April 12, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Sunday Worship
• Justice Sunday with Soup & Salad
• New Member Sunday: Contemplating Membership Session
• March Update from the Parish Board
• Annual Giving Campaign 2023-2024 Update
• Photos from Easter Sunday Worship
• The FRS's 300th Anniversary: Help us find the lost time capsule!
• Anti-Racism Survey
• The Second Not-Quite-Annual Spectacular FRS Bakeoff and Bake Sale!
• Hearts and Hands Art and Services Auction
• A Visualization of Peace from Kate Derrick
• Trashion Show and Potluck for the Planet
• Upcoming Fellowship Programming
• Weekly Chalice Lighting Reading by Thich Nhat Hanh
• Parish Friends
• Thank a UU
• Weekly Wellness Programming
• Monday Night Meditation
• Tuesday Spiritual Practice
• Wednesday Guided Relaxation
• Beyond Our Doors: Events in the Greater Newburyport Area

Annual Ministry Theme: Peace

April Ministry Theme: Water

“It is essential for ocean life and our own that we transform ourselves from being a species that uses of its resources to one that cherishes and nurtures them“

- Callum Roberts

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Earth Day Service

10:30am in person and on YouTube

The FRS Green Team leads a service honoring our environment and committing to its preservation. Liam Amery will offer the sermon. After the service, the Green Team will lead a Justice Sunday activity following soup and salad.

Liam is a young adult who grew up as a part of the FRS Community through high school; he was fortunate enough to participate in coming of age programs, service trips, and to be part of a community that greatly shaped his current perspective and values. In 2022, Liam earned a degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from UMass Amherst and currently is pursuing his Masters in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, where he does research related to environmental contamination, specifically focused on lead and water. His general interests are in water equality and his career goals is to work towards ensuring safe and available drinking water access for all. Liam has always had a love for the outdoors: since high school, he has wanted to work in a field where he could do positive work for the environment in a sustainable manner. Outside of his academic pursuits, Liam is an avid hiker and runner and enjoys a good book. He has spent his past several summers working in Pine Ridge, SD for the non-profit organization Re-Member; he went to Pine Ridge for the first time with an FRS high school group when he was 14. 

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

April Shared Collection Partner - Merrimack Black and Brown Voices

Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices provides Black, Indigenous, and People of Color across the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts with a safe space to connect, share resources, and create systemic change to eliminate prejudice and discrimination in surrounding communities. They plan social and cultural events. They also provide support for individuals and families in financial need, local Black & Brown owned businesses, and more. Please answer the call to support black and brown voices. Half of each Sunday's collection not designated as a pledge supports a local partner working to transform our region.

Please Help Us Reach Our 2023-2024 Goal!

Campaign Update:

Number of pledges* submitted: 222

Total amount pledged: $483,087

Percentage of pledge goal: 87.83%

Thank you to all who have submitted your pledge forms!

If you haven’t yet pledged, it’s not too late!

There are several ways to submit your pledge:

–Submit your pledge online: https://www.frsuu.org/pledge/

–Email your pledge amount to Diane Carroll, diane.carroll@frsuu.org

–Mail your pledge form to the church at 26 Pleasant Street, Newburyport, MA 01950

Every pledge, in any amount, matters!

You can help us reach our goal!

For more information about the annual giving campaign:

https://www.frsuu.org/pledge/

*A pledging unit may be a family, couple, or individual.

The FRS Choir fills the sanctuary with joyful singing!

Gathering in the Sanctuary for Worship

Susan Cooper and Diane Forman share the meaning of Passover.

Back in 1975 the children in Young Church made a time capsule for us to open at our 300th anniversary in 2025. For the last 48 years, it’s been tucked away somewhere in the church waiting for us to find and open when the time is right. But where is it? What does it look like? Is it a tube? A box? A crate? An envelope?

The 300th Anniversary team is anxious to locate the time capsule and have it ready to open in 2025. Do you know where it is? What it looks like? If you had a child in Young Church, or were one yourself in 1975 do you remember the time capsule? If you can help us with this search, please email Cynthia Walsh at cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org



And, keep your eyes open; perhaps it’s hidden in plain sight!

