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The Steeple Biweekly

July 25, 2004

THE STEEPLE BIWEEKLY of The First Religious Society of Newburyport,
a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association,
26 Pleasant Street, Newburyport, MA 01950
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Church Phone:  978.465.0602  -  Minister's Line:  978.465.6504  -  Fax:  978.462.0384
Web Page:  www.frsuu.org  -  E-mail:  frsuu@netway.com
The Rev. Harold E. Babcock, Minister        The Rev. Bertrand H. Steeves, Minister Emeritus
Deadline for submission for next Steeple Biweekly is Friday, August 27, at noon.
August 1, 10:30 a.m.
Yankee Homecoming Sunday
Rev. Harold Babcock
"Changing Perspectives"

My late colleague, Ed Atkinson, who ministered for many years in Cohasset, used to joke about what he called his comfortable "fur-lined rut." All of us get into ruts, fur-lined or otherwise, and a change of perspective can help us to climb out of them. Recently returned from a trip to visit our Partner Church in Transylvania and other European destinations, I have once again experienced that change of perspective that travel usually provokes. It is always good to come home, but a change of perspective can also help us to better appreciate it. In religion, too, a change of perspective can be useful. The sermon will investigate "changing perspectives." I look forward to seeing you in church!

In early August, Sabrina and I will be heading down Maine to help celebrate her sister's 50th birthday. During much of the rest of the time I will be in town performing weddings and on call in case of emergency. Vicki or John (in the church office) will know how to reach me or my ministerial back-up.

Harold Babcock
Flowers - The flowers for today's service are donated by the Dyers in memory of Karen Colby Breen.

Coffee Hour - The Women's Alliance.

Leanna Sorcar writes: "My family in Oklahoma is beckoning me home. So this summer when we go to visit we, Nemesia and I will be staying. This [FRS] is my family, too, and I will miss you all. I do love you all. Thank you for everything. We can keep in touch."
Transformations Film Series Launched: The Welcoming Congregation Committee will be hosting a Film Series in our air-conditioned Lower Meetinghouse every Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. during August exploring the theme of "Transformations" as it relates to issues of gender identity and sexual orientation.
Joys and Sorrows: Our sympathies go out to Blake Hughes on the death of his brother and to Patrice O'Brien on the death of her brother.
Hampton Falls Summer Services - 10:45 a.m.
  • August 8: Rev. Connie Sternberg
  • August 15: Rev. David Blanchard
  • August 22: Rev. Bertrand Steeves
  • August 29: Rev. Harold Babcock
  • September 5: Rev. Joseph Bassett
The church is on Route 88, just past Applecrest Farms: take Rte. 95 North to Rte. 107 East to Rte. 1 North; go through Seabrook to Hampton Falls; turn left on Rte. 88 at the center of Hampton Falls; go about 3 miles down Rte. 88 to the church, on the other side of the Rte. 95 overpass, just past Applecrest on the right. Parking is in the rear of the building.
FRS Music Director seeks web resources: Do you have some knowledge of web design? Would you be willing to take control the the 'Music' portion of the FRS website? The job would involve at most weekly updates to the website, probably only monthly updates. The actual uploading of the information would be done by the church, so this job would involve page design, collection of data, and data updates only. If you are interested, please write e-mail to the church at frsuu@netway.com.
IT'S (almost) TIME FOR THE BOOKSALE!!!
Mark the dates on your calendars now! It will be Thursday, August 5th, through Saturday, August 7th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. we would love for you to start dropping off your hardcover and paperback books (ONLY THOSE IN GOOD CONDITION PLEASE). Also specialty magazines are welcome (such as Gourmet, Antiques, National Geographic), and children's books, cookbooks and videos!! Books can be dropped off to the lower meetinghouse 'classroom D'. We are also looking for Volunteers to sign up for two- to three-hour hour shifts to set up, sell and clean up. This is going to be GREAT FUN so JOIN US! Get in touch with Ann Chase (a.chase@verizon.net) or Mindy Sheehy (mindysheehy@hotmail.com) to volunteer or to ask questions.
Call To Action -- Read Read Read!!
from the FRS Social Action Committee

The Social Action Committee has compiled a list of books on some of our favorite topics. Each committee member had the chance to suggest a few titles, and this is what we came up with. Happy Summer Reading!!
  • Regime Change Begins at Home: Freeing America from Corporate Rule by Charles Derber
  • The Better World Handbook: From Good Intentions to Everyday Actions by Ellis Jones, et al
  • How Israel Lost: The Four Questions by Richard Ben Cramer
  • Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward
  • Lesser Evil: Political Ethics in an Age of Terror by Michael Ignatieff
  • The Best Democracy Money Can Buy: The Truth About Corporate Cons, Globalization and High-Finance Fraudsters by Greg Palast
  • Perfectly Legal: The Covert Campaign to Rig Our Tax System to Benefit the Super Rich - and Cheat Everybody Else by David Cay
  • Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
  • What Kids Really Want that Money Can't Buy by Betsy Taylor
  • The Rise of the Creative Class: And How It's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life by Richard Florida
  • The Control Room: How Television Calls the Shots in Presidential Elections by Martin Plissner
Take me home!