The FUUSN Chime

Weekly Newsletter of the

First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton

January 11, 2023

Join Us on Zoom

Share Joys and Sorrows

The Way is Long

Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 10:15am

Rev. Mary Margaret Earl

Justice work is the work of faithful people. A reflection and ritual to renew ourselves for the journey.

The Rev. Mary Margaret Earl has served as Executive Director and Senior Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry for 9 years. In this ministry, she strengthens connections between UUs and the Roxbury neighborhood where the UUUM operates. She has served on the leadership team of Moral Movement Massachusetts, the Roxbury Cultural Network, and currently serves on the search committee for the new Roxbury Community College president. Prior to her arrival at the UU Urban Ministry, she spent 10 years at a faith-based nonprofit in RI serving the homeless community, She is past president of the Board of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, recipient of the Heroes of Faith Award from the Rhode Island State Council of Churches for her interfaith work, and received a Courage of Conscience award from the Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Ma. She is a longtime vegan committed to standing up for nonhuman animals.

Covid Policy Reminder

Your Ops Council continues to monitor the Covid wastewater levels and public health recommendations. As cases rise with a new variant again, and we also are seeing increases in hospitalizations due to RSV and flu, we are encouraged by the fact that our current practices and recommendations align with current public health guidance. We especially encourage anyone eligible to be up to date on Covid boosters!

As a reminder, here are our guidelines for FUUSN gatherings:

Stay home if you feel unwell and definitely if you have tested positive for a communicable illness.
Wear a mask if you feel well but may have been exposed.
Remember that the last few rows of pews in the sanctuary are reserved for folks masking due to increased vulnerability to illness, and respect that space appropriately.

Upcoming Events This Week

Calendar

Jan 14, 10:30am: Community Expo

Jan. 14, 11:30am: Band Rehearsal

Jan. 16, 7pm: Operations Council Meeting

Recurring Events

Wed., 6:30pm: Tai Chi Class

Wed., 7:30pm: Choir Practice

Thurs., 4:30pm: CreationDance

Fri., 11am: Over 60s Walking Group

RE This Week

This Month: Exploration of Racial Justice and the 8th Principle

Jan. 11, 6pm: RE Committee Meeting

FUUSN Community Expo

Sunday, January 14, 11:30am

Come see what FUUSN is all about! Representatives from our many committees, clubs, groups, and teams will be present to tell you what they do and how you can get involved. Light refreshments will be served. Bring your friends!!!

Volunteer Opportunities

Help Needed for the Community Expo

We need a few helping hands to set up the Parish Hall for the Community Expo and clean up afterward.

If you'd like to help set up or clean up, SIGN UP HERE.

Ongoing Signups Reminder

For these and ALL other volunteer opportunities, visit the Volunteer page on our website.

Donate to the Services Auction

We are always looking for donations of services, particularly from folks who have not donated services in the past. You can view last year’s Silent Auction and Voice Auction offerings for some idea of what will be offered this year. But feel free to be creative in thinking about what service you can donate.

Questions or if you want to discuss offering a service: Please contact Pat Rohan.

Save the Date

Racial Justice Book Clubs Forming

Groups at FUUSN will discuss the book Nice Racism, by Robin DiAngelo. One group will meet in person at FUUSN on Sundays from 12-2 PM (January 21st, 28th, and February 11th), and another will meet on Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 7-9 PM (January 23rd and 30th, and February 6th). Stop by the Racial Justice Ministry table at coffee hour or email Meg Holland.

UU Plant-Based Eating Group:

SMALL-GROUP POTLUCK DINNER - JANUARY 21

Our next plant-based potluck dinner will be held on Sunday, January 21, at 6:00 pm. The dinners will be held in people’s homes in small groups of approximately 8 people. An invitation will be sent to those on the PBEC email list later in the month. If you would like to join the list, please send an email to UU-Plant-Based-contact-us@googlegroups.com.

Don't Miss This Year's Mardi-Gras-Themed Services Auction on Saturday, Feb. 3!

Doors open at 5:30 for dinner, socializing and browsing raffle and auction items. Ends 8:30/9.
Live Auction starts at 6:30 in the Parish Hall. Optional bidding on great items such as weekend vacation homes, gourmet dinners, babysitting nights and other services.
$10 per adult entry INCLUDES dinner and drinks!! (Wine/beer as well as non-alcoholic options.) No need to RSVP.
Childcare in the Children’s Chapel included throughout the evening!
Kids can bring PJs and sleeping bags for the movie.

Alternative Coffee Hour - Feb. 4

After you grab your coffee, feel free to join a small group (7 or 8) of fellow FUUSNites to discuss topics arising from the service. Just come to the Member Services table and you will be assigned to a group and meeting room at random. The groups will start at 11:40 and end at 12:15. All are welcome.

ANNUAL FUUSN MUSICIANS CONCERT

Come and hear the wonderful musicians of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in concert on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 2pm in the FUUSN Sanctuary.

Over 60s Presentation - Feb. 25th

Marty Lowenthal, Common Sense Mindfulness in Challenging Times - based in the Buddhist tradition which emphasizes how to be present, engaged and live in a challenging world with consciousness, love and compassion in everyday and spiritual life.

Fill Out Our Newsletter Survey

We've made some recent changes to the newsletter format, most notably switching to Constant Contact. We'd like to hear from you about how you like these changes and what else we can do to improve! Fill out our survey.

Submit News and Events

Have a news item you want to share? Want to schedule a FUUSN Event? Please use our web forms! Note that any event using physical space at FUUSN must be approved by Fran, and until you receive confirmation from her, that event will not be scheduled or added to our Events calendar.

Submissions to the newsletter must be sent in by the previous Tuesday at 9am. Submissions to the Order of Service must be sent in by the previous Thursday at 9am.

Submit News

Submit an Event

FUUSN Contacts

Rev. Parisa Parsa, Interim Minister, parisa@fusn.org
Fran Clancy, Office Administrator, office@fusn.org
Devin Shmueli, Director of Family and Community Ministries, devin@fusn.org
Anne Watson Born, Director of Music Ministry, music@fusn.org
Jenise Aminoff, Communications and Technology Coordinator, jenise@fusn.org
Lay Minister On Call for January: Jay Flynn, jaywflynn@gmail.com, 617-340-9299
Care Crew contact, Sheila Ardery, sardery@gmail.com, 617-564-1769

First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton | www.fuusn.org