September 20, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Sunday Worship Service
• Join us for Representation and How to Get It: A play inspired by Julia Ward Howe
• Consider Sponsoring the Steeple Lighting
• Afghan Family Needs Used Car
• UU Study Group Starting in October
• The FRS Partners with the North Shore Insight and Meditation Center
• Fall Arts at the FRS
• In the Tiny Art Gallery
• FRS Organ is Featured on YouTube!
• Youth Trip To Pine Ridge
• Seeking Submissions for the FRS 2024 Daily Muse!
• Call for Auction Donations
• Ways to Engage & Volunteer Your Time to Support Our Parish
• Fellowship Programming: New Fall Chalice Circles!
• Thank a UU
• Call on Parish Friends
• The FRS Email Communications Survey 

Annual Ministry Theme: Interconnectedness

Sunday, September 24, 2023

10:30am, in person and streamed on YouTube

“Spiritual and Life Skills Necessary to Thrive in Our Interconnected World”

Reverend Rebecca will be preaching “Spiritual and Life Skills Necessary to Thrive in Our Interconnected World.” Her reflections will set the stage and challenge us to think deeply as we spend this year exploring the multilayered reality of this year’s annual ministry theme, interconnectedness. This sermon will outline several core principles we are called upon to utilize in these times. 

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

September Shared Collection Partner – Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center

This month's shared collection will support the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center. Every year, the Center helps over 1,200 victims of domestic violence, both adults and children. In addition to your contribution, please consider participating in the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center Walk Against Domestic Violence on Sunday, October 1 from 8-11am. Sign up at https://jeannegeigercrisiscenter.org. Half of each Sunday's collection not designated as a pledge goes to support a local partner working to transform our region.

Large print Orders of Service, hymnals, and earphones for sound amplification are available. Please ask ushers to provide them.

View Last Sunday's Sermon by Reverend Rebecca:

https://youtu.be/lznQS_xnrWc

Representation and How to Get It: A play inspired by Julia Ward Howe

When: Saturday, September 23 at 7pm and Sunday, September 24 at 1pm in the Sanctuary

Representation and How to Get It brings the visionary politics of Julia Ward Howe into our own time. Author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, writer, human rights activist, and Unitarian preacher, she prophesied our nation's crisis today when she said that one day we would lose our democracy -- if this country remains an America for some of us, and not an America for all of us. The stakes are high, and Julia demands to know: what are we doing about it? Elaine Vaan Hogue stars as Julia Ward Howe in this production directed by Judy Braha.

On Saturday, there will be a talkback with the playwright, director, and actor about the genesis and creation of the play, and what makes artists want to take on civic-minded projects and activism in the arts.

On Sunday, there will be a talkback moderated by director Judy Braha, about leadership, community action, and personal journeys in activism with Rev. Rebecca Bryan (First Religious Society), Heather Shand (Newburyport City Council President, Councilor, Ward 3), Afroz Khan (Newburyport City Councilor-at-large), and Sunny Douglas (City of Newburyport DEI).

Tickets:

$30 General Admission

$20 Seniors

Students Free

Advance tickets: 

For Saturday's show:

https://bit.ly/JWHSaturdayTicket

For Sunday's show:

https://bit.ly/JWHSundayTicket

Many of our members and friends sponsor the steeple lighting for a week in memory of loved ones or in celebration of an event. The sponsorship donation is $75 for the week, and your dedication message will be published in the Order of Service for the Sunday beginning that week. You can choose an annual sponsorship or a one-time sponsorship. The following weeks are available through the end of the current church year:

September 24, 2023

October 1, 2023

October 8, 2023

November 26, 2023

December 10, 2023

January 7, 2024

March 24, 2024

May 26, 2024

If you would like to sponsor the steeple lighting, please contact Diane Carroll, diane.carroll@frsuu.org or (978) 465-0602 ext. 401 for more information.

Thank you for your support!

Young Church Nursery!

