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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
Memorial Day Sunday
Rev. Harold Babcock
"Witnesses to Mortality"
During my sabbatical leave in 2002, I preached a sermon with this title in the little church where I had my first ministerial settlement, in Hanska, Minnesota. In that sermon I said that "Over the years, I have come to think of myself as, first and foremost, a witness to mortality. The most important task is making sense of death. This is certainly the way I have come to think of my ministry, but we are reminded that all of us are ministers, and all of us are witnesses." The sermon will re-investigate this idea.
(In the Transylvanian Unitarian Church, today is Pentecost, one of their four major religious holidays. It marks, in the words of the Unitarian Catechism, "the triumph of the spirit." The sermon may offer some thoughts on Pentecost as well.)
Flowers: The flowers this Sunday are given in loving memory of longstanding FRS members, Caroline and Allen Dodge, by sons David and John Dodge.
Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting for this week has been donated by the families of Priscilla Coffin and Dick and Lucia Luce in memory of son Robert Luce, John J. C. Coffin, and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Corduan.
Ushers: Anne Comeau and Ned McClung.
Coffee Hour Hosts: Thomas and Karen McCarty, Rochelle and Russell Perry-Platine, and Stan and Carol Kilty.
Rev. Harold Babcock
"Confession"
Unitarian Universalists, I think, tend to be a bit skeptical about confession. But a universal religious response like confession must have some intrinsic value or people wouldn't be drawn to it. While confession can easily be trivialized, I believe that there is great therapeutic and spiritual value in being able to admit our shortcomings and the places where we have gone wrong or missed the mark. The sermon will investigate the religious practice of confession.
This morning we will introduce our Student Intern Minister, Christina Sillari, who will be spending next year with us. I hope that you will be here to greet Christina, and I look forward to seeing you in church!
Flowers: The flowers this Sunday are given by Mary Wilkins Haslinger in memory of her gentle and loving mother, Peggy Morrill Wilkins.
Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting for this week has been donated by Rob Fitzgibbon.
Ushers: Barbara Boulay and Kathryn Tolley.
Coffee Hour Hosts: Russell Meade, John and Florence Mercer, Edward Metcalf, and Tom Stites and Alex Mezey.
Introduction to FRS Community
| On June 3rd we will welcome Christina Sillari and her family. The Ministerial Intern Committee will light the chalice with Christina, and Harold will introduce her from the pulpit. Christina will stand with Harold at the end of the service to meet people. There will be a special celebratory coffee hour. Christina M. Sillari is a Master's of Divinity candidate at Andover Newton Theological School. She holds a BA in Psychology from Boston College and a Master's in the Psychology of Yoga and Mind Body Health from Sonoma State University. She was a yoga teacher and therapist for fifteen years before entering seminary. She lives in Somerville with her husband, Arne, and her six-year-old daughter, Selena. |
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Tuesday, May 29, at 12:00 noon
We will be reading the short story "The Priest and His Love" by Yukio Mishima. All are welcome (Lower Meeting House Rooms A&B).
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The Annual Picnic of the Women's Alliance will be held at the home of Marise Fraiser, 5 Eaton Woods Road, East Kingston, NH, on Tuesday, June 12, 2007, at noon. Please bring a bag lunch. Drinks and dessert will be provided. We will meet at 11:20 a.m. for car-pooling at the parking lot near Hyman's Shoes, off Storey Avenue in Newburyport. This will be the last meeting of the season. All are welcome.
The FRS Annual Report is Available
The FRS, like most Unitarian Universalist and Congregational churches, is run under the theory and practice of congregational polity, which allows for democratic membership control of the church. To exercise such control a congregation needs to be well informed, and the Annual Report is the vehicle of that information. That 2007 Annual Report is now available at the church office and online (at http://www.frsuu.org/2007Annual.pdf). The matters listed in the Warrant at the head of the report will be voted on at our Annual Meeting at 7:15 on Wednesday, May 30.
There will be a potluck supper before the meeting starting at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, June 1st, at 6:00 p.m.
Lower Parish Hall
As in the past, donations from the dinner will be sent to Rev. Jakab Zsolt at our partner church in Ujszekely, Transylvania (Romania). Harold returned from his mini-sabbatical with some handmade items from our partner church village, items we will sell to benefit the cause of the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church program. The musical duo who entertained last year will entertain again this year on violin and accordion. Come sing. Come eat. And come support UUism abroad.
Get in on a donation from the FRS Auction
Extra! Extra!
There are still places available for the evening at Frances Burmeister's house, on June 22 from 7 - 9:30. Delectable desserts and libations will be served, and entertainment will be by Girl Treble (Sue Creed, Robin Lawson, Robin Moore, and Chris Reif). The first few who contact the church office and pledge $20 each will attend!
