|
Weekly Newsletter of the
First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton
March 20, 2024
| | |
|
|
Worship Service
Yasss Queen
Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 10:15am
Rev. Parisa Parsa
Celebrate Purim with the tale of Queen Esther! Lift up the lives and gifts of our transgender siblings as we celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility! Join our worship celebration!
Join us in person or on Zoom:
https://bit.ly/FUUSNWorship
| | |
Devin's Musings
Devin Schmueli
“Mishenichnas adar marbim b'simcha”- “When Adar arrives, our joy increases.” These words are a directive from the Babylonian Talmud - the central text of rabbinic Judaism. What is Adar anyways? Adar is the twelfth month in the Hebrew calendar!
| |
| |
|
This is the month that we observe Purim, which celebrates the story of when two Jews - Mordechai and Esther - prevented the genocide of the Jewish people of Shushan in the Persian Empire. The 14th Day of Adar was when their official triumph over the wicked man Haman, who conspired against the Jewish people, took place. This Sunday, we will celebrate Purim with a spiel - a special, funny play - telling this story with joy. It is encouraged that people of all ages who attend a Purim celebration do so in irreverent, appropriate costume for an all-ages audience - a practice that is said to have begun in Italy during the Middle Ages.
There is a connection here to celebrating the diverse spectrum of gender identity on Purim, too. Dr. Ori Z. Soltes, a professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Jewish Civilization, explains that, “the first mention of the use of costumes to celebrate Purim was by Rabbi Yehuda Minz, a 15th century Italian rabbi who made the argument that costume-wearing, [even dressing up as a different gender], is permissible because it serves the purpose of creating joy. “
On Sunday, I will share my own story about just how meaningful and subversive that permission is for transgender and non-binary people, and why it is only appropriate for transgender and non-binary people to increase their joy and observe Transgender Day of Visibility so close to Purim, too. I hope you will come to worship in costume and increase your joy with me.
| | |
|
RE This Sunday
All Together Activity: Making Hamantaschen
4th-6th Grade OWL: 4-5:15pm - Downstairs Classrooms
| |
Article II Presentation Recording Available
For folks who weren't able to attend the zoom presentation and discussion on the proposed changes to the UUA Article II bylaws, you can view the recording here. Passcode: *Fgz3L!X
| | |
|
Please Submit Your Pledges!
We would like to reach out to all of you who are still working on your pledges- we are hoping as many folks as possible can submit before Sunday April 14. FUUSN fiscal year for 2025 starts June 1, 2024, and the Finance Committee, Operations Council, and the Board of Trustees all need some time to finalize the budget. If you have any questions and / or need help submitting your pledge, please email us at pledgedrive@fuusn.org.
Want to enter and pay your pledge on Realm, or text to pay your pledge? Here's how.
| |
Upcoming Events This Week | |
|
Wednesday, March 20
6-7:30pm: Bible Study for Unitarian Universalists (preregistration required) - Kitchen and Alliance Room
| |
|
Friday, March 22
6-6:30pm: Zoom Vespers - online
| |
|
Social Action Committee Meeting and Lunch
Alliance Room
Everyone is Invited - Hear the results of the survey! 169 of us voted for FUUSN Social Action Priorities survey. Let's have a free lunch and talk about the future. While Climate Justice & Racial Justice received the most votes (112), it is clear that many of us care about other issues (189). What's your Fire of Commitment? We would like to hear your ideas about where Social Action should go from here. After we discuss the future, we also would like to look at this year’s SAC budget and get people’s recommendations.
A simple lunch of soup and snacks will be provided. Contributions welcome. We're also seeking volunteers to help set up, run the Zoom meeting, and clean up. Volunteer here.
| |
|
Tuesday, March 26
10am-4:30pm: UUMass Action Advocacy Day - online
4-6pm: Living the Pledge to End Racism Workshop - online
7-8pm: Board of Trustees Meeting
| |
|
Annual Pledge Drive Lunch and Community Lunch Need Your Help!
