This Sunday many Unitarian Universalist Congregations will be celebrating "United Nations Sunday." For many years the Unitarian Universalist Association has maintained an office at the U.N. in order to have a voice there as well as to respond to our sixth Unitarian Universalist principle: "the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all." This year we will re-join the celebration. In recent years the United Nations has come under increasing criticism from United States administrations. Yet what other body currently exists to mediate international conflicts? Is there still a role for the United Nations? Has it outlived its early promise, or is that promise yet to be realized? The sermon will investigate.

Steeple Lighting - The steeple lighting this week is donated by Linda, Bob and Will Fuller in loving memory of Bob's grandmother, Frances Bryant Fuller, and Linda's grandmother, Gladys Gammon Lindquist.

Coffee Hour - Deb Steeves and Leslie Lawrence

Chalice Lighting - Pat Bashford, the newest member of the Worship Committee.

"Good morning, Blues," Jimmy Rushing sings, "Blues, How do you do?" Then, in classic blues form, the lyrics repeat the question. "Good morning Blues; Blues, how do you do?" Then the answer comes back: "Babe, I feel all right," Blues says, "but I come to worry you." Who was Rushing talking to? Who, or what, is Blues? Several FRS people, young and not so young, will share their gift of music with us in today's service. Today's music will be rich with the spirit, and the service rich with blues theology.

Steeple Lighting - The steeple lighting this week is donated in remembrance of D'Arcy Van Bokkelen by his wife, Louise, and his children, James and Katrina.

Coffee Hour - Merryl and Nathan Wilbur

Chalice Lighting - Members of our choir

Approximately 60 sugar skulls need to be assembled for use in Young Church on October 31. There are three different stages that you can help with: molding the front and back halves of the skulls (using the provided molds), hollowing out the centers of the halves, or attaching the front halves to the back halves with heavy-duty frosting. Messy? Probably. Fun? Undoubtedly. A chance to do something you'd never imagined yourself doing? Absolutely!

If you can volunteer for a short amount of time on Wednesday, Oct. 27 (morning or evening) or Thursday, October 28 (morning or afternoon), please contact me at the church. I'll treat you to coffee and snacks (sugar, anyone?) and my undying gratitude.

MAKE A GIFT OF MUSIC TO OUR PARTNER CHURCH

I also learned of, and made contact with, an unique charitable foundation, the Swiss Foundation for Organs in Romania (SSOR). This foundation subsidizes a workshop in Harman, Transylvania, directed by two Swiss master organ-builders, that trains young Romanians (most of whom are Transylvanians) in organ-building and restoration. Personnel from this workshop have already restored two Transylvanian organs, and collaborated with a German builder in restoring the Cathedral organ in Brasov. When I contacted them, they became very interested in the Ujszekely project, and made a trip there to study and evaluate the organ - being suitably entertained with food and palinka by Zsolt Jakab and other church people!

When they returned, they sent a proposal for completely restoring the organ in their Harman workshop. The cost of the labor will be covered under the auspices of the SSOR, but there will be an additional cost of $8,000 to cover such things as materials, transportation, and sending the metal pipes (which are in bad condition) to a pipemaker for repairs. Also included is an electric blower, to be imported from Switzerland. When I showed the proposal to two American organ builders, they estimated that the cost of such a project in this country would be between $40,000 and $50,000. This is because the major expense in a restoration is for labor, which in this case will be paid for by the SSOR as part of their training program. Organ builder Fritz Noack of Georgetown has been to Harman and has seen the quality of the work done there, and strongly endorses this project. In fact, one of the two directors of the Harman workshop spent a summer working for him a few years ago. Small world!

