JULY MINISTRY THEME: POSSIBILITY
Annual Ministry Theme: Life
SUNDAY, JULY 12
GROWING INTO HARMONY WITH THE DIVINE
SERVICE STARTS
AT 10AM
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Reading Frederick Douglass Together
10am, Brown Square, rain location: FRSUU, no livestream
Please join us for the annual community reading of Frederick Douglass’s speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Meet in Brown Square across from City Hall (rain location, FRSUU) at 10am. No sign-up required. Light refreshments will follow. Lawn chairs are encouraged. Co-hosted by the Friends of William Lloyd Garrison, the YWCA of the Greater Northshore, Museum of Old Newbury, and Congregation Ahavas Achim, with support from Mass Humanities and Mass Cultural Council. No livestream. More information at www.WLGarrison.com.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Growing into Harmony with the Divine
10am, Sanctuary and YouTube
Drawing from Steve McIntosh’s Evolution’s Purpose, the story of cosmic, biological, and cultural evolution, the service will explore how familiar phrases from our FRS Affirmation of Faith and Doxology can speak to our lives today. The service will be led by David Turner and will include harmonies from choir members and video reflections and songs from Alban and Erinda in Albania.
FRSUU Welcomes New Interim Minister!
The FRSUU Board of Trustees and the Interim Minister Search Team are excited and proud to announce the selection of Rev. Connie Simon as our new interim minister. Rev. Connie, who is completing her interim ministry at the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bethesda, MD, will start her two-year ministry at FRSUU on August 1. Her first official Sunday in the pulpit will be September 13, Opening Sunday for the 2026-27 church year.
Rev. Connie explains her approach to interim ministry on her website: “I’ve chosen to focus my ministry on transitional work because I genuinely love it. There’s something deeply meaningful about accompanying congregations through periods of change—helping them reflect on their history, clarify their identity, strengthen their leadership, and step intentionally into their future. Transitions are challenging, but they’re also extraordinary opportunities for growth, healing, and renewal.”
Read the full announcement HERE.
Summer Sunday Worship
July 19 and 26
10am in the sanctuary with livestream on YouTube
Click here for the full schedule of summer services and events.
The Latest News & Events
The 2024 FRS Annual Report
The annual report contains reports from the Parish Board, Committees, Staff, and Groups; the warrant for the Annual Meeting; other materials to support the meeting; and the proposed FY25 Budget. Click HERE to access the 2024 FRS Annual Report.
New to UU with Rev. Laurel
Are you new to FRS and/or Unitarian Universalism? This series of three classes is designed to help answer questions about Unitarian Universalism, give you tools to navigate all that FRS has to offer, and foster connections with other newcomers as well as longtime...
Indivisible-RISE and FRS Join Forces to Support Get Out the Vote!
Join us to write postcards to registered voters in swing states to encourage them to get out and vote! Postcards will be the usual $5 per packet of 10. As this is near the very end of when we can write and mail postcards for this election cycle, we need all hands on...
Fall 2024 Program Booklet
We invite you to read through the Fall 2024 Program Booklet here
Fall Passion Action Fair
Join us Sunday, October 6 from 11:30-12:30pm in Parish Hall Where the heart and mind meet to nourish the soul Come and learn about some of the ministry teams, faith foundation and spiritual exploration programming, social and climate justice initiatives, and...
Mindful Yoga with David Turner
This specially designed program integrates gentle yoga practices with mindfulness techniques. Whether you are new to yoga or have some experience, this course offers a supportive environment to enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being. David Turner is a...
Exploring Elderhood Together
As a follow-up to last month’s program on Random Acts of Connection, we invite you to continue the conversation on making connections to others in our lives. Come share your thoughts on why these connections are so important, what barriers we might encounter and ways...
FRSUU Auction “Be the Light in the World”
Save the Date for the FRSUU 2024 Auction “Be the Light in the World” Friday, October 4, 2024 from 6-10pm at the Newburyport Community Center. For all the auction details including tickets, donations and volunteering please visit: https://www.frsuu.org/2024-auction/...
Exploring Elderhood Together
Exploring Elderhood Together presents Random Acts of Connection on Thursday, September 26, 1:00-2:30pm in the Lower Meeting House with George Gray, Rotarian and Professor at Salem State University. Perhaps you’ve seen people with a “HAPPY TO CHAT” sign, engaged in...
Tour the FRS Campus and Buildings
Follow our drone footage as we fly to the top of FRS’s steeple featuring a glass-eyed gilded weathercock which overlooks downtown Newburyport and Merrimack River. From there, you’ll get a first-hand look at our campus grounds and the interior of our meetinghouse and Sanctuary which dates back to 1801. Rev. Rebecca, our Senior Minister, welcomes you and ALL who seek a place of spiritual community and faith here. Organ music provided by former Director of Church Music Justin Murphy-Mancini on our 1834 Joseph Alley organ. Piano music provided by Director of Church Music Nick Place. We close with a view of the bell from the foundry of Paul Revere and Sons bell.
