The FUUSN Chime

Weekly Newsletter of the

First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton

January 17, 2023

Join Us on Zoom

Worship Service

Love is a Battlefield

Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 10:15am

Rev. Parisa Parsa

Pat Benatar was talking about romantic love, but the demands and the work it takes to love freely, with integrity and with conviction, makes love of all kinds a battlefield at times. What can we learn from love’s battles?

Share Joys and Sorrows

Musical Musings

By Anne Watson Born

Watching the FUUSN Band rehearsal last Sunday:

A musician sees someone sitting in the pews who is not fully engaged, and spontaneously and naturally goes to them to invite them to sing. Meanwhile others are huddled together over a chart, working out where the bridge begins, who’s taking which solo, etc. Still others are in their own concentrated spaces, playing riffs on their instruments.

Called to order, they start working out the details of a tune. They play. They listen. They suggest. They play. They listen. They play.

I am witnessing discipline, kindness, generosity, laughter, patience, welcome. All are welcomed into the process, which is one of true collaboration (not something we see often, for all of the reverence we give that word). A person offers an idea, it’s discussed, tried out, and a group

decision is made.

All of the characteristics displayed in that rehearsal – perseverance, generosity, inclusion, listening, discussion without denigration – all of these we hold up as important. They are important to us in our congregation, in our families, and in the world outside of FUUSN’s walls. Music brings out these virtues in all of us.

Watching it all, I felt affection and gratitude for all of our musicians. Their devoted attention to their music draws me, as a listener, into a space where I can experience beauty and energy and meaning as they play. The concert on February 11 (a benefit for the UU Urban Ministry) will be wonderful. I hope we will see you there.

- Anne Watson Born

ANNUAL FUUSN MUSICIANS CONCERT

Come and hear the wonderful musicians of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in concert on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 2pm in the FUUSN Sanctuary.

Covid Policy Reminder

Your Ops Council continues to monitor the Covid wastewater levels and public health recommendations. As cases rise with a new variant again, and we also are seeing increases in hospitalizations due to RSV and flu, we are encouraged by the fact that our current practices and recommendations align with current public health guidance. We especially encourage anyone eligible to be up to date on Covid boosters!

As a reminder, here are our guidelines for FUUSN gatherings:

Stay home if you feel unwell and definitely if you have tested positive for a communicable illness.
Wear a mask if you feel well but may have been exposed.
Remember that the last few rows of pews in the sanctuary are reserved for folks masking due to increased vulnerability to illness, and respect that space appropriately.

Ministerial Search Committee Report

Applications from ministers in search are in and we are deep in the process of interviewing applicants over Zoom. We will soon begin the discernment process to determine whom to invite for in-person interviews, which will take place in the coming weeks.

Applicant and process confidentiality will continue to mean that we will be light on details for a bit. You can always visit the Ministerial Search Committee page on FUUSN's website for news and updates.

In Memoriam: Ellie Mamber

We extend our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Ellie Mamber, Newton native and long-time former member of FUUSN. View her obituary.

Happy 100th Birthday to Jackie Colby!!!

Jackie Colby turns 100 this week! She and her husband joined FUUSN in 1958, and Jackie started the Newton Food Pantry in 1990. Please join us in wishing her a very happy birthday!

Upcoming Events This Week

Calendar

Jan 18, 7pm: Band Rehearsal

Jan. 19, 6pm: Zoom Vespers

Jan. 20, 6pm: UU Plant-Based Eating Club Potluck (full)

Jan. 21, 11:30am: Over 60s Musical Instruments

Jan. 21, 11:30am: Band Rehearsal

Jan. 21, 12pm: Racial Justice Book Club

Jan. 21, 3:30pm: JourneySongs rehearsal

Jan. 21, 6pm: UU Plant-Based Eating Club Potluck (full)

Jan. 23, 7pm: Board of Trustees Meeting

Jan. 23, 7pm: Racial Justice Book Club

Recurring Events

Wed., 6:30pm: Tai Chi Class

Wed., 7:30pm: Choir Practice

Thurs., 4:30pm: CreationDance

Fri., 11am: Over 60s Walking Group

RE This Week

This Month: Exploration of Racial Justice and the 8th Principle

Jan. 21, 4-5:30pm: OWL Parent Information Session (4th-6th grade) - Chapel and Nursery

Jan. 22, 6:30-8:30pm: First OWL class, 7th-9th grade - Kitchen

Racial Justice Book Clubs

Groups at FUUSN will discuss the book Nice Racism by Robin DiAngelo. One group will meet in person at FUUSN on Sundays from 12-2 PM (January 21st, 28th, and February 11th), and another will meet on Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 7-9 PM (January 23rd and 30th, and February 6th). To join, email Meg Holland.

