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The Steeple Biweekly
We're an all-age operation
September 1, 2004
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
Community Worship Service and Flower Procession
Rev. Harold Babcock
"The Treasure that Couldn't Be Kept"
Flowers - The flowers for today's service are donated by Betty Gillette, in memory of Russell W. and Rachel Gillette.
Steeple Lighting -
For the week of September 5 by Betty Creed, in memory of her husband William.Chalice Lighting - Young Church Teachers. We invite all current year 2004 - 2005 teachers to come forward at chalice lighting time and light the chalice together.For the week of September 12 in loving memory of Josephine P. and Robert W. Driver by their family and daughters, Susan and Henrietta.
How Does Your Garden Grow? Sunday, September 12, is our annual Flower Communion Service. Please bring a flower and if you can, a bunch of flowers to share. During the worship service, the congregation will place them in the arbor at the front of the church. In addition to the spiritual communion this tradition offers, it provides a festive way to mark Welcome Back Sunday.
Rev. Harold Babcock
"Is America Too Religious?"
This may seem a strange question for a sermon, but here goes anyway. Polls continue to show that the United States is one of the most religious countries in the world, at least as evidenced by attendance at religious services. In some polls, 90% of Americans claim to believe in God. We all know the influence (positive or negative, you decide) that religious groups currently exercise in social and political matters. So what do you think? Is America too religious, or is it possible that we are still not religious enough? Young Church classes begin today. After the service, we will once again caravan to Maudslay Park for a picnic (see below for more information). See you in church.
The 4th Annual FRSUU Picnic will be held at Maudslay State Park on Sunday, September 19, 2004, immediately following the church service. Everyone is welcome! Please bring a dish and beverages to share. We will provide tables for the food, a canopy to cover the food, and a limited number of folding chairs. If you want to be really comfortable, we recommend that you bring your favorite lawn chair and fun recreational items such as frisbees or kites. The raindate is Sunday, September 26, 2004. Hope to see you there!
From Your Minister
Dear Friends,Welcome back to the First Religious Society! I look forward to seeing all of you at our ingathering Sunday service on September 12. I hope that you have had a refreshing and renewing summer, as I have, and that you are returning full of energy and enthusiasm for a busy church year ahead. I am excited to begin a new year, my tenth among you - it doesn't seem possible! We have accomplished much together during those previous nine years, but of course, the work of the church is never done. Among other things, I look forward this year to the initiation of our Shared Ministry Groups program, and to the possibility of bringing our Partner Church minister, his wife, and the President of their congregation and his wife to visit us here in Newburyport. I am excited about the vitality of our music and religious education programs, and about working with our great staff and wonderful committees to create programs attractive to long-time members and newcomers alike.
Not least, I look forward to the many opportunities for spiritual growth which the new church year will provide, and to the chance to witness to the power of our liberal religious message. It is my fondest hope that our church will continue to grow and thrive as it has during the last nine years.
Of course, there will be inevitable problems and crises along the way: there always are. But with your help, I know that we can meet every challenge. Truly, it is good to be together in this enterprise we call the First Religious Society in Newburyport. Welcome home!
In the liberal spirit,
Harold Babcock
Joys and Sorrows from the Summer
Deaths - Our condolences to the relatives of the following members and friends of the First Religious Society: Eleanor Noyes Johnson, participant in the Knitting Group; A. Elizabeth "Betty" Roy, sister of Arthur Roy; Nancy Sullivan's dad. For the Joys and Sorrows portion of the August 1 worship service, Nancy wrote, "My dad passed away two weeks ago. My joy is to have had his company for 91 years. I saw him often. Now he is with me all the time."Weddings - Our congratulations and best wishes to the following members and friends who were married this summer: David Stickney and Carol Barren; Judy Murphy and Marj Taglieri; Todd Herrmann and Steven James; Carol Ann Dalto and Susan Swan.
An invitation to join the choir
Music Director Frances Burmeisterrequests the pleasure of your company
at a pot luck supper in the Parish Hall
on Thursday evening, September 9, at 6:30 p.m. o'clock
to meet present choir members as well as choir rookies and
to join a whole other part of the FRS spiritual and community experience
(Choir practice itself on Thursday is at 7:15 p.m., as it is each week.)
Take the survey! The 2004 Adult Education Survey is available for download here.
Special thanks to Kathleen Kondylas and Nathan Wilbur . . . for their help on the Building Committee with the design of our new grounds. Kathleen has already started reclaiming our lovely yard from all those weeds. She has some great ideas including bulb plantings in the fall along with special shrubs and perennials. Want to help? Call the church office at 978.465.0602.