I have taken responsibility for raising the $8,000 needed, about a third of which has already been raised by donations and pledges from T-10 members and members of the Organ Historical Society (which also endorses the project). I am thus appealing to the music-loving members and friends of FRS to help raise the remainder. Checks in any amount should be made out to me with "SSOR" in the left-hand corner and either mailed to me at 28 Jefferson St., Newburyport, or left in the church office in an envelope with my name. They will be collated so that a lump-sum payment can be sent from the Institution for Savings. Please also leave me your email address, and I will forward updates on the project. The organ will be removed from the church in October, restored in the Harman workshop during the winter, and returned in "like-new" condition in the spring of 2005. Some of us hope to return to Ujszekely next summer to celebrate!

Memorial Garden Donations

• Nancy Whilton for her donation to the gardens honoring Dorothy Keefe, Mabel Keefe and 'Bud' Whilton
• Claudia Keyian for her donation of an azalea in loving memory of her mother, Nancy Vanderbilt Keyian
• Jean Dezarn for her donation.
• Mr. and Mrs. Richard Langworthy for their donation to the Landscaping Fund in memory of Mr. Claude Langworthy and Mr. and Mrs. Irving Sevush.
• The Women's Alliance for their generous donation in memory of Laurence Hayward and of the Alliance members who have passed away.
• Deborah Atwood-York for her donation in loving memory of Paul Edward York.
• Anne White for her donation of daffodil bulbs

Loose Plate Update - For the three Sundays in September, the FRS loose plate giving allowed for a donation of $285.43 for the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley. Look for our giving updates each month, and thank you!

The organization we are supporting with one third of our loose cash from each week's offering in October is the YWCA of Newburyport. It is one of the oldest and largest multicultural women's organizations in the world. Its goal is to eliminate racism and empower women. The Newburyport Y serves over 30,000 people in our community each year, offering financial assistance, literacy programs, affordable child care, low-income housing, racial justice programs, and programs specifically for girls and families. The YWCA also offers Breast and Cervical Cancer Education and Outreach for the underinsured or uninsured in Greater Newburyport, as well as support, resources, and fitness opportunities for Seniors. Our church's contributions in October will help support the Y's daily operations. For more information about the Newburyport YWCA visit www.ywcanewburyport.org or call 978.465.0981.

The Social Action Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, November 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the lower meetinghouse. We welcome and encourage new members to come find out what this committee is all about! Please address any questions to Liss Campbell at lisscampbell@earthlink.net.

From the FRS Staff: Director of Religious Educaiton (DRE), Julie Parker Amery, has been accepted into the UUA Religious Education Credentialing Program. She is seeking status in the program as a Credentialed Religious Educator, Master Level. We hope you will join us in celebrating Julie as she undertakes this significant achievement, and we know that our congregation will be further enriched by her leadership in Religious Education.

Long-time FRS Parishioner Mary Whiting died last week after a long illness. Our condolences go out to her family.

FRS Member Marjorie Warner, Jim Warner's mother, died last week; a service of remembrance was held at the FRS on Friday, October 15. Our condolences go out to Jim and Nancy Warner, and their family.

Rick Anderson's mother, Inge Anderson, died on Monday, October 18. Our condolences go out to Rick.

Food Drive - The Human Services Committee is pleased to announce the first call for donations for this year's annual Food Drive. Collections will be during November for delivery to the food bank run by the Community Service of Newburyport by early December. Any types of non-perishable food items are welcome, but supplies of peanut butter & jelly, coffee, crackers, spaghetti sauce, spam, corned beef, beef stew, canned fruit, canned meat, hamburger helper, tuna helper, and tuna fish are running low and needed. Donations of these specific items would help replemish their shelves for the coming holiday period. Basic store brand products are appreciated, you do not need to buy expensive items. Donations may be left at the table in the vestibule of the church or in the church office . Bruce Esposito has offered to pick up any donations you prefer not to carry to church, and has also offered to go shopping for you. Contact Bruce at 462-6458 if you require any further information, or assistance.

