November 22, 2023

PLEASE NOTE: The FRS business office will be closed Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24 for the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Sunday Worship Service
• Christmas Poinsettias
• Holiday Pop-up Sale: Afghan Women's Workshop
• Looking Toward the 4th Century
• UU Wellspring Program Beginning in January
• Yellow Iris Bulbs from the FRS Garden Available
• The 2024 Daily Muse is Ready for Sale
• Second Annual Holiday Cookie Walk and Historic Church Tours
• Co-creating Joy This Holiday Season
• Native Plants Discussion and Potluck
• Snapshots from last week at the FRS
• Joy of Giving
• Newbury Food Pantry Donations
• Thank a UU
• Fellowship Programming
• Pop Up Concert
• Download the FRS November Worship and Events Calendars
• Call on Parish Friends
• Beyond Our Doors: Last Chance to Save the Pink House; Newburyport Choral Society Holiday Concert

Annual Ministry Theme: Interconnectedness

November Ministry Theme: Diversity

Sunday, November 26, 2023

10:30am, in person and streamed on YouTube

Thanksgiving Worship Service

Will be held at

First Congregational Society Unitarian Church

143 Exeter Road

Hampton Falls, NH

Join Reverend Rebecca, Justin Murphy-Mancini, and choir members as we gather at the historic First Congregational Society Unitarian Church in Hampton Falls to celebrate autumn, gratitude, and beauty. The church is located at 143 Exeter Rd, Hampton Falls, NH.

***The FRS church building will be closed on Sunday morning.***

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined.

-Henry David Thoreau

Attend on YouTube: http://bit.ly/FRSyoutube

November Shared Collection Partner – Essex County Habitat for Humanity

Large print Orders of Service, hymnals, and earphones for sound amplification are available. Please ask ushers to provide them.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS – 2023

Order your Christmas poinsettias in memory or in celebration of friends or loved ones.

Your name and dedication message will be included in the Candlelight Service and Christmas Eve programs. You may pick up your plant after the Christmas Eve Service to enjoy in your home. Cost is $25 for a large plant.

Deadline for orders is Sunday, December 3.

This is a firm deadline because we must submit the final order to the florist on Monday, December 4.

To order, please fill out the form: https://forms.office.com/r/5N6weY5PNY

Options for sending your payment:

1. Go to https://onrealm.org/frsuu/-/form/give/now and select "Holiday Flowers" from the fund dropdown menu. Please change the default dollar amount to equal the total cost of your plants.

2. Mail or drop off payment at the front office by Monday, December 4. Please make checks payable to "First Religious Society" and write "Poinsettia" in the memo field of your check.

Questions? Please contact Diane Carroll at diane.carroll@frsuu.org.

Thank you!

The Congregational Insight Team will host a series of workshops to hear your ideas and together develop strategies to realize your dreams and wishes for our beloved community.

Please plan to attend one of the following workshops:

Wednesday, December 6 from 6-8pm

Sunday, January 21 from 12-2pm

Wednesday, January 24 from 6-8pm

Sunday, January 28 from 12-2pm

Click on the black button below to register.

UU Wellspring Program Beginning in January

When: First and Third Tuesdays, 9-11am; begins January 16

Lower Meetinghouse

UU Wellspring is a spiritual deepening course for Unitarian Universalists. It is a program that explores how the foundations of our faith support us throughout our life. It offers an opportunity to connect deeply to your UU values and suggests techniques to ground your social action in spiritual practice. It provides a group of supportive seekers to share in your journey.

The UU Wellspring program has five components:

1. Daily spiritual practice
2. Small group connections
3. Connection with a spiritual companion
4. Deeper knowledge of UU history and theology through reading and responding to pre-session assignments
5. Reflection and commitment to living our values in the world

The first program in the series is Our UU Sources. This is the prerequisite for all other years of UU Wellspring. Sources offers participants an opportunity for reflection around two key areas: Unitarian Universalist history and theology, and the “big questions” that are central to our Unitarian Universalist faith, including human nature, death, joy, and forgiveness.

The Sources program will be running for the 2024 calendar year, with a break in July and August. We begin on January 16. Register by January 2 by clicking on the blue button below.

Questions? Contact Julie Parker Amery, Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration, at julie.amery@frsuu.org.

