SUMMER CIRCLES SERVICES AT NSUU - 2023

For the summer we are gathering in “Summer Circles.” Circles are designed to be an abbreviated church service, centered around a group discussion on a topic of the presenter’s choice. Below is a listing of the Summer Circles.

AUGUST 20

Facilitator:  Jeri Kroll

Title: Is Tolerance Acceptable and is Acceptance Enough?

Description: This morning we will look at a Tolerance-Acceptance-Love continuum and its opposite, a Defiance-Disapproval-Tolerance continuum. We will consider what this means about our understanding of tolerance and question how we choose to be in relationship with ourselves, with each other and in life situations.

Rev. Caro will be with us at church for this Sunday's Summer Circle.

Please join us following the service for social hour.

AUGUST 27

Facilitator: Jennifer Revill

Title: The Call to Workship: Unlocking the Spirituality of Work

Description: Does work drain your soul? Is it possible to live out your spirituality in the places you work? Let's share some of our own personal and communal spiritual experiences from the past and present and explore some practices that may help create a more humane and vital quality of life at work - whatever it is we do.

September 3 - no services 

September 10 - Ingathering Water Service led by Rev. Caro Barschow

To attend the Sunday services via Zoom,

please go to the Northshore Church website nsuu.org

& click on "Join Service."

Beginnings and Endings

A Note from Rev. Caro

August will be a time of beginnings and endings at NSUU. This Sunday, Jeri Kroll will lead the Summer Circle at 10:30 and Music Director Ethan Hackett will start his first day on the staff. He’ll be at the piano during the Summer Circle to accompany hymns and is eager to meet the congregation. Ethan brings to this position great enthusiasm, as well as a high degree of musicianship as a pianist and vocalist, working professionally in the Seacoast and Boston areas. I know our singers are excited to work with him and I’m looking forward to collaborating on Sunday services. After the Summer Circle, please come meet and greet with me and Ethan in the fellowship hall. These are our beginnings with one another.

I also write with news of an ending, announced at this past Sunday’s Sharing Circle. Church Administrator Nancy Paskowski gave a letter of resignation to me and the NSUU Board Chair last Friday. Nancy's final day will be September 8th. Nancy has graciously offered to help us have a smooth transition process. Nancy has been a valued member of this church family for many years. She will be sorely missed. Nancy has been helpful and thoughtful in orienting me to the church in my first two weeks, and I continue to be grateful for that support. I’ll be working with Nancy on transition plans and the Board of Directors will be appointing an ad-hoc team responsible for the hiring process for our next church administrator. A farewell event for Nancy will be planned to mark this ending, with the date and time to be announced soon.

As we start the new church year, we’ll be moving through a series of beginnings and endings. These changes may stir up excitement, fear and grief. It can feel risky, discouraging or uncomfortable to move through change. Sometimes all three at once! I also know that change can stir up opportunity and new possibilities. My hope as your minister is that we can accompany one another through these changes with curiosity, kindness and patience. Maybe even a sense of humor from time to time?

You all have shown me in my short time at NSUU that you are very good at caring for one another. I hope and believe that we can care, cooperate, and rely on one another to navigate these beginnings and endings as a community.

In times of change, I look for wisdom in the natural world. The birch tree comes to mind this week. The birch transforms its shape according to the winds of change or the weight of winter storms. Yet, it remains true always to its essence, always a birch.

Offering you blessings of love, care and courage in these changing times.

In peace,

Rev. Caro Barschow

Upcoming Events

Sunday, 8/20 -

10:30 am Summer Circles

Meet & Greet with Minister and Music Director during fellowship hour

Wednesday, 8/23 -

7-8 pm Zoom Meet & Greet with Minister

Meet Rev. Caro in an informal online space. Come with your questions for Rev. Caro and ready to share what led you to NSUU and what you love about and what you hope for your church community. Link

From the Administrator...



As you know I will be leaving my position as Church Administrator of Northshore Church in three weeks. I am hopeful that the notice period is enough to find a replacement, and I will be of any help that I can provide to train or assist the person who will take over my position.

And so, it is with both sadness and great appreciation that I write these words to you..….

Some may know that I am a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. My parents were both lifelong UU’s and my father was a UU Minister. When Ed Lynn offered me the position at Northshore Church it was a natural fit for me, and since my youngest son (now 35 years old) was to be starting kindergarten, it was a perfect time for me to start working part-time. For these many years, I’ve always considered this little church nestled in the woods was my home-away-from-home.

I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Music Director Emerita Judy Putnam for all these years, and with Minister Emeritus Ed Lynn for 15 of those years. Since Ed Lynn’s retirement, I’ve worked with two Settled Ministers, three Interim Ministers, and three Religious Education Directors. And of course, the years working as a team with Helen Brandt and Judy Putnam were wonderful.

For the most part, these years have been rewarding and always interesting. I have had the opportunity to work with many Boards of Directors Chairs, leaders and members of various committees and teams, and members and friends of the church. There have been many transitions, and it has been with great pleasure to be alongside the individuals at Northshore Church. 

From the Board of Directors...

Hello, All

At the July 12th meeting of the Board a new policy was voted on and approved initiating a new policy and procedure for members who have key fobs to enter the building. The new policy goes into greater detail about the responsibilities of fob holders. The Administrator has been responsible to give out the keys and has maintained a current list. What is different now is that members will be asked to sign a form to indicate that they have read and agree to follow the procedures.

Please click on the below button, print and sign the form, and return it to the office as soon as possible. Copies of the form are also available at the church on the Welcome Table.

Many thanks, Susan Haas Board Chair

Save the date - it's nearly time!

Our 8th annual 100-Mile Potluck Picnic will be held at the church, 323 Locust St, Danvers, on Saturday Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. Bring food and drink sourced from within 100 miles of Danvers (more or less), and we'll have a delicious and fascinating experience. Plus, jolly company.