Anna Schutz

Anna Schutz will tell the story of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Newburyport when their members stood up to George Lincoln Rockwell, the head of the American Nazi Party. In the late 1950’s they prevented Rockwell’s group from marching in Newburyport. Anna will tell how this relates to the current hate group marches in this country such as Charlottesville, VA and how we can model the behavior of those UU’s in the 1950’s.

Rev. Julie Lombard, Minister

The Universalist minister Clarence Skinner wrote: The fight for freedom is never won… Each generation must win for itself the right to emancipate itself from its own tyrannies, which are ever unprecedented… Therefore those who have been reared in freedom, bear a tremendous responsibility to the world to win an ever larger and more important liberty. We are the inheritors of this liberty, and it has not come easily. We want to be a people committed to winning an ever larger liberty for the generations that follow. If we listen to the wind, our ancestors are whispering – Who is freedom for and who are our own tyrannies today? Let us gather to worship today to consider this question. Together we will envision a future with freedom for all.

Music will be by The Singing Group, led by Helen Brandt with Judy Putnam at the piano.

Rev. Julie Lombard

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

It’s time to commemorate the anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since that sad day on April 4, 1968 through today, we have been on a journey with his spirit leading the way. Sometimes our faith tradition has stumbled. It’s ok to struggle, but the larger concern is how do we keep going? How do we continue to live out our values? How do we move beyond a culture of complicity? Can we say “And Still We Rise”? Come and be a part of this cultural check in for this faith and review the freedom it has offered us.

The Knotty Celts: Tony Walsh, Anne Walsh and Chris Lehorn will share their vocal and instrumental music.

Rev. Julie Lombard

In this Easter multigenerational service, we will explore the great debate: Should Easter only be celebrated by Christians? We will look to our monthly theme of Freedom as we go forth on this free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Let our fourth principle guide us on this journey. We will look for the hope that is abounding since Easter is a time of hope. Easter brings the awareness that all that is holy is present even when not directly noticed. Easter allows us to affirm that although holiness sometimes seems distant, there are rays of hope casting their light on our way through life. Let us seek this light and hope as we go forward.

The Singing Group will be joined by our youth percussionists, the Handbell Choir and congregational singing.

Rev. Julie Lombard and Peter Vandebogert

Peter Vandebogert & Rev. Julie Lombard will read powerful stories from the book by Ram Dass and Paul Gorman: How Can I Help? Earlier in the month, wisdom from this source was explored and we put to ponder how our values are used when we respond to need. This week, hear some of the stories that inspired the book and hopefully ourselves to say, “How Can I Help?”

The Singing Group will bring us the music with Helen Brandt, Choir Director and Judy Putnam at the piano.

Robert Azzi

Sunday’s talk will be by Robert Azzi, an Arab American Muslim who lives in Exeter New Hampshire. Azzi is a photojournalist and columnist who speaks and writes on issues of identity, interfaith relations, conflict, Islam and Islamophobia. Azzi will begin with introductory remarks on Islam and being Muslim in America, followed by an invitation to the community to engage with him in an open “Ask a Muslim Anything” conversation, where no topic will be off the table.

“While there’ll always be the odd person who is reluctant to engage – or whose mind is closed to dialogue, the vast majority of people want to know who their neighbors are and what they believe,” Azzi says. “Most people will eventually come to understand that we’ve all been made diverse peoples so that we will come to know each other – and that to know each other we must reach out and talk to each other.”

Music by the voice of Sara Lucas, one of Andrea Kaiser’s students. Andrea and Judy Putnam will be accompanying her. The music selections will include two of Andrea’s original vocal compositions.