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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Maundy Thursday Service
- Easter Sunday Worship
- New Member Sunday: Contemplating Membership Session
- Annual Giving Campaign 2023-2024 Update
- Anti-Racism Survey
- Hearts and Hands Art and Services Auction
- A Visualization of Peace from Heidi Gowan
- Trashion Show and Potluck for the Planet
- Upcoming Fellowship Programming
- Weekly Chalice Lighting Reading by Thomas Berry
- Thank a UU
- Weekly Wellness Programming
- Monday Night Meditation
- Tuesday Spiritual Practice
- Wednesday Guided Relaxation
- Beyond Our Doors: Events in the Greater Newburyport Area
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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
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Maundy Thursday Service…And Service Is Our Prayer
When: Thursday, April 6th, 5:30pm
Maundy Thursday is also known as Holy Thursday. This service commemorates Jesus Christ’s institution of the communion during the Last Supper and the ceremony of the washing of the feet. As Unitarian Universalists, we say every Sunday…and service is our prayer. Service is central to our faith.
During this Holy Week service, we will have the opportunity to reflect upon Jesus' call to serve one another and participate in the ritual of washing of feet or hands and receiving communion. Reverends Rebecca and Jane Tuohy will be officiating, and the choir will be singing. Come join us as we prepare for Easter.
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Worship Service
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Sunday, April 9, 2023
Easter Sunday
10:30am in person and on YouTube
Celebrate the coming of Spring and Easter with the traditional story as well as choir and brass music. Children are invited to join us outside after the service for an Easter egg hunt.
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.
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New Member Sunday
When: Sunday, May 7th Worship Service
Contemplating membership at the FRS?
Please join Julie Parker Amery, Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration, on Monday, April 17 from 6-7:30pm via Zoom to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and our congregation's Values, Mission, & Ends. You will also learn about the many ways to join in fellowship at FRS.
Click on the blue button below to RSVP.
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Annual Giving Campaign 2023-2024
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Please Help Us Reach Our 2023-2024 Goal! | |
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Campaign Update:
Number of pledges submitted: 206
Total amount pledged: $468,197
Percentage of pledge goal: 85.13%
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/
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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!
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Save the Date – May 5, 2023
HEARTS & HANDS
The FRS Arts & Services Auction
At the Newburyport Community Center
Plans are in the works for a night filled with merriment and fellowship!
CALL FOR AUCTION DONATIONS
Do you have artwork, a vacation home, or a unique experience you can offer? Host a dinner party in your home! Tickets to events? There will be a table after service to sign up, or email Vernon Ellis at vellis@ellisdesign.net and let us know what you’d like to donate.
To sign up to volunteer, click on the blue button below.
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Photo submitted by Heidi Gowen: “Letting the Light in” | |
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An Invitation from Program Council
This year's annual ministry theme is peace and we invite you to submit a photo that best represents your visualization of peace - a personal representation or a broader representation of peace in the community or the world.
You can email your photo to cynthia.walsh@frsuu.org or text your photo to 978-701-5352. Please provide a photo caption and your name.
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Trashion Show and Potluck for the Planet
When: Friday, May 12 at 5:30pm
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Photo: parishioner Forest Speck tries on one of the many trashion creations from last Sunday's workshop | |
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Last Sunday, Young Church and the Green Team held an all-ages Trash Fashion Workshop. It was lively, lovely, and heartwarming to see people of all ages creating and helping one another. A big thank you to Mary McDonald for bringing tools, supplies, and her maker expertise. Thanks also to everyone who brought copious amounts of trash and recyclables and to all our volunteers and participants!
If you'd like to participate as a Trashion Show creator/model, email Mara at mara.flynn@frsuu.org for more info - grownups welcome!
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Upcoming Fellowship Programming | |
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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
- 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.
Participants are asked to commit to being present at 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.
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Climate Inspirations: Discussion Group
When: Tuesdays from 9-10:30am via Zoom, starting March 28th through May 2nd
This program is based on short video talks by leading authors. To review the weekly discussion topics click here.
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FRS's Green Team
When: Wednesday, April 12, at 7pm via Zoom
We will briefly celebrate progress on initiatives such as composting, LED lighting for the sanctuary, launching our Climate Inspirations discussion series, and our presentation of the Net Zero policy to the Parish Board.
We will continue to plan the finishing touches on our Earth Day Service on April 16, followed by Justice Sunday with soup and salad and Climate Justice programming. Let’s also talk about reinvigorating our church’s commitment to effective recycling, our collaboration with Newburyport’s Forever Green campaign, and Earth Day events on April 21.
We will get updates on our investigations into alternative energy use at FRS including solar options and heat pumps, and also plan our collaboration with Mara and Young Church at the May 12 All Ages Trashion Show and Potluck for the Planet. Lots to do! Please join us!
If you are not on our email list, please contact Annie Madden at madden.anne.b@gmail.com to be added to the list, and get the Zoom meeting link.
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Tuesday Short Story Group
When:1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, Lower Meeting House (Zoom option available)
Click here for more information.
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Friday Book Group
When: Fridays from 10-11:30am, Lower Meetinghouse Room A and on Zoom
We meet weekly and read both fiction and non-fiction books chosen by the participants. Each book is read and discussed over a period of several meetings, with the reading for each determined by the group.
For more information, click here.
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THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN POSTPONED -New dates below:
Exploring Elderhood Together
Paint Your Memories in Words
When: Thursday, April 20, 1-2:30pm and Thursday, April 27, 1-2:30pm (this is a 2-part session), in the Lower Meetinghouse
Part One: Discussion and Writing Exercises
Part Two: Experiential Writing Exercises
Click here for more information.
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Weekly Chalice Lighting Reading | |
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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.
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Thomas Berry
Above all, tell them to practice an intimate presence to the beauty and wonder of the natural world through their intuitive awareness that recognizes the oneness of all life; tell them to stop and enlarge moments throughout their days to become aware of the mysteries and miracles of creation all around them – the movement of a squirrel, the sound of a bird, the pattern of a leaf, changing patterns of light, the sun, the rain, the stars, dawn and sunset. Tell them we are not ourselves without everything and everyone else.
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To learn more about Thomas Berry click here. | |
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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.
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Weekly Wellness Programming | |
Beyond Our Doors
Events in the greater Newburyport area
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If you would like to publish an announcement or event in the Steeple,
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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. | |
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First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950
978-465-0602 | frsuu.org
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