Home
Minister
Young Church
Music
Governance
Calendar
This Week
Thanks to Brent Mitchell for the photo.
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
Palm Sunday - Passover
Rev. Harold Babcock
"Where Do We Go From Here?"
Now five years into the war in Iraq, I sense that a profound mood of depression and heartbrokenness has settled over our country. I don't claim to have the answer to the terrible dilemma in which we now find ourselves mired. However, the ancient religious practice of repentance would seem to have a place in any solution. And I don't mean just on the part of those most responsible for the war's inception and continuance. All of us are implicated. Religion can remind us that what we are called to is not judgment but compassion; not self-righteous indignation, but humility; not hand-wringing, but engagement. It starts with ourselves. The sermon will investigate.
The Young Church Choir will be singing this morning.
Flowers: The flowers this Sunday are given by Amy Weickert and Peter Cullinan in loving memory of Barbara Shaw, whose birthday is April 7.
Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting for this week has been donated by John and Joan Harwood in celebration of their grandchildren: Jonny, Thomas, Connie, and James Harwood.
Ushers: Jerry and Marge Peterson.
Coffee Hour Hosts: Marie Murphy, Gary and Alicia Raddatz, Kelly and Peter McNamee, and Janice King.
Current Events Forum: Lower Meetinghouse Conference Room at 9:30 a.m. -- More discussion of the role of government (federal, state, and local) with particular emphasis on immigration.
Worden, Madden & Co.
Jazz Vespers
Easter Sunday Family Service
Rev. Harold Babcock
"The Resurrection and the Life"
The Gospel of John reports Jesus as saying to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live. . . ." I am skeptical, given what I understand about Jesus, that he actually said this. More likely his followers in the early Christian church placed those words on his lips as a way of promoting what they already believed. Be this as it may, we all could use a little resurrecting and life affirmation. And if believing in the possibility of love and our human potential for goodness helps us to get there, I'm all for it. Indeed, Unitarian Universalists have long taught that living a good life is the surest way to immortality. The sermon will investigate.
The Teen Choir will sing, and there will be a moment for all ages. There will be no Young Church classes this morning, but there will be child care provided for the little ones. I look forward to seeing you in church!
Flowers: The Easter flowers for today's service are donated by Marj Babcock; the Raschke family; Mary Haslinger, for her father, Dr. Robert Wilkins, who loved to flower garden; Patrice O'Brien and Peter Litwin, for all the hope that Easter brings; Polly Tesar, in loving memory of Bob Tesar; Nancy and Jay McCarthy, in loving memory of Guy Montecalvo; Merryl Maleska Wilbur, in loving memory of her dear Aunt Phyllis Buccerone, on the tenth anniversary of her death; and Roy and Sylvia Tattersal in memory of their parents.
Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting for this week has been donated by Bob, Linda, and Will Fuller in loving memory of Bob's parents, Margaret Fellows Fuller and Arthur Alexander Fuller, Sr.
Ushers: Dorothy and Howard Fairweather and Jim and Kit Dyer.
Coffee Hour Hosts: Brian Kologe and Anne Spraker, Manfred and Cynthia Raschke, Scott and Barbara Kresge, and Steven and Janice Krusemark.
Our deepest sympathy to Sabrina Babcock on the death of her sister Sara Brouillard.
Frieda Marion - member of the FRS since 1930, sister of active FRS member Marise Fraser. A memorial service scheduled for April 7 at 10:00 a.m. at the Manchester, NH, UU Church, 669 Union Street. There will be a reception afterward, to which all are invited.
Drop off: April 16 through 20
First Friday Family Night: Build It!
Friday, April 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Lower Meeting House
Join us for a great evening of building towers of all shapes and sizes. We'll use paper cups, newspaper, and other materials. We'll see who can build the longest, strongest, and most unusual bridge using straws and string. Great fun for all ages . . . Bring the whole family!
Snacks will be provided, and of course lots of fun and great fellowship. Hope to see you there!
Knitting for All Ages
April 22 at 11:45 a.m.
Lower Meeting House
Join us as we continue to work on our Afghans for Afghans project. Knitters of all ages and abilities are encouraged to knit a square that will be part of a blanket to send to Afghanistan. Our first session on March 25 was great fun! Kids and adults worked together, taught each other, and got to know one another. All who participated in that session are welcome to return for this second session, and newcomers are welcome, as well. Please let Julie know if you are interested in joining us, so she can let you know what to bring.
