First Religious Society of Newburyport

The Breath of Life: An Introduction to Breath and Awareness Practices for Health and Wellbeing - A Four-Week Series with Matthew Daniell
2024-11-25 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Parish Hall 1st Floor
Please join NSIMC guiding teacher Matthew Daniell for a four-week Monday night series in November, held in partnership with the First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, in Newburyport
When: Monday evenings, 7-8:30 pm, Nov. 4, 11, 18, & 25
Where: First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, Parish Hall
Cost: $85 for the series ($80 cash or check)
Description: To breathe is to live. This is an anatomical fact, but it can also be a powerful tool to support our inner life, and find a quiet place of rest, renewal, and resilience, inside. In this four-part series, we will draw mainly from the ancient and modern meditative wisdom traditions to explore how mindful breathing can be a simple gateway to living a fuller, more emotionally skillful and more spiritually rich life, in the here and now. There will be meditation periods (15-25 minutes) with instruction and silence, along with reflections and time for discussion in each session, as well as exercises to bring into daily life. This series is appropriate for beginners as well as those with more meditation experience. People of all traditions are welcome, breath is common to all that lives.
Matthew Daniell is the guiding teacher of NSIMC. He has been practicing Buddhist meditation since the 1980s, including over a decade in Asia, where he practiced Zen intensively in Japan, Tibetan Buddhism in India, and Insight meditation in Burma, India, and Thailand. Read more about Matthew on his teacher page.
The fee for this program is $85 ($80 cash or check). To register and pay online, just click below; to pay by cash or check, email northshoreimc@gmail.com.

Thanksgiving Conversations
2024-11-25 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-11-21 17:30 - 18:30 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Thursday, November 21, Lower Meetinghouse, 5:30-6:30pm. Monday, November 25, Lower Meetinghouse, 2-3pm.
We’ve heard from many of you that the election results are making Thanksgiving gatherings feel more complicated or even painful, depending on the politics of those at the table. We’ve set aside two times to gather and share with each other, so that we might enter the holidays feeling more centered and supported. Both small group conversations will be with Rev. Laurel.

Play Rehearsal
2024-11-24 15:00 - 17:00 | Parish Hall 1st Floor
Sundays from 3-5pm
November 3, 10, 17, 24

Candlelight Chorale Rehearsal (special time)
2024-11-24 13:30 - 15:30 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Sunday, November 24, LMH Main Room, 1:30-3:30pm on this date only.

Youth Group
2024-11-24 12:00 - 13:30 | Youth Room (Parish Hall), 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Meets in Youth Room in Parish Hall. Led by Mara Flynn on 10/27, 11/24, 12/8, 1/12/25. Led by Rev. Laurel on 11/10, 12/22, 1/26/25.

Parish Board-Congregational Meeting (Hybrid)
2024-11-24 11:30 - 13:00 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Sunday, November 24, Lower Meetinghouse, 11:30am-1pm. The Parish Board invites the FRSUU congregation to join them after Sunday worship to meet with the 4th Century Visioning Team and the 300th Anniversary Team. This will be an opportunity to learn about the teams’ work and priorities, the events planned for the 300th anniversary, and visions of our next century. Come get your questions answered and share your ideas and comments.

Young Church
2024-11-24 10:30 - 11:30 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Young Church is for children up through 8th grade. Children sit with their families for the beginning of worship service (about 15 minutes), and then head downstairs to the Lower Meetinghouse with volunteers and the Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry, Mara Flynn.
We offer nursery care for children under age 5 – and “littles” are also welcome to join us in Young Church with a parent/guardian in attendance.
Our Young Church programming engages and allows our K-8th grade children to experience and create meaningful connection through:

Ritual, stories, crafts, games and joyful community building
Special guests, activities and projects that support curiosity and spiritual growth
Explorations of the 7 UU Principles and social justice engagement

If your child will be attending, please fill out our registration form HERE
Questions? Email Mara Flynn, Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry at mara.flynn@frsuu.org.