Thanks: Hospitality wishes to thank everyone, including committee members, coffee hour participants throughout the year, and all the folks who made the May Breakfast such a success--we had a great day and made about $500.00. All in all, Hospitality has had a wonderful year, and we will cap it off with a nice potluck at Annual Meeting. I personally also wish to thank everyone who made my stint as Hospitality Committee chair such a rewarding one, and I look forward to working with Leanna Sorcar, who will be stepping into my teeny little shoes. Marilyn Archibald
A friendly reminder: We would love everyone who has ever brought food into church to have a look inside the kitchen on top of the warming ovens, and see if any of the leftover plates and dishes there belong to them. We have dishes that have been around for years now, and they are longing to go home. At this point we are adopting a get-tough policy on these long-time residents of the kitchen, so please check before the end of the church year. Any dishes left after that will either be donated to the church itself or to a charity.
Annual Meeting Potluck Dinner: The annual meeting time is 7:15 on Wednesday, May 30. Our potluck dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m. Please bring a dish of your choice; we don't assign dishes, and it always seems to work out fine. See you there!
from the FRS Music Committee
Bring your old stuff (treasure to someone else!) for the spring yard sale to benefit the Candlelight Choir concerts. We need your old toys, athletic equipment, kitchen utensils, decorative items, small electronics (no printers, TV's, or computers), and furniture. Save your books for the book sale and your clothes for the rummage sale.
Drop off times are Thursday, May 24, and Friday, May 25, from 8:00 a.m. until noon. We'll be pricing on May 26, so we'll be happy to still take more items then, especially if they are sorted. The sale is Sunday, May 27, from noon until 5:00 p.m. and Monday, May 28, from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
The FRS Team raised more than $1500 to benefit the Women's Crisis Center's in the Walk Against Violence. Well done!
Turning Point Summer Camp Program
One half of the loose plate contributions for May will go the Turning Point Summer Camp Program. Here is an excerpt from last year's thank-you letter for our contribution:
It is a well known fact that we [at Turning Point] would not be able to provide the services that we do for our families without the support of our community. I am afraid that the truth of this statement has never been so glaringly evident as it is regarding this year's Children's Campership Fund campaign. I am grateful that your membership has us in your hearts and minds . . . on behalf of the children served by Turning Point, Inc.'s Division of Family Services, please extend our deepest gratitude to all who contributed to this year's campaign. We are grateful for the contribution, and again, we would not be able to provide summer camp experience for our deserving children were it not for the thoughiful and generous support of such caring people.Sincerely, Wendy Weise, M.S., Assistant Coordinator/Children's Services Coordinator
from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
May 16th: On behalf of the Northeast Essex Affiliate of The National Alliance on Mental Illness, we wish to acknowledge your grateful support by allowing us to use your facilities for the 12 week Family-2-Family class. The people we taught left with a better understanding of how to care for their loved ones and how to better cope with the frustrations and pain of this devastating disease. It is through the generosity of congregations such as yours that we are able to assist people who are in crisis at these times.
Enclosed is a small donation to help defray some of the costs incurred during our use of the building. Please keep us in mind if any of your congregation should need any of the educational or support services we offer. All NAMI programs are offered at no charge. Again our thanks to you.
An FRS couple is looking for somebody to dog- and house-sit for one week in June, from the 16th to the 22nd. They live in Amesbury and have two Airedale Terriers who are very friendly and easy maintenance. If you're interested, please call the church office.
from the Danvers Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church
Social Action Committee
The last Vigil for Peace of the spring will take place on Sunday, May 27, noon to 1:00 p.m. at the flagpole in Danvers Square. Please meet at the Danvers downtown flagpole at noon, or at 11:45 a.m. when those who wish to particpate in a march for peace will assemble on the sidewalk in front of Mobil Station at Locust St. opposite Lyons Ambulance and proceed to the flagpole for the vigil and wreath presentation. Free parking is available nearby.
Group will process down Locust St. toward flagpole where Rev. Rosemarie Smurzynski, Interim Minister, will lead a short service and a Peace Wreath will be laid at foot of flagpole.
All residients, groups, churches in the area are invited to participate; children welcome if accompanied by an adult. May bring own signs; some signs available to be used for this occasion.
In commemoration of Memorial Day, a contribution has been made by Social Concerns Committee to Operation Troop Support in tribute to returning veterans and designated for their care and comfort. Members of the community are are invited to join in this effort: checks may be mailed to Operation Troop Support, att. Mr. Richard Moody, l6 Trinity St., Danvers.
