Sunday Service

December 11, 2022

10:30 a.m.

In-person service and on Zoom

"Hope is...."

Rev. Carol Sprecker speaking



Emily Dickinson wrote,

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

What is hope and why is it so important? How can it help us to turn towards healing and wholeness when so much has been broken? I hope so… 

Our special guest musician, Tim Deik on trumpet, will brighten our souls and fill the room with the exciting sound of brass. 

Sunday Service

December 18, 2022

10:30 a.m.

In-person service and on Zoom

"Take Joy"

Rev. Carol Sprecker speaking



Joy is a theme associated with Advent; a time of preparation and waiting for love to be born into the world at Christmas. We need joy. It’s essential to a full life of the spirit. It rises in us from the essence of life itself. Unlike happiness, which is tied to external conditions - joy is a choice. It’s always there, walking hand in hand with sorrow. So let’s gather for a joy-filled celebration and have some fun.

Services Zoom link

https://zoom.us/j/95156904873

Winter Solstice Celebration



December 21, 2022

6:30 p.m.

In-person service

and on Zoom

As the earth pauses on its journey before turning again towards the light and warmth of the sun, we’ll follow in the footsteps of generations who stopped in wonder to honor and celebrate the cycles of life, death and renewal. 

Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service



December 24, 2022

6:30 p.m.

In-person service and on Zoom

Rev. Carol Strecker speaking

We will welcome Christmas with lots of music and a funny story celebrating the light of love born in every child. We’ll tell the ancient story of Jesus’ humble birth and light candles reflecting the light in everyone on this silent, holy night. This is a service for all ages.

Every night a child is born is a holy night

Sophia Lyon Fahs

Unitarian Religious Educator

Listening Circle

Sunday, December 11, 2022

12 noon in the sanctuary

This is such an exciting time for Northshore Church! The Search Committee has been hard at work collating information from the Congregational Survey and Cottage Meetings for prospective ministers. But before we can move full steam ahead, there were a few comments of concern related to our past that we want to address before we can move forward. 

Specifically, there are still unresolved feelings related to the Rev. Julie Lombard’s departure.  To that end Rev. Carol has offered to facilitate a “Listening Circle” to give people an opportunity to share their stories in an open, non-judgmental and respectful manner and to talk about how to move forward together. We can’t fix the past, but we can demonstrate our care for one another by listening to each other's truths and finding ways to walk together into the future in love. 

Please join Rev. Carol and the Search Committee on December 11th at noon in the sanctuary.

Special December music events planned for NSUU (and beyond)

Guest musician Tim Deik, a busy Greater Boston trumpet player who will bring us the exciting sounds of brass on Sunday, December 11. Included in the service will be “Meditation on I Wonder as I Wander” a trio for Trumpet, Tim Deik, Trombone, Georgia Bills and Piano, Judy Putnam. A haunting, ethereal piece not to be missed.

Off site, for those who enjoy jazz, I will be playing jazz trombone at Beverly’s own historical Larcom Theater on Friday, December 16 at 7PM with a 16 player Swing Band, The Avocates. We will be playing both holiday swing tunes and jazz standards. 

The Solstice Service on Wednesday, December 21 at 6:30PM will include music new and old with Rev. Carol adding her fiddle for a “jolly wassail”. Some of our own NSUU souls will dance a Morris Sword Dance, an ancient dance featuring a magical moment not to be missed.

Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24 6:30PM, Leslie Vincent (Bob Vincent’s granddaughter) returns from the West Coast to NSUU and will treat us to a heartfelt mellow song wrapping us in the best of the season. Together we will sing many of the familiar seasonal songs as we celebrate together.

From the Board

The agenda for the NSUU Church Board of Directors meeting to be held on December 14th can be found by clicking on the following link. Dec. 14 2022 Agenda

Social Action Committee

Holiday gift-giving for refugee families

Thank you for the many contributions of money and clothing to support our refugee families. The much-needed gifts will be delivered soon by members of the Social Action Committee.

Transgender Inclusion in Congregations

The Social Action Committee would like to kick off the new year with a series of six videos and discussions on transgender issues and how we can make our church more welcoming to all people of the LGBTQ and plus community. This will be open to all church members. The series was designed by the Transforming Hearts Collective with pre-recorded videos and reflection questions and resources. The videos can be watched prior to the discussion or with a group with a discussion after. We will be looking for people to join as attendees and also as discussion group leaders. We will set aside a date in early January to discuss and prepare for this event. For more info go to: https://www.transformingheartscollective.org/online-courses