Sunday Worship Service
2024-11-24 10:30 - 11:30 | FRS Church, 10 Main Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Join us for services at 10:30am on Sundays, from the Sunday after Labor Day through late spring. Experience elements of the world religions, including our Christian roots and humanism. Find inspiration in choral and instrumental music (including organ), congregational singing, a time for children, readings, an offering, and meditative silence. Hear a sermon on social justice, spirituality, dealing with life’s challenges, or other issues. We may celebrate a holiday, act out a skit, hold a coming-of-age ceremony, or hear a member’s Journeys of Faith. Services end around 11:30am and are usually followed by a 30-minute fellowship gathering.
For a relaxed service with music from the jazz tradition, come to a Jazz Vespers. Our Christmas Eve service and Christmas Candlelight service are community traditions.

Reserved for Nursery
2024-11-24 10:00 - 11:30 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Reserved from 10:00am-11:30am

Young Church Singers
2024-11-24 09:30 - 10:15 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Young Church Singers Rehearsals, LMH Room A, 9:30-10:15am

Rummage Sale (Saturday)
2024-11-23 09:00 - 16:00 | MA
Parish Hall 1st Floor – Saturday, November 23, 9am-4pm

Stewardship Meeting (Zoom)
2024-11-22 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-21 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-20 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm on Zoom.

SMART Recovery (Contact: 678-378-0786)
2024-11-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Hayward Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Meets weekly on Friday

Reserved for Piano Practice
2024-11-22 16:00 - 17:00 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Gay Pearson piano practice, every Friday, 4-5pm, Sanctuary

Rummage Sale (Friday)
2024-11-22 15:00 - 19:00 | Parish Hall 1st Floor
Parish Hall 1st Floor, Friday, November 22, 3-7pm.

Adult Choir
2024-11-21 19:00 - 20:30 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Thursdays, LMH Main Room, 7-8:30pm

Private Rental
2024-11-21 15:30 - 17:00 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
TITO, Thursday, November 21, Lower Meetinghouse Main Room, 3:30-5pm.

Reserved for Piano Practice
2024-11-21 14:00 - 16:00 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Thursdays, Sanctuary, 2-4pm, Gay Pearson

How to Have Family Conversations About End-of-Life Issues
2024-11-21 13:00 - 14:30 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Talking about end-of-life care can be anxiety-provoking for both elders and their families. You are invited to a conversation with FRSUU members Nancy Kidd, LICSW and Mary Jane Helbick, LISW, who both have 30 years of experience guiding these conversations. They will educate us and lead discussion on how to communicate what’s important to elders and how to broach this delicate topic. Below is a link to some reading to get you started thinking about it. We’ll meet on Thursday, November 21, 1-2:30pm in the Lower Meetinghouse. Bring your questions and concerns.
Sponsored by Exploring Elderhood Together
Guide to End-of-Life Conversations with Family

Afghan Group Meeting
2024-11-21 12:00 - 13:00 | LMH Nursery/Conf Room
Thursdays, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, 12/12, LMH Nursery/Conf Room, noon.

Staff Meeting
2024-11-20 10:30 - 12:00 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Meets in Lower Meetinghouse Main Room.

Wednesday Guided Meditation (Zoom)
2024-11-20 10:00 - 10:30 | Zoom
Join FRS member and LICSW Woman Cooper on Wednesdays at 10am for a brief period of mid-week relaxation and renewal. Each 30-minute session will include a guided visualization and reflection on questions around where we hold stress and how we can release it. You’ll also learn some relaxation techniques to use on your own. This is a drop-in program; come one time or many.
If you’d like to reach out to Woman, email susanc0805@gmail.com.
Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87349458812?pwd=[REDACTED]

Facilities Committee (Hybrid)
2024-11-20 08:15 - 09:15 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Meets monthly in the LMH Main Room.