The “Daily Muse” Is Ready for Purchase!



Just in time for the holidays, the “Daily Muse” is a perfect gift for a loved one or yourself. A book of daily quotes, the Muse sits on a window ledge, shelf, or desk, where you will see it throughout the day for a regular dose of inspiration. This year’s edition includes quotes by Frederick Douglass, Harvey Milk, Maya Lin, Hafez, Maya Angelou, and hundreds more!

Each Daily Muse costs $20 and will be available for purchase by cash, check, or credit card after church beginning November 19. 

You may also purchase them in the church office, by check or cash only, from Diane Carroll, Monday-Friday, from 9am-1pm, or Julie Parker Amery, Tuesday-Wednesday, 9am-3pm.

When: Friday, December 8, 4-8pm in the Lower Meetinghouse

During the 2nd Downtown Newburyport Invitation Night

Please join us to make this year's Cookie Walk even more fun and successful than the last one! 

If you like to bake or can volunteer to help out at the event, just go to https://bit.ly/2023CookieWalkSignup or visit the Cookie Walk table after service. 

We also need cookie customers to shop our huge assortment of homemade holiday cookies, all baked with love. They are ideal gifts or perfect for your own holiday celebrations. $3 per bag of 3 cookies or buy 4 bags and get the 5th bag free. You can pick and choose among all your favorites. Spread the word!!

Co-Creating Joy this Holiday Season

First offered in the depths of the pandemic in 2020, our “Co-Creating Joy” program has been so meaningful for participants that we offer it again, for the fourth time. We invite you to participate in this program designed to spread a little joy. 

How will it work? First, indicate your interest in participating by December 15 by signing up here: bit.ly/FRSCo-CreatingJoy

You will be randomly assigned another participant for whom you will leave a small token of joy. Be creative! It could be a baked good, a photograph or piece of art you've created, a copy of a favorite poem, a book that you find especially meaningful, even found objects from nature. Please do not purchase anything extravagant. Let the gift be an expression of you!

You, in return, will be the recipient of someone else's joyful giving. All exchanges will ideally be in December—but after the holidays is a fine time, too! We can help transport if necessary. 

Questions? Contact Julie Parker Amery, Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration at julie.amery@frsuu.org.

When: November 29, 6-9 pm, Lower Meetinghouse    

Please join us for a vegetarian or vegan inspired potluck and social time from 6-7pm, followed by a presentation on Native Plants for Every Yard…and Why it is Vital to Plant Them. Our presenter, Carol Decker, is steeped in this topic and is an engaging and informative presenter. Carol was previously the Director of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and is an extraordinary naturalist and leader of Audubon bird walks. Carol is now deeply involved with West Newbury Wild and Native or WNWN.

WNWN’s mission is to encourage public and private landowners to adopt practices that promote sustainable landscapes, one yard at a time. This can be done by favoring native plantings, protecting pollinators, avoiding pesticides, and controlling invasives among many other measures. As the days shorten, it’s not too soon to think about next year’s gardens, no matter whether small or large. Please join us and prepare to be inspired!

Please register for the potluck here: https://bit.ly/GreenTeamPotluck

The presentation will be available to watch on Zoom at 7pm:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92258351919?pwd=cFFEbG5WRkwyQ2NNMEpJZG1RUm5qUT09

Meeting ID: 922 5835 1919

Passcode: 770908

Last Friday night, The FRS hosted a "Grateful Gathering" dinner and auction at the Newburyport Community Center. The evening was full of fun, food, and fundraising for our church!

Bruce McEldowney served as the auctioneer helper.

Good food was enjoyed by all... how about those fruit sundaes (see below)!

Linda Buddenhagen checks out the variety of items and experiences up for auction.

Dinner was served with all smiles from Sharon Peckham and Mara Flynn.

Paula Estey, Minnie Flanagan, and Deb Maas

Vern Ellis, our fearless Stewardship leader!

Woman also known as "Susan Cooper" and Linda Lu Burciaga

Back of the house crew busy co-creating yummy foods!

Photo: FRS parishioners set up a 'holiday boutique" for children to pick out gifts for loved ones through the Joy of Giving" program.

