Reminder: Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament & Puzzle Sale - Jan 24 or Jan 25, 2025

Tournament - Friday, January 24, 6-8 PM OR Saturday, January 25, 10 AM - 12 PM

Enter your team to puzzle against other teams in a friendly and fun competition on either Friday night or Saturday morning. Each team receives the same 500-piece puzzle and races to finish first. Prizes given for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place.  

Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament & Puzzle Sale

It’s only $40/team for teams of up to four people and your team goes home with the completed puzzle.

Team captains should register their team (all team members do not need to register) on Sign Up Genius by clicking this link ->   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084AAAAD23A13-53907469-jigsaw#/

Once registered, the Team Captain should pay in advance either via the Paypal link or by mailing a check to FUSF with “Puzzle Tournament” in the notation line. 

->  https://fusf.org/product/puzzle-tournament/

Only 12 teams can play at once so be sure to pay and reserve your spot early! Last year we sold out!

Tournament rules and details are accessible via this link.

Light snacks and water will be provided but feel free to bring your own snacks and beverages.

For Tournament questions contact Vicki at vicki.coates@fusf.org.

Puzzle Sale

Hundreds of jigsaw puzzles will be for sale both Friday and Saturday. We have all sizes for sale, but an especially large inventory of 1000-piece puzzles! You do not need to enter a Tournament to shop. Puzzles are priced between $3 and $5—some are brand new! Cash, check, or electronic payment accepted.  

Native Plant Seed Starting Workshop scheduled for Jan 18

All are welcome to:

A Native Plant Seed Starting Workshop which is FREE and open to the public. 

Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the First Universalist Society in Franklin meetinghouse (262 Chestnut Street).

Native Plant Seed Starting Workshop

Growing native plants in your yard is essential for supporting pollinators and birds. Join us for a presentation on the importance of native plants and how to grow them in your yard.  

Together we will do some "winter sowing.” We will be planting seeds in gallon jug greenhouses so that you can plant the plants in your yard this spring. We will provide native plant seeds and soil. You provide the gallon jugs for planting in (the kind milk and water come in).

This workshop will be led by Stirling Cousins, a member of the FUSF Sustainable Native Landscape Team. Stirling is a lay member of FUSF and has a background in biology, environmental science and teaching. She is a certified Field Naturalist in both New York and Massachusetts.  She has created native plant gardens in six home and business settings. 

The First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. Our Interim Minister is Reverend Beverly Waring. 

For more information about FUSF please visit our website at Fusf.org. 

or contact us at info@fusf.org; call 508-528-5348

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15pkhWAYyH/

Moving Towards an Indigenous Worldview & Find Your Oxygen Mask - An Interactive Workshop - Jan 19

Moving Towards an Indigenous Worldview

Sunday January 19, 2025 @ 10:00 AM

Moving Towards an Indigenous Worldview

Our planet faces so many crises, it can be hard to read the news. And yet, throughout the world, Indigenous communities and nations hold out a different way of being. Guest preacher, Claire Karl Muller will speak to this vision, finding our personal stake in it and what UU Mass Action is doing with Indigenous leaders here in Massachusetts to get there. Find out more about UU Mass Action on their website www.uumassaction.org

About CLAIRE KARL B.W. MÜLLER (THEY): Claire Karl is a force of nature. They are a 5th generation Germanic settler to Eastern Massachusetts and identify as a white, middle-class, non-binary, small-fat, queer organizer. Their values are curiosity, compassion, and truth and people power. They feel called to work with other white middle class folks on racial, economic and climate justice and joined the team at UU Mass Action in 2020. Claire Karl is coordinator of the statewide climate justice coalition Mass Power Forward, which they co-founded in 2015, as well as the UU Mass Action staff lead for Indigenous Solidarity.