We are so excited to announce the opening of a new Young Church Nursery! A conference room during the week, on Sundays, our nursery is ready to welcome littles up to age 4.

If you are interested in donating toys or books, visit the Young Church Nursery Wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/F1TTMW1LJJ7Q?ref_=wl_share and THANK YOU!

Our refugee friends now have four licensed drivers! Zarifa and her oldest daughter Soma recently got their driver’s licenses. The family has one well-functioning car at present and one in poor condition. They are looking to buy a solid, well-priced, not-too-small used car in the near future.

Parishioners who have a car to sell that fits this description or can help with the search, please contact Reverend Rebecca at revrebecca.bryan@frsuu.org.

UU Theology, Values, and Belief:

A monthly discussion group with Reverend Rebecca

When: First Tuesdays of every month, starting October 3rd from 6–7:30pm in the Lower Meetinghouse

Join others in engaging conversation as we learn, share stories, and consider what it means to be a UU today.

• How do we respond to local and world events?

• What is our theology?

• What are our principles - are there 7 or 8 - and what do they mean in our daily lives?

• Can you be an atheist, a theist, and an agnostic and still be a UU?

• How does the history of our faith inform who we are today?

• What is the relationship of the FRS with our larger Association?

• Bring your topics and questions.

For more information, please contact cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org.

Please join NSIMC meditation teacher Effie Stavrulaki for a four-week series

When: Tuesday evenings, 7-8:30 pm, Oct. 3, 10, 17, and 24

Where: First Religious Society UU, Lower Meetinghouse

Cost: $80 for the series

Mindfulness is the ability to be fully attentive to the present moment with the attitudes of nonjudgment, kind acceptance, and curiosity. A large body of scientific research suggests that formal mindfulness training reduces stress, increases wellbeing, and even increases the chance of acting in pro-social ways to help others. 

By reducing how much time we spend worrying about the future or fretting about the past, our capacity to appreciate what is actually happening and to choose how to act with more clarity and compassion increases. The more we develop this capacity, the less we feel overwhelmed by changes and challenges in our lives. 

During this four-week class series, you will be introduced to the practice of embodied mindfulness and learn several skills for managing stress and enriching your life. We will discuss the latest science about the benefits of mindfulness, but mostly we will practice together. And we will encourage each other to establish a meditation routine that you can integrate with your daily living. Like learning any new skill, mindfulness meditation requires repetition and patience. Working in a group setting increases the chance of developing and sticking with this important skill.

Beginners as well as anyone who would like to get back to regular meditation practice are very welcome.

Effie Stavrulaki is a meditation teacher with NSIMC as well as a management professor at Bentley University.

Click here to read more about Effie.

The fee for this program is $80. To register and pay online, click on the blue button below; for alternate payment methods, email northshoreimc@gmail.com.

FRS organ is featured on YouTube!

Our beautiful organ was featured on the latest episode of a series on YouTube. The Organ Media Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes organ music, recently came to visit FRS on its tour of about a dozen New England organs. Justin Murphy-Mancini showed them around our instrument and they were able to record it and take some wonderful pictures of our sanctuary. You can watch the video here:

Thank you to all who supported our teenagers on their justice learning and service trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation in June, through monetary donations and/or good wishes. The trip was meaningful to all, as we engaged in real work—building outhouses and beds, skirting trailer homes, constructing wheelchair ramps, gardening—and got to know some of the Lakota people and learn from the elders. We’ll look forward to sharing some of our learnings and experiences at the November Justice Sunday, after church on November 12.

Seeking submissions for next year's Daily Muse!

We all have favorite inspirational quotes... send us yours for inclusion in our third edition of the Daily Muse, a small flipbook calendar with a quote for each day of the year! Better yet, submit 15 quotes and receive a copy of the finished product for FREE! Use the link below for your submission and look for the new Daily Muse on sale in time for the holidays!

https://bit.ly/DailyMuseSubmission

Call for Auction Donations

This year the FRS auction will be on November 17.

