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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Update from the FRS' Reopening Team Regarding Worship Services
After much consideration and study of COVID data and the current surge in cases, the FRS Reopening Team and Rev. Rebecca have decided that all worship services should be virtual for the near future, starting this Sunday, January 2, 2022. We encourage all to review the data at mass.gov/covid, which was the basis of this decision.
The action was prompted by concern for all members of our staff and of our congregation, as well as community resources. The recent surge has sometimes caused anxiety and retrenching when associates and members of staff have had to quarantine after family members have tested positive. We are also aware of the demand on our hospitals and do not want to add to the overload of cases being treated there.
The present plan is to go back to a combination of in-person and virtual services on February 20th. We trust that Rev. Rebecca, Justin, and the other staff and Worship Associates will use this time to create meaningful worship to help keep us all connected. Stay tuned for more information as we navigate the turbulent times we live in. Our thoughts are with each of you as we look forward with hope to 2022 and all that we bring to each other.
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Sunday Worship
January 2, 2022
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Photo by FRS parishioner Minnie Flanagan |
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January 2, 2022
"Sources of our Faith"
Online ONLY, 10:30am
Unitarian Universalism has an expansive and open theological tent. Our congregations include a variety of religious beliefs, all of which are welcome and help make our spiritual community stronger. We welcome atheists, doubters, believers, and converts. We welcome you! Reverend Rebecca will be preaching about the sources of faith, the bedrock of Unitarian Universalism.
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Church Office Holiday Schedule
Closed Friday, December 31 at 1pm through Monday, January 3
Reopening Tuesday, January 4 at 9am
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New Member Sunday
January 9, 2022
We will be recognizing new members and renewing our commitment to one another on New Member Sunday, January 9, 2022. It would be a joy to count you among our newest groups of members.
For more information contact Cynthia Walsh at:
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Ways to Engage and Grow in Faith and Community |
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Monthly Discussion Groups with Reverend Rebecca
When: 2nd Wednesday evenings 6:30–7:30pm on Zoom (with the exception of June, which is the first Wednesday)
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.
January 12: Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life
February 9: Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love
March 9: Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life
April 13: Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves
May 11: Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit
June 1: Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature
Sign up is not required; however, those who register for the series will receive a package of daily readings for the month.
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Soul Matters
by David Livingstone, Ministerial Intern
In times of isolation, we still need each other. One of the gifts we have received in these past years is the realization that the ways in which we can come together are more diverse and broader than we imagined before. Being able to gather, learn, grow, laugh, and simply be with one another is essential not only to our lives as Unitarian Universalists, but as humans.
When I first began attending services and exploring Unitarian Universalism, I was nervous about "diving in the deep end." It was difficult for me to gather the courage to join a small group ministry section, but after many years of treating my UU journey as a solitary practice, I decided to take a chance on something called "Soul Matters" with a small group over Zoom with my congregation in Delaware.
Joining that group was a life-giving decision. Having a small group of people with whom I could discuss and explore a range of topics from Deep Listening to Memory, Story to Mystery, and more, became an important element of keeping me feeling connected amidst the pandemic. I also discovered that my own spirituality grew buds and shoots in new directions due to my conversations in these small groups—I discovered that the "quest of truth [that] is our sacrament" is not a solo sport!
I am excited to bring Soul Matters to FRS, and I hope that you will join me and find that the conversations we have are as rejuvenating for you as they are for me. 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.
I hope you are interested in joining me! If you would like to sign up, or just come for a meeting to see what on Earth I am talking about, please fill out the quick, 5-minute survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/7K1CvZuDMm
And if you want to check out a sample packet from Soul Matters to see what the materials look like, you can find a sample packet (on the theme of Becoming) on their website here (click on the “Small Group Packet” link):
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Photos from Christmas Eve Service |
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Above: Director of Church Music Justin Murphy-Mancini plays the organ while members of the FRS Choir provide beautiful song. |
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Above: Parishioners light candles as the choir sings "Silent Night." |
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Update from FRS Afghan Resettlement Working Group
The Afghan Resettlement Working Group is currently making a list of people who can help with getting our space ready for the Mirzayee family, and who can provide ongoing support in terms of time, skills, and resources. We will follow up shortly with requests for specific donations of items.
Thank you!
Ann Haaser, Annie Maurer, and Lee McLaughlin
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Parishioners Ann Haaser, Annie Maurer, and Lee McLaughlin meet with a reporter from The Daily News to provide a tour of the Parish Hall which will be temporarily converted to house an Afghan family of eleven. Photo by Cynthia Walsh.
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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.
Check out the video to learn more about the Daily Muse!
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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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