Joy of Giving is a program in which we at FRS donate new/unused items so that the children of Kelleher Gardens Family Housing can “shop” for free for their family members. 

This year, we are letting the kids shop for siblings as well as parents/caregivers so some toys and games are welcome. Festive boxes of holiday goodies (cookies, candies, treats) are always favorites.

Throughout November, please leave donations at the back of the sanctuary.

Please contact Nancy Crochiere at ncrochiere@comcast.net with questions.

Newbury Food Pantry Food Drive for November

The Community Outreach Group of FRS is sponsoring a food drive to benefit the Newbury Food Pantry during the month of November. Donations can be left on the right shelf at the back of the church as you exit. While the number of guests has increased significantly at the food pantry, the Greater Boston Food Bank has reduced their delivery by 20%. Your donations are gratefully appreciated especially at this time of need. Their wish list includes: hearty soups, rice and pasta sides, instant coffee, quick bread and baking mixes, hot and cold cereals, peanut butter, jelly, gluten free products, and toilet paper. Any questions, please contact Linda Buddenhagen at 978-463-0882.

Vern Ellis shares:

"Thank you to all who helped create the best auction yet at FRS! Jen Badger, Tina Benik, Bart Bracken, Joseph Brouillet, Diane Carroll, Susan Cooper, Vern Ellis, Minnie Flanagan, Mara Flynn, Tim Fountain, Barbara Garnis, Ann Haaser, Linda Harding, Bob Higgins, Marilyn Jordan, Michelle Kimball, Betsy Latham, Douglas Latham, Leslie Lawrence, Hugh Martinez, Annie Maurer, Mary McDonald, Bruce McEldowney, Julie Menin, Lea Pearson, Sharon Peckham, Ann Power, Susan Ricker, Donny Rogers, Sarah Spalding, Jim Supple, Anne Verret-Speck, Cynthia Walsh, Renee Wolf Foster, Stephen Wolf Foster and Ghlee Woodworth. Our apologies to anyone who might have been inadvertently omitted." 

Download the FRS November Worship and Events Calendars

Click on the gray buttons below:

Call on Parish Friends!

Do you know of anyone in our church community who could use a helping hand or an encouraging word? If so, please reach out to the FRS Parish Friends. For example, a member may need a ride to an appointment or appreciate a card to let them know we hold them in our thoughts. Or any other temporary support such as a family with a new baby who may welcome a meal! If so, please contact Susan Ricker at parishfriends@frsuu.org. You may also reach out to the church office at info@frsuu.org or call 978-465-0602.

Last Chance to Save the Pink House

After years of volunteer efforts to save the Plum Island Pink House from demolition, the non-profit organization Support the Pink House was recently notified by the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge that they intend on tearing it down, SOON.

Before they do, they are accepting public comments until November 30.

The meeting, November 20, at 10:30am, at PITA Hall on Plum Island, will be our last chance to speak loudly and say NO, to prevent the house from being demolished and gone forever. Please come and tell others – your voice will make a difference. 

Our children, grandchildren, and their children will thank us some day. It is history that should be restored and preserved. 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Minister–The Reverend Rebecca Bryan; Affiliate Minister–Rev. Stan Barrett; Affiliate Minister–Rev. Helen Murgida; Affiliate Minister-Rev. Jane Tuohy; Minister Emeritus–The Reverend Harold Babcock. Staff: Director of Church Operations–Rob Authier; Office Administrator–Diane Carroll; Director of Children's Ministry–Mara Flynn; Director of Church Music–Justin Murphy-Mancini; Director of Church Music Emerita–Barbara Owen; Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration–Julie Parker Amery; Sexton–Donny Rogers; Director of Congregational and Community Engagement–Cynthia Walsh. Parish Board: Chair–Jim Supple; Vice Chair–Tina Benik; Finance Chair–Renée Wolf Foster; Governance Chair–Tom Himmel; Endowment Treasurer–Kim Kenly; Finance Treasurer–Bob Higgins; Stewardship Chair–Vern Ellis; Parish Clerk–Kathy Desilets; Lori Clark, Caitlin Creps, Laurie Evans-Daly, Minnie Flanagan, Liss Larsen, Annie Maurer.

First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist | 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport MA 01950

978-465-0602 | frsuu.org