First Religious Society of Newburyport

Private Rental
2024-12-19 15:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Parish Hall 1st Floor
TITO Afterschool Program from 3:30-5:30pm, Parish Hall 1st floor.
Oct. 24
Nov.7, 14 & 21
Dec. 5, 12 & 19

Adult Choir
2024-12-19 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-12-26 19:00 - 20:30 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Thursdays, LMH Main Room, 7-8:30pm

Serenity in the Sanctuary
2024-12-20 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-12-22 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-12-23 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-12-24 12:00 - 13:00 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Join us for short programs of poetry, guided meditation, silent meditation, and blessings. Take refuge in reflection, centering practices, and silence. Let’s remember what is important, true, and lasting and be in community. Join us for short programs of poetry, guided meditation, silent meditation, and blessings. Take refuge in reflection, centering practices, and silence. Let’s remember what is important, true, and lasting and be in community.
Peace Within, Peace Without ; When: Thursday, December 19 – Tuesday, December 24 (excluding 12/22) 12pm in the Sanctuary
THURSDAY 12/19: Nick Place Music Service: Be Where You Are
“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.” Can we take this teaching of Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and free ourselves of all that takes us away from our own spiritual centers? Letting go of expectations imposed by others or by ourselves, can we settle into the peace and harmony that are always available in our own hearts?
FRIDAY 12/20: Rev. Rebecca Bryan Blue Christmas Service
The holidays can be difficult times for many of us, even as they are joyful. Join Rev. Rebecca in a simple and warm service for us to come together to find peace in challenging times. This gentle time will offer comfort to your heart and peace for your nostalgic or busy mind.
SATURDAY 12/21 Rev. Stan Barrett What Are We Waiting for?
What are we waiting for? And from where do we expect it to come? We’ll mediate on three “directions” toward the divine as we imagine and experience it, toward ourselves/our own inwardness, and toward a human face in which we somehow see eternity. “O Come, O Come.”
No offering 12/22
MONDAY 12/23 Barbara Dowd and Carolyn Davis – local Buddhist practice leaders ‘Tis the Season…for Lovingkindness
Metta, or Lovingkindness, in Buddhism describes a way of being in the world with a mind abiding in boundless kindness and all-inclusive friendliness. We will explore the traditional Buddhist practice of offering lovingkindness to ourselves and others. With the busyness and stress of the holidays, this healing practice helps refocus our minds and hearts to befriend ourselves and others with gentleness, ease, and care.
TUESDAY 12/24 Rev. Jane Tuohy Open to Receiving Spiritual Gifts?
Is there an invitation for you this holiday season to shift from gift giver and “the one who prepares for the holiday” to being a receiver of spiritual gifts? What spiritual gifts are being offered to us should we open ourselves to making this inner shift?

Reserved for Piano Practice
2024-12-20 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-27 16:00 - 17:00 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Gay Pearson piano practice, every Friday, 4-5pm, Sanctuary

CANCELED: Piano Recital
2024-12-20 17:00 - 20:30 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
To be rescheduled.

SMART Recovery (Contact: 678-378-0786)
2024-12-20 18:00 - 19:30, 2024-12-27 18:00 - 19:30 | Hayward Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Meets weekly on Friday

Organ Rehearsal
2024-12-21 10:00 - 12:00 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Saturday, December 21, Sanctuary, 10am-noon.

