First Religious Society of Newburyport

Wednesday Guided Meditation (Zoom)
2025-11-05 10:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | 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]

Centering Prayer Meditation
2025-11-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Robing Room (behind pulpit)
Weekly on Wednesdays, Robing Room, 10-11am.
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian Contemplative Meditation. The purpose of this meditation is not to clear the mind as much as it is to open oneself to the presence of the Divine and invite the action of the Divine within. No previous experience or training is required. This form of Contemplative prayer is a practice in resting in the presence of God through non-thinking surrender and to form a deeper relationship with the Divine.
Centering Prayer will be led by Cynthia Tolbert. All are welcome. Please contact Rev. Jane Tuohy at jane.tuohy@frsuu.org or 617-359-0079 if you have questions.

Staff Meeting
2025-11-05 10:30 - 12:00 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
1st and 3rd Wednesdays, LMH Main Room, 10:30am-noon

Addictions Ministry Meeting
2025-11-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Robing Room (behind pulpit)
First Wednesdays, Robing Room, 3-4pm.

Parish Board Meeting (Zoom)
2025-11-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
First Wednesdays, 6-8pm, Zoom

FUNraising Team Meeting (Zoom)
2025-11-05 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom
Weekly on Wednesdays, October 1 – November 5, 6:30 pm on Zoom only.

On Tyranny Zoom Discussions
2025-11-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom
Wednesdays, October 23 and 30, November 6, 1-2:30pm, Zoom only

Theater in the Open
2025-11-06 16:00 - 17:30 | Parish Hall 1st Floor
Thursdays, November 6, 13, 20; December 4, 11, 18; Parish Hall 1st Floor, 4-5:30pm

Big Questions Discussion Group w/ Rev. Laurel
2025-11-06 18:00 - 19:00 | LMH Nursery/Conf Room
First Thursdays beginning October 2, LMH Nursery/Conf Room, 6-7pm.
Join Rev. Laurel for an informal monthly conversation in which we ponder the mysteries of life’s big questions. What is evil? Is goodness inherent? What happens when we die? Bring your questions and your curiosity.

Adult Choir
2025-11-06 19:00 - 20:30 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Thursdays, LMH Main Room, 7-8:30pm.

Capital Campaign Meeting (hybrid)
2025-11-07 08:00 - 09:30 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Fridays starting October 31, LMH Room A, 8-9:30am

Holiday Market Set-up
2025-11-07 09:00 - 13:00 | Parish Hall 1st Floor
Friday, November 7, Parish Hall 1st Floor, 9am-1pm. Contact is Lesley Hansard from NAAM.

Friday Peace Vigil (offsite)
2025-11-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Market Square Bullnose, Newburyport, 01950, United States
Every Friday, Market Square Bullnose, 11am.
Rev. Rebecca leads this weekly gathering to reflect on and remember our commitment to peace, love, and compassion as we navigate the turbulence and daily horrors of our troubled world.

SMART Recovery (Contact: 678-378-0786)
2025-11-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Hayward Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Meets weekly on Friday

FRSUU Auction
2025-11-07 18:00 - 21:00 | Newburyport Community Center, 331 High St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Friday, November 7, Newburyport Senior/Community Center, 6-9pm.
Details will be forthcoming.

Merrimack Valley Ship Model Club (MVSMC)
2025-11-08 08:00 - 11:00 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Second Saturdays, Lower Meetinghouse Main Room, 8-11am.

NAAM Artisans Holiday Market
2025-11-08 10:00 - 17:00 | Parish Hall 1st Floor
Saturday, November 8, Parish Hall 1st Floor, 10am-5pm. Details to come soon. Contact is Lesley Hansard.

Community Outreach Committee Monthly Meeting
2025-11-09 09:30 - 10:30 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Second Sundays starting September 14, LMH Room A, 9:30-10:30am

New Member Sunday
2025-11-09 10:30 - 11:30 | FRS Sanctuary, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Sunday, November 9, Sanctuary, 10:30-11:30am with livestream on YouTube.
Join us for this special worship service where we recognize new church members. Following worship there will be lunch and an intergenerational activity led by Mara Flynn.

