Upcoming Sunday Services

10:30am

in-person in the Sanctuary

and on Zoom

Reminder: THIS SUNDAY!

BRING A FLOWER TO SHARE

June 16, 2024

Music Sunday: Flower Communion

+ Lunch and Fellowship

Caro Barschow, Minister

Ethan Hackett, Music Director

NSUU Singing Group and Bell Choir

Holding a Flower Communion is an annual ritual that celebrates beauty, diversity, and community. This ritual entered our living tradition about 100 years ago at a Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. Bring to the Sanctuary a flower from your garden, or share from a common bouquet. This Music Sunday service will feature moving music from the Singing Group, the Bell Choir and a four-hands piano performance by Ethan Hackett and Judy Putnam.

This will be our Music Director Ethan Hackett's final Sunday at NSUU. We'll send him off with a fellowship lunch, with lemonade and desserts! Thank you to our Singing Group for the lunch and Coffee Hosts for the refreshments and dessert.

*This will be NSUU's final in-person/zoom service prior to a summer break.

June 23, 2024

Zoom Only

"Weaving Our Lives"

Worship from UUA General Assembly

Rev. Molly Housh Gordon, Worship Leader

of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, MO

Rev. Caro will lead a NSUU Cares and Celebrations

during this special Zoom only service

We are all tangled up together in a great web of life that is woven with beauty and hardship, love and loss, thriving and struggle. How do we tend well to the weaving so that all of us are held in care?

Rev. Molly Housh Gordon will be joined by Violet Vonder Haar, Jamila Bachelder, and a host of other ministers from around the US. Musicians include Natasha Steinmacher, Lea Morris, Francisco Ruiz; beheld, and Paul Winchester. Choirs from 8 churches, including First Parish UU in Lexington, MA.

*This will be NSUU's final Zoom service prior to a summer break.

Summer Services Schedule

There will be no weekly Sunday services June 30-July 28.

Sunday, August 4th

Midsummer Service 10:30am led by Religious Services Commmittee

There will be no Sunday services Aug 11-Sept 1.

Weekly Sunday services will resume on September 8.



Church Announcements

A Send Off for Ethan

This Sunday will be Music Director Ethan Hackett's final Sunday at NSUU. We will miss him dearly! He begins at Boston Conservatory in the fall as a full-time student and we wish him every success. We hope to have him back as a guest musician soon.

Let's send him off on Sunday 6/16 with a fellowship lunch, with lemonade and desserts. Thank you to our Singing Group for the lunch and Coffee Hosts for the refreshments and dessert.

A Personal Note from Ethan:

This past year has been an enormous gift, and though I will not be returning next year as music director, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who made this year so impactful. Thank you to Judy Putnam, your guidance was the foundation of this year and will stay with me forever. Thank you to Andrea Kaiser, Rev. Caro, and each member of the Religious Services Committee, for all your leadership and support. Lastly, thank you to every member of the Singing Group for welcoming me with open arms, and being there for me on every step of the way. I will miss you all dearly next year. - Ethan

Summer Office Coverage

As previously announced, Ariana LaMey-Colón moved on from her position as Church Administrator at the end of May. We wish her the best. A team of wonderful volunteers will staff the office through the summer. Thank you! A Personnel Committee was formed by the Board to hire for our open positions.

Summer Office Volunteers

Please call or email the church office with inquiries about church matters. You can contact the office as usual at nsuu@verizon.net or 978-774-7582.

• Building/rental management
• Rentals - Susan Haas
• Contractors, Supplies, Repairs - Hal Morse/Bob Ferris
• Cleaning - contract cleaner, every 2 weeks

• Office Administration
• Postal mail - Lynette Gray
• Calendar and Zoom Meetings - Bo Batty
• Newsletter - weekly newsletter is on break until September
• Phone messages - Susan Haas
• Emails - Maureen Dunham

• Financial Management
• Deposits - Lynette Gray
• Payments - Jason Beringer and Barb Reeder
• Payroll/Benefits - Rev. Caro 

Many thanks to our Buildings and Grounds volunteers who are re-stocking paper goods and taking out the trash to provide Sexton coverage. On Saturdays, a contract cleaner will be in the building to sweep and wash the floors, as well as clean the restroom facilities.

General Assembly is June 20-23

Each June, Unitarian Universalist Association holds a national conference called General Assembly. This year, the conference will take place exclusively online . Registration and program schedule available now.

