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
Friday Peace Vigil
Rev. Rebecca leads this 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. Every Friday, 11 am, at the Market Square Bullnose.
Weekly Mindfulness: Monday Night Meditation & Wednesday Online Guided Meditation
Monday Night Meditation at 6:30pm in Lower Meeting House (enter via Unicorn Street entrance) These weekly sessions are led by Joyce Haydock, Senior Dharma Teacher with the International Kwan Um School of Zen. She has been with the school since 1989. This FRS UU Monday...
Join the Candlelight Chorale!
We welcome singers to join the Candlelight Chorale which will rehearse on Sundays, beginning October 26, from 1-3pm, at FRSUU. Our annual Candlelight Service will be held on Sunday, December 21.
Yankee Homecoming Book Sale
Clean out your bookshelves and donate your books for the annual FRSUU Book Sale! Adult and children’s books, games, and puzzles are welcome. Drop off your items on June 29, before and after worship, or in the Parish Hall on Thursdays from 9:30-11:30am. The Book Sale...
On Tyranny Read & Discussion
Sundays, October 26, November 2, November 11, LMH Main Room, 4-6:30pm. How do modern democracies fight tyranny? On Tyranny, by historian Timothy Snyder, presents "Twenty Lessons" of provocative modern history essential for American citizens to understand this process...
Centering Prayer Group
Wednesdays, May 28 - July 9 Centering Prayer Group LMH Room A, 10-11am Join Rev. Jane Tuohy and Cynthia Tolbert for a Centering Prayer Group on Wednesdays at 10am in Lower Meetinghouse Room A through July 9. Centering Prayer will be on hiatus after July 9 for the...
29th Annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace
Sunday, May 11 Town Field Park, Dorchester, 8am Join our FRS Walk Team and be home in time for your own Mother's Day celebration! Great exercise, great fellowship! The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute offers healing programs to prevent cycles of retaliatory violence....
Exploring Elderhood Together: Have a SEAT!
Thursday, May 15, 2025 Exploring Elderhood Together: Have a SEAT! LMH Main Room, 1-2:30pm Exploring Elderhood Together invites you to our last program of this church year. FRS’s Nancy McCarthy will lead us in a set of functional fitness moves. Functional fitness...
Rev. Rebecca’s Book Launch
Sunday, May 4, 12-2pm, Sanctuary and Lower Meetinghouse Join us for the launch of Rev. Rebecca's new sermon book, Guided by Love: A Minister's Thoughts on Love, Hope, and Justice! Rev. Rebecca will read from her book and host a Q&A in the Sanctuary. A reception...
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.
