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This Week
featured at the Jean Wilson Series concert
on Sunday, February 3, at 3:00 p.m.
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
Christina Sillari, Ministerial Intern
Christina Sillari
"Reclaiming the Divine Feminine"
This past Wednesday evening at FRS twenty-four women gathered in a circle together for "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven," a Unitarian Universalist feminist thealogy curriculum. The deep yearning to lift up the feminine in our culture for both women and men seems to be becoming more of a necessity for the survival of humankind. This sermon will explore why and how the divine feminine was oppressed and how it can be reclaimed.
Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting for this week has been donated by Gayden, Rob, and Jim Morrill and their families in memory of their father, Frank Morrill, and his "better half," Frances.
Flowers: The flowers for today's service are donated by Dorothy and Howard Fairweather in loving memory of Howard's father, Arthur Fairweather.
Ushers: The ushers are Ginger and Jeff Bard.
Coffee Hour Hosts: Lusann Wishart, Lance Wisniewski and Donna Johnson, Mark and Lucie Gallagher, and Todd Campbell and Susan Murray-Campbell.
FRS Current Events Forum: 9:30 a.m. in Lower Meetinghouse Conference Room. The topic is "What are the changes our next president should make? Part II"
Jazz Vespers
Madden & Co.
Guest guitarist John Curtis
Guest reader Cyd Raschke
Tunes including Black Orpheus and Stella by Starlight
You can't make 'em move
if it ain't got that groove
Rev. Harold Babcock
"Love and the Search for Meaning"
What do we do after the flame of romantic love has cooled? In his little book The Wisdom of Love, philosopher Jacob Needleman argues that the secret to a "sustained, mature love" is to join in a mutual search for meaning: "The point is that we human beings are in search of meaning, in search of ourselves. . . . And in love we have the possibility and the need to help each other search." Obviously, such an approach to love has religious implications. The sermon will investigate.
Steeple Lighting: The steeple lighting for this week has been donated by Ann and Walter Power in memory of their parents, Henry and Barbara Morehouse, and Ellen and Michael Power.
Flowers: The flowers for today's service are donated by Mary Doyle in memory of her sister, Constance Martin, and her dear friend Bettina Gould.
Ushers: Laurie Christiansen and Richard George.
Coffee Hour Hosts: Neal Kuniansky and Gayle Yarnall, Deborah York, Robert Allison and Nancy Sullivan, and Annie Maurer.
February 3 at 3:00 p.m.
Très
THE LADY'S ENTERTAINMENT
(Gentlemen also welcome)
Join Très for some frolicking Baroque Music from the London Theatres, Parlors and Concert Halls. Très includes Jayne West, soprano; Donald Wilkinson, baritone; Lisa Brooke, baroque violin; Daniel Rowe, baroque cello; John Finney, harpsichord. Composers include Purcell, Telemann, and J. S. Bach.
The suggested contribution for attending each concert will be $10.00 (seniors), $15.00 (adults), free (students).
Upcoming in the Wilson Series:
- March 9 at 4:00 p.m. - John Hines, bass/baritone
- April 27 at 4:00 p.m. - Elliott Fisk, guitar
Adult Midwinter Party
Saturday, February 16
from the FRS Hospitality Committee
Want to laugh with friends?
Want to have an evening of fun?
The annual Adult MidWinter Party will be held on Saturday, February 16, in the home of Steve and KC Swallow from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Please bring your best friend, your favorite appetizer or dessert, and your beverage of choice. We'll take care of the rest, and we promise a good time will be had by all. Please mark your calendar. We hope to see you there.
Interning here at First Religious Society continues to inspire and encourage me on my path towards ministry. I am feeling like a minister more and more every day. I am grateful to all of you for your support and your allowing me this opportunity to develop as a minister.
On Martin Luther King Sunday, I prayed that spirit take over as I do every time I enter the pulpit on Sunday mornings. Well, I didn't expect that spirit would provide me with the occasion to make so many mistakes. It was humbling, and it was a reminder that I do not have to be perfect for people to like me and that I need to lighten up and not take myself so seriously. It also gave me the chance to forgive myself, a difficult practice I am slowly cultivating.
As I have mentioned, I am here to learn and grow. I warmly and humbly welcome your comments and suggestions to me on any aspect of my ministry. You are all my teachers, not just Harold or other leaders of the church. Actually, I believe one of the goals of a beloved community is that each one of us would be open to ministering to and being ministered by each other.
My hope is that the matrix of ministry here at FRS continues to grow wider and deeper, just as I continue to grow wider and deeper in your company.
On Thursday, January 24, FRS parishioner Bruce Menin wrote, "I am currently en route to the funeral of my Uncle Stan, which will be held tomorrow in LA. I would appreciate the good intentions and prayers of the community. Stan was a relentlessly gentle and decent human being, beloved by his family, and often a great stabilizing force when the tailwinds of family dynamic wreaked havoc. The world is a little smaller because of his passing. He will be missed."
