TABLE OF CONTENTS
- January Message from Rev. Rebecca
- Sunday Worship Service
- Upcoming Opportunities to Explore Unitarian Universalism
- Upcoming Events: The Jean C. Wilson Music Series 2022
- FRS Seeks to Renew Welcoming Congregation Designation
- Join the Living Pledge by Jane Tuohy
- Church Programming Updates
- Ways to Connect, Engage, and Grow
- FRS in the Community
- Thank a UU
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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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January's Message from Rev. Rebecca |
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SUNDAY WORSHIP-ZOOM ONLY
January 9, 2022
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Sunday, January 9, 2022
Principles of Our Faith: Guideposts For Our Lives
Zoom only, 10:30am
Reverend Rebecca continues our exploration of Unitarian Universalism with a deep dive into the seven principles of our faith. This service will highlight these principles and the 8th Principle Project and will encourage us to consider how we apply them in our daily living. How does our faith help us become the people we aspire to be, especially in times of great uncertainty?
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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“Please join us in learning more about the Afghan culture so that we can welcome the Mirzayee family with grounded awareness of their culture. I hope you will join in this important conversation, regardless of whether you plan to volunteer with the family." -Rev. Rebecca
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Join the Cultural Conversation!
Zoom Discussion, Friday, January 7, 2022, 6:30pm
What is Afghan culture like? What challenges will face the family arriving at FRS? What will our challenges be? Join Rev. Rebecca and the Afghan Resettlement Working Group to discuss the IINE Afghan Cultural Webinar on Friday evening from 6:30-7:30pm. This webinar introduces many aspects of Afghan culture and will help us prepare to welcome the Mirzayee family. Please watch the video beforehand and bring your insights and questions to the discussion. The link for the video and for the Zoom meeting are below.
Watch the video:
Join Friday's Zoom discussion:
Meeting ID: 953 1106 3919
Passcode: 366138
By phone: +19292056099
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UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM |
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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.
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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
UU Film Forum met to discuss movies connecting to the Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles. Participants will watch each movie on their own prior to the discussion and come ready to first share general reactions, and then to delve into the question of how the movie related to the corresponding Principle.
The next series will run from January 25-March 1.
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The Jean C. Wilson Music Series 2022
During a long and challenging pandemic, we especially need relief from the darkness and grinding New England winter. This relief has ever been the purpose of the Jean C. Wilson Music Series. Given that these will be virtual concerts, we will not be using paper passes. We will 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. Links to buy tickets are now available!
Because of the rapidly changing circumstances, all of the programs are subject to change. All concerts will again be virtual, as in-person gatherings in the FRS Sanctuary have been paused out of an abundance of caution.
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STORIES FROM OUR CONGREGATION |
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FRS Seeks to Renew Welcoming Congregation Designation
In 1996, FRS was among some of the early Unitarian Universalist congregations to participate in the UUA's Welcoming Congregation Program, which was established by a vote at the 1989 General Assembly, following a report of the 1987 UUA Common Vision Planning Committee which had spent two years assessing how welcomed and accepted LGBTQ+ people felt in their UU congregations.
Motivated by the challenges found in this report and inspired by the principles of our UU faith – particularly our affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of every person – the 1989 General Assembly invited congregations to take a variety of intentional steps to welcome and be welcoming to people of all sexual orientations. The modern Welcoming Congregation Program has since grown to encompass gender identity as well as sexual orientation and encourages congregations to be mindful of the intersection of other factors of identity such as race, ethnicity, class, and ability. Today, more than 800 congregations – nearly 75% of UU congregations – are designated Welcoming Congregations. Each congregation reaffirms their commitment periodically with a formal renewal process that documents the unique work of their congregations in areas of LGBTQ+ inclusion. FRS last renewed its designation in 2017 and has reconvened a Welcoming Committee to reinvigorate our justice work in these areas and steer our next renewal process.
Welcoming Congregations are encouraged and supported to design their own programming in response to the needs and interests of their own congregation, although guidelines and criteria are provided by the UUA. Congregations typically create programs that include educational opportunities, celebratory programming, and community outreach – integrating these areas continually into congregational life.