Serenity in the Sanctuary
2024-12-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Parish Hall 1st Floor
Join us for short programs of poetry, guided meditation, silent meditation, and blessings. Take refuge in reflection, centering practices, and silence. Let’s remember what is important, true, and lasting and be in community. Join us for short programs of poetry, guided meditation, silent meditation, and blessings. Take refuge in reflection, centering practices, and silence. Let’s remember what is important, true, and lasting and be in community.
Peace Within, Peace Without ; When: Thursday, December 19 – Tuesday, December 24 (excluding 12/22) 12pm in the Sanctuary. Saturday, December 21 program will meet in the Parish Hall 1st Floor.
THURSDAY 12/19: Nick Place Music Service: Be Where You Are
“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.” Can we take this teaching of Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and free ourselves of all that takes us away from our own spiritual centers? Letting go of expectations imposed by others or by ourselves, can we settle into the peace and harmony that are always available in our own hearts?
FRIDAY 12/20: Rev. Rebecca Bryan Blue Christmas Service
The holidays can be difficult times for many of us, even as they are joyful. Join Rev. Rebecca in a simple and warm service for us to come together to find peace in challenging times. This gentle time will offer comfort to your heart and peace for your nostalgic or busy mind.
SATURDAY 12/21 Rev. Stan Barrett What Are We Waiting for? – this service meets in the Parish Hall 1st Floor
What are we waiting for? And from where do we expect it to come? We’ll mediate on three “directions” toward the divine as we imagine and experience it, toward ourselves/our own inwardness, and toward a human face in which we somehow see eternity. “O Come, O Come.”
No offering 12/22
MONDAY 12/23 Barbara Dowd and Carolyn Davis – local Buddhist practice leaders ‘Tis the Season…for Lovingkindness
Metta, or Lovingkindness, in Buddhism describes a way of being in the world with a mind abiding in boundless kindness and all-inclusive friendliness. We will explore the traditional Buddhist practice of offering lovingkindness to ourselves and others. With the busyness and stress of the holidays, this healing practice helps refocus our minds and hearts to befriend ourselves and others with gentleness, ease, and care.
TUESDAY 12/24 Rev. Jane Tuohy Open to Receiving Spiritual Gifts?
Is there an invitation for you this holiday season to shift from gift giver and “the one who prepares for the holiday” to being a receiver of spiritual gifts? What spiritual gifts are being offered to us should we open ourselves to making this inner shift?

Candlelight Chorale Dress Rehearsal
2024-12-21 12:30 - 15:00 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Sanctuary

Reserved for Nursery
2024-12-22 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-12-29 10:00 - 11:30 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Reserved from 10:00am-11:30am

Young Church
2024-12-22 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-12-29 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.

Outdoor Solstice Worship Service
2024-12-22 10:30 - 11:30 | Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Refuge Rd Lot 1, Newbury
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Parking Lot 1, 10:30am. Join Reverend Rebecca and FRS friends as we celebrate Winter Solstice on the beaches of Plum Island. A not-to-be-missed time by the ocean that will help connect us to the rhythms of nature and to a place of peace. This service is in place of a 10:30am worship service in the Sanctuary. Join us for Candlelight in the evening!

Youth Group
2024-12-22 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.

Annual Candlelight Service
2024-12-22 19:00 - 20:00 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
From 7-8pm

Calling for volunteers - Refugee Immigration Ministry (RIM) (Zoom)
2024-12-23 17:30 - 18:30 | Zoom
Join a Zoom call on Monday, December 23, 5:30-6:30pm to learn how you can support FRSUU to organize a RIM Cluster with Newburyport area churches. When immigrants to the United States apply for asylum, they are not allowed to work for the following six months. How can they survive with no income? For 38 years, RIM has engaged congregations in an interfaith support system for these people. FRSUU was once an integral part of RIM. Learn how we can join this important effort once again. The founder and leader of RIM, the Rev. Dr. Ruth Bersin, will join the meeting to guide us on this journey.

Christmas Eve Service
2024-12-24 17:30 - 18:30 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
All are welcome at our annual Christmas Eve Service for all ages to enjoy this beautiful time, together in community, remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Experience the peace of the season while hearing the Christmas story. The service will include Silent Night sung by candlelight. Everyone is invited to stay for caroling and hot cocoa, immediately following the service, on the steps in front of the church. Rev. Rebecca preaching and featuring guest musician Danny Harrington on saxophone.

Afghan Working Group
2024-12-26 12:15 - 13:30 | LMH Nursery/Conf Room
Meets on the 4th Thursday of the month in LMH Nursery/Conference Room.

Reserved for Piano Practice
2024-12-26 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-01-02 14:00 - 16:00 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Thursdays, Sanctuary, 2-4pm, Gay Pearson

Gong Meditation and Relaxation Service
2024-12-29 10:30 - 11:30 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Zach Field returns to FRS for the annual Gong Meditation and Relaxation service to help us bring in the new year with peace and calm. The soothing sounds of pitched gongs distract the mind as Zach leads us in meditation. Zach’s percussion studio and music school, ZFDM, is located at the Tannery in Newburyport.
10:30am, in-person and on YouTube

Campaign Core Team
2025-01-02 11:00 - 12:00 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Thursday, January 2, LMH Room A, 11am.

Executive Committee Meeting
2025-01-02 13:00 - 14:00 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Meets 1st Thursday, 1-2pm, LMH Room A.
