Upcoming Sunday Services

10:30am

in-person in the Sanctuary

and on Zoom (link below)

February 18

ON BONDAGE AND FREEDOM

Rev. Caro Barschow, Ethan Hackett,

Judy Putnam, Jill Aubin Updegraph

The Legacy Museum opened in 2018 in Montgomery, Alabama. It tells a comprehensive history of the destructive violence that shaped our nation, from the slave trade, to the era of Jim Crow and racial terror lynchings, to our current mass incarceration crisis. It was founded by Montgomery's Equal Justice Initiative as a counterpart to the National Memorial to Peace and Justice, which is dedicated to the memory of the victims of racial terror lynching. Today’s speakers each traveled to Montgomery in 2023 to visit these sites. They bring to you stories and reflections from the experience.

February 25

SEARCHING FOR SPIRITUAL PEACE

Andrea Kaiser, Speaker

Sol y Canto, Guest Musicians

Rosi Amador and Brian Amador of Sol y Canto, a nationally-touring and Boston Music Award winning Pan-Latin ensemble.

To attend services via Zoom,

please go to the Northshore Church website nsuu.org

& click on "Join Service."

 Religious Services Notes

On February 4th, guest musician Akili Jamal Haynes offered original vocal/guitar compositions to accompany the service titled “On Repentance and Repair.” To learn more about his musical and artistic endeavors, please visit his website World of Chibuzo.

Our Caring Community

Funeral Service for Marj Lynn



There will be a funeral service for beloved church member Marj Lynn on Saturday, February 17th at 1pm. The funeral service will be held at The First Religious Society of Newburyport, Unitarian Universalist, followed by a Celebration of Life at the nearby Steeple Hall at Mission Oak Grill.

There will be a live Zoom livestream of the service:

Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 939 7031 4509 / Passcode: 078450

A special note from Rev. Edwin Lynn, NSUU Minister Emeritus:

Marj Lynn died in her sleep last week at Kaplan House hospice after a long illness with acute leukemia. Marj was an active member of our church, but is best known in Newburyport, where she was Executive Director of the YWCA for 22 years. She also provided leadership to numerous community organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Harbor Schools. I called her ‘Mrs. Newburyport’ and was known in Newburyport not as ‘Edwin Lynn’, but as ‘Marj’s husband’. We were married for 65 years. I want to thank everyone for the many words of support and cards we have received. She will be missed by her many friends. 

Church Announcements



New Date Announced!

Guest Artists Jo-Mé Dance Theatre

and Special Youth Master Class

March 3rd

Founded in 2013, by two of Boston’s leading professional black dancers, Jo-Mé Dance Theatre cultivates young dancers in the art of contemporary ballet, leading to both avocational and professional careers in contemporary dance. 

Both Jo-Mé Dance Theatre and Jo-Me Dance 2 companies will perform pieces from their repertoire, including co-director Joe González’s choreography, during the Sunday service on the theme of “love in motion,” led by Rev. Caro Barschow. A reception will take place following the service.

Following the service and reception, Jo-Mé dancers will conduct master classes from 1 to 2:30 pm. Both the service and master classes are open to the public. Young dancers ages 8-18 interested in participating in the classes need only submit their names, age and dance level in order to be assigned a group. Adults are welcome to watch the master classes.

NSUU thanks the Danvers Arts Council who awarded a grant to support these special guest artists to be part of the Sunday service and host the youth master classes.

Can you help get the word out about this fantastic event? Please invite your friends and neighbors to the service! If you'd like to help out ahead with publicity, or volunteer on the day of the event to support the young dancers, workshop, please contact Hal Morse of the Outreach Team.

To register a dancer, please email the office at nsuu@verizon.net.

Office Announcement



We have a new mailbox outside the office! Please put any checks, pledges or other important envelopes in the mailbox rather than in any of file folders. Thank you, Ariana

From the Board of Directors

Update from the Board:

Respiratory Illnesses

The Board is monitoring the rates of respiratory infections which include COVID, RSV and seasonal flu. According to statistics available on the Mass.gov website, the North Shore is currently experiencing a “ high” rate of these infections, though not the highest rate currently.

