September 27, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Sunday Worship Service
• View last Sunday's Sermon on YouTube
• "In the Spirit" Article by Rev. Rebecca
• Young Church News
• Passion Action Fair is this Sunday
• FRS Choir Performs at Interfaith Concert
• UU Study Group Starts on Tuesday with Rev. Rebecca
• Last Chance to Register for a 4-week Meditation Series
• Calling for Donations: The Grateful Gathering, FRS Auction
• Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence takes place this Sunday
• Fall Arts at the FRS
• In the Tiny Art Gallery
• We Need to Hear From You: Take the FRS Communication Survey
• Ways to Engage & Volunteer Your Time to Support Our Parish
• Fellowship Programming
• Download the FRS October Worship and Events Calendars
• Thank a UU
• Call on Parish Friends
• Beyond Our Doors

Annual Ministry Theme: Interconnectedness

Sunday, October 1, 2023

10:30am, in person and streamed on YouTube

 Rev. Helen Murgida, Head of the Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry (AIM) at FRS, will be preaching on Mindfulness: Ways to Navigate Life Transitions.” Change, Transition, and Transformation occur throughout our life span, sometimes with ease, but more often with difficulty. As we age, changes are more frequent, and we will explore the difference between aging with disabilities and aging into disabilities.

“Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.”

 -Sharon Salzberg

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

October Shared Collection Partner – Greater Newbury Elder Pet Fund

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/PKyA0kTpP3A

In the Spirit: "Beyond words, beyond beliefs, we are interconnected"

by Reverend Rebecca



This article was published in the The Daily News of Newburyport on Sept. 22, 2023.

Click here to read the article.

Young Church News

Click on the yellow button to read more

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!

Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, celebrating its 175^th anniversary this year, organized an interfaith choir concert that brought together choirs from around Newburyport on September 24. The FRS Adult Choir was in attendance, along with musicians from Central Congregational, Belleville Congregational, St. Paul's Episcopal, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, First Parish of Newbury, and the Immaculate Conception choir. Pictured below are all of the singers performing the final selection, "This Is My Song."

First Meeting of UU Discussion Group with Reverend Rebecca

When: October 3 from 6-7pm

We will be meeting in the sanctuary and will only be in person for this first session.

After initial introductions and getting-to-know-you discussion, we will be exploring the question of how our commitment to anti-oppression and racial justice connects to our UU faith.

Why is anti-racist and anti-oppression work a spiritual practice?

What does it mean to be journeying toward spiritual wholeness?

What were your expectations regarding anti-oppression/anti-racism work when you became involved with FRS?

This is a dialogue, not a class.

Discussions in future months will focus on other topics including theology, environmentalism, youth, Welcoming work with LGBTQ+, and relationships with other congregations and our Association.

Please email Reverend Rebecca at revrebecca.bryan@frsuu.org with any suggestions or questions for upcoming discussions.

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.

CALL FOR DONATIONS 

GRATEFUL GATHERING, THE FRS AUCTION 

November 17 at 6pm

Newburyport Community Center, 331 High Street, Newburyport

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 or service 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 sign-up table after services, or to sign up online, click here. The donation deadline is October 27.

If you would like to participate in the planning the auction, our meetings are on Zoom, Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm, https://bit.ly/FUUNTeamZoomMeeting.

Register online here.

Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center - Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence

Walk with us for our 32nd Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence happening on Sunday, October 1st, starting at Newburyport's Waterfront Park.

Please encourage friends to donate to your walk! We'll meet on Sunday morning, October 1, in front of the stage at Waterfront Park at 8am. See you there!

Thank you to the 106 people who responded to this survey to date!

If you happen to be one of the 555 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.

Interior Landscapes Group has openings for two participants to join

Are you interested in forming a new relationship with grief? Reverend Rebecca has been offering a group focusing on the work of Francis Weller and “The Wild Edge of Sorrow”. The group meets monthly on Tuesdays from 5:30pm – 7:00pm in person and online. We will meet October – May to give ample space and time to this life changing work. We will be using sharing, spiritual practices and ritual together. Please email Reverend Rebecca at revrebecca.bryan@frsuu.org to let her know of your interest in the group. We do ask that you commit to the entire program.

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.

Join us!

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

Download the FRS October Worship and Events Calendars

Click on the gray buttons below:

Mara Flynn, Director of Children's Ministries, writes:

"Young Church would like to thank Lisa and August Mead for assembling bookcases for our new nursery - they look so good! A big thanks also to Deb Maas and Nancy McCarthy who provided childcare for our Young Church Movie Night. It takes a village and we've got a special one!"

Thank you, Will Buddenhagen, for your restoration work on this beautiful table that resides in the Lower Meetinghouse. The table appears to be a 19th century tavern table. The width of the tabletop is 26.5 inches! This single piece of wood came from one enormous tree!

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.

Parishioner Minnie Flanagan shares this photo of the Portermen, our local Sea Shanty musicians, who won the songwriting contest this year at the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival. Church members include Jay Iannini and Tim Fountain. “Moses Brown” is the title of their winning song.

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