Beth Beringer, Bob Gamer, Jan Lycette

It has been said that we live our lives forward in a blur of hectic schedules, but we understand our lives backward. Each of us has followed a unique path, encountering stumbling blocks and stepping stones to arrive here at the NSUU. Beth Beringer, Bob Gamer and Jan Lycette will share some of the memorable moments that have brought them to this beloved community.

Rev. Jeanne Nieuwejaar

Amy Shapiro-Kaznocha, M. Ed.

Astrologer Amy Shapiro-Kaznocha, M.Ed., will present her interpretation of Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church’s birth chart, which is calculated for October 29, 1967 at 3 PM. when the late Rev. Jack Mendelsohn delivered the dedication sermon. Amy will offer her insights into NSUU’s basic character and ongoing mission.

Gary Nelson

My anxious life started in childhood as a result of my misinterpretation of ridicule by other children and the effects of growing up in alcoholic households. As a result of carrying these childhood traumas in adulthood, I hit an emotional bottom during my mid-twenties. On my road to recovery, I discovered one truth—the beliefs and perceptions about myself and others were the basis of my anxiety. In this talk I will discuss the work I have done to change my distorted thinking that has led to a happier and less anxious life.

Rev. Jeanne Nieuwejaar

This will be a post-Valentine’s Day celebration of the Universalist branch of our religious faith. In Universalism love is always at the center. Love is the source of all that is, and love is a reliable guide on our human journey.

Claire Wilson

Unitarian Universalism has a long history of engaging in social issues. Our UU Seven Principles speak to our values of caring for and about others. And we recognize the need for self-care as a spiritual practice to prepare ourselves for service within our community. Claire Wilson, MSW, Pastoral Care Coordinator at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lynn, located in Swampscott, will offer some thoughts about cultivating a caring community.

Ed Vaeni

It is my assumption that the world is living through a time of chaos when everything we have ever thought to be true and eternal is being challenged in the depths. How do we interpret these times in ways that bring about hope instead of despair? Where do we find the imagination to think outside the box of Empire myths and ideologies? Do we even want to do that? Or, do we want to return to normality? How can we maximize an ethic of love and minimize a spirituality of fear? Where can we find the staying power to live these questions consistently over time in a “sound bite” era of ever-changing fads? This sermon is about asking the right questions, rather than looking for simple answers.

What’s to be done with 321? There will be an informational meeting following the church service.

Dr. Spencer Amesbury

Dr. Spencer Amesbury will talk about his personal exploration of the intersections between medicine and spirituality in the form of a spiritual autobiography. These will be reflections gleaned from over 40 years spent in the church of medicine.

“The practice of medicine was an early career choice. I’d heard stories about my father’s grandfather, an army surgeon with the British in India.”

Spencer is a long time North Shore resident and was a member of the Northshore Church for many years. He is a family practitioner with specialties in geriatrics, palliative care and hospice.

Lois Markham

Today, we gather to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who died more than fifty years ago. The world is a vastly different place in 2020, in no small part because of the achievements of the movement that Dr. King led. Yet there is still much to be done to bring about a world of equality and justice for all. How would Dr. King view the climate crisis? Today I will explore the idea that our environmental activism can be guided by the principles espoused by Dr. King. Join us for a celebration of the past and the future.