Joys and sorrows - Betty Gillette is currently in the Morton Hospital in Taunton with pneumonia. She is coming along well but still very weak. Cards may be sent to her at her sister's: Sue Swensen, 263 Nicholas Road, Raynham, MA.02767. When she is discharged, she will stay with Sue until she feels able to return to Newbury.
Calling All Bulbs! The Building and Grounds Committee will be coordinating the planting of an assortment of bulbs this fall for spring blooming here in our new gardens. All of our friends are invited to contribute any type of bulb you would like to see in bloom - tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, etcetera. Bulbs may be dropped at the church office any weekday morning or Sunday morning until September 26.
Outdoor Coffee Hour and Committee Sunday - On Sunday, October 3, we will hold a special and festive Coffee Hour outside and invite you to stroll among the tables set up by the church's many committees and groups. This is an opportunity to learn more about the church, ask questions in an informal atmosphere, find out which committee bakes the best brownies, and if you might be eligible to join the "Retired Guys Out To Lunch" group! Please plan to attend this special event sponsored by the Membership Committee. Raindate is October 10. See you there!
Gifts and Needs
Wanted: Full-time nanny to work in home caring for three kids ages 10, 8, and 2. Responsibilities include child care, children's laundry, supervising older kids after school and full-day care of the two-year-old. Pay is negotiable; paid vacations and other benefits available. One year commitment required (and rewarded). Someone who loves kids, is responsible, has a good sense of humor would be the best candidate. Nonsmokers only. Must have own car. If interested, call the church office.Tom Stites writes: Two relentlessly competent old friends from the Kansas City UU church, now living in Auckland, New Zealand, want to spend three or four months in this area starting in December and are looking for a house-sitting opportunity and work for at least one of them. Their names are Roxanna and Michael Jones. Their plans are adjustable, but they're hoping to arrive in the states in December and go back to New Zealand in the spring or early summer. Michael has an MBA, has run several small businesses, and worked as a commercial real estate broker before he and Roxanna closed their businesses and joined the Peace Corps, serving in Saratov, Russia. Roxanna has a broad background in education, has a facility with languages, and is a world class tutor. She ran her own special-needs tutoring business in Kansas City and taught English at the University of Saratov while in the Peace Corps. Since leaving the Peace Corps, they have been living in Auckland, teaching English as a Second Language. Neither is demanding an exalted position - teaching ESL is ideal, office work is fine. If you can help with this need, please call the church office.
Book Sale a Huge Success!
 Lots of books |
The Annual FRS book sale held from Thursday through Saturday during Yankee Homecoming yielded $932.50 for the church, a record amount. Thanks are due to the co-chairs, Ann Chase and Mindy Sheehy, and to all the willing workers: Barbara Owen, Bob Thurlow, Cecilia Healy, Stan Cecil, Roger Hatch, Alex Mezey, Betty Pike, Joan Smart, Claudia Keyian, Barbara Burnim, Marion Roaf (Deparolesa), Ruth Lang, Pat Skibee, Lydia Grew, Ann Kemp, John Mercer, Tom Sheehy, Paul Healy, and Jim Chase. Very, very special thanks go out to Hannah Sheehy, Katherine Sheehy, and Ethan Chase -- the lemonade stand workers who donated 50% of their profits to the church. As a byproduct of this sale, many Yankee homecoming visitors and Newburyport natives got to see and admire the inside of the our sanctuary. |
Hello from the Worship Committee - Over the past few years, the Joys and Sorrows portion of our Worship Services has been evolving. To minimize the disruption in the flow of the worship service, we now ask you to submit your Joys and Sorrows in advance of the service. You may contact the church office anytime during the week by phone, visit, or e-mail. Or, early on Sunday morning, you can fill out a Joys and Sorrows form and give it directly to Harold by 10 am. Thank you for your ideas and your patience as we continue to find the best way to incorporate Joys and Sorrows into our Sunday worship.
