Annual Ministry Theme: Unity
January Ministry Theme: Unitarian Universalism
"Great persons are rarely isolated mountain peaks; they are the summits of ranges."
-Thomas Wentworth Higginson
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Table of Contents
- Sunday Worship
- Welcome Mirzayee Family
- Upcoming Faith Exploration Opportunities
- Upcoming Events and Ways to Engage
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Sunday Worship
January 16, 2022
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Martin Luther King Sunday: Becoming an Anti-Racist Congregation
10:30am on Zoom only
“Our work is to educate ourselves and start the slow process of unwinding our racist conditioning... Are we willing and able to be anti-racist advocates?”
-Jane Tuohy, FRS member
As part of the response to issues regarding inequities of the criminal justice system for African Americans, FRS members have held numerous discussions about how we can address these issues in our community. Recognizing that change starts with the individual, FRS is offering new initiatives to help us pledge our commitment to becoming an anti-racist congregation. Join us for a powerful service exploring how we as a congregation can further this work.
The service will be held on Zoom only:
Meeting ID: 936 5374 9041
Passcode: 729630
One tap mobile:
+13017158592,,93653749041# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,93653749041# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location:
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
All Worship Services will be online only until February 20, 2022.
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30-Minute Fellowship on the same Zoom Meeting Following Sunday Worship Service
Meeting ID: 936 5374 9041
Passcode: 729630
One tap mobile:
+13017158592,,93653749041# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,93653749041# US (Chicago)
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Today the Mirzayee family will be arriving and settling into their new temporary residence in Parish Hall. It was just a few weeks ago that we learned our congregation would become a host site for Afghan evacuees, people who were evacuated from Kabul after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.
The work that has gone into this is extensive and the time, resources and skills that people have shared was so invaluable to making this all happen.
The leadership and endurance of Annie Maurer, Ann Haaser, Lee McLaughlin, who lead on the coordination of transforming Parish Hall to a home for a family of eleven, is an inspiration and testimony to our congregations' Mission, Vision, Ends, which you read here: https://www.frsuu.org/mission-vision/
If you are interested in learning more about how you can support this effort please email the FRS Afghan Resettlement Working Group at frsafghanresettlement@gmail.com.
Check out this story that was featured on WickedLocal.com: https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/record-citizen/2022/01/12/newburyport-gives-refuge-afghan-evacuees/9185748002/
We are also accepting contributions for our work in supporting Afghan Evacuee Resettlement. To contribute to this fund, click on the grey button below.
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The transformation of Parish Hall, Photos by Jay McCarthy |
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Upcoming Faith Exploration Opportunities |
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Sources of Our Faith: Monthly Discussion Groups with Reverend Rebecca
We are offering times to come together and explore the different sources of our faith as a follow up to Rev. Rebecca's January 2nd sermon on this topic.
Each month will focus on a different tradition.
For more information, visit:
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"Soul Matters" with David Livingstone, Ministerial Intern and student at Harvard Divinity School
Small group discussions focusing on a range of topics from Deep Listening to Memory, Story to Mystery, and more. Each monthly session will focus on a specific theme and will be accompanied by a packet produced by Soul Matters that includes readings, practices, questions, and exercises from across a spectrum of faith and secular wisdom traditions.
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A New Film Forum Series: Sources of Our Living Tradition, with Julie Parker Amery
When: Tuesdays, 7-8:15pm, January 25-March 1 on Zoom
Please join us for our second Film Forum series, this one focusing on the Sources of Our UU Faith. Each week, we'll watch a movie (independently), then come together to discuss. Our conversation will cover not only general thoughts about the movie, but also how it connects with one of our Sources. The series will run for six weeks (one week for each Source), and all movies will be available to stream at home. Movies will include Wings of Desire, Selma, and Baraka, among others.
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New Spirit Groups Starting Up Soon!
When: Beginning the week of January 31 and running for 9 weeks
Spirit Groups are small groups of four to six people who meet for one hour once a week to discuss a prompt given in advance. The theme for the winter is “’If’ Questions for the Soul.” Examples might include: “If you were to cite an example that defined ‘trust’ for you, what would it be?” or “If you could, for the good of humankind, reverse one scientific development or discovery, what would it be?”… The groups are randomly assigned and each group will find a mutually-agreed-upon day and time to meet each week. The series begins with a session devoted to introductions and agreeing upon a covenant. This is a fun way to get to know other parishioners, while reflecting on your own values.
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Jean C. Wilson Concert Series 2022
Sunday, January 16, 2022
Nicole Keller, organ
Concert will be livestreamed on YouTube at 4pm
Ms. Keller impressed audiences at an August 2021 concert in Methuen. She will play music of Bach, Sweelinck, Mendelssohn, and others. This will be an excellent demonstration of the church's splendid 1834 Joseph Alley organ.
Given that these will be virtual concerts, we have single-concert sign-ups in place of our door contributions, using Eventbrite to manage donations at a suggested level of $15.00 plus a $3.00 Eventbrite charge.
Because of the rapidly changing circumstances, all of the programs are subject to change.
For more information and to purchase tickets:
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Exploring Elderhood Together
When: Thursday, January 20 from 1-2:30pm on Zoom
Five Wishes: A Comprehensive Approach to End-of-Life Planning
In response to your feedback, our January program will explore Five Wishes, a well-established and unique guide for end-of-life planning that addresses not only medical but personal, emotional, and spiritual needs. It will guide you in clarifying your wishes for your care and comfort, as well as communicating with your family and healthcare providers.
We are fortunate to have FRS member and retired Hospice Social Worker Nancy Kidd, LICSW, to introduce us to the Five Wishes, an easy-to-use legal advance directive document. Nancy will also talk about DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate) and MOLST (Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment).
End-of-life planning can seem quite weighty, so don't miss this opportunity to learn about Five Wishes with kindred spirits. Nancy's presentation will be followed by Q & A and small breakout discussion groups.
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Welcoming Shawls for Afghan Family
When: January 22 from 10-11am on Zoom
Parishioner Linda Buddenhagen who has lead the Comfort Shawl Project at FRS will provide a lesson on how to make a comfort wrap using fleece fabric. No knitting skills necessary, just your creativity and love for bringing joy to people. Participants will be provided materials to create a welcoming wrap that we will gift to members of the Mirzayee family. This family has six girls and three boys ages 3-19, as well as the mother and father.
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Get Your FRS Daily Muse Today!
The Daily Muse is a collection of 365 inspirational quotes—one for each day of the year—packaged as a standing flip-book for easy display.
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Need an FRS Name Tag?
Please take a moment to fill out the name tag request form:
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Thank Our UUs
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!
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Minister–The Reverend Rebecca Bryan; Ministerial Intern–David Livingstone; Affiliate Minister–Stan Barrett; Affiliate Minister–Helen Murgida; 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–Holly Cashman; Vice Chair–Tina Benik; Finance Chair–Tim Fountain; Governance Chair–Juliana Beauvais; Endowment Treasurer–Kim Kenly; Finance Treasurer–Micah Donahue; Parish Clerk–Kathy Desilets; Vern Ellis, Minnie Flanagan, Michelle Kimball, Lucy Litwin, Annie Maurer, Jim Supple, Renée Wolf Foster.
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First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950
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