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Twilight on the Marsh by FRS Member Laura Roberts
Winner of the Mary Alice Arakelian Memorial Award for Best of Show
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
Rev. Harold Babcock
"Roger Williams' 'Lively Experiment'"
Most of us take religious liberty for granted, but we shouldn't. Recent years have seen renewed attacks on the separation of church and state. We have heard some Christian groups claim that they are being discriminated against. Many would like to see religion - a particular kind of religion - reinserted in the public sphere. Many years ago, Roger Williams argued that people should be free to follow their consciences in matters of religion. He did this not because he wanted a stronger, religion-free state, but because he didn't want to see religion corrupted and meddled in by the civil authorities. He also disagreed with the way religion was sometimes used by those authorities-especially so in the treatment of native Americans. The sermon will investigate Roger Williams' "lively experiment."
Flowers: The flowers for this morning's service are donated by Trent and Stratton Lloyd in memory of Grammy Lloyd, Elisabeth Boardman Lloyd.
Steeple: The steeple lighting for this week has been donated by Ben and Linda Labaree in gratitude for those leaders who have stood for racial equality and justice around the world.
Ushers: Ann and Robert Poirier
Rev. Harold Babcock
"Questions at Night"
My title is borrowed from the poem which is considered by some to be the greatest ever written in the Hungarian language, Mihaly Babits' "Question at Night": "why all this beauty, jewel, graven marble?" All of us struggle with the "why" questions. Some flippantly answer, "why not?" But we yearn for something more satisfying. Religion attempts to answer, not always very successfully. The sermon will investigate.
Flowers: The flowers for this morning's service are donated by Jennifer Badger in loving memory of Dorothy Plumer Beard from Jenny, Vin, Carol, and Will.
Steeple: The steeple lighting for this week has been donated by David Stickney in memory of his "big brother" Jack.
Ushers: Lark and Anne Madden
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Our sympathy to Nancy Colby on the recent death of her mother, Mary Colby, and to Rob Burnham on the death of his mother Judy V. Burnham.
Welcome to this world to Oliver Ferreira, born on Thursday morning, January 12, at 1:45 (8 lbs 4 oz), son of Neal and Devin Ferreira. Neal is the FRS's tenor section leader in the choir.
The Next Lunch with the Minister will be on Tuesday, January 31, at noon in the lower meeting house. We will be reading the short story "Love Medicine" by Louise Erdrich. Bring your lunch and join us: all are welcome.
Winter Film Series
from the FRS Welcoming Congregation Committee
March 10: Priscilla Queen of the Desert Click on the movie title for a description of it. |
Join us in the Lower Meetinghouse on three Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for movies and refreshments, all free.
Many purchased more than one
- Barbara Burnim - dedicated to the memory of Barbara E. Sampson.
- Wendy and Bruce Ford - in loving memory of Wendy's father, Wendell Phillips Chapin.
- Linda Buddenhagen - in memory of her grandmother, Agnes Mercer.
- Nancy Herbison-Evans - in celebration of The Beloved Community.
- Marj Babcock - in celebration of Harold and Sabrina Babcock.
- Dorothy and Howard Fairweather - in loving memory of Arthur and Molly Fairweather, in loving memory of William and Emma Woodley, in loving memory of Othelia Bansley, in loving memory of Ann Dyson, and in loving memory of Clifford, Oliver, and Elizabeth; their beloved felines.
- Ann Kemp - in memory of her godmother, Edith Ritchie, and in celebration of her grandson, Cameron.
- Ben and Linda Labaree - in loving memory of Dr. William Rose.
- Esther Macomber
- Marquita Jackson - in memory of Carol Kalashian Mullen.
- Tom Stites - in memory of his father, Harold E. Stites, and his love for hymns and singing.
- Alex Mezey - in memory of her parents, Alexander Frederick Mezey and Mary Margaret Sullivan Mezey Fitzgerald.
from the FRS Adult Education Committee
Universalism, The Larger Faith, led by Harold Babcock, will meet in the lower church Thursdays Feb. 16, 23, and 30, from 6:00 to7:30 p.m. Bring dinner or take-out. Harold will highlight famous names in the history of Universalism such as John Murray, Olympia Brown, and Hosea Ballou. The history of this faith is different from that of Unitarianism and is unique in 18th century America. The group will read the book The Larger Faith. Call (978) 465-0602 x401 to register and order the book ($16). Deadline to sign up is Feb. 9.