Governance Committee Meeting
2025-11-09 11:45 - 12:45 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Second Sundays, September-June, LMH Room A, 11:45am. Hybrid.

Intergenerational Fellowship
2025-11-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Parish Hall 1st Floor
Sunday, November 9, Parish Hall 1st Floor, 12-1pm

Candlelight Chorale Rehearsal
2025-11-09 13:00 - 15:00 | LMH Main Room, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Sunday afternoons, October 29 to December 14, LMH Main Room, 1-3pm

Mild Cognitive Impairment Support Group
2025-11-10 11:00 - 12:30 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
2nd and 4th Mondays, LMH Room A, 11am-12:30pm.
This group is for those who have a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment of some type of dementia. The group offers members an opportunity to share with others who are facing this-life limiting diagnosis. Members are able to be vulnerable and open about the many challenges they face, as well as their adaptive coping mechanisms. This is facilitated by Nancy Kidd, LICSW; Rev. Jane Tuohy; and Linda Harding. For more information, contact Nancy Kidd at nankdd@gmail.com or 978-376-8687.

Chalice Circle
2025-11-10 14:00 - 16:00 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Mondays, October 27 – January 19, LMH Room A, 2-4pm. Led by Ted Stedman. In person only. No meeting on 11/24, 12/22, and 12/29.

Chalice Circle
2025-11-10 18:00 - 20:00 | LMH Nursery/Conf Room
Mondays, October 27 – January 19, LMH Nursery/Conf Room, 6-8pm. Led by Jim Lacey. In person only. No meeting on 11/24, 12/22, and 12/29.

The Center Within: Cultivating Calm and Clarity – A Four-Week Series with Effie Stavrulaki
2025-11-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Parish Hall 1st Floor
Monday evenings, 7–8:30 pm, October 27 and November 3, 10, and 17; Parish Hall 1st Floor

Please join NSIMC meditation teacher Effie Stavrulaki for a four-week Monday night series this fall, held in partnership with the First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, in Newburyport
When: Monday evenings, 7–8:30 pm, October 27 and November 3, 10, and 17
Where: First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, Parish Hall
Cost: $70 for members, $80 for nonmembers (become a member here)
Description: This four-week mindfulness-based series invites participants to gently explore the cultivation of equanimity—an inner steadiness of mind—through guided silent meditations, mindful walking, and reflective practices. Each week focuses on developing qualities that support equanimity: relaxation, compassion, gratitude, and wisdom. Rooted in the Insight meditation tradition, the series blends awareness of the natural breath with simple techniques that calm the nervous system and foster clarity and emotional balance. Together, we will learn practical tools to meet life’s ups and downs with calm presence and care. Practicing in person allows us to create a warm, supportive space of shared presence that deepens both personal insight and group learning. All levels of experience are welcome as we build resilience, openness, and a grounded sense of well-being week by week.
Effie Stavrulaki is a meditation teacher with NSIMC as well as a management professor at Bentley University. Read more at Effie’s teacher page.
To register and pay online, just click below; to pay by cash or check, email northshoreimc@gmail.com.

Veteran's Day-Business Office Closed
2025-11-11 | MA

FRSUU Poetry Group (Zoom)
2025-11-11 11:00 - 11:45 | Zoom
All who love poetry, and who enjoy listening to poetry are invited to join the FRSUU Poetry Group. This poetry listening and appreciation group meets on Tuesday mornings for 45 minutes via Zoom. We read the same poem several times, respond to prompts, and share perspectives, wisdom, humor, and collegiality. There is no poetry writing in this group. Please join us and give your soul and psyche the gift of poetry on a Tuesday morning.
This group is facilitated by Rev. Jane Tuohy.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94623863916?pwd=[REDACTED]

Shared Ministry Group (Zoom)
2025-11-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
2nd Tuesdays, Zoom only, 7-8pm. Join us to discuss readings from the UUA Shared Ministry website.
https://zoom.us/j/97370373954?pwd=[REDACTED]

Finance Committee Meeting
2025-11-12 09:00 - 11:00 | LMH Room A, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Second Wednesdays, LMH Room A, 9-11am