During the Winter months when doors and windows are closed, it is particularly important that we protect ourselves and others as we gather together on Sundays. It is possible to be unknowingly infectious with Covid prior to testing positive. Many of us have friends or family members who have had Covid or other respiratory illnesses in recent days.

While we are not moving to a mask mandate for church attendance currently, we strongly urge everyone to wear a mask if you have been in large social gatherings. Some of us have begun to wear masks again when going out as a general precaution.

Wearing a mask in church is a small inconvenience compared to being sick or unknowingly infecting a fellow church member. We ask that you consider this measure as a way of caring for each other.

The Board will continue to monitor rates of infection, and will update our guidance as necessary, as we move through the Winter months.

The NSUU Board of Directors

Minutes from January 10, 2024

Board of Directors Meeting -

click link below

From the Social Action Committee

On Repentance and Repair - Next Steps

Ten church members and friends joined in the book discussion about On Repentance and Repair by Danya Ruttenberg, these past two Sundays. Rev. Caro preached about the book at the February 4th service. The message that we takeaway is that apology is not the same as repair. The book’s author, Rabbi Ruttenberg, proposed a process to take responsibility for repair. The 5 steps are based on the teachings of 12th century Jewish philosopher Maimonides. Here are the steps:

1. Own the harm of the actions
2. Start to change - through self-reflection and asking for help
3. Accept the consequences
4. Apologize (if and when it doesn’t lead to further harm)
5. When faced with a similar choice, make a different choice

To further explore this topic, you might like to view an interview with Rabbi Ruttenberg. She spoke with Unitarian Universalists with the Church of the Larger Fellowship in September 2023. 

Many thanks to Reverend Caro for sponsoring the recent book discussion on the common read, “On Repentance and Repair”.  Thanks to Julie O’Meara for setting up and overseeing the lunch provided.

NSUU Legislative Advocacy Training

Sunday, March 10 from 12-2 pm

Claire Karl Muller of UU Mass Action will provide a training on legislative advocacy to help us in being more active and supporting the principals and values near and dear to us. Claire will help us understand the legislative process in our state better and suggest ways we can speak up and take action. Taking action can be as simple as signing a petition, calling your state rep or senator or joining UU Mass Action on Advocacy Day (a virtual event). Claire will discuss with us current issues and bills that UU Mass Action is supporting. 

To reserve your spot, please contact Cheryl Ferris @ 978-660-7104 or cbferris@gmail.com

Danvers Food Pantry and Operation Troop Support



We continue to collect items for these important causes. Place your donations in the baskets located in the Fellowship Hall. Thanks for your on-going support.

Any questions: Call Barbara at 978-729-5422.

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

From the Green Sanctuary

Danvers Styrofoam Ban - One Step Closer

The Danvers Select Board has voted 5-0 in support of a ban on the use of styrofoam for restaurant take-out cartons. The Town Manager, Steve Bartha, will prepare a warrant on the styrofoam ban to put before theTown Meeting this spring for a vote.

The Select Board heard a compelling presentation by Bob Gamer and Linda Leonard, members of the UU Church environmental action group, Green Sanctuary. Bob and Linda had canvassed the Danvers eateries last summer, going door to door, polling them on the use of styrofoam takeout cartons. They found that most don’t use styrofoam any more, or would be happy to change to combustible cartons. Bob and Linda documented the results of their survey and gave them to the Select Board members in advance of the meeting. 

The presentation to the Select Board highlighted the health risks of the use of styrofoam and the damages to the environment. This Danvers Select Board vote has to be seen as a big victory for environmentalists who are acting in the interests of health and the protection of our habitat.

Read more about the decision in the Danvers Patch article here

From the Art Committee

Artist Exhibit - Feb/Mar 2024

Before the Storm by Dan Abenaim (above) and Big Red by Mary Lynch (below)

The Lynnfield Art Guild, a vibrant and diverse community of artists, artisans and art explorers, is exhibiting during the months of Feb & March. The exhibit features 40 pieces of fine art and photography by 13 Guild members, representing a variety of styles, mediums and themes.