Thank You
Many thanks to Cecilia Healy for volunteering in the nursery while our child care provider, Nicole Stiles, has been away.
| So Far | Canvass Goal | % of Goal | |
| Number of Pledges | 240 | 271 | 89% |
| Pledged dollars | $283,464 | $315,750 | 90% |
As you can see, if no more pledges were to come in, the Finance Committee would be cutting the proposed budget by approximately $50,000. In that case, we would have to forego all increases in this year's budget -- $11,500 to support an intern minister and $16,500 to cover 3.3% cost-of-living increases for staff and minister as well as to meet structural increases for such always-rising rates as insurance. Then we would have to cut $22,000 from programs supported by this year's budget. Clearly, the follow-up canvass, which begins this week, needs to be swift and effective.
The invitations went out this week! Outside of the annual canvass, our auction is our biggest fund-raising event; usually, it's a sell-out. As in past years, all those planning to attend need to make reservations in advance, so please sign up at an upcoming coffee hour or drop off your check at the church office. $25 per person is the suggested donation. A limited number of catalogs is printed, and you can pick one up a week or so before the auction. Don't miss this fun event!
The auction database is now online at www.frsuu.org. Save the date! Besides supporting the church, the auction is a terrific fellowship event and lots of fun. Please attend, and bid with spring fever!
Saturday, May 5, 2007, 6:00 p.m.
Nicholson Hall, 9 Harris St., Newburyport
$25 suggested donation in advance
Includes dinner and beverages
First Ever Sombrero Contest
Mastercard and Visa Accepted for auction purchases
from the Hospitality Committee
May Breakfast is back! This always-yummy event will be held on Saturday, May 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and will feature eggs, baked beans, ham, homefries, homemade pastries, and fruit salad. We hope many of you will plan to attend and lots of others will sign up to help host the event and to contribute food. Please watch for the sign-ups during coffee hour starting on April 15. Want to sign up by email? We need cooks and wait staff for early and later shifts, and we need contributions of ham, beans, fruit salad and coffee cakes and other bread or pastries. Contact Patrice O'Brien at obrien_p@jud.state.ma.us or Marilyn Archibald at archie4618@aol.com.
from The FRS Adult Education Committee
Spirit in Nature Walks
Saturdays April 14 and May 12 - 9:30am - noon
Led by Florence Mercer - Meet at Lower Meeting House
Call 978 465 0602 x401 to register - Registration deadlines Apr. 6 and May 4
If you've been meaning to explore the great walks around Newburyport, or return to old favorites, join Florence in celebrating the mystical in nature. On April 14 she will walk one or two of the Old Town Hill trails in Newbury and on May 12 she will walk the Stackyard Road paths into the marshes of Newbury and out to Nelson Island as the tide goes down. We will meet at the Lower Meeting House and carpool to the trailheads. We will walk rain or shine, unless there is a nor'easter. All are invited.
America's Morality Tales - Classic Westerns
High Noon (1952) - "Do not forsake me . . ."
Friday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Led by Lynn Kettleson & Catherine Garnache - Lower Meeting House
Children often get their ideas from movies. For those growing up in the years of the classic western - from 1948 to 1962 - the movies affected how they looked at the world. The main characters of many of those movies set out expected standards of behavior, but they also reflected a particular world view of the time. Please plan to join us for some fun and discussion.
Tuesday, April 10th, at noon, in the Parish Hall. Please bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee, tea and delicious desserts, as usual, will be offered. Featured speaker: Rev. Harold Babcock. Subject: as yet unknown. Are you curious??
Come join us, and find out what is on Harold's mind! We welcome old members and new. We are gender-blind and generation-blind, and of course, we have a tremendous tolerance of all friendly folks. Hostesses: Lorraine Adelman and Beverly Logan. Please bring a bag lunch. Coffee and dessert will be provided.
Saturday, April 14, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Noyes Hall, Andover Newton Theological School
Workshops on Creating Young-Adult-Friendly Congregations; Global Warming 101: Facts and Next Steps; Greening Your Sanctuary: Tips on Saving Energy, Money and the Environment; Leading Change in the Congregation; Listening Circles; Listening to Our Religious Professionals; A Network of Mutuality: Systems Theory and Congregational Health; The Potential of Unitarian Universalism; Proposed Changes to the MBD Bylaws; Strengthening the Social Action Web; and Youth. Call the FRS office if you're interested in attending. Much more information at http://www.mbduua.org/programs-events/annual-meeting/
The New UU: Those interested in preparing for membership or simply learning more about Unitarian Universalism or the FRS should sign up for "Exploring Unitarian Universalism and FRS Membership." It is broken into three parts:
- "Getting to know you" - Sunday, April 15
- "Getting to know the FRS" - Sunday, April 22
- "Getting to know UUism" - Sunday, April 29.
Presented by the Unitarian Universalist Historical Society
Friday, April 13, 2007, at 7:30 p.m.
First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist
3 Church Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Dr. Charles Capper, Professor of History at Boston University, will speak on his new book: Margaret Fuller: An American Romantic Life, Vol. 2, the Public Years. All are welcome
