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Weekly Newsletter of the
First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton
March 13, 2024
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Worship Service
MUSIC SUNDAY:
Finally on My Way to Yes
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 10:15am
Anne Watson Born
This service presents music about how we transform and heal ourselves, and how we can be a force for change in the world. There will be a wide variety of songs, including The Times They Are A-Changin’, Hejira, and I Dream a World. The FUUSN Choir will be joined by the Band, CreationDance, Bob MacWilliams and Lois Shapiro.
Join us in person or on Zoom:
https://bit.ly/FUUSNWorship
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Musical Musings
Anne Watson Born
"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity."
—Gilda Radner
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Our FUUSN musicians are preparing for this week’s Music Sunday service, which is about transformation and change. The first half of the service is centered around individual change - as Van Morrison puts it: “Gonna be a transformation Down in your soul.” CreationDance will kick off the morning, and Bob MacWilliams will sing Joni Mitchell’s wonderful song, Hejira.
In her poem The Healing Time, Pesha Gertler writes, “Finally on my way to yes I bump into all the places where I said no to my life.” The choir will sing a setting of Gertler’s poem by the contemporary composer Elizabeth Alexander; it will feature Linnea Bardarson in a spectacular piano part.
The second half of the service is about being a force for change in the world. The choir will sing texts by Langston Hughes, Bob Dylan, and James Weldon Johnson, and Lois Shapiro will give us a moment of renewal with an Impromptu by Schubert. The Offering for the day will benefit the FUUSN music program.
Hope to see you on Sunday!
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RE This Sunday
Pre-K-4th Grade: The Purim story and Queen Esther ensuring the safety of so many people
5th-8th grade: Mary Magdalene and what it was like to travel with Jesus
4th-6th Grade OWL: 4-5:15pm - Downstairs Classrooms
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Pledge Parties Begin TODAY!!!
The Pledge Drive team is excited for the start of pledge party season! Thanks to all the party hosts, and everyone involved in planning these events. Most of the slots at the parties are full, but there are still a few opportunities for those who might want to see what is still open. If you have any questions about the parties, please email us at pledgedrive@fuusn.org.
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FUUSN is once again the target of a phishing attack - that's when someone tries to obtain personal information by pretending to be someone you know. In this case, someone pretending to be Parisa has been emailing our various Google groups with the following message:
Are you less busy now? I have an assignment I need you to carry out for me today as soon as possible. I am busy with some prayer sessions, I will be glad if you can get back to this email as soon as it gets to you.
DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL. The sender is trying to gather email addresses and will reward you by sending you even more phishing attack email. Churches are common targets for phishing attacks because members of the community tend to be more trusting and eager to help.
Here's a reminder of what to look for in suspicious email:
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When in doubt, forward the email to jenise@fusn.org or call the office. If you receive any suspicious email in the next few days or weeks (or ever), please report it here. | |
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Reminder: March 15th is the Deadline to Apply for Membership
...if you want to be able to vote for our new minister. LEARN MORE.
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Upcoming Events This Week | |
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Wednesday, March 13
6-7:30pm: Bible Study for Unitarian Universalists (preregistration required) - Kitchen and Alliance Room
7:30-9pm: Zoom Pledge Party
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Thursday, March 14
6-7:30pm: RE Committee Meeting - online
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Friday, March 15
6-6:30pm: Zoom Vespers - online
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Saturday, March 16
10am - 12pm: Committee Chairs Meeting - Children's Chapel and Zoom
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FUUSN Authors Expo - After Service
During coffee hour after the service, FUUSN writers of all kinds will display copies of their work at a long table and talk with anyone interested. The format will be simple: bring a copy of your work; place it on the table, and answer questions from anyone interested during coffee hour. If you think you might want to participate, contact Curt Lamb.
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Minister of the Month Presentation - After Service
We celebrate Rev. Polly Laughland Guild as February’s Minister of the Month. After her ordination by FUUSN in 1971, our first female minister served for about two years. At Coffee Hour this Sunday, drop by the Chapel to hear Rev. Polly tell her story in an oral history video. Trading Cards will be available in the Parish Hall.
