February 15, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Sunday Worship
• Interior Landscapes: Possible New Group Forming to Explore the Five Gates of Grief 
• Weekly Chalice Lighting Reading
• A Special Message from Mara Flynn, Director of Children's Ministry
• Photo from Young Church's "Love Party"
• A Visualization of Peace Photo from Minnie Flanagan
• 2023 Wilson Music Series
• Seeking Volunteers to Help with an Art Project
• Save the date: Ice Cream Sundae and Annual Campaign Social
• Sign up for Living the Pledge
• Newbury Food and Personal Care Drive
• 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
• 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 

Sunday, February 19, 2023

The Deepest Cut

10:30am in the Sanctuary and on YouTube

Various spiritual traditions say in one way or another that we have lost touch with something essential about who we are. The Jewish and Christian traditions say that we are created in the divine image. A Zen koan instructs: “Show me your original face before you were born.” Jalaluddin Rumi, 13th century Muslim poet and spiritual master, says we have a deep sadness because we’re cut off from our source, and calls us to reconnect to our root reality.

The sermon explores this painful separation and our yearning to find a remedy and makes suggestions about a path of reconnection to our deepest and original self. 

Rev. Stan Barrett will deliver the sermon. 

The Rev. Stan Barrett is an Affiliate Minister of FRS. He and his wife Leslie have been members of FRS for more than 20 years. Stan retired three years ago after 15 years as a hospice chaplain. Before that, he was a local church minister and a pastoral counselor in private practice.  

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 RevRevecca.Bryan@frsuu.org.

Photo submitted by Minnie Flanagan

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!

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