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
- Information on Sunday's 30-Minute Social Following Worship
- Last Chance for Daily Muse
- The Jean C. Wilson Music Concert Series 2022
- Adult Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration Opportunities, Winter 2022
- How to support FRS' Afghan Resettlement Work
- Upcoming Events
- FRS Food Drive
- Weekly Wellness Programming
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Sunday Worship
January 30, 2022
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“What Justice Looks Like in White Spaces?”
YouTube only at 10:30am
Join Reverend Rebecca and Edward Carson as we continue our monthly theme of Unitarian Universalism. This week we focus on the role of white allyship in our commitment to creating the beloved community. Eddie will be preaching and challenging us to look for real answers we can live into and support through our actions and our faith. Edward Carson is the Dean of Multicultural Education at The Governor's Academy. We are delighted to welcome him back to our pulpit.
But there is no neutrality in the racism struggle. The opposite of “racist” isn’t “not racist.” It is “antiracist.”
-Ibram X. Kendi
All Worship Services will be online only until February 20, 2022.
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30-Minute Fellowship on Zoom Following Sunday Worship Service
This week, Rev. Rebecca and Edward Carson will be joining.
Meeting ID: 936 5374 9041
Passcode: 729630
One tap mobile:
+13017158592,,93653749041# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,93653749041# US (Chicago)
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The Holidays Blew by and You Meant to Purchase The Daily Muse
You still can! We some left and they are now priced to sell at $10 apiece. Each day has an inspiring quote. They are available for a contactless pickup from Vern Ellis at 5 Fruit Street, Newburyport. Email Vern at vellis@ellisdesign.net to let him him know how many you want and they will be at the side door waiting for you. They are also still available from the church as well. We accept cash or check. Enjoy!
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Jean C. Wilson Concert Series 2022
Sunday, February 13, 2022
Choral ensemble Carduus presents a program of Renaissance vocal music featuring the Missa fortuna desperata of Josquin des Pres
Concert will be livestreamed on YouTube at 4pm
The winter portion of the Wilson Music Series concludes with choral ensemble Carduus. They present a program of Renaissance vocal music featuring the Missa fortuna desperata of Josquin des Pres.
Carduus brings vivid performances of often unheard works through the introduction of lesser performed composers into the canon of unconducted chamber choir repertoire.
Founded in 2016, Carduus presents the best of early and modern acapella music to Boston audiences. Led by Holly Druckman, they explore journeys and musical soundscapes designed to connect meaning and purpose between pieces in a way that sheds new light upon the relationship between the obscure and canon. They have recorded and premiered numerous works for fellow intrepid musicians, and have even collaborated with video installation artists such as Maya+Rouvelle and Guggenheim fellow, Marsia Alexander-Clarke.
The cultural richness of Boston is special to Carduus and that has inspired community-centric projects such 2021's community concert "Concert for remembrance: A Requiem for the Living," lead by guest conductor Lorraine Fitzmaurice, and 2020's fundraiser with composer Bernie Zelitch, "Come Up for Air," benefiting the Boston Children's Chorus.
Hailed by the Boston Musical Intelligencer as “...[expressive and emotional]...” for performances of Ives and Gesualdo, Carduus has established a formidable reputation performing vocal chamber music. Concerts have included music by composers such as Josquin, Ligeti, Tallis, Howells, Victoria, Ives, Gesualdo, Hindman, Dufay, Zelitch, Martin, de la Rue, Messiaen, Moody, Bouque, Stratis, Hiser, and many others.
For these virtual concerts we are 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.
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Adult Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration Opportunities
Winter 2022
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Monthly Discussion Group with Reverend Rebecca
The Sources of Our Faith
When: Second Wednesday evenings 6:30–7:30pm on Zoom (with the exception of January, which is the last Wednesday and June, which is the first Wednesday)
Come together to explore the different Sources of our faith, as a follow-up to Rev. Rebecca's January 2nd sermon on this topic, which you can read here. Each month will focus on a different tradition.
Sign-up is not required; however, those who register for the series will receive a package of daily readings for the month. Click on the link to register:
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
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Living the Pledge
When: Six Sessions (on Zoom) - choose one series from three different days/times below:
- Wednesday Afternoons 3–5pm, beginning February 2
- Thursday Evenings 6:30–8:30pm, beginning February 3
- Friday Afternoons noon–2pm, beginning February 4
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 eight trained facilitators to guide you through a national curriculum, specifically developed by and for UUs. The six-session workshops start the first week of February on Zoom.
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How To Save a Planet
A Climate-Change Podcast Discussion Series
When: Thursdays (February 24-April 14 - no session on March 24), 7-8pm on Zoom
Climate change. We know. It can feel too overwhelming. But what if there was a show about climate change that left you feeling... energized? One so filled with possibility that you actually wanted to listen?
Join Julie Parker Amery and members of CAP (Climate Action Project) for a discussion of smart, inspiring stories that explore climate change from various perspectives, and specific steps we can take to start to make a difference. Each week we'll listen (independently) to an episode of the series, then come together to discuss, and check in with whatever actions we've taken from the week before. We'll also covenant to spend time engaging with the natural world on our own each week—through walking, photography, watching the sunrise, reading poetry, whatever it is that will connect us with the beauty and wonder of our Earth.
Topics might include: What are the causes of wildfires and what can we do to address them? Are electric vehicles really better for the environment? Is recycling all that it's cracked up to be? How will we reach President Biden's goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035? How does climate action relate to Indigenous rights, Black Lives Matter, and gender justice?
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This Land Is Their Land Book Discussion
When: Wednesday, March 2 at 7pm (in person, or on Zoom—TBD based on COVID protocols)
Didn't get to the Community Read book in the fall? It's not too late! We'll be having a discussion of this book about the Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the "first Thanksgiving" in early March.
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Soul Stories
When: Sundays (February 27-April 10) from 3:30-5pm (in person, pending COVID protocols)
"The universe is made of stories, not of atoms." ― Muriel Rukeyser
We are made of stories, and it's by sharing our stories that we come to know each other at a deep level. In this program, we'll have prompts each week to work with to help us mine the stories of our lives, then come together on Sunday afternoons to share them.
If you have questions about any of the above programs, please contact Julie Parker Amery, Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration, at julie.amery@frsuu.org.
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Afghan Resettlement Working Group
If you are interested in learning more about how you can support the efforts of the FRS Afghan Resettlement Working Group, please email frsafghanresettlement@gmail.com.
We are also accepting contributions for our work in supporting Afghan Evacuee Resettlement. To contribute to this fund, click on the gray button below. Thank you!
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Create a Welcome Shawl!
If you would like to create a Welcome Shawl for members of the Mirzayee Family, please email cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org.
We have Welcome Shawl kits available, which contain pre-cut fleece fabric - all you need to do is add your creativity!
This family has six girls and three boys ages 3-19, as well as the mother and father.
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FRS Food Drive
When: Saturday, January 29 from 9am-1pm
Collection will take place in front of FRS.
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Weekly Wellness Programming |
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Click on the boxes below to learn more about these wellness programs! |
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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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