FRS's recent October 17th service, marking National Coming Out Day, was an example of integrating awareness of LGBTQ+ experiences into worship practices and congregational life. The service celebrated the establishment of FRS's youth-lead All-Ages Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and the reconvening of the Welcoming Committee. The service included reflections from FRS GSA youth leaders Sophie Himmel and Alice Mead, parishioners Erin Hutchinson-Himmel, Janine Brunell Looker, and Christine Doherty, as well as testimony from guest speaker Alex Looker. The program invited the congregation to reflect on the experiences of members of the LGBTQ+ community from 1996, when our parish was first designated a Welcoming Congregation, to the present day. The service also included historically important music selections thoughtfully chosen by Director of Church Music Justin Murphy-Mancini and included complimentary rainbow COVID masks donated by Maureen Adams and Lee McLaughlin. The shared collection that day supported NAGLY – the North Shore Alliance for GLBTQ Youth. Members of the Welcoming Committee were involved in planning the service.
In the recent past, FRS has also offered educational programming and Journeys of Faith about transgender experiences, acknowledged Transgender Days of Remembrance, and supported Newburyport's Human Rights Commission's efforts to have rainbow crosswalks installed in the City. This Spring, FRS will dedicate a welcoming outdoor seating space with rainbow-colored Adirondack Chairs, a project initiated by Susan Cooper and Michelle Kimball of the FRS Newcomer Group and a delightful signal of welcoming for all. Additionally, the congregation continually offers OWL programming for 7th and 8th graders, which is embedded with gender and sexuality education that affirms LGBTQ+ experiences. FRS also previously updated our signage and website to communicate the parish's support and welcoming of the LBGTQ+ community.
The committee's future scope of work will be to plan programming that follows the Five Steps of Renewal recommended by the UUA, which includes establishing ongoing offerings in the areas of: worship services, days of observance, religious education, and support of the work of organizations which uplift the lives of LGBTQ+ communities.
More information about the UUA's LGBTQ+ justice and inclusion work, including specifics about the Welcoming Congregation Program can be found at: https://www.uua.org/lgbtq. This page also provides links to a myriad of UUA educational resources, tools, and testimony focusing on LGBTQ+ issues that can be used for exploration, reflection, and self-study.
Current members of the Welcoming Committee include Erin Hutchinson-Himmel, Susan Cooper, Maureen Adams, Janine Looker, Holly Cashman, Christine Doherty, Julie Parker Amery, and Cynthia Walsh. If you have ideas for future programming or issues of concern, please reach out to any committee member or Rev. Rebecca.
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Join the Living Pledge
by Jane Tuohy
If you are like me, perhaps you have wondered about what you can do to combat the pandemic of racism that has been so visible since the murder of George Floyd and the senseless murders that preceded and proceeded that tragedy. The reality of racial hatred, discrimination, bias, and violence has been with us for a very long time (400 years in this country). But right now, perhaps you are filled with greater urgency than ever, a need to do something.
I am a 74-year-old white woman and I live in Newburyport, a very white town. I have come to appreciate that living in such a white community is not a problem when it comes to antiracist work, because the problem of racism is not a problem belonging to people of color. Racism is a problem belonging to white people. As white people, it is our work to support BIPOC leaders in their struggles for equity and justice. But the work of antiracism is work that needs to be done with white people by white people. It is our work to educate ourselves and start the slow process of unwinding our racist conditioning. It is ours to look at how we benefit from white privilege. It is ours to identify our circles of influence. Who are the people with whom we interact? Are we willing and able to be antiracist advocates with those with whom we interact?
The upcoming Living the Pledge (LTP) program is an opportunity for members of this congregation to dialogue and reflect, so that we can become more skillful in speaking up when witnessing racial bias and discrimination. The Living the Pledge program will build our skills both individually and collectively. I have been a diversity consultant for over 20 years and I think this is the best program of its kind in which I have participated. It balances education, skill development, building community, and group support.