We have two great community meals coming up: the Annual Pledge Drive lunch on April 7th and a Community Lunch on April 28th. We need helpers to set up, serve, and clean up. Volunteer here. We particularly need cooks! Contact Ron Margolin if you would like to help cook on the Saturday before each lunch.
| |
Patriots Day Breakfast at the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (UUUM)
In partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry, FUUSN has a long history of preparing and serving a breakfast to celebrate Patriots Day with the Roxbury Community at the First Church in Roxbury. We will continue that tradition this year on Monday morning, April 15th. We have a core crew to prepare and serve the meal, but we could use some additional help. While experience in food preparation is especially helpful, there are several activities which do not require it. This is a great opportunity to show support for the UUUM and to put into practice some of the principles we have learned through our Racial Justice initiatives. If you can help or have questions, please contact one of our Delegates to the UUUM - Kevan Hartshorn, Alta Hodges or Pat Rohan.
| |  |
|
Charles River Cleanup - April 20th
Please join other FUUSNites in the 25th Annual Clean-up along the Charles. We will be assigned a location in Newton where we will pick up trash and return the walking paths to their natural beauty. This is a quick and easy way to engage your environmental spirit and love of nature. We anticipate fielding a team of a dozen or more volunteers. Ages 8+ are welcome.
Please register (required) by emailing Betsy Harper ASAP.
| |
Represent FUUSN at the UUA General Assembly
This is a call for delegates to represent FUUSN at this year’s General Assembly (GA), which will take place virtually from Thursday June 20 through Sunday June 23, 2024. GA is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in which delegates worship, witness, learn, and make policy for the UUA. READ MORE.
For more information about GA, please see: https://www.uua.org/ga
If you are interested in becoming a FUUSN delegate, please contact Andy Dale.
| For these and ALL other volunteer opportunities, visit the Volunteer page on our website. Have a volunteer opportunity to add? Contact Jenise. | | |
|
April Activities in Celebration of Earth Day!!!
Saturday April 6th 1-5pm, at FUUSN, an introductory workshop on The Work That Reconnects, Led by Demie Stathoplos (Registration is required, see details below).
Sunday April 7th 11:30-12:30pm at FUUSN coffee hour, the Climate Action Task Force will be hosting a table on the topic of pollinator friendly plants and Save Soil.
Saturday April 20th 10am -12 noon, a FUUSN team will participate in the Charles River Cleanup. Email Betsy Harper to sign up.
Sunday April 21st 12noon - 4pm, Newton Earth Day Fair at Newton North High School Walnut St. Parking lot (under the solar panels). FUUSN Climate Action Task Force and the Plant Based Eating Club will be staffing tables at the fair.
In May, our Climate Action Task Force will host a demonstration of MIT's En-ROADS climate policy simulator, which can help folks understand the impact of various federal policies on greenhouse gas emissions. Keep your eyes open for more info.
| |
April 6 Workshop: Introduction to The Work That Reconnects, led by Demie Stathoplos
Based on the writings and work of Joanna Macy
The Work That Reconnects is a body of thought and experiential exercises and rituals that help us connect deeply with all life on the planet and reclaim our ability to think and act on behalf of ourselves and all that is. This half day workshop will explore this important framework that can enliven and empower us in this time that Joanna Macy calls The Great Turning.
Read more | Register here
| |
New Member Sunday - April 7, 2024
New Member Sunday is when we welcome new members from the current church year to sign the membership book and celebrate their membership in ritual during the service. Come and meet our newest members!
| |
Join our FUUSN community lunch to benefit the pledge drive -
April 7, 2024
Enjoy a bowl of warm vegan chili and munch on gluten-free cornbread as you mingle with the FUUSN community. The Community Lunch will be held on Sunday, April 7th following the service in the parish hall. Cost is $5 per person. Free for kids. All proceeds benefit the FUUSN Pledge Drive.
| |
Sign up for Passover Seder - April 28, 2024
On April 28th, 2024 at 6:00 PM, we will be holding the FUUSN Community Passover Seder, and it will be led by Rabbi Sarah Noyovitz (AKA Rabbi Noyo), current Interim Rabbi at Temple Hillel B'nai Torah in West Roxbury. Please RSVP here and consider giving some of your time and talent.
Please Note: While this event will take place during the ministerial candidating week (April 28th through May 5th), the seder is not a part of the ministerial candidating week programs.
| | | |
|
|
Thanks to Anne Watson Born and all our fabulous FUUSN musicians and performers for making last Music Sunday a tremendous success! | |
Thanks to all our FUUSN authors, and to Curt Lamb, Wendy Haskell, and the Over 60s for organizing last Sunday's event. | |
|
|
| QUICK POLL: Would you prefer a text-only newsletter with less formatting? | | | |
|
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.
| | |
First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton www.fuusn.org | 617-527-3203 | | |
| | | |
