May 25, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • Next Year's Ministry Theme is Peace
  • Sunday Worship Service
  • Summer Church Services
  • FRS Annual Meeting: RSVP Today!
  • FRS Spring Auction & Gala
  • Pandemic-Era Support with the Pastoral Care Associates
  • Join FRS's Reproductive Rights Working Group
  • Ways to Connect and Engage
  • Forest Walk and Meditation
  • UU Wellspring is Coming to the FRS
  • Upcoming Events
  • FRS Welcoming Space Dedication
  • FRS Community Art Project and Reception
  • Save the Date! FRS Goes to Portsmouth Pride 
  • FRS's Weekly Wellness Programming
  • Beyond Our Doors:
  • Gender Diversity, Allyship, Story Sharing Event at Newburyport Public Library
  • City of Newburyport's Juneteenth Day Event
  • FRS in the Community: Donate a Book to Our Little Free Diverse Library
Annual Ministry Theme: Unity

May Ministry Theme: World Religions

"Each of the world religions has its own particular genius, its own special insight into the nature and requirements of compassion, and has something unique to teach us."

-Karen Armstrong
Next Year's Ministry Theme is Peace
Please take a minute to complete this easy survey, by clicking here, to pick your top themes. 

We are also looking for two new Worship Associates. Please email Rev. Rebecca at revrebecca.bryan@frsuu.org for more information or if you are interested.
Sunday Worship Service
May 29, 2022
Sunday, May 29, 2022
Divine and Human

10:30am, in person and livestream on YouTube

This week is the last in a month-long exploration of world religions. Reverend Rebecca will be preaching on humanism and exploring the bridge between all religions and what it means for us at this time. She will be joined by Jane Tuohy who will share a personal journey with Christian Mysticism.

“We are here to endure the beams of love.” - William Blake

Attend on YouTube: http://bit.ly/FRSyoutube
Have you heard? There will be church services this summer, starting at 10am in July in the sanctuary. 

We have a wonderful schedule including Rev. Rebecca and guests. The schedule and other information about summer programming will be released the first week in June. 

Meanwhile we have a full and exciting month ahead in June including 10:30am Sunday worship services, the auction on June 10th, and the annual meeting on June 12th.
 
  • June 5: Rev. Rebecca preaching: “The Ongoing Costs of the Pandemic” 
  • June 10: FRS Spring Gala & Auction, 6-9pm 
  • June 12: Music Sunday and farewell to David Livingstone. Annual Meeting 12:15pm 
  • June 19: Rev. Rebecca preaching 
  • June 26: General Assembly Worship Livestream
FRS Annual Meeting Sunday, June 12th: RSVP Today!
The Annual Meeting of the First Religious Society will be in the afternoon on Sunday, June 12. Members will be voting on bylaw amendments to create a new Stewardship Committee, better align governing documents with current operations, alter the use of pronouns, as well as elect officers, approve a budget, and decide on items relating to our facility maintenance. The 2021-2022 Annual Report and official Annual Meeting Warrant will be shared by the end of May. We are seeking delegates for the UUA General Assembly on June 22-26 either virtually or live in Portland, Oregon. Please contact Juliana Beauvais at jbeauvais99@gmail.com if interested.

We are asking members to please register in advance for this year’s Annual Meeting. It is critical that we have an in-person quorum physically present for the first vote to allow electronic meeting participation. Contingent on that bylaw change, we can then include the virtual participants. Please attend in person if you are able.
Join Us for Fellowship and Fundraising
at the 2022 FRS Spring Gala and Auction!
 
Friday, June 10, 6-9pm
Newburyport Senior Center/Community Center
331 High Street, Newburyport
 
Tickets are on sale - click here to purchase them  
$35/person in advance, $45/person at the door
 
Please join us for an evening of joyous reconnection, great food, music, and the opportunity to support our beloved church. This is our biggest fellowship event, and a great opportunity to shake off the COVID cobwebs while enjoying each other’s company. This year’s theme is Tipping our Hats to Love. We invite you to wear your favorite, finest, or most festive hat to the Gala/Auction.
 