Since I became a member of FRS in 2013, I have seen other antiracist efforts started at the church with best intentions, but they ultimately dwindled after relatively short periods of time. I believe this initiative will be different. Now, with LTP we have a focus, leadership, and clear roles. If a critical mass of members and friends participate, I believe this program will provide our congregation a baseline of shared knowledge of our racist history, shared definitions, frameworks, and skills, and a shared commitment to speak up in the face of racist behaviors and actions. We are being asked to take a pledge. I know UU's take their word seriously. If we pledge, we will live up to that pledge. We will be sending a message to our larger community that we are living our values and manifesting our faith into action. We are ready to join our neighbors who are also doing this work.
I believe LTP teaches how to speak up, and this is of utmost importance. When we hear racist remarks or witness racist behaviors and do not speak up, we silence ourselves and we are diminished by our silence. LTP is about together setting our intentions, finding our voices, and learning together how to be skillful when we do speak up. The last session of this program is one in which we make individual commitments so that we can walk away with tangible, actionable steps towards ending racism. Ibram Kendi, in his book How to Be an Antiracist, asserts that there is no such thing as being a non-racist. Either you are antiracist, actively working for change, or you are not. And if you are not, you are part of the problem.
Why is it that we sometimes silence ourselves when hearing racist remarks or witnessing bias or discriminatory behaviors? I have observed that UU's tend to be very relational, and are great at building consensus. I think we are also very conflict-averse. Concerns about offending others, or embarrassing someone who has made racist remarks, might have stopped you in the past from speaking up. It is time to move through those concerns. You do not have to do that alone. I felt very supported through the training with my "pod." We identified some scenarios about which we might be worried, or find it difficult to speak up. We role-played our responses, we shared laughs, and we had fun.
I feel compelled to acknowledge that there are sessions in this program, particularly the excellent history review, in which I experienced the difficult emotions of shame, guilt, and embarrassment. I have come to believe that the road to antiracism requires white people to endure and move through these difficult feelings as a necessary part of acknowledging our history, collectively and individually. Sharing these feelings and experiences brought us closer together. I appreciate that I got to know some of my fellow congregants much better than I had before. I feel more connected to them and I think we are going to strengthen our sense of community by going through the LTP together. After the isolation of the COVID pandemic, this sense of belonging and connection is one I welcome and cherish.
I invite you to join us. You can get better at responding to racism than you are today. We all can. As we do this work together, we are living out our UU principles. I have come to understand that faith is not a set of beliefs. Faith is how we live our lives. Faith is about putting our values into action. As Unitarian Universalists we believe in the dignity and worth of every individual and that we each have within us a spark of the divine. Thus, any act which dehumanizes another is a sacrilege. Speaking up in the face of racism is an enactment of our FRS value of courageous action and a fulfillment of our FRS mission to Act with Courage and Transform the World.
Please do join us as we roll out Living the Pledge in the new year.
The PLEDGE TO END RACISM, first conceived almost twenty years ago in Birmingham, Alabama, offers faith communities and other groups a way to engage in substantive conversations while developing people's confidence and competence in dismantling racism in their communities. The Pledge is a place to start – a commitment to a common understanding, language, and set of principles. Then, through the implementation of training and other opportunities, the Pledge can become a vital link in our community's network, working for a more just, more equitable society.
The Living the Pledge (LTP) Workshop is an effective program designed to help people move from the individual action of signing the Pledge into collective action to dismantle racism.
The primary goal of this workshop is to develop CONFIDENCE in participant's ability to:
• Integrate the PLEDGE TO END RACISM into their lives;
• Confront racism and bias in everyday encounters;
• Recognize and challenge systemic racism; and
• Take personal leadership in ending racism in their community.
An online sign-up will be available after Sunday, January 16th's MLK and LTP Worship Service.
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CHURCH
PROGRAMMING UPDATES
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FRS' MUSIC PROGRAM
by Justin Murphy-Mancini, Director of Church Music
The month of December is always busy for worship and music in any church, and the First Religious Society was no different. Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, 31 singers joined together to produce another unique Candlelight Service on December 18 and 19. Because safety remained a paramount concern for both participants and congregation, many compromises were made; the first and most painful was the lack of congregational singing and the absence of familiar and cherished carols. Just listening to "O Come, All Ye Faithful" without the opportunity to sing along with a choir, organ, brass quintet, without the fun pageantry of a grand procession, without inhibition would have been a terribly hard pill to swallow.
