Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting this week is donated by Anne Laurence Dodge and Chuck Kennedy.

Chalice Lighters: Pat and Richard Ouellette.

Coffee Hour: The FRS Hospitality Committee.

Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting this week is donated In memory of Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Little and Mr. and Mrs. H. Greenleaf Noyes by Edmund G. Noyes and Leon L. Noyes.

Social Action Term: Do you have an idea for a great social service project? The Religious Education Committee is currently planning our social action term, which takes place during the last four weeks of the church year. We plan to offer four or five projects for children and youth to choose from and work on from week to week. If you have an idea for something, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact me at the church.

A Notice for Parents of Fourth Graders: On March 6, the fourth grade class will hear the story of "Moses and the Bulrushes." Since the story describes how Moses is given up by his Hebrew mother and adopted by the Egyptian Pharaoh's daughter, there will be some discussion about adoption (emphasizing the love of both his biological and adoptive mothers). If this is a sensitive issue for your child, please do not hesitate to contact me for further information.

  
Scenes from last year's Variety Show

Visitor Table: "Do you like to meet and greet? The Membership Committee needs volunteers to welcome visitors at the Visitor's Table on Sunday mornings before and after the church service. The job is fun and easy. Just arrive by 10:15 a.m., put a smile on your face, greet anyone who approaches the table, ask them to sign the register if they would like to receive a formal thank you for coming, any answer questions they may have and invite them to join us at coffee hour. After the service, be available for 10 to 15 minutes to answer any questions that may have arisen during the service. That's it! Welcoming visitors is a happy way to start your Sunday morning and a great, painless way to participate in the church community. Please contact Barbara Burnim through the church office to volunteer. The Membership Committee thanks you.

Visitor Table Manager: If you are looking for a more substantive way to participate in the church community, the Membership Committee is seeking a volunteer to oversee the management of the Visitor's Table. Ruth Rankin has done a great job managing this responsibility for the past three years and she would like to turn it over to someone new. To volunteer, please contact Jane Nocera through the church office.

FRS Youth Honored: Three of our youth have been chosen to participate in the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Northeast Junior District Festival, which will take place in April. Liam Wilbur, Kathryn Tolley and Katrina Turner were nominated by their teacher and passed a statewide audition of more than 1,000 singers. Congratulations!

Public Forum: Mayor Mary Ann Clancy, WAND, and the Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church are inviting the public to attend a public forum on Monday, February 28th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Newburyport City Hall at which Congressman John F. Tierney will be the featured speaker. The focus of the forum will be the costs of the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, the needs of our troops stationed in those and nearby areas, and the state of the balance of the federal budget in relation to other needs. Local public officials, as well as the general public will have an opportunity to voice opinions and discuss related issues such as the prospects for federal funding for local homeland security "first responders" (public safety), education and infrastructure needs of our communities.

Loose Plate Project: The Loose Plate recipient for February is the Salvation Army's meals program and for March is Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) for programs defending the human right to water.

Justice Sunday: March 6 is Justice Sunday, a time to turn our attention toward the millions of people who do not have access to clean drinking water. The Social Action Committee will have UUSC-sponsored materials available at coffee hour explaining how you can help with this global problem.

• Mark your calendars: Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Nicholson Hall, on Harris Street, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. You may spread joy a number of ways: Donate a unique service or talent, or a long lost treasure . . . Cook up a dinner party or brunch to donate . . . Join with musical friends to offer a recital . . . Show off your talents! Start thinking now! You may drop off donations at the church office from March 6 through March 20th from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or call the church office at (978) 465-0602 to make special arrangements. Donor forms are available at the office, at the information table at church, or as a download if you press here. If you have questions, please call the church office. Remember: other than the annual canvas, this is the FRS's biggest fundraiser.
• Helpers Needed: We would like to offer childcare during the Auction. If you can help by organizing this task or if you can help with the sitting, please let us know soon. We also need someone to simply supervise the coffee and tea the night of the Auction. Call the church office. Be part of it -- Call Now!

This class will introduce the fundamental aspects of the tea ceremony in the dual context of Japanese art and Zen Buddhism. This shared experience celebrates the immediacy and fragility of life. Registration is limited to 12 and participants must be registered or signed up to attend.

Please register for the course below by calling Vicki Dyer at the church office, (978) 465-0602, x 401.