Upcoming Sunday Services

10:30am

in-person in the Sanctuary

and on Zoom

June 9, 2024

Fresh Starts

Caro Barschow, Minister

This month's theme for worship is Renewal. Many of us have had fresh starts in our lives. Sometimes they come because we seek them and other times they surprise us. There are times we are hungry for change and other times that we resist it mightly. How does our spiritual life impact how we respond to the invitation to start anew?

June 16, 2024

Music Sunday: Flower Communion

Caro Barschow, Minister

Ethan Hackett, Music Director

Holding a Flower Communion is an annual ritual that celebrates beauty, diversity, and community. This ritual entered our living tradition about 100 years ago at a Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. Bring to the Sanctuary a flower from your garden, or share from a common bouquet. This ritual will celebrate with music from the Singing Group, the Bell Choir and a four-hands piano performance by Ethan Hackett and Judy Putnam.

*This will be NSUU's final in-person service prior to a summer break.

Church Announcements

Staff Transitions

As announced at the past Sunday service, Ariana LaMey-Colón has moved on from her position as Church Administrator. We wish her the best. The Board is putting together a Personnel Committee to hire for our open positions. Some wonderful volunteers will staff the office for the time being. Thank you! You can contact the office as usual at nsuu@verizon.net or 978-774-7582.

There are a few more roles for volunteers to cover office/building needs. If you'd like to volunteer a few hours this summer, please email Rev. Caro at rev.barschow@gmail.com.

Here is the plan for temporary office coverage:

• Building/rental management
• Rentals - Susan
• Contractors and building supplies  - Hal/Bob
• Building equipment and keys - Rev. Caro 
• Office Administration
• Postal mail - Lynette
• Calendar and Zoom Meetings - Bo 
• Newsletter - Rev. Caro 
• Phone messages - Susan
• Emails - Maureen 
• Financial Management
• Deposits - Lynette
• Payments - Jason
• Payroll/Benefits - Rev. Caro 

Many thanks to our Buildings and Grounds volunteers who are re-stocking paper goods and taking out the trash to provide Sexton coverage. On Saturdays, a contract cleaner will be in the building to sweep and wash the floors, as well as clean the restroom facilities.

General Assembly is June 20-23

Each June, Unitarian Universalist Association holds a national conference called General Assembly. This year, the conference will take place exclusively online . Registration and program schedule available now.

Article II Workshop

Rev. Caro will present 2 workshops to review proposed changes to the UUA Bylaws Article II and provide time to dialogue about the changes as a congregational community. At this year's General Assembly, delegates will vote on proposed changes to the Bylaws. Learn more from the Article II Study Commission. The final workshop is:

Sunday, June 9 

Noon-1:30p

in the Sanctuary and on Zoom

Your GA Delegates Seek Feedback

Many thanks to Judy Putnam and Marty Langlois who volunteered to represent NSUU at the General Assembly business meetings. As Delegates, they will vote on the Article II Bylaws changes and other denominational business. If you'd like to share your input on Article II Bylaws changes, please contact Judy at judeputnam@icloud.com and Marty at langloismartha@gmail.com . You can also offer feedback at the workshop on June 9th. For more information on the proposed changes: Article II Study Commission

Office Notes

We are currently in a transitional phase for our pledges, as we continue to collect payments for the current year while also initiating the process for the new pledge year. To ensure clarity and smooth processing, I kindly request that individuals sending in their pledge payments via check specify in the memo:

1. That it's intended for a pledge payment, and
2. Which pledge year the payment corresponds to.

Example: Pledge 2024-25, or Pledge 2023-24



Providing this information in the memo facilitates accurate depositing of payments into the correct account. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

From the Board of Directors

Minutes from April 17, 2024

Board of Directors Meeting -

click link below

From the Social Action Committee

North Shore Pride Parade and Festival

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Several NSUUers will be marching in the parade holding our banner. We will be meeting at Shetland Park in Salem at 11:45 am to start the parade. (Leave time to find parking).  We would love to have you join us. It’s a big and exciting event.  Email Cheryl for more information at cbferris@gmail.com 

UU Mass Action

NSUU has a partnership with UU Mass Action, a statewide UU advocacy group. They help us to put our values into action. You can get involved by joining a team, showing up for rallies and events, and supporting legislation actions in person and on line.  We urge you to sign up to get their newsletters.