Anti-Racism Survey

The Anti-Racism Initiative Core Team is seeking information so that we might offer the most desired and relevant programming for our congregation as we move toward adoption of the 8th UU Principle. We ask that you fill out this very brief survey. Would you like to participate in book discussions? Movie nights? Perhaps a series devoted to “The 1619 Project,” or the “Seeing White” podcast series? Please fill out the survey by clicking the blue button below. It will take just a minute or two!

The Second Not-Quite-Annual Spectacular FRS Bakeoff and Bake Sale!

When: Sunday, April 30 at 11:30am in the Lower Meetinghouse

Enter your favorite baked creation, OR just come to taste and vote. Either way, this is a fun and delicious way to support the FRS youth preparing to go to the Pine Ridge Reservation in June. For more information about entering, click here. 

SAVE THE DATE – May 5, 2023, 6:30pm

HEARTS & HANDS

The FRS Arts & Services Auction

At the Newburyport Community Center

Tickets are $40 per person

Sampling of items to bid on:

Framed Photo of FRS by Fran Dalton donated by Nancy and Jim Kidd

Meet Me at the Bartlett Mall for a Fun Fitness Workout donated by Nancy McCarthy

Lobster Dinner for 4 donated by Sue and Lee Fasoli

TO PURCHASE TICKETS

By credit card click on the link below:

https://events.eventgroove.com/event/2023-Frs-Auction-76083

By check, mail the check to the office and provide your email address and we will send you the ticket via email.

To sign up to volunteer, click on the blue button below.

Photo submitted by Kate Derrick who shares: "We came across this little church while on a visit to Greece a few years ago. It's perched on a high hill, on the edge of a cliff that tumbles down to the ocean. This is truly a private, tiny sanctuary that is well-cared for, respected, and loved."

To RSVP and to sign up to bring a dish for the potluck please click on the

green button below:

This is an all ages event!

If you'd like to participate as a Trashion Show creator/model, email Mara at mara.flynn@frsuu.org for more information.

Living the Pledge Workshop Series Coming Soon!

When: Fridays 9:30-11:30 am on May 5, 12, 26, June 2, 16, 23

Living the Pledge is a six-session workshop series designed to provide a foundation for understanding racism in all its forms and ways that we—as individuals and collectively—can begin to dismantle it. It reinforces participants’ commitment to ongoing action and provides tools to begin or continue the anti-racism journey. The primary goal of this series is to help participants integrate anti-racism into their daily lives by:

• Learning how to confront racism and bias in everyday encounters
• Recognizing and challenging systemic racism, and
• Taking on a personal leadership role in ending racism in our community

Participants develop a community of support and an understanding of how to use support in deepening our work in building a just and equitable multicultural world.

In order to gain the most benefit, participants are encouraged to attend all six sessions, (approximately 12 hours of large and small group work) and complete various reading/viewing assignments both in preparation for the first session as well as between sessions. After you register, you’ll receive an email with information about pre-workshop resources.

The Living the Pledge workshops are led by trained leaders, all members of the FRS.

Register here by April 17.

Questions? Contact Julie Parker Amery at julie.amery@frsuu.org or Sue Fasoli at susanfasoli@gmail.com

Lighting a chalice is an honored and beloved ritual of our faith. We take time to light a chalice and offer a reading or time of silence before the start of every meeting, gathering, or worship service. Doing so reminds us of our connection to one another and our values. It helps us to center and calm our minds and bodies. Each time the chalice is lit we are invited to return to ourselves and to peace.

We hope everyone joins in creating this collection of readings. Please submit your reading to cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org or RevRevecca.Bryan@frsuu.org.

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.

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; 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–Tina Benik; Vice Chair-Jim Supple; Finance Chair–Renée Wolf Foster; Governance Chair–Tom Himmel; Endowment Treasurer–Kim Kenly; Finance Treasurer–Laurie Evans-Daly; Stewardship Chair–Vern Ellis; Parish Clerk–Kathy Desilets; Holly Cashman, Marissa Dewey, Minnie Flanagan, Michelle Kimball, Annie Maurer, Tom Stites.

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

978-465-0602 | frsuu.org