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
Justice Sunday: Banned Books
Justice Sunday With Soup & Salad in Lower Meetinghouse. Join us Sunday, September 29th following service. Please sign up to bring a soup and/or volunteer to help serve here! Each year the American Library Association host an Annual Week of Action focus on Banned...
Introduction to the Science and Practice of Mindfulness: A Four-Week Series with Effie Stavrulaki
Introduction to the Science and Practice of Mindfulness: A Four-Week Series with Effie Stavrulaki Offered by North Shore Insight and Meditation Center When: Monday evenings, 7-8:30 pm, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 21, & 28 (no class Oct. 14) at the FRSUU Mindfulness is the...
Registration for Sunday School at the FRSUU is now open!
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...
In the Spirit: “Never Alone” by Reverend Rebecca M. Bryan
Published in the Newburyport Daily News on June 28, 2024 “Why do you want to be a minister?” Carroll asked, leaning across the table. We were in a stately, old study room in the town library. I had worked with this retired professor for years, raising...
Friday Book Group
When: Fridays from 10-11:30am, Lower Meeting House, Room A and on Zoom We meet weekly and read both fiction and non-fiction books chosen by the participants. Each book is read and discussed over a period of several meetings, with the reading for each determined by the...
“Once Known” Dedication Ceremony
When: Tuesday, May 21 at 3pm, at the Old Hill Burying Ground, opposite #20 Auburn Street behind Bartlet Mall. Join Reverend Rebecca, Ghlee E. Woodworth, City officials, donors (including FRS), and friends for this Dedication...
The 2023 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 FY23 Budget. Click HERE to access the 2023 FRS Annual Report.
The Short Story Group
The Short Story Group meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from noon-1pm in the Lower Meetinghouse
Unitarian Universalist Association Letter to Congress
The Unitarian Universalist Association has joined 27 other denominations and organizations in signing a letter calling on Congress to take proactive steps to de-escalate the ongoing violence in Israel/Palestine. Specifically, the letter asks Congress to: Publicly call...
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.