Mystic and Contemplative Circles and Services with Rev. Jane Tuohy
2024-11-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Lower Meetinghouse, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
The Mystic and Contemplative Circles and Services is a program designed to create opportunities to explore pathways for opening to Spirit and sharing in sacred circles.
These gatherings are intended to be opportunities to share with others open to exploring Mystical experiences and cultivating Mystical hearts. We will explore different forms of contemplation, meditation as ways of accessing our own deepest selves, connecting with others, and inviting Spirit.
This series will be facilitated by Rev. Jane Tuohy and different sessions will be led by people who participated last church year in the Interfaith Exploration of Mysticism program, and by guests. No previous experience is required. A willingness to be open to mystery, to be in the unknown, and to invite experiences and perspectives of other participants is required.
All sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8pm in the Lower Meetinghouse, First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist of Newburyport.
Registration is required. Please submit name, contact information to Rev. Jane Tuohy at jane.tuohy@frsuu.org.
Dates:
Session One Sept. 22. Mystical Hope Rev. Jane Tuohy
“ Mystical hope would simply be what happens when we touch this innermost ground and it floods forth into our being as strength and joy. Hope would be the Mercy -the divine love itself coursing through our being like lightning finding a clear path to the ground”. Cynthia Bourgeault
Session two Oct. 8 Johnathon Pape
The Spiritualist Movement began in the U.S. in the 1840s, but spread widely, particularly in English-speaking countries. Spiritualism holds a firm conviction in the existence of spirits “from the other side” who maintain ongoing communication with the living world. Spiritualist Churches usually offer a fairly traditional Christian service, but in addition to standard elements of worship, spirit messages are delivered to those in attendance. This often comes from church leaders who are mediums and regularly connected to and in communication with spirits. The spiritualist movement was very popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries and many churches sprang up, as well as some spiritualist communities. One of the most famous of the spiritualist communities is Lily Dale, NY, a Victoria-era community located in Western, NY. The Lily Dale Assembly has sponsored many speakers on spiritual matters (including such well known figures as Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, and James van Praagh, among many others) and there are also numerous mediums who live there full time and are available for spirit readings and consultations. There are Spiritualist Churches in various communities across the U.S., including the Greater Boston Church of Spiritualism, located in Arlington, MA.
Session three: Oct. 22 Shamanism as an Introduction to Mysticism Rev. Rebecca Bryan
Rev. Rebecca will share her early and personal experiences with shamanism that were integral to her mystical understanding and theology. This will include a guided shamanic journey. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes and bring a mat or a blanket to lay on the floor during meditation, if that is available to you.
Spirit Strong: Election Time Services: On Nov. 4, 5 and 6 FRS will host services designed to provide perspective, build community and offer vision and hope for the future.
More information will be forthcoming in The Steeple.
Session four: Nov. 19 Music as a path to transcendence Susan Swan
“Mysticism is the encounter with the presence of God. It is unity in the sacred.”
Not everyone listens to classical music. However, for me, this genre leads to the sacred. I have selected very brief excerpts- some choral, some instrumental, some old. a few contemporary, some religious, some secular. We’ll listen to each one, and I’ll ask you to write down one or two words that might express the feeling of the piece for you; i.e., more than I like or dislike it. Please note that I’ve heard these pieces many times and I rarely listen to other genres. I’ll give my own reactions and then play the excerpt once more. You’ll then have time to record your feelings again. Members who wish can then share these reactions with the group.
Session five: Dec. 03 The remarkable mystical faith of Etty Hillesum Carolyn Coman
Etty Hillsum ( 1914-1943) was a Dutch Jewish writer and mystic whose diaries chronicle an extraordinary spiritual evolution forged during the Nazi occupation of her country and the devastation of the Holocaust. Before she died at the ae of 29, Hillesum committed herself to being a dwelling place for God and to seeking God in everyone she encountered. Carolyn Coman is the author of For Sad Girls, a book based on Hillesum’s diaries and letters.
Session six. Dec. 17 Closing session All

Reserved for Rehearsal
2024-11-19 12:30 - 13:30 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
November 19, Sanctuary, 12:30-1:30pm

Short Story Group
2024-11-19 12:00 - 13:00 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
The Tuesday Short Story Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, LMH Room A, noon.
For more information please visit: https://www.frsuu.org/short-story-group/