News from the Pettengill House
13 Lafayette Road Salisbury, MA978-463-8801
- The Boys and Girls Club, 15 Maple Street, Salisbury, MA
- Stoneridge Properties, Inc., 77 Main Street, Amesbury, MA
- Newburyport Five Cent Savings Bank, 63 State Street, Newburyport, MA
- Shaw's Supermarket, Storey Avenue, Newburyport, MA
- Stop 'N Shop Supermarket, 100 Macy Street, Amesbury, MA
UNIVERSALIST CONFERENCE, MEDFORD, MA - The Rev. John Buehrens will give the keynote address, "Living with Soul: the Intersection of Spirituality and Social Justice," at the New Massachusetts Universalist Convention's Annual Conference on Saturday, October 2, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford, MA, 147 High Street. The day will run from 8:30 to 4:30 and include food (breakfast, lunch, snack), worship, small group reflection, workshops, and lots of good conversation. YELLOW registration fliers have been sent to all UU churches in New England. Full information also is available on line--go to www.nmuc.uua.org and click on "Annual Meeting."
Collect Some Water - As has been our tradition over the last several years, Young Church will have a water communion service on September 19th. This is a service common to Unitarian Universalist congregations. All Young Church children, youth, and teachers are asked to bring in a small sample of water from a special place visited over the summer. So, wherever your travels have taken you this summer - the beach, a lake, or the puddle in your driveway - please save some in a film canister (or similar vessel) to bring to this very special service.
for 2004
In an effort to attract new members and guests we are trying some new meeting times. Please note the time change for each meeting.
| September 14 | 12:00 noon |
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| October 12 | 12:00 noon |
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| November 9 | 10:00 a.m. |
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| December 14 | 12:00 noon |
|
 From Piri |
Hungarian Lesson, part 2 |
 To Michael |
| KEDVES MICHAEL,nagyon szepen koszonjuk a tegnapi hosszas telefonalasodat,biztos vagyok benne, hogy ez neked sokba kerult,legalabb is itt Romaniaba sokba kerul. | Dear Michael, Thank you very much for the long phone call yesterday. I am sure that was very expensive. It would have been very expensive here in Romania. |
| hogy csak kicsit tudtam beszelni veled, mert mar menni-e kellett Andreanak,de remelem, hogy majd maskor tobbet tudunk beszelni!!! | It is too bad that we just had a very short time to talk because Andrea had to go. Hopefully next time we will have more time! |
| Nagyon jo volt hallani a hangodat, mindannian nagyon orultunk. | It was very good to hear your voice |
| Eppen akkor keszultunk Zoltival a Discoba.A disco az nagyon jo volt, sokat tancoltunk es jol buliztunk. | We were getting ready to go to the disco with Zolti when you called. The disco was fun we danced a lot. |
| A tobbiek jol vannak es ok is udvozolnek benneteket. | Everybody else is fine; they send their greetings. |
| Ilonka neni, Misi bacsi, Eniko, Misike,Geza es Istvan most a keddi napon mennek kirnadulni Magyarorszagra Fodeakra, 5 napot ulnek ott,es Vasarnap jonnek haza. | Ilonka, Misi, Eniko, Geza and Istvan are going to Hungary to `Fodeak` this Tuesday. They are going to stay there five days. They are going to come home on Sunday. |
| Eva es en pedig megyunk Ivoba, ami itt van Romaniaba, Udvarhlytol, nem messze. | Eva and I are going to `Ivo`. It is a village in Romania not far from `Udvarhely`. |
| Ez egy ifjusagi tabor, amelyet kereszteny tabornak is neveznek. | This is a Youth Christian Camp. |
| Itt negy napot ulunk Csotortoktol egeszen hetfoig tart. A tobbiek pedig itthon ulneke. | We are going to stay here for four days from Thursday to Monday. The others are staying home. |
| Maskulonben, nektek, hogy telik a nyari szabadidotok. | How is your summer going? |
| Johnnal es Kate-vel pedig mi van, ok hol vannak, hol toltik a nyari syabadidojuket. | How are Kate and John? How is their summer? |
| Kerlek irj valamit roluk es ha tudsz akkor kepet is kuldj roluk | Please write about them also, and if you can please, send pictures. |
| A tobbiek majd elmennek a sorfesytivalra, ami kint a Soskuton lesz,es ami a kovetkezo hetvegen lesz,es mi nem leszunk itthon, de nem baj!!! | The others are going to a festival next weekend to `Soskut`. We are going to be on our trip and will miss the festival, but that is o.k.. |
| Na most en bucsuzom toled, minel hamarabb varom a valaszodat es a beszamolasaidat a tobbi csalad ta gokrol. | Now I am saying goodbye. I am looking forward to your answers and the reports about you and a family. |
| Nagyon hianyzasz mindannyiunknak es mar varjuk a talalkozast. | We all miss you a lot and looking forward to your next visit |
| Sok szeretettel Piroska. | Lots of love, Piroska |