Find Your Oxygen Mask - An Interactive Workshop 

Sunday, January 19, 2025 from 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

The FUSF Welcoming Congregation Initiative Team invites you to an interactive workshop titled, “Find Your Oxygen Mask.”  Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, their allies, and anyone interested in learning more, are welcome to attend. We will connect, learn, and share resources, fears, and hopes during these uncertain times. We hope that whoever you are, wherever you are from, whomever you love, whether your heart is heavy or light, you will join us. 

Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament & Puzzle Sale - Jan 24 or Jan 25, 2025

Tournament

Friday, January 24, 6-8 PM OR Saturday, January 25, 10 AM - 12 PM

Enter your team to puzzle against other teams in a friendly and fun competition on either Friday night or Saturday morning. Each team receives the same 500-piece puzzle and races to finish first. Prizes given for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place.  

Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament & Puzzle Sale

It’s only $40/team for teams of up to four people and your team goes home with the completed puzzle.

Team captains should register their team (all team members do not need to register) on Sign Up Genius by clicking this link ->   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084AAAAD23A13-53907469-jigsaw#/

Once registered, the Team Captain should pay in advance either via the Paypal link or by mailing a check to FUSF with “Puzzle Tournament” in the notation line. 

->  https://fusf.org/product/puzzle-tournament/

Only 12 teams can play at once so be sure to pay and reserve your spot early! Last year we sold out!

Tournament rules and details are accessible via this link.

Light snacks and water will be provided but feel free to bring your own snacks and beverages.

For Tournament questions contact Vicki at vicki.coates@fusf.org.

Puzzle Sale

Hundreds of jigsaw puzzles will be for sale both Friday and Saturday. We have all sizes for sale, but an especially large inventory of 1000-piece puzzles! You do not need to enter a Tournament to shop. Puzzles are priced between $3 and $5—some are brand new! Cash, check, or electronic payment accepted.  

First Universalist Society of Franklin: Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 PM

Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 PM

"Join us in person or on Zoom at 5:30 pm for our annual Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols. 

An evening of the ancient story told from scripture and from more modern readings with many of the old favorite Christmas Carols. 

We will end the service with a candlelit singing of Silent Night."

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1GjMZmrWfz/

2nd Annual Cookie Walk: December 14, 2024 - starts at 10:00 AM

The First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) will hold their second annual “Holiday Cookie Walk” on Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. 

2nd Annual Cookie Walk

Come and stroll through the festively decorated Meetinghouse at 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, as you select from a delicious assortment of homemade treats provided by more than 30 bakers. You are sure to find the perfect confections for your holiday table, a hostess gift, or your next party. 

Cookies will be available for $10 per pound. Containers, decorated with your choice of holiday sticker, will be provided. Cash, check, or electronic payments accepted.

Make this event part of your annual holiday fun! 

Reminder: 350 Mass Greater Franklin node MEETING CHANGED to Weds, Dec 11

As mentioned in the earlier alert about changing our node meeting date, we will be meeting both in-person and by Zoom tomorrow night (Dec 11) at 7 PM to review and discuss Monday's Statewide Campaign presentation.  This will help guide us in determining our campaign focus for the foreseeable future. 

If you can come but you'll be late, that's OK. We'd rather you come if you can. And while the meeting will be hybrid, both in-person and Zoom, it is preferable to be in person for a full-fledged discussion. 

Our in-person meeting will take place at First Universalist Society in Franklin at 262 Chestnut Street at 7 PM.

350 Mass Greater Franklin node

Carolyn will be unable to join in person, having tested positive for Covid.  Rand has tested negative three times and will attend wearing a mask. Please bring a mask to wear so our holidays can be healthy.  As a further precaution we will meet in the larger Cooke Room at the back left side of the RE wing for greater separation.

We will share a screen in Zoom to show the YouTube presentation for everyone, allowing us to pause to discuss points.  Sometimes Zoom running a YouTube video can be a bit choppy. If it doesn't work for you, you can run the recording directly. We are also attaching a link to the YouTube presentation here in case there are technical difficulties so all can view it.