Some auction items to ponder:
Plan a Sermon of your Choice with Rev. Rebecca. Donated by Reverend Rebecca.
 
4 Course Dinner with Wine Pairings at Brine, 8 people, September 2022 (Saturdays excluded), value $1,100. Donated by Brine, Susan Stone, and Vern Ellis.

A Pie a Month. A fresh homemade pie delivered to your front door each month! Donated by Ann Haaser.
 
Are you interested in volunteering the night of the auction? Volunteer roles include decorating, hat judges, live auction "runner," food setup and breakdown, silent auction setup and close, and general help.

 
For more information, go to: https://www.frsuu.org/gala-auction or contact Michelle Kimball, mkimball@sparhawkschool.com or Renée Wolf Foster, rwolffoster@gmail.com.
Pandemic-Era Support with the Pastoral Care Associates
Ongoing Support Group Meetings
When: Second Thursday of the Month, noon-1pm in the Lower Meetinghouse

The COVID pandemic and concurrent world events have left many of us with continuing feelings of fear, anxiety, and loss—to name just a few of the many emotions that swirl through us on a daily basis. The Pastoral Care Associates invite you to gather with others to talk about the challenges we live with at this time. What has helped you through the pandemic? How are you doing now? Being in community with others to share experiences can forge healing connections.

The sessions are offered on a drop-in basis. Please join when you feel that a supportive community is what you need. Come to one or many. There is no strict agenda; simply listening and sharing.

The first session will meet on June 9, from noon-1pm, in the Lower Meetinghouse.

Questions? Contact PCAs Nancy Kidd at nankdd@gmail.com or Betsy Hazen at betsyplus2@comcast.net.
Join FRS's Reproductive Rights Working Group

Since well before Roe v. Wade, Unitarian Universalists have declared unequivocally that we support every person’s right to make decisions about their own bodies and reproductive health, including the choice to seek abortion care. To read the full statement click here!

If you are interested in getting involved in this issue, we invite you to join a newly formed working group to discuss next steps. Please sign up here!
Ways to Connect and Engage
Forest Walk and Meditation
When: Friday, May 27, from 9-10:30am
Maudslay State Park, Newburyport

Much research in recent years has brought to light the benefits of being in nature mindfully, using all the senses, giving rise to practices such as Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) in Japan and Scandinavia. Join us for four such walks, experiencing the emergence of spring. The walk will be silent and will include a number of mindfulness practices, and will be followed by tea and conversation.


For more information, contact Julie Parker Amery at julie.amery@frsuu.org.
UU Wellspring is Coming to the FRS
 
UU Wellspring is a 10-month spiritual deepening course for Unitarian Universalists, used in congregations across the continent since its development in 2005. The program runs from September until June, meeting twice a month. Participants experience deep listening and spiritual reflection in small groups of about ten, inspiring personal and community transformation. Participants read, view, and respond to pre-session assignments that are focused on spiritual topics and UU Theology. 
 
In addition to the meetings, participants engage in a spiritual practice of their choosing, and find a spiritual companion to meet with outside of the sessions.
 
Some of the themes explored in this first offering of Wellspring include: Everyday Theology, Your Own Prophetic Voice: Vulnerability and Courage, Nature as Spiritual Guide, Good Without God, and UU Perspectives on Death and the Afterlife. To learn more about the Wellspring program, you can check out the website here: https://uuwellspring.org/.
 
This program will be offered in person and will begin in the fall. If you’re interested, please fill out a form here: https://bit.ly/WellSpringInterest. By doing so, you are in no way committing to the program, or even registering for it. It will simply guarantee that you receive communications as our plans develop. It will also help us with our plans if we have an idea of how many people are interested. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me: julie.amery@frsuu.org.
Upcoming Events
FRS Welcoming Space Dedication
When: June 5, 10 am, outside the Meetinghouse

Soon our church grounds will have lovely Adirondack chairs in rainbow colors in honor of the LGBTQ+ community. This "Welcome Space" is for everyone, whoever you are, to enjoy!