Over 60s Art Fest : Musical Instrumentalists

Sunday January 21st - Alliance Room

End of coffee hour, at 12 - 12:30

Rod Thomas and Bob MacWilliams will share their inner creative musical processes and play some fantastic harmonica and guitar!!

Rod Thomas: Harmonica 101: How he fell in love with the instrument at the age of 16 (after 10 years of singing in choirs and playing the trumpet), and what singing and playing the harmonica have in common. Extra bonus: Q&A plus some improvisation.

Bob MacWilliams: Elements of creative composition in writing instrumental pieces for guitar, with “That Night Rain” and “Empty” as contrasting examples. Bob will play the two pieces.

Nominate yourself or friends for our next events:

Feb. 11, Visual Arts (Painting)
March 17, FUUSN authors and their books
April 7, Photographs
June 2, Gardens and Flowers)

Contact Barbara Deck

Volunteer Opportunities

Help Improve This Newsletter

We've made some recent changes to the newsletter format, most notably switching to Constant Contact. We'd like to hear from you about how you like these changes and what else we can do to improve! Fill out our survey.

Ongoing Signups Reminder

For these and ALL other volunteer opportunities, visit the Volunteer page on our website.

Donate to the Services Auction

We are always looking for donations of services, particularly from folks who have not donated services in the past. You can view last year’s Silent Auction and Voice Auction offerings for some idea of what will be offered this year. But feel free to be creative in thinking about what service you can donate.

Questions or if you want to discuss offering a service: Please contact Pat Rohan.

Save the Date

Don't Miss This Year's Mardi-Gras-Themed Services Auction on Saturday, Feb. 3!

Doors open at 5:30 for dinner, socializing and browsing raffle and auction items. Ends 8:30/9.
$10 per adult entry INCLUDES dinner and drinks!! (Wine/beer as well as non-alcoholic options.) No need to RSVP.
Live Auction starts at 6:30 in the Parish Hall. Optional bidding on great items such as weekend vacation homes, gourmet dinners, babysitting nights and other services.
Childcare in the Children’s Chapel included throughout the evening!
Kids can bring PJs and sleeping bags for the movie.

Racial Justice and Reparations Task Force

Please join us for our next monthly meeting on Sunday, February 4th, in one of the basement classrooms. And please mark your calendars:

Rev Kevin Peterson of the New Democracy Coalition and the Faneuil Hall renaming project will be in the pulpit at FUUSN Sunday Feb. 18th for our weekly worship service. We are planning a reception and discussion with him after the service in the Alliance Room at 11:30.
The Carl McCargo reparations presentation that was cancelled due to the January storm will take place after service in the Alliance Room on Sunday, March 24th.

Alternative Coffee Hour

Feb. 4

After you grab your coffee, feel free to join a small group (7 or 8) of fellow FUUSNites to discuss topics arising from the service. Just come to the Member Services table and you will be assigned to a group and meeting room at random. The groups will start at 11:40 and end at 12:15. All are welcome.

Over 60s Presentation - Feb. 25th

Marty Lowenthal, Common Sense Mindfulness in Challenging Times - based in the Buddhist tradition which emphasizes how to be present, engaged and live in a challenging world with consciousness, love and compassion in everyday and spiritual life.

Kudos Corner

Congratulations to everyone who worked to make the Community Expo a rousing success! Thanks to everyone who attended. Thanks to Helen, Eric, Norm, Carrie, Ruth, Wendy, Mike, Emily, RoseAnn, Jean, Bob, Dan, Pat, Laurel, Kit, Myles, Nana, and Michael for helping set up, run the tables, and clean up. Special thanks to Kate Thibeault for organizing everything. Look for another expo around this time next year.

Submit News and Events

Have a news item you want to share? Want to schedule a FUUSN Event? Please use our web forms! Note that any event using physical space at FUUSN must be approved by Fran, and until you receive confirmation from her, that event will not be scheduled or added to our Events calendar.

Submissions to the newsletter must be sent in by the previous Tuesday at 9am. Submissions to the Order of Service must be sent in by the previous Thursday at 9am.

Submit News

Submit an Event

FUUSN Contacts

Rev. Parisa Parsa, Interim Minister, parisa@fusn.org
Fran Clancy, Office Administrator, office@fusn.org
Devin Shmueli, Director of Family and Community Ministries, devin@fusn.org
Anne Watson Born, Director of Music Ministry, music@fusn.org
Jenise Aminoff, Communications and Technology Coordinator, jenise@fusn.org
Lay Minister On Call for January: Jay Flynn, jaywflynn@gmail.com, 617-340-9299
Care Crew contact, Sheila Ardery, sardery@gmail.com, 617-564-1769

First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton | www.fuusn.org