Meeting Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274    Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

We will postpone our Holiday Party until Thursday, January 2, at which time we will also discuss and provide feedback to the Statewide Steering Team for their Wednesday, February 5, meeting to vote on statewide campaign(s). 

We hope this works for you all. December is always problematic with families having busy holiday plans! 

Please join us!

With gratitude,

Carolyn and Steve

ALERT: 350 Mass Greater Franklin node MEETING CHANGED from Dec 5 to Dec 11

Hi everyone,

Because of the holidays and the Statewide Campaign presentation being recorded Monday, Dec 9, for nodes to review and discuss to determine our campaign focus for the foreseeable future, we need to change our meeting date.

Ordinarily we'd meet this Thursday, Dec 5, but at our next meeting we need to discuss and provide feedback to the Statewide Steering Team for their Jan 8 meeting to vote on statewide campaign(s).

As our next meeting time, Dec 19, is too close to the busy holidays, Steve and I decided we'd change the next node meeting to be Wed, Dec 11, at 7:00 PM, at First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

If you cannot come Dec 11, please let me know and I'll send the recorded presentation to you (after Dec 9). You can view the recording and either call or email me your preferences and thoughts.

If you can come but you'll be late, that's OK. I'd rather you come if you can.

The meeting will be hybrid, both in-person and Zoom. We should be able to have both options available, but it would be best to be in person for a full-fledged discussion.

350 Mass Greater Franklin node

PLEASE PUT THIS CHANGE ON YOUR CALENDAR!  😁

🧀  🍪 🎄🎄🎄🎄 🍪   🧀  

Also, as the holidays are upon us now, we'll have a little holiday party (we won't be ALL WORK as we discuss the campaign selection), so if you'd like to bring something simple and yummy, either hors d'oeuvres or sweets, to share, that would be fun! Rand and I will bring some cider and cheese and crackers. No big deal! 😁

I hope this works for you all. December is always problematic with families having busy holiday plans! 

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274    Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

Please join us!

With gratitude,

Carolyn and Steve

2nd Annual Cookie Walk Scheduled for Saturday, Dec 14

2nd Annual Cookie Walk Scheduled for Saturday, Dec 14

The First Universalist Society in Franklin 2nd Annual Cookie Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Dec 14, 2024 from 10 AM - 1 PM. More than 40 bakers will provide you with lots of holiday goodies at only $10/lb.

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CrpEkPzZ8/

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service - Nov 24, at 7 PM

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service  - Nov 24, at 7 PM

The annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be on Sunday, November 24, beginning at 7 PM at First Universalist Society of Franklin (FUSF) (262 Chestnut Street, Franklin). 

All are welcome.

Kathleen & Norman talk about their development of the forthcoming performance of "The Belle of Amherst" by William Luce (audio)

FM #1293 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1293 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Kathleen Mary Mulligan, Actor and Producer, and Norman Johnson, Director. We had our conversation virtually via Zoom on Monday, Oct 14, 2024. We talked about their roles in the forthcoming production of “The Belle of Amherst” by William Luce. The play will be performed on Saturday, Oct 26 at the First Universalist Society in Franklin.

During the discussion we find out about a connection between Emily Dickinson and Beirut, Lebanon, where a series of performances of “The Belle of Amherst” were interrupted by the uprising in October, 2019. 

The recording runs about 55 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1293-belle-of-amherst-promo-10-14-24/

--------------

Wikipedia entry for the play -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Belle_of_Amherst 

FUSF link for tickets -> https://fusf.org/2024/08/22/the-belle-of-amherst/ 

Kathleen’s profile page at Ithaca College -> https://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/kmulligan 

Norman’s profile page at Ithaca -> https://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/njohnson 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Kathleen Mary Mulligan, Actor and Producer

Special Sunday Service – Why Legislation Matters for the LGBTQIA+ community and supporters

Sunday services at First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) offer prayer, acceptance, music, reflection, and so much more. 