We are looking to offer fellowship experiences for this year's auction.

Can you host a dinner party or event in your home? Do you have a unique experience you can offer? Tickets to events? Do you have a vacation home? We are looking for experiences that create fellowship among us. There will be a table after services to sign up, or email Vernon Ellis at vellis@ellisdesign.net and let us know what you’d like to donate. The deadline for donations is October 27.

Join the FRS Auction Team!

Do you love event planning and thinking of creative ways to have fun? Do you have a skill for fundraising and raising FUN?

Please join us on Sunday following worship service from noon-1:00pm in Conference Room A (conference room off the Lower Meetinghouse Main Room) to help us plan for our Fall Auction on Friday, November 17th.

Your ideas and support are welcome! If you are unable to attend and would love to get involved, please contact Vern Ellis at vellis@ellisdesign.net.

Volunteer to Serve as a Greeter at Church on Sundays!

Please consider volunteering to serve as a greeter on Sundays. This is a wonderful way to meet people and welcome people who come to experience worship service each week. As a greeter you will help shepherd people who may be unfamiliar with the FRS and are looking to connect and possibly join our parish, help people find their name tags or request a name tag, and guide people who might be interested in learning more on how to get involved in our congregation.

Please contact Cynthia Walsh for more information at cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org.

Serve as an online host for Sunday Worship Fellowship (following 10:30am worship)

We have a growing community of parishioners who attend service online each week via our YouTube channel. Following worship we would love to provide a 20-minute meet & greet via Zoom. If you attend service online and would be willing to serve as a host for one of our post service fellowship opportunities, please email Cynthia Walsh, cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org.

We will set up the Zoom link - all you have to do is show up and be ready to meet new friends!

The Choir Needs You!

If you love to sing, or you think you might learn to love to sing, we want you! Join the FRS Adult Choir in leading music making at the church. The choir rehearses on Thursdays from 7-8:40pm and warms up for worship on Sundays at 9am. All you need to join is enthusiasm!

There is no audition; being able to read music is helpful but not totally necessary. The choir sings about 3 times per month. Rehearsals begin on Thursday, August 31 at 7pm in the Lower Meeting House.

Join us!

For more information, please email Director of Church Music Justin Murphy-Mancini at justin.murphy-mancini@frsuu.org. 

Save the Date:

Passion Action Fair

When: Sunday, October 1 from 11:30am-12:30pm in the Lower Meetinghouse

Come and explore the many ministry teams at the FRSUU. From spiritual and faith formation groups, social justice, learning together, stewardship, and fellowship.

Everyone is welcome and bring a friend!

Call on Parish Friends!

Do you know of anyone in our church community who could use a helping hand or an encouraging word? If so, please reach out to the FRS Parish Friends. For example, a member may need a ride to an appointment or appreciate a card to let them know we hold them in our thoughts. Or any other temporary support such as a family with a new baby who may welcome a meal! If so, please contact Susan Ricker at parishfriends@frsuu.org. You may also reach out to the church office at info@frsuu.org or call 978-465-0602.

Thank you to the 63 people who responded to this survey to date!

If you happen to be one of the 579 people who have not yet responded to this email, no worries! There is still time. Please take five minutes to let us know which email communications you would like to receive from the FRS each week.

To learn more about these communications and select which ones you prefer to receive each week, click on the white button below.

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; 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–Jim Supple; Vice Chair–Tina Benik; Finance Chair–Renée Wolf Foster; Governance Chair–Tom Himmel; Endowment Treasurer–Kim Kenly; Finance Treasurer–Bob Higgins; Stewardship Chair–Vern Ellis; Parish Clerk–Kathy Desilets; Lori Clark, Caitlin Creps, Laurie Evans-Daly, Minnie Flanagan, Liss Larsen, Annie Maurer.

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

978-465-0602 | frsuu.org