Reflections on music and soul

This Sunday, July 12, NSUU Music Director Judy Putnam will speak on “How Singing Touched My Soul.”

Judy will share her experience of singing with the Mystic Chorale for the past several seasons. She will describe the intensity of singing with more than 200 other voices and the effect that has had on her mind, body, and spirit.

The music during this service will be selections of gospel music she sang with the Chorale. We will also make our own music and sing a few gospel songs. Come and be lifted up!

The service will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by coffee and fellowship at about 11:30. Child care is available, and visitors are always welcome.

Happy birthday, Eva Turner

Eva Turner admires her birthday cake.

Eva Turner admires her birthday cake.

Following last Sunday’s service, members of the Northshore UU Church honored Eva Turner on her 89th birthday with cake and goodies in the Fellowship Hall.

Ms. Turner is not only an original member of our church, but was also a member of two NSUU predecessors, the Peabody Unitarian and Universalist Churches.

For a Flickr slideshow, click here or on the photo above.

Thoughts on war and peace

In the last 90 years America has gone to war at least eight times. Yet this period contains more years of peace than war. We are a nation that historically goes to war reluctantly. Is that changing?

“A Peaceful Nation” will be the topic of the sermon this Sunday, July 5. The speaker will be Fred Mills, our director of religious education. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Following the service, a time has been set aside to honor Eva Turner, a member of our church who served two of our predecessor churches, the Peabody Universalist Church and the Peabody Unitarian Church. She has been an active member of Northshore UU since its founding, always with dedication and love.

Eva will be 90 89 years old today, and everyone is invited to gather in the Fellowship Hall to celebrate her birthday.

Child care is available, and visitors are always welcome. Our Religious Education Program will resume in the fall.

Watch the UUA General Assembly

General Assembly, the Unitarian Universalist Association’s annual denominational meeting, is taking place in Salt Lake City right now.

There will be worship services, musical performances, workshops, award-winning sermons, the vote for the UUA president, study/action issues and much more.

Twenty-five hours of live, streaming video will be broadcast, and is happening right now.  Click here to start watching. Links to past video will be posted so that you needn’t watch it live.

This is a great way to participate if you aren’t able to be there. See our democratic process in action and experience the many ways you can learn or be inspired. It’s almost as good as being there.

Lay-led summer services begin

The first of our lay-led summer services will be held this Sunday, June 28, at 10:30 a.m. Rita and Bob Kelley will talk about “Hiking in the Smokies,” a lively discussion about tramping through the mountains with their son for eight days.

The service will end at about 11:30, followed by coffee and fellowship. Visitors are always welcome, and child care is available. Our Religious Education Program has concluded for the year, and will resume after Labor Day.

Celebrating our Coming of Age youth

Coming of Age members, from left: Olivia Timmins, Nathaniel Swanson, Lea Anne Waybright, Rebecca Pomerantz, Charlie Bremesco, Jackson MacDonald, Hannah Reich, and Becky Kennedy. Not shown: Lily Savoie.

Coming of Age members, from left: Olivia Timmins, Nathaniel Swanson, Lea Anne Waybright, Rebecca Pomerantz, Charlie Bremesco, Jackson MacDonald, Hannah Reich, and Becky Kennedy. Not present: Lily Savoie.

Last Sunday, June 14, eight members of our Coming of Age group took part in the service, reading their belief statements and sharing their hopes and aspirations with us. Afterward, they donated a tree to the church, which was planted outside.

The Coming of Age service is always a highlight of the church year — or, we should say, every other year, as we generally have a Coming of Age group once every two years. Congratulations to all the youths and their mentors.

Click on the photos for larger images.

Director of Religious Education Fred Mills helps with planting tree donated by Coming of Age teens.

Coming of Age members and adults plant tree outside church.

Not quite a barbecue after all

With rain predicted for this Sunday, we have decided to hold our post-Father’s Day celebration inside the church. Please bring a dish for a pot-luck lunch.

We will also have a flower communion, so bring a flower to share.

A Father’s Day finale to the church year

The final regular service of the 2008-’09 church year will take place this Sunday, June 21, at 10:30 a.m.

“Reflections on Fatherhood” will be the theme of this Father’s Day service. Our minister, the Reverend Frieda Gillespie, and members of the congregation will present personal stories and poetry reflecting on the joys and insights of fathers and their children.

The service will be followed by a barbecue at about 11:30. Bring a side dish to share.

For the second consecutive year, we have planned a full series of lay-led summer services, beginning next Sunday, June 28. Child care will be available at each of these services. Visitors are always welcome.

The installation of Rev. Frieda Gillespie

Rev. Stephanie Nichols, right, delivers the minister's charge to Rev. Frieda Gillespie.

Rev. Stephanie Nichols, right, delivers minister's charge to Rev. Frieda.

On Sunday, June 7, the Reverend Frieda Gillespie was officially installed as minister of the Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church.

Reverend Frieda was called in May 2008 as our church’s third settled minister, following the Reverend Charles Wilson (1966-’71) and the Reverend Edwin Lynn (1972-2005).

The installation service, featuring a number of visiting clergy, was a celebration of Frieda’s ministry thus far, and represented all of our hopes for many successful years to come.

For a Flickr slideshow, click here or on the photo above.

Coming of Age

This Sunday, June 14, our teenage group, Coming of Age, will culminate a year-long process of learning and growth at a celebratory service. Under the direction of Susan Timmins and with the help of adult mentors, our youth will be presenting their belief statements.

Come and meet these remarkable young people. We will give our collection to Camp Little People, an annual summer weekend event at Camp Allen, in New Hampshire, for children and families affected by dwarfism.

The service will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by coffee and fellowship at about 11:30. Visitors are welcome, and child care is available.