Journeying Together
Staying safe and connected through COVID-19
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Welcome to
Journeying Together,
an email published Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday to keep our FRS members, friends and supporters apprised of what is happening within our church community in these unchartered times of COVID-19.
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Tomorrow Night!
Virtual FRS Variety Show at 7pm on Zoom
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The first-ever digital FRS Variety Show premieres Friday, June 12, 7pm, on Zoom.
Access Information:
Online
Meeting ID:
827 5374 4651
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,82753744651#
Dial by phone
+1 646 558 8656
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Missed the June 7 Live Stream Worship Service?
Watch it here:
https://bit.ly/FRS6-7
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June Ministry Theme: Celebration
"No matter how bad it may seem,
there's always something beautiful that you can find."
- Mattie Stepanek
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Sunday, June 11 - Youth Service
YouTube Premiere 10:30am
Please join us in a service created and presented by members of our Senior Youth Group, who have been meeting every Sunday via Zoom since March 14th. Every weekly Zoom meeting was a show and tell of previously hidden inner lives-- we witnessed and shared in creative expansion, hilarity, rediscovery, wrestling with grief, and relentless urges to create meaning when every day seems the same. There were moments of stumbling into joy. There was tremendous loss of motivation...a struggle to hang on to a sense of future. To sense at all. Then, a pandemic laid bare social truths about race, poverty, and privilege that for many was a call to action. Come celebrate our wonderful, creative, passionate youth who are so essential to our beloved community.
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Special Worship:
Wednesday, June 17 - United in Peace
Join Rev. Rebecca and fellow members of the Greater Newburyport Clergy Association for this special worship, "United in Peace", open to the community.
Read the flyer
We are in this Together
Interfaith clergy come together to offer hope and unity to the community. The service will include brief reflections, music and readings from various faith traditions.
Spread the word to your family and friends.
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June 21 - “A Wish for You”
You don’t want to miss our final online worship of this extraordinary church year. Making wishes is not just for children. Wish making brings hope, inspiration, and light to all who participate. Join your fellows in sharing your wishes and setting them free with the blessings of our beloved community.
What do wish for this summer, for yourself, your families and friends, and the world?
Add your wishes to our collection! You can drop them off in the drop box outside the Lower Meeting House doors or email them to
RevRebecca.Bryan@FRSUU.org
by Thursday June 18th. All wishes will be read aloud in the church service as part of our community ritual. Please include only your name if you would like it to be read aloud.
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SHARED COLLECTION
Half of June’s unpledged cash collection will go to The LGBT Asylum Task Force, in Worcester, which supports the basic human needs of LGBTQI people seeking asylum in the US. They depend on donations and volunteers to help asylum seekers. It takes approximately $1,100 per month to provide the basic necessities of shelter, food, and support for each asylum seeker. This past year they supported 45 people fleeing persecution and maintained their 100% success rate of folks granted asylum.
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FRS Worship Themes 2020-2021
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September
Blessing
October
Belonging
November
Resilience
December
Choice
January
Expectation
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February
Love
March
Action
April
Unity
May
Praise
June
Opening
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Black Lives Matter
FRS working together to end systemic racism
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UPDATE
FRS Black Lives Matter Yard Signs Are Available
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The FRS Black Lives Matter yard signs are in. If you would like one, email Vern Ellis,
vellis@ellisdesign.net
. This is a contactless pick up: your sign will be left on the side door porch. Pick up at 5 Fruit Street, Newburyport. The signs are free, but if you would like to donate to
M4BL.org
there is a container next to the signs. We will be donating for FRS.
-Vern Ellis and Susan Stone
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Opening for a Worship Associate
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We have an opening for a Worship Associate for the coming (2020-2021) church year. Worship Associates are a group of nine FRS members or friends who help Reverend Rebecca and Justin with church services. They collaborate in the planning stages and participate in the service itself, welcoming the congregation and helping to lead them through worship. If you are interested, please contact Nancy Crochiere,
ncrochiere@comcast.net
.
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Virtual Screening of Daniel Karslake's Film “For They Know Not What They Do”
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Available starting Friday, June 12
Daniel Karslake’s new film “For They Know Not What They Do” – a sequel to his previous film “For the Bible Tells Me So” – was scheduled to open in theaters across the U.S. this weekend. However, due to the Coronavirus, it is now opening on the virtual platforms of more than 70 independent film theaters across the country this Friday, June 12, including The Screening Room in Newburyport.
This powerful sequel follows up on the original film about the intersection of Christianity and homosexuality in America. The sequel includes transgender issues as well. An important, uplifting, and thoughtful film, it's been winning awards in film festivals around the world over the last year.