Instead, the group offered selections from the incredible library of Christmas music collected over the many decades the Candlelight service has been held. Some of these pieces have been almost impossible to hear, like Dan Locklair's meditative and mystical "Cradle Song." Others are popular among UU choirs around the country, as performances of Elizabeth Alexander's rhythmic setting of "When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled" can be heard almost perennially in our churches. Another forgotten gem, "A Child Is Born" by Lowell-born George Whitefield Chadwick, was preserved in our library through copies handwritten by longtime Director of Church Music Barbara Owen. By thinking creatively about forming a special and meaningful service tailored to the present condition, it was possible to share music heard only rarely from the church's unique repertoire.
The overall tone and mood of the service came together almost by accident, as many interesting pieces from the library that were suitable for a masked and distanced choir considered the subject of Mary and the baby – the program quickly centered on lullabies. It was fitting for such a turbulent and uncertain time that the music invited everyone to slow down and to take comfort in the music and the story, with appropriate organ music to match.
None of the special moments would have been possible without tireless effort not only from the musicians, but also from the staff and volunteers who worked consistently and joyfully behind the scenes to make sure that the program looked beautiful, the livestream sounded exciting, the Newburyport community was informed, the audience knew where to sit, and so much more. Services like Candlelight and Christmas Eve reveal the collaborative spirit of the FRS community, and the results speak for themselves.
Excerpt from Candlelight Service:
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ADULT FAITH FORMATION AND SPIRITUAL EXPLORATION
by Julie Parker Amery, Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration
Over the course of seven Tuesday evenings this fall, the UU Film Forum met to discuss movies connecting to the Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles. Watching each movie on our own prior to the discussion, we came to the session ready to first share general reactions, and then to delve into the question of how the movie related to the corresponding Principle. Movies ranged from big-budget Hollywood productions (Life of Pi) to an art house, foreign-language film (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring) to documentaries (13th and Knock Down the House). Discussions were lively, and, as one might imagine, opinions and perspectives all fed into each other, creating a rich tapestry of ideas.
I have to say that I, personally, was surprised by how much better I came to understand our Principles through this series. Though I've been a UU for over 30 years, I admit that until now, I've always stumbled over the Principles, not really knowing them, beyond the two that are familiar to most of us—the First and the Seventh (see below). But I found it really engaging to reflect on each through the lens of a movie, a medium which I love. And of course, to do so in community made it that much more rich.
"The films were great! Discussions insightful," says participant Linda Buddenhagen. "It was a good way to stay connected with other FRS friends."
Zara Raab adds, "I loved it all! This is a surprising and terrific series both in itself and as an introduction to UU."
The impetus for offering the series was the fact that I've seen the movie 13th several times and have always thought that it would be a great documentary to discuss here at the FRS. The idea for the series grew from there. And though I'd seen most of the movies previously, I took a chance with a few of them—guessing that they'd connect with a Principle based on the synopses, reviews, and trailers. One such movie was My Octopus Teacher, which was truly moving in its depiction of the interdependent web.
We all had our favorites. "It's hard to pick a favorite, but if pushed, mine would be Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring," says Julie Menin. "It was completely different from what I expected. I learned new things about Buddhism from the movie and the other participants, and was left with lots of questions and a desire to watch the movie again."
These are the movies we watched and discussed, along with the corresponding UU Principle.
Dead Man Walking (First Principle: Affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person)
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (Second Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring (Third Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth)
Life of Pi (Fourth Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning)
Knock Down the House (Fifth Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process)
13th (Sixth Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all)
My Octopus Teacher (Seventh Principle: The interdependent web of which we are a part)
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YOUNG CHURCH UPDATE
by Mara Flynn, Director of Children's Ministry
Greetings dear community! Thanks so much to all the volunteers who helped make our Christmas Pageant on Zoom another heartwarming success.