Our American Roots, facilitated by Alex Mezey and Julie Parker-Amery, will meet in the lower church five Tuesdays from Feb. 28 to Mar. 28, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. This video-based discussion group will address the history of Unitarian Universalism. Each meeting will feature a video clip and readings on the significant issues and people in our faith history including commentary by contemporary UU ministers. These are our springboard for discussion. This is a continuation of the course started last fall. We'll be starting with a brief review and move on to discuss Emerson, Thoreau and the Transcendentalists, Theodore Parker, the concepts of the Free Pulpit and the Free Pew. This course will give you a unique perspective on the significant role our religious forebears had on the development of our nation. Call (978) 465-0602 x401 to register and order the workbook ($12). Deadline to sign up is February 14. Please register even if you took the first five sessions.
Newburyport: Three Centuries of Change, 1640-1940, led by Ben Labaree will meet in the lower church Thursdays Mar. 2, 9, and 16, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Parishioner Ben Labaree is a local historian and former professor of history at Williams College. At each session Ben will focus on Newburyport as it was in the years 1640, 1770, and 1940. Our church figures in that history, though much else was happening. Ben has studied Newburyport area history for many years and presents it in a very engaging way. Back by popular demand! Call (978) 465-0602 x401 to register. Deadline to sign up is February 23.
All during February, the Community Human Services Committee will be collecting for the Pettengill House. Donations of personal items are badly needed: toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, combs, brushes, diapers, hand cream, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, feminine hygiene, band aides, essentially anything from CVS. There is also a need for financial aid toward fuel assistance. Donations can be cash or check (made to Pettengill House) and given to Eileen Fitzgerald, Ann Power, or Carol Kilty.
Letter from Piroska (Piri) to Michael Fosburg
Piroska is one of the social orphans who live in Ujszekely. Mike and Pat Skibbee stayed with her and ten others in the summer of 2003.. . . the others are all very well, we are preparing for Christmas, we clean up our house, and we decorated the windows and doors, but we also prepared ourselves in our souls for Christmas. We are trying to be kinder and more friendly to each other.
As you know, my friend Eniko and I learn at the Unitarian Theological High School, and this week we have our school week, and we have to dress up in black and white and participate in different programs. Eniko and I are members of the school's chorus, and we are going to sing in the Unitarian church in Keresztur.
Letter from Rev. Istvan
Istvan is a minister of two small Unitarian Churches not far from Zsolt's. His son Tamas is just over a year old. His wife is Eniko.I have good memories with you all, and I am happy because all the time when I am coming to e-mail you I have a lot of letters. Here everything is well, we are waiting the snow and we are starting to cut the pigs and we are making the palinka for the winter because it is cold.
Tamas and Eniko are well, and day by day he is bigger and we have to run after him more and more. In the evening time we are tired and he is smiling and he has no problems; he is not tired. I hope that everyone of you will meet him personally when it will be possible to visit us.
We wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In the soul we will be together and in the holiday time together with the members of the congregations we will drink a cup of palinka or wine on your health.
With love, Istvan, Eniko, Tamas and the members of Kissolymos and Nagysolymos UC
The Children's League of Massachusetts has filed legislation (H2828) to repeal the Children in Need of Services (CHINS) system. Please join the League and The Tuckerman Coalition in discussing and offering your input to address the redesigning of the CHINS system
What works? What could be better? What would a new CHINS system look like?
Monday, January 23, 2006, 11:00 - 1:00 PM
The First Church in Roxbury, 10 Putnam St., Roxbury, MA 02119
R.S.V. P: Rev. Richard Stower, President of the Tuckerman Coalition
at rstower@comcast.net or marsie@childrensleague.org
Refreshments will be served!
The Tuckerman Coalition is a UU lobbying group that focuses on children's issues.
Members Winter Juried Show 2006 - Part 1
January 13 - February 12, 2006
Pastel, Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, Digital Art, Fine Crafts
Sargent and Hartson Galleries
If you'll take a walk down to Water Street, you can see the art work of many FRS parishioners in the Newburyport Art Association's Members Winter Juried Show. You will see work there by Peter Erickson, Bettina Turner, Jean Snow, Susan Spellman-McGovern, and Pat Bashford, among others. Most newsworthy, perhaps, is that FRS member Laura Roberts won the Mary Alice Arakelian Memorial Award for Best of Show for her oil painting "Twilight on the Marsh" (above). Of it, the show's juror, Leslie Costello, Executive Director of the Essex Art Center, said, "This piece appealed to me from the very first look - the light and atmosphere set it apart. Oil paintings are my passion. Ms. Roberts has used oils so softly capturing the beauty of the marshes with just a hint of water flowing through. Strong composition and color." So take a walk down to 65 Water Street and appreciate all the splendid art.
The FRS Variety Show will be presented on Saturday, March 18. Readiness is all. So dig out that Hohner harmonica and the little instruction sheet that came with it, darn up that leotard, arrange a practice session with all the other kazoo players in the church, sharpen quills for verse production, start memorizing for your declamation of Emersonian truths or -- well, just put the date on your calendar for now.