The Screening Room will receive 50% of the proceeds from every ticket to help them through this difficult time. To watch the film trailer and buy a virtual ticket from The Screening Room:
https://www.fortheyknow.org
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There is much happening at FRS this summer and new programs continue to be added. Peruse the new additions below and view previous published listings on our web site:
www.frsuu.org/summer-happenings
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Imagine
A weekly contemplation from Rev. Rebecca
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Join Rev. Rebecca for a ten-week series this summer exploring the concepts of imagination and paradox. Each Tuesday you will receive an email that includes a short reflection written by Rev. Rebecca, writing prompts, and other practices to consider. Over the series of ten weeks we will consider:
- Imagination as part of resilience, hope, and happiness.
- The theology and philosophy of paradox, and how we can learn to embrace it.
- What it means to imagine life during and after the pandemic, and
- Other exciting and thought provoking ways paradox is part of life.
Emails begin Tuesday, June 30 and run through Tuesday, September 8.
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Watch Parties: View Music-related Documentaries with Justin!
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Documentary Watch Party: Jacqueline Du Pré
When: Thursday, July 16, 7:30 pm
Join Director of Church Music Justin Murphy-Mancini and the FRS Choir for a documentary viewing! This installment will feature the British cellist Jacqueline Du Pré, a superstar of the 1970s before her career was ended by multiple sclerosis. This film features interviews with her collaborators and friends as well as significant archival footage of her breathtaking performances.
Documentary Watch Party: The Opera House
When: Thursday, August 20, 7:30pm
Join Director of Church Music Justin Murphy-Mancini and the FRS Choir for a documentary viewing! This installment will feature the recent PBS documentary "The Opera House," telling the story of the construction of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. This film features the great Black soprano Leontyne Price, who starred in many productions at the Met. It also discusses the destruction of San Juan Hill, a predominantly Black community that was bulldozed to make room for Lincoln Center.
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Parish Friends Always Ready to Help
Need assistance or support? Parish Friends are ready to help. Email Susan Ricker,
ParishFriendsFRS@gmail.com
, or leave a phone message with the church office, 978-465-0602, x 401.
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ACCESS FOR WEEKDAY PROGRAMMING
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IMPORTANT UPDATE:
in an effort to keep Zoom meetings secure, the previous universal ID used to access all Zoom programming has been removed and separate IDs have been assigned. Starting today, please find access information within the program listing.
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How to Join a Zoom Meeting From Your Computer
For those who are unfamiliar with Zoom, here’s a brief (less than one minute) tutorial:
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Circle of Caring: A Quiet Worship Service and Opportunity to Share
7pm–8pm on Zoom
See details above.
Access Information:
Online
Meeting ID:
812 0296 1086
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,81202961086#
Dial by phone
+1 646 558 8656
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Online Friday Book Group
When: 10-11:30am
The Friday Book Group will begin reading
The Overstory
by Richard Powers. Consider supporting Jabberwocky, a local book store, when ordering your copy. Order by email,
Jabberwockybooks@gmail.com
, or phone, 978-465-9359.
Access information:
Online
Meeting ID:
431 133 161
Dial by phone
+1 646 558 8656
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Julie Parker Amery, “Let’s Do Lunch”
When: Noon
A virtual potluck – bring your lunch and join the discussion.
Access information:
Online
Meeting ID:
992 0153 0426
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,99201530426#
Dial by phone
+1 646 558 8656
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FRS Variety Show
When: 7pm
Access Information:
Online
Meeting ID:
827 5374 4651
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,82753744651#
Dial by phone
+1 646 558 8656
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Programs from Our Members and Friends
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Coming This Summer!
Guided Relaxation with Susan Cooper
Wednesdays 10am, beginning June 24
Join FRS member and LICSW Susan Cooper for a brief period of mid-week relaxation and renewal. Each 30-minute session will include a guided visualization and reflection on questions around where we hold stress and how we can release it. You’ll also learn some relaxation techniques to use on your own. This is a drop-in program; come one time or many.
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Minister
–The Reverend Rebecca Bryan;
Affiliate Minister-Stan Barrett
;
Affiliate Minister
-Helen Murgida;
Minister Emeritus
-The Reverend Harold Babcock;
Minister Emeritus
-The Reverend Bert Steeves.
Staff: Religious Education Assistant
–Sharon Broll;
Office Administrator
-Diane Carroll;
Youth Group Coordinator
-Becky Dill;
Director of Finance and Operations
–Kristen Fehlhaber;
Director of Children's Ministry
-Mara Flynn;
Director of Church Music
-Justin Murphy-Mancini;
Youth Music Director
–Kristen Miller;
Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration
–Julie Parker Amery;
Sexton
-Don Rogers;
Director of Community Engagement
–Nicole Salemi.
Parish Board: Chair
–Karen Young;
Vice Chair-
;
Clerk
–Ann Haaser;
Treasurer
–Rich Johnson;
Finance Chair
–Kim Kenly; Maureen Adams, Juliana Beauvais, Rebecca Brodish, Micah Donahue, Vern Ellis, Judy Fayre, Art Henshaw, Jason McLin, Forrest Speck.
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The deadline for submissions is 3pm Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
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First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950
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