Help Wanted - The Human Services Committee needs someone to help with the UUSC Guest at Your Table program this November - January (kick off November 28th). Work involves making an announcement in either Big Church or Young church on November 28th and handing out boxes and envelopes after church that day; accepting donations after church at coffee hour in December (you don't need to be there every week); and helping to count the money in early January. Please call Alicia Raddatz at 603-382-1521.

New Human Services Bulletin Board - Human Services now shares a bulletin board with RE in Parish Hall. Check it out for volunteer and donation opportunities as well as upcoming events. This month, look for information on the UU-United Nations Office.

Following the ideas in Harold Babcock's sermon of September 26, you will, in this workshop, identify four windows of opportunity to take time for yourself and choose how you will use that reclaimed time. For further information and inspiration, go to the website of the Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy at Cornell University (www.timeday.org) or read Harold Babcock's sermon "Taking Back Your Time."

There have been very few sign-ups for this program. If you want to participate, call the church office at 978.465.0602 and leave a message at extension 401. Deadline for signups is noon on Wednesday, October 27.

Nancy McCarthy invites FRS members to join her Gentle Stretching for Seniors class, at her studio at The Tannery, Tuesdays at 10:15 - 11:00 a.m. The four-session program will cost FRS members $20.00, and they will not have to pay the usual price to join Nancy's studio. To join in, call Vicki Dyer at the church office (978.465.0602) by November 12.

A six-week meditation class and Buddhism seminar.

Mass Bay District's biggest annual event will be even bigger this year as it combines with the RE Team's annual Pot of Gold conference. Come join in a day where UU minister and Meadville Lombard educator John Tolley together with experienced practitioners of the visual arts, drama, music, and dance will share insights and provide opportunities to participate in this broader form of communication. Total Cost: $35 adults / $10 students and youth,

Workshops:

• Movement in Body and Soul with Silvia Behrend

• 'The Imperfect Is Our Paradise': Poetry, Pondering, & Perplexity Imagination with Mark Burrows

• Altered Books for Altered Lives: Mapping Your Own Path with Art with Carole Fontaine

• Watch: Engaging Congregations through Playback Theatre with Darrick Jackson

• Finding Your Mission in Life through Art with Jeanne Lloyd & Laura Cavicchio

• Writing From the Earth with Nita Penfold

• The Art and Ministry of Storytelling: a storytelling presentation by Lani Peterson

• Family and Personal Altars: Creating sacred space in the home with Anne Principe

• Sound and Soul with Ed Thompson

• Creative Dramatics in Ministry with John Tolley

The island of Hispaniola, consisting of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, has already suffered devastation from floods in May of this year that killed 2,000 people and displaced several thousand.

We are deeply distressed at the death and destruction cause by Hurricane Jeanne. Although UUSC is not currently working in Haiti, we are accepting donations to be used for humanitarian aid.

What you can do: If you wish to contribute to the relief effort in Haiti, please make a check payable to the Haiti Relief Fund and mail it to: Haiti Relief Fund, UUSC, P.O. Box 845259, Boston, MA 02284-5259. Or donate online here.

UUSC will channel donations through the Lambi Fund of Haiti, an organization already operating in Haiti on programs of social and economic empowerment. In response to the hurricane damage, the organization is working with grassroots communities directly in the affected area around the city of Gonaives for emergency relief.

This choice reflects UUSC's confidence that donations will benefit hard-to-reach communities and be administered by those who have demonstrated a commitment to and are working with the country's poorest. The choice also reflects UUSC's past programs of working with the poor in Haiti.

The Lambi Fund is actively involved in providing for immediate needs such as medicine, food, potable water, tents and blankets, and for building materials to help families start the rebuilding process for the thousands of homes that have been destroyed or damaged by the hurricane. They are also equally committed to supporting the democratic movement in Haiti.

Please do consider changing over. E-mail us at vdyer@frsuu.org or call 978.465.0602.

We also need volunteer, or volunteers, to help with the church's archival photography collection. This job would involve sorting, identifying, cataloging and archiving our rich collection of photographs. Please call the church office if you can help.