Join us on Sunday, June 5th at 10am in front of the Meetinghouse for our "Ribbon Cutting" ceremony as we open this space for all to enjoy. Our intent is that whoever enjoys this space will feel welcome and come to know and better understand that Unitarian Universalism affirms seven Principles, the first of which is: "The inherent worth and dignity of every person."
FRS Community Art Project and Reception
Reception: June 5, 11:30am, Lower Meetinghouse

“Where Do We Come From? Where Are We Going?” That’s the theme of the spring FRS Community Art Project, now exhibited in the Tiny Gallery in the lower meeting house. Be sure to stop by and take in the artwork of many media—photos, collage, poetry, painting, fiber arts, and more! It’s an amazing collection! Many thanks to Bettina Turner and Rochelle Perry-Platine for the care they took with the installation.
 
An informal “Meet the Artists” reception is planned for June 5, after church, in the Lower Meetinghouse. We hope you can stop by!
Save the Date! FRS Goes to Portsmouth Pride on June 25th

The Welcoming Committee and the All-Ages GSA are coordinating an FRSUU group to walk in the Portsmouth Pride parade on June 25th. There will be options to travel together or meet there. The parade steps off from Market Square in Portsmouth at 12pm and travels a half-mile route to Strawbery Banke where there will be performances, activities, food, and a Pride Marketplace of vendors and organizations. Come show your support and have fun. Join us for a short time or the whole time. All are welcome.

To RSVP or get updates, contact Christine Doherty at christine.doherty@comcast.net. (Please note: This is a change from previous announcements which indicated we were heading to Salem for North Shore Pride. The correct location is Portsmouth.)
FRS's Weekly Wellness Programming
Beyond Our Doors
Guest Speaker is Álvaro Gamio Cuervo (he/they/él/elle) who is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program at UMass Boston. Álvaro received their MSW in Social Work and their clinical work focused on trauma/crisis services with LGBTQ, POC, and low-income young adult populations. Their research focuses on hope and resilience for trans folks of color, more specifically on how Latinx trans individuals make meaning of family rejection and the relationship between suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Álvaro enjoys cooking new recipes, crocheting, exercising, and watching copious amounts of reality television.
Juneteenth Event
When: Friday, June 17 at noon, City Hall, Newburyport

Juneteenth is a federal holiday recognizing the end of slavery in the United States. Please join us as we celebrate with music and food, raising the Juneteenth flag, and sharing the history of this important day.

This event is hosted by the City of Newburyport, DEI Alliance, and Human Rights Commission
FRS in the Community
Give the Gift of a Book to FRS's 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. 

Please email Mara Flynn at mara.flynn@frsuu.org if you would like to donate a book.

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!
If you would like to thank another parishioner, please email cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org.
Minister–The Reverend Rebecca Bryan; Ministerial InternDavid Livingstone; Affiliate Minister–Rev. Stan Barrett; Affiliate Minister–Rev. Helen Murgida; Minister EmeritusThe Reverend Harold Babcock. Staff: Director of Church OperationsRob Authier; Office AdministratorDiane Carroll; Audio-Visual EngineerRob Close; Director of Children's MinistryMara Flynn; Director of Church Music–Justin Murphy-Mancini; Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual ExplorationJulie Parker Amery; SextonDonny Rogers; Director of Congregational and Community Engagement–Cynthia Walsh. Parish Board: Chair–Holly Cashman; Vice Chair–Tina Benik; Finance Chair–Tim Fountain; Governance ChairJuliana Beauvais; Endowment TreasurerKim Kenly; Finance Treasurer–Micah Donahue; Parish Clerk–Kathy Desilets; Vern Ellis, Minnie Flanagan, Michelle Kimball, Lucy Litwin, Annie Maurer, Jim Supple, Renée Wolf Foster.
First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950
978-465-0602 | frsuu.org