory may shift.
To place your order, go to: https://www.customink.com/g/xbr0-00cm-szbk.
Questions? Contact christine.doherty@comcast.net.
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Seeking Submissions for Next Year’s “Daily Muse”
We’re starting to collect submissions of quotes to include in next year’s “Daily Muse” calendar. The calendar is a flip-book of inspirational quotes, the sales of which help cover the operating costs of the church. We urge you to think about some of your favorites and submit them for inclusion. Funny, wise, deep, witty… we seek a full range.
Submit as many as you’d like; we need 365!
Submit here!
Submit 20 or more quotes and receive a free copy of the completed book!
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Rage Over Roe: A Community Art Project
When: Saturday, September 24 from noon-4pm, FRS's Lower Meetinghouse
Help us make squares for our protest quilt! No artistic requirement - only a desire to express your RAGE over ROE. All materials will be supplied, including sewing machines, stencils, pencils, pens, fabric. Our creator and mentor is activist artist Agusta Agustsson, from the Sew4Rights organization. She helps communities create the squares and turns them into quilts to be easily held at protest and rallies. We will be making our squares over two dates, culminating in a local protest that is tied to the Women’s March “Feminist Futures” national protest on October 7-8, 2022. For more information click here!
Everyone is welcome!
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All-Ages GSA Invites New Members
When: Bi-weekly on Sundays, starting September 25, from 5-6pm on Zoom
All are invited to join the 2nd year of the FRS All-Ages* GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) led by 8th grader Phi Himmel (he/they) and 12th grader August Doherty Mead (they/them). The GSA is an intergenerational space for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies (supporters) to learn and grow. Our main values are support, education and advocacy. The GSA meets bi-weekly on Sundays on Zoom beginning Sept 25 at 5-6pm with some exceptions.
Questions can be directed to August at augustdoherty@gmail.com or Phi at shimmel579@gmail.com.
*Note: All-Ages GSA members need to be in middle school or older.
To sign up, please click on the button below.
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Jeanne Geiger 31st Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence
When: Sunday, October 2 from 8-11am at Waterfront Park, 1 Market Square, Newburyport
The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center is thrilled to be back in person again this year for the 31st Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence. If you would like to join the FRS walking team, please contact Jeff Bard at jeffbard@hotmail.com.
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Short Story Group
When:1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month
The short story group focuses on reading and discussing anthologies. Contact Tom Himmel for more information at thimmel43@mac.com. All welcome to join!
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Weekly Wellness Programming | |
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; 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–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, Michelle Kimball, Annie Maurer, Tom Stites. | |
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First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950
978-465-0602 | frsuu.org
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