The next Lunch with the Minister will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, February 5, in the Lower Meetinghouse. The short story for discussion will be "The Mark of Vishnu" by Khushwant Singh. All are welcome!
During the month of February the Community Human Services Committee will be collecting for the Pettengill House. The items needed are packaged food, paper products, and personal toiletries. For those who do not want to shop, we will gladly accept donations of cash and will be happy to do the shopping for you. Please leave all contributions on the table in the vestibule with the "Pettengill" sign. If you have any questions about this, please call Carol Kilty.
New Deadline: February 3
Guest at Your Table Boxes are due back at the church. Please remember that your donation of $40.00 ($75.00 per couple) will make you a member of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). In 2007, the FRS was once again awarded a Creating Justice banner for having 25 to 49 percent membership in the UUSC (95 members to be exact). Thanks in advance for your generosity!
Seeking small, broken appliances
Do you have any broken appliances lying around? We're looking for a few for one of our upcoming Young Church classes, when we'll be taking things apart to see how they work. If you've got anything that sounds like it would be safe, and not too tough to take apart, please let Julie Parker Amery know.
Love to knit? Want to learn? Are you a kid? An adult?
Want to do something good while meeting new people? Please join us for Knitting for All Ages on Sunday, February 3, at 12:00 in the upper parish hall. We are knitting squares to be put together to make a blanket for the organization Afghans for Afghans. Beginners are encouraged to attend! If you have needles and natural-fiber wool, please bring them; otherwise, there will be plenty on hand. Questions? Contact Julie Parker Amery at (978) 465-0602 x403.
Parish Friends was formed the year Harold Babcock went on sabbatical. At that time he wanted to make sure parishioners who were ill received visits and cards. We asked for volunteers, and 25 people signed up. Since that time our jobs have expanded to making and delivering meals, giving rides, doing errands, mowing and snow shoveling, taking care of pets and plants, and even doing some childcare. We serve church members who have new babies or who are ill, recovering from an operation, or in rehab. Once a year, we give flyers to people in church so people can sign up to do one or more of the jobs of the group. Any parishioner can volunteer to join the group or report a need for services by calling the church office. Church staff will get in touch with the Parish Friends who will se e if you are available for tasks or schedule you for the services you need.
from the FRS Department of Games
Here it is, the next game from the FRS Department of Games. It's called Name Tag Tag, and it goes like this:
- Attend coffee hour after church.
- From the board on your left as you enter the Lower Parish Hall, select a name tag (preferably your own), and put it on.
- Cast your eyes about the roomful of fellow parishioners for someone you know who is not so well turned out as you (doesn't have on his or her name tag).
- Select that person's name tag from the rack and hand it to him or her, saying, "You're it!"
Possible outcomes:
- You complete all four steps and get a cup of coffee - delicious!
- You do not find a name tag for yourself - put yourself on the list of those needing a name tag. Get a cup of coffee - delicious!
- You find no name tag for your selected friend - either select another friend or put your friend's name on the listing for those needing new name tags. Get a cup of coffee - delicious!
- You cast your eyes about for someone you know and find no one. Now you've run into the point of the game.
The meetings and activities of the Women's Alliance are open to all; come and join us. There are no meetings in January and February, 2008.
March 11, 2008 12:00 noon in the Parish Hall
Guest speaker: John Mercer
"On the Piero Trail"
Hostesses: Marion Olsen and Beverly Logan.
Bring your own brown bag lunch.
Coffee and dessert will be served.
April 8, 2008 12:00 noon in the Parish Hall
Guest speaker: Lorraine Adelman, Pat Bashford, and Joan Smart.
"Expressing Yourself Through Art"
Hostesses: Louise VanBokkelen and Linda Tulley.
Bring your own brown bag
Lunch. Coffee and dessert will be served.
May 13, 2008 12:00 noon at the Parker River Refuge Center
(6 Plum Island Turnpike, across from the Audubon building)
Bring your own brown bag lunch. Drinks and chips will be provided.
June 10, 2007 12:00 noon at the home of Marise Fraser
Bring a lunch.
Dessert and drinks will be served.
From the Pettengill House
Dear Friends:
On behalf of the staff, volunteers and Board of Directors of The Pettengill House, Inc. please accept our heartfelt thanks for your recent donation of $896.50. [This was from the FRS's November Loose Plate Collection for Cause.]
As you are aware The Pettengill House, Inc. is a non profit, community social service agency providing assistance to men, women and children in the Greater Salisbury Community including Salisbury, Amesbury, Merrimac, Newburyport, West Newbury, Newbury, Rowley, Byfield and Groveland, Massachusetts.
The mission of The Pettengill House, Inc. is to support and coordinate community services, empowering people of all ages through advocacy, prevention education and direct services.
Over the past year with community support, The Pettengill House, Inc., provided support services and interventions to 2,269 men, women and children 154 of whom were homeless. In addition our food pantry and Saturday Night Meals Program provided 98,032 meals.
Your generosity and support are truly appreciated and make a difference in the lives of many.
Sincerely,
Deborah M. Smith, M.Ed., LCSW.LADC Executive Director