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UU Plant-Based Eating Group: Small Group Potluck Dinner - 6pm
Our next plant-based potluck dinner will be held on Sunday, March 17, at 6:00 pm. The dinners will be held in people’s homes in small groups of approximately 8 people. An invitation will be sent to those on the PBEC email list later in the month. If you are not on the email list and would like to join, please send an email to UU-Plant-Based-contact-us@googlegroups.com.
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Monday, March 18
5:30-6:30pm: All8 Arts Facilitators Meeting - online
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Tuesday, March 19
4-6pm: Living the Pledge to End Racism Workshop - online
7-9pm: Ops Council Mtg.
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Annual Pledge Drive Lunch and Community Lunch Need Your Help!
We have two great community meals coming up: the Annual Pledge Drive lunch on April 7th and a Community Lunch on April 28th. We need helpers to cook, set up, serve, and clean up. Volunteer here.
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FUUSN Oral History Project
Some years ago, FUUSN undertook an oral history video project interviewing long-time church members and staff. Interviewees included Jackie and Charlie Colby, Allan and Anne Hartman, Peter and Brenda Roberts, Roberta Humez, and Gerry Krick, among others.
The Preservation Committee recently renewed work on the project, seeking both to make the existing videos readily available for viewing and to record new interviews.
We have compiled a working list of members targeted for interviews, but it’s far from complete. Please let us know your ideas about members who might share important stories about their experiences in this community over the years.
We seek volunteers who can pitch in to help with the oral history project, including editing video. Please contact Elli Crocker Morse or Gayle Smalley.
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Represent FUUSN at the UUA General Assembly
This is a call for delegates to represent FUUSN at this year’s General Assembly (GA), which will take place virtually from Thursday June 20 through Sunday June 23, 2024. GA is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in which delegates worship, witness, learn, and make policy for the UUA. READ MORE.
This year, one particularly important issue up for a vote is the replacement of Article II of the UUA bylaws which states the association’s purpose and principles. FUUSN’s Board of Trustees is currently engaging the congregation in discussions of this issue.
As a FUUSN delegate, you will attend the general or business sessions and participate in any votes that are taken. As a delegate, the costs of your GA registration are covered by FUUSN.
For more information about GA, please see: https://www.uua.org/ga
If you are interested in becoming a FUUSN delegate, please contact Andy Dale.
| For these and ALL other volunteer opportunities, visit the Volunteer page on our website. Have a volunteer opportunity to add? Contact Jenise. | | |
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April 6 Workshop: Introduction to The Work That Reconnects, led by Demie Stathoplos
Based on the writings and work of Joanna Macy
The Work That Reconnects is a body of thought and experiential exercises and rituals that help us connect deeply with all life on the planet and reclaim our ability to think and act on behalf of ourselves and all that is. This half day workshop will explore this important framework that can enliven and empower us in this time that Joanna Macy calls The Great Turning.
Read more | Register here
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Join our FUUSN community lunch to benefit the pledge drive -
April 7, 2024
Enjoy a bowl of warm vegan chili and munch on gluten-free cornbread as you mingle with the FUUSN community. The Community Lunch will be held on Sunday, April 7th following the service in the parish hall. Cost is $5 per person. Free for kids. All proceeds benefit the FUUSN Pledge Drive.
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Sign up for Passover Seder - April 28, 2024
On April 28th, 2024 at 6:00 PM, we will be holding the FUUSN Community Passover Seder, and it will be led by Rabbi Sarah Noyovitz (AKA Rabbi Noyo), current Interim Rabbi at Temple Hillel B'nai Torah in West Roxbury. Please RSVP here and consider giving some of your time and talent.
Please Note: While this event will take place during the ministerial candidating week (April 28th through May 5th), the seder is not a part of the ministerial candidating week programs.
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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.
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First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton www.fuusn.org | 617-527-3203 | | |
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