• Monthly UU Action Hours: Tuesday June 25 RSVP
• Get involved with our teams!
• Sign up for our June UU Immigrant Justice Team meeting (June 11, 12-1pm)
• Flyer
• RSVP 
• Get on our list: Immigrant Justice Team
• Join our Indigenous Rights Solidarity Team 
• Sign up here for the list
• Next Meeting: Monday, June 24 from 7-8pm
• Join our Climate team!
• Virtual Climate Legislative Update! June 10, 7pm. RSVP 
• Join the virtual advocacy Day Thursday, June 20th, 2024! RSVP
• Join your Regional Team’s email list!
• UU Mass Action’s Ceasefire gatherings .Wednesday, June 5, 5-6PM. Statement on Ceasefire here. 
• Become a member of UU Mass Action and support our work with a gift! Contributions of all sizes make you a member of UU Mass Action. We have 150+ members of UU Mass Action - join us! We are working to raise $8k before the end of June!
• NSUU is a UU Mass Action Partner Congregation. This is a new program - email Tali if you want to learn more! tsmookler@uumassaction.org

Danvers Food Pantry and Operation Troop Support

We continue to collect items for these important causes. Place your donations in the baskets located in fellowship hall. Thanks for your on-going support.

From the Green Sanctuary

Danvers Styrofoam Ban Passes ! ! !

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” – Margaret Mead (used with permission)

Margaret Mead’s words were never so true as at the 2024 Danvers Town Meeting.  After a year and a half of steady work, Bob Gamer and Linda Leonard (supported by other Green Sanctuary members) brought an article to the Town Meeting agenda to ban Styrofoam in Danvers food establishments.  The article passed on a voice vote!  This follows the successful plastic bag ban that we worked on several years ago, and proves that we CAN make a difference.

For a video of the 11-minute debate and passage, click here

For more details, click here

P. S. an amendment to the article made an exception for meat counters, which may continue using Styrofoam trays for the time being.  Other grocery and restaurant use of Styrofoam containers, however, will be prohibited in Danvers.

From the Art Committee

New Exhibit!

Merrimack Valley Quilters Guild

The Merrimack Valley Quilters Guild was formed in the summer of 1980 to encourage and develop the art of quilting. Members come from all age groups and live in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire towns in the Merrimack Valley. Seven quilters are exhibiting 22 quilts during the months of June and July.

Local Announcements

ESSEX HARMONY CONCERT

June 16, 2024 2PM

Click on the Concert Program for a full-sized version. This group features NSUU members. Location: Maple Street Church in Danvers.

Minister’s Schedule

Rev. Caro Barschow weekly schedule:

Sunday-Thursday, occasional Saturdays

Monday is a writing/study day

Friday is a Sabbath day 

Minister’s Office Hours:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, by appointment (in-person or Zoom) 

Please call or email Rev. Caro directly to make an appointment.

Rev. Caro’s June Week off is Mon 6/24- Sun 6/30

Rev. Caro works full-time 3 weeks a month and takes 1 week off, to fulfill NSUU’s 3/4 time contract. During this time, she is available for pastoral emergencies - please call cell phone.

Please note: Rev. Caro will take vacation and study leave during the month of July.

How to be in touch:

Email: rev.barschow@gmail.com

Cell phone: 978-473-7980

Church Administrator’s Schedule

The office will be lightly staffed for the next few weeks.

Please call or email to arrange a visit.

How to be in touch

Email: nsuu@verizon.net

Office phone: 978-774-7582

Online Calendar

The NSUU website features an up-to-date calendar of church activities. Follow the link to view the calendar. On the calendar page, hover your mouse over the title of the event to find out the time and location.

Good Things Are Happening

Please contribute announcements by Wednesday at noon for NSUU's weekly e-newsletter "Good Things Are Happening." You can do so by sending an email with the announcement to nsuu@verizon.net. Please put in the subject line "For Good Things Are Happening." Please indicate how long you would like the announcement to appear and a contact email or phone number for readers to get more information.

Deadline: Wednesday at noon