In December, we collaborated with Jabberwocky Books on a book drive for the FRSUU Little Free Diverse Library. We received over $300 worth of books for our library -- books that center on black, indigenous, people of color and LGBTQ voices. We are so pleased to help circulate books in our community that amplify and empower diverse voices. If you are interested in helping with our Diverse Library, please email Mara Flynn at mara.flynn@frsuu.org. Representation matters!
January brings new challenges as we continue to navigate children's programming in the ever-changing landscape of this pandemic. I am learning A LOT about not getting too attached to the outcomes of various plans.
With the news that FRS worship is moving online once again, Young Church will be on Zoom starting on January 9th. We'll be collaborating again this year with the FRS Community Service Committee's Annual Food Drive. We'll be learning about food insecurity and actions we can take to help. Last year's food drive was very successful and we're looking forward to even more engagement this year! We are also excited to find ways for our children and families to support the work of the FRS Afghan Resettlement Group as we prepare to welcome the Mirzayee family to Parish Hall.
Unfortunately, our OWL (Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education) programming for 8th and 9th graders, which was scheduled to begin January 2nd, must now be postponed until February 20th or whenever it's deemed safe to resume in-person.
Whatever this year has in store for us, I am looking forward to navigating it together with compassion, empathy, honesty, and love.
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WAYS TO CONNECT, ENGAGE, AND GROW |
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Climate Action Project
When: Tuesday, January 11 at 7pm on Zoom
Mission & Goals:
An informed citizenry insistent on urgent government action to slow climate change! In response to this need the FRS Climate Action Project plans to:
- Think globally, work locally, act personally.
- Raise awareness within FRS and the local community on the urgent need for climate action by organizing a series of events, discussions, and communications on key climate change topics.
- Grow the reach and effectiveness of our small group by attracting more FRS members and friends to join with us in this cause, and by collaborating with other like-minded local organizations and agencies of government.
- Publicize concrete actions by which concerned citizens can combat climate change in their personal lives, through government channels, and/or by participating with advocacy groups.
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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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Give the Gift of a Book to FRS' Little Free Diverse Library (LFDL)
Help us amplify and empower diverse voices and stories in our community by donating a book to our Little Free Diverse Library on Pleasant Street.
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"Taking King Out of the Box" - MLK Presentation by Dr. Régine Michelle Jean-Charles
When: Monday, January 13 at 6pm via Zoom
In November and December of 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a series of five speeches to the Canadian Broadcast Company. After Dr. King’s death, the speeches were published as "The Trumpet of Conscience." They cover a wide range of topics from opposition to the war in Vietnam to mobilizing youth to non-violence and social change. Dr. Régine Michelle Jean-Charles, a scholar, professor, and activist who works at the intersections of race, gender, and justice from a global perspective, is the author of a new book entitled The Trumpet of Conscience Today. In it, she examines three contemporary social justice movements – Black Lives Matter, Me Too, and prison abolition through the lens of Dr. King's 1967 speeches.
Dr. Jean-Charles is currently the Dean's Professor of Culture and Social Justice as well as Director of Africana Studies at Northeastern University. She has authored over 30 publications that have appeared in books, edited volumes, and peer-reviewed journals.
Registration is available online. $10.00 registration fee for adults and free for students.
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THANK A UU!
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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On December 19, I attended the candlelight service with friends. It was extraordinary!
Thank you so much to all who made it happen. Justin's organ playing was particularly wonderful.
-Melissa Mills
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I would like to thank Alice Mead and Sophie Himmel for the amazing job they're doing running the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA). They are creating community, helping us educate ourselves, and sponsoring important discussions (along with creative power points!). Kudos to these talented youth for their leadership! If you want to join us, we'd love to have you!
-Lea Pearson
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I would like to thank Cecilia Healy, Paul Healy, Jay McCarthy, Nancy McCarthy, Karen McCarty, Ann McCrea, and Melissa Mills for coming to the office in early December to stuff the envelopes for Rev. Rebecca's holiday letter to the congregation. Many hands make light work! Special thanks to Cecilia for bringing us yummy hot beverages from Battle Ground Coffee, and to Karen for helping me bring the letters to the post office.
-Diane Carroll
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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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