Your GA Delegates Seek Feedback

Many thanks to Judy Putnam and Marty Langlois who volunteered to represent NSUU at the General Assembly business meetings. As Delegates, they will vote on the Article II Bylaws changes and other denominational business. If you'd like to share your input on Article II Bylaws changes, please contact Judy at judeputnam@icloud.com and Marty at langloismartha@gmail.com . You can also offer feedback at the workshop on June 9th. For more information on the proposed changes: Article II Study Commission

Office Notes

We are currently in a transitional phase for our pledges, as we continue to collect payments for the current year while also initiating the process for the new pledge year. To ensure clarity and smooth processing, I kindly request that individuals sending in their pledge payments via check specify in the memo:

1. That it's intended for a pledge payment, and
2. Which pledge year the payment corresponds to.

Example: Pledge 2024-25, or Pledge 2023-24



Providing this information in the memo facilitates accurate depositing of payments into the correct account. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

From the Board of Directors

Minutes from April 17, 2024

Board of Directors Meeting -

click link below

From the Social Action Committee

North Shore Pride Parade and Festival

Saturday, June 22, 2024

noon-2pm

Several NSUUers will be marching in the parade holding our banner. We will be meeting at Shetland Park in Salem at 11:45 am to start the parade. (Leave time to find parking).  We would love to have you join us. It’s a big and exciting event.  Email Cheryl for more information at cbferris@gmail.com 

UU Mass Action

NSUU has a partnership with UU Mass Action, a statewide UU advocacy group. They help us to put our values into action. You can get involved by joining a team, showing up for rallies and events, and supporting legislation actions in person and on line.  We urge you to sign up to get their newsletters.

• Monthly UU Action Hours: Tuesday June 25 RSVP
• Get involved with our teams!
• Sign up for our June UU Immigrant Justice Team meeting (June 11, 12-1pm)
• Flyer
• RSVP 
• Get on our list: Immigrant Justice Team
• Join our Indigenous Rights Solidarity Team 
• Sign up here for the list
• Next Meeting: Monday, June 24 from 7-8pm
• Join our Climate team!
• Virtual Climate Legislative Update! June 10, 7pm. RSVP 
• Join the virtual advocacy Day Thursday, June 20th, 2024! RSVP
• Join your Regional Team’s email list!
• UU Mass Action’s Ceasefire gatherings .Wednesday, June 5, 5-6PM. Statement on Ceasefire here. 
• Become a member of UU Mass Action and support our work with a gift! Contributions of all sizes make you a member of UU Mass Action. We have 150+ members of UU Mass Action - join us! We are working to raise $8k before the end of June!
• NSUU is a UU Mass Action Partner Congregation. This is a new program - email Tali if you want to learn more! tsmookler@uumassaction.org

From the Green Sanctuary

Danvers Styrofoam Ban Passes ! ! !

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” – Margaret Mead (used with permission)

Margaret Mead’s words were never so true as at the 2024 Danvers Town Meeting.  After a year and a half of steady work, Bob Gamer and Linda Leonard (supported by other Green Sanctuary members) brought an article to the Town Meeting agenda to ban Styrofoam in Danvers food establishments.  The article passed on a voice vote!  This follows the successful plastic bag ban that we worked on several years ago, and proves that we CAN make a difference.

For a video of the 11-minute debate and passage, click here

For more details, click here

P. S. an amendment to the article made an exception for meat counters, which may continue using Styrofoam trays for the time being.  Other grocery and restaurant use of Styrofoam containers, however, will be prohibited in Danvers.

From the Art Committee

New Exhibit!

Merrimack Valley Quilters Guild

The Merrimack Valley Quilters Guild was formed in the summer of 1980 to encourage and develop the art of quilting. Members come from all age groups and live in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire towns in the Merrimack Valley. Seven quilters are exhibiting 22 quilts during the months of June and July.

Local Announcements

ESSEX HARMONY CONCERT

June 16, 2024 2PM

Click on the Concert Program for a full-sized version. This group features NSUU members. Location: Maple Street Church in Danvers.

Keeping Our Raptors Poison Free

Tuesday, June 18, 7:00—8:00 PM in the Gordon Room

Peabody Institute Library of Danvers

15 Sylvan Street, Danvers, MA, 01923

Have you noticed any plastic poison bait boxes in your neighborhood?  

Learn about the ecological role of birds of prey in urban and wild areas and 

about the danger they face from the widespread use of rat poison, the 

far-reaching consequences of rodenticides (SGARs), and safe and effective 

alternatives to implement that protect our food chain from poison. 

Join us as we host environmentalist Gary Menin, Sr to discuss this important topic!

Gary Menin, Sr. is a retired environmental compliance manager for General Electric, serves as a Talkin' Birds ambassador, and is the former director of the 

Massachusetts chapter of RATS: Raptors are the Solution.

Sign up here: https://danverslibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/keeping-our-raptors-poison-free

Minister’s Schedule

Rev. Caro Barschow weekly schedule:

Sunday-Thursday, 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 June Week off is Mon 6/24- Sun 6/30

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, she is available for pastoral emergencies - please call cell phone.

Please note: Rev. Caro will take vacation and study leave during the month of July. They will be available for pastoral emergencies, by calling their cell phone.

How to be in touch:

Email: rev.barschow@gmail.com

Cell phone: 978-473-7980

Church Administrator’s Schedule

There will be no posted offices hours for July and August.

Please email or call for assistance.

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.

Photo credit: Matt Anderson on Unsplash