An artists’ reception is planned for Sun Feb 25th from 12-2 pm after the service. All church members and the public are welcome to attend.

The following artists will be exhibiting with examples of their art:

Beth Aaronson - watercolor

Dan Abenaim - oil on canvas

John Abisrama - photography

Ann Bowen - watercolor, pastel, acrylic

Mary Connor - pastel

Beverly Cook - fabric

Sheila Falco - watercolor, mixed media

Catherine Grassello - photography

Kendall Inglese - acrylic with pen + ink

Mary Lynch - watercolor

Greg Pronevitz - photography, acrylic on canvas

Frank Tomasello - acrylic

Community Partner Events

ECCO Organizing Hub

Announcing Essex County Community Organization's new Organizing Hub program. The Organizing Hub will gather people from all around the North Shore on the first Tuesday of each month to learn together from seasoned coaches how to organize for change from start to finish. 

All are welcome, whether you’ve been involved with ECCO for many years or have never attended an event. For more information, email Colette Lima (colette@eccoaction.org). 

When: Tuesday, March 5th, 6-8:30pm, and the first Tuesday of each month through May

Where: First Church in Swampscott. 40 Monument Ave. Swampscott, MA 01907

What: Join us to connect, eat delicious food, and learn how to make your team bigger and more powerful. Dinner and childcare provided. Stipends available for low-income attendees!

RSVP: http://bit.ly/ecco-2-6-24 

Poor People’s Campaign - National Day of Action

March 2nd, 9a-1p

54th Regiment Memorial in Boston Common

We cannot slide quietly into the dark! That’s why Massachusetts is joining 30 states across the nation who will be holding simultaneous assemblies and marches at their state capitals. We are going to raise our voices and to make our voter demands. Our state capitals are not just symbolic; they are the policy hubs whose decisions directly impact people facing systemic poverty and the interlocking injustices. Join with us, poor people, clergy and faith leaders, and advocates in building an action that will send a message to the legislators responsible for the unrelenting policy violence against the 2,342,000 poor and low-income people in our state that we won’t be silent anymore.

RSVP and more info. 

Local Announcements

Mystic Gospel 2024

Come to see our very own Jill Aubin Updegraph sing in the gospel concert this February 23 @ 7:30pm at the Cary Hall in Lexington. She will also be singing her own solo for Something Inside So Strong in the Kingdom Choir version.

Purchase your tickets here

Minister’s Schedule

Rev. Caro Barschow weekly schedule:

Sunday-Thursday and occasional Saturdays

Monday is a writing/study day

Friday is a Sabbath day 

Minister’s Office Hours:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, by appointment (in-person or Zoom) 

Please call or email Rev. Caro directly to make an appointment.

Rev. Caro’s February week off is February 20-27.



Rev. Caro works full-time 3 weeks a month and takes 1 week off, to fulfill NSUU’s 3/4 time contract. During this time, Rev. Caro is available for pastoral emergencies - please call them directly by cell phone.

How to be in touch:

Email: rev.barschow@gmail.com

Cell phone: 978-473-7980

Church Administrator’s Schedule

Ariana LaMey-Colon works in the office Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm. Please call or email to schedule a meeting beforehand as office hours can vary from time to time.

How to be in touch

Email: nsuu@verizon.net

Office phone: 978-774-7582

Online Calendar

The NSUU website features an up-to-date calendar of church activities. Follow the link to view the calendar. On the calendar page, hover your mouse over the title of the event to find out the time and location.

Good Things Are Happening

Please contribute announcements by Wednesday at noon for NSUU's weekly e-newsletter "Good Things Are Happening." You can do so by sending an email with the announcement to nsuu@verizon.net. Please put in the subject line "For Good Things Are Happening." Please indicate how long you would like the announcement to appear and a contact email or phone number for readers to get more information.

Deadline: Wednesday at noon