February 8, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Sunday Worship
• Interior Landscapes: Possible New Group Forming to Explore the Five Gates of Grief 
• Our Parish's 300th Anniversary Planning Meeting: This Sunday!
• Introducing the Weekly Chalice Lighting Reading
• The Gallery Under the Stairs (formerly the Tiny Art Gallery)
• Donate a Hymnal to FRS!
• The Morning Show with Mary Jacobsen interviews local clergy, including Rev. Rebecca
• Photo from Justice Sunday with FRS's AIM Team
• A Visualization of Peace Photo from Rev. Rebecca
• Sign up for Living the Pledge
• Newbury Food and Personal Care Drive
• Seeking Volunteers to Help with an Art Project
• Lifting Your Spirit, new show on Newburyport Media Hub
• A/V Coordinator Position Open
• Upcoming Fellowship Programming
• Weekly Wellness Programming
• Monday Night Meditation
• Tuesday Spiritual Practice
• Wednesday Guided Relaxation
• February Worship and Events Calendars
• Daily Muse Discounted to $10
• Beyond Our Doors: Events in the Greater Newburyport Area

Annual Ministry Theme: Peace

February Ministry Theme: Grief

There is some strange intimacy between grief and aliveness, some sacred exchange between what seems unbearable and what is most exquisitely alive. 

-Francis Weller 

"Melancholy" designed by Albert György

Sunday, February 5, 2023

The Many Faces of Grief

10:30am in the Sanctuary and on YouTube

Reverend Rebecca and members of the Pastoral Care Associates Team will be exploring different aspects of grief by sharing their personal experiences. We will look at unnamed, less understood, and long-term grief.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

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

February Shared Collection Partner - MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

The Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence brings together over 90 organizations across the state, including First Religious Society, to end the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. The coalition advocates for improved policies around gun safety and partners with community organizations working to end violence in their neighborhoods. Half of each Sunday’s collection not designated as a pledge supports a local partner working to transform our region.

Lighting a chalice is an honored and beloved ritual of our faith. We take time to light a chalice and offer a reading or time of silence before the start of every meeting, gathering, or worship service. Doing so reminds us of our connection to one another and our values. It helps us to center and calm our minds and bodies. Each time the chalice is lit we are invited to return to ourselves and to peace.

We are delighted to start a new practice of offering a weekly chalice lighting reading in the Steeple newsletter. You are invited to use the reading to light a chalice before a meeting or a meal or at the start or end of your day. 

The chalice lightings for the month of February will be written by Black authors in honor of Black History Month.

We hope everyone joins in creating this collection of readings. Please submit your reading to cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org or RevRebecca.Bryan@frsuu.org.

New in the Gallery: Watercolors by Jan and Bob Tyler-Nelson.

The couple has been taking watercolor classes and they are proud to share examples of their work! Most pieces are available in exchange for a donation to the church. Please talk to Jan or Bob if you are interested.

The Gallery Under the Stairs is available to members and friends who would like to exhibit their art. There is no fee and sales are permitted. Direct questions to Bettina Turner, bettinatu4@comcast.net or to Diane Carroll, diane.carroll@frsuu.org.

We are in the process of acquiring more hymnals for the Sanctuary to make it easier for all of us to sing together. We hope to purchase 25 additional copies of Singing the Living Tradition (the “grey” hymnal) and 50 additional copies of Singing the Journey (the “teal” hymnal). We are also hoping to purchase 5-10 additional large-print hymnals as well to increase our congregation’s accessibility.

Donating a hymnal is a wonderful opportunity to support FRS and to honor a loved one. If you would like to donate a hymnal (or two, or three!), you are invited to include a dedication with this gift. A bookplate with the dedication will be placed inside the front cover of the hymnal. You can take a look around at the hymnals in the Sanctuary to see that many people have taken this opportunity in the past.

To donate a hymnal, click here to learn more.

Listen to The Morning Show with host Mary Jacobsen

On February 2, 2023, The Morning Show featured Reverend Rebecca and other local clergy providing a one-year update on the Afghan Families who have resettled in the local area.



Click here to listen.

FRS's Accessibility Inclusion Ministry (AIM) hosted last Sunday's discussion on non-apparent disabilities, sharing personal stories and providing updates on the efforts underway to ensure our congregation works to create an accessible and inclusive church.

Photo submitted by Rev. Rebecca, Nauset Beach, Cape Cod, Rev. Rebecca’s dog, Charlotte, enjoys the surf

Upcoming “Living the Pledge” Workshop Series

Gain confidence in your ability to talk about and confront racism wherever it lives. Join our Pledge to End Racism by attending a “Living the Pledge” workshop series. FRS has trained facilitators to guide you through a national curriculum, specifically developed by and for UUs. The 6-session workshops, interactive and covering themes such as internal bias, responding to microaggressions, and systemic racism, will start in late February either in person and/or on Zoom. The sessions are not yet scheduled; when you fill out the interest form, you’ll be asked to indicate what days and times are good for you, and if you prefer in-person or Zoom.

Click HERE to indicate your interest in the Living the Pledge Spring 2023 workshop series. Contact Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration, Julie Parker Amery, with questions: julie.amery@frsuu.org.

Newbury Food Pantry Food and Personal Care Drive

The Community Outreach Group of FRS is sponsoring a food drive to benefit the Newbury Food Pantry during the month of February. Donations can be left on the right shelf at the back of the Sanctuary as you exit. The Newbury Food Pantry is currently serving an average of 480 guests each week. Your donations are gratefully appreciated especially at this time of need. The wish list for food and personal care items includes hearty soups, rice and pasta sides, instant coffee, muffin and quick bread mixes, gluten free products, toothpaste, shampoo, liquid soap, toilet paper, and paper towels. Questions? Contact Linda Buddenhagen at 978-463-0882.

Lifting Your Spirit

When: Starting February 15 at 11am, replay Thursday, February 16 at 8am, Friday, February 17 at 1pm, Sunday, February 18 at 12pm

Lifting Your Spirit is a new monthly Newburyport Public Access TV show on WJOP, YouTube, and SoundCloud. Each month, guests will be interviewed and asked to share about their spiritual journey, where on the journey they are now, what advice they have on lifting the spirit, and wherever else conversation takes us.

Rev. Rebecca will be the show's first guest!

The Merrimack River Eagle Festival

When: Tuesday February 14- Saturday, February 18, virtual and in person

For more information click here!

Several spots are left to join "Service & Safari" in Kenya this July 22nd for 14 days: two days in Nairobi, five days in the rural village working with school children, and four days in the Maasai Mara wildlife region.

For more information, contact Susan Cooper at susanc0805@gmail.com or Sandra Thaxter at sandra@smallsolutionsbigideas.org.

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.

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 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, Michelle Kimball, Annie Maurer, Tom Stites.

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

978-465-0602 | frsuu.org