Please join the FUSF Welcoming Congregation Initiative Team to explore the theme of “Why Legislation Matters” for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

With over 800 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills introduced in the US last year, you may be surprised to learn just how much the beliefs of those who are elected, and the laws they support, can impact the fundamental rights of people around you.  We hope to shed some light, promote equality, and will share personal stories during this highly anticipated service. 

The First Universalist Society in Franklin is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin MA. For further information about FUSF please explore our website at fusf.org or contact our Interim Minister, the Reverend Beverly Waring at 508- 528- 5348 or minister@fusf.org.

Special Sunday Service – Why Legislation Matters for the LGBTQIA+ community and supporters

The First Universalist Society in Franklin Presents “The Belle of Amherst” by William Luce - Oct 26

“The Belle of Amherst”

by William Luce

A Tony Award Winning One Woman Play

Based on the Life of Emily Dickinson

"The Belle of Amherst,” a Tony Award Winning play by William Luce, and directed by Norman Johnson, brings the poet Emily Dickinson to life for modern audiences. "Based on Dickinson’s life from 1830 to1886, the play is set in her Amherst, Massachusetts home and makes use of her work, diaries, and letters to explore both the agony of her infamous seclusion with moments of joy amid the people closest to her."

Kathleen Mulligan (Actor and Producer) is a Professor of Voice and Speech at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional stage actors. Acting credits include The Acting Company (national tour), American Repertory Theater, The Huntington Theatre Company, and PCPA Theatrefest in Santa Maria, CA. She has performed The Belle of Amherst in Lebanon, Laos, and across northern India while on a Fulbright-Nehru grant in 2023.

For tickets, please go to FUSF.org and click on “Upcoming Events.” Ticket prices are: Adults - $20, and Students (18 and under or with a valid student ID) - $10. Tickets will also be sold at the door. Accepted payments include: Cash, check, or credit card.  

Direct link for tickets -> https://fusf.org/2024/08/22/the-belle-of-amherst/

The First Universalist Society in Franklin is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin MA. For further information about FUSF please explore our website at fusf.org or contact our Interim Minister, the Reverend Beverly Waring at 508- 528- 5348 or minister@fusf.org.

Download a copy of the flyer as a reminder or to share ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11YdeYCbRtZOTVJmmZHW5iYO9KpD8S3kE/view?usp=drive_link

Sept. 22, 2024 - Peace-ing Together with Rev. Beverly Waring

Upcoming Special Sunday Service @ 10:00 AM

Join us this Sunday as we celebrate the International Day of Peace. What is peace? How can we achieve it and maintain it – in our lives, our community the world?

As part of this worship service we will go outside and re-dedicate our peace pole.

The First Universalist Society in Franklin is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin MA. For further information about FUSF please explore our website at fusf.org or contact our Interim Minister, the Reverend Beverly Waring at 508- 528- 5348 or minister@fusf.org.

 

Sept. 22, 2024 - Peace-ing Together with Rev. Beverly Waring

Join Us Thursday Evening (9/12/24) for a Free Special Event with Spoonfuls, a Food Recovery Organization

Don't Miss "Wasted Food, Hunger, and the Climate Emergency: How Food Recovery Helps"

Hunger Action Month Special Event welcomes Wasted Food, Hunger, and the Climate Emergency: How Food Recovery Helps Dear Neighbor,  September is Hunger Action Month—a yearly, nationwide campaign to raise hunger awareness and inspire people to take action. This year, the Franklin Food Pantry is bringing attention to food rescue and recovery. Join us as we welcome Liz Miller, Community Relations Manager at Spoonfuls, a Massachusetts-based food recovery organization, as she examines how collecting fresh, edible food that would otherwise go to waste, and distributing it to social service agencies like The Pantry can help address food insecurity and the climate crisis. RSVP When: Thursday, September 12, 2024, from 7 to 9 p.m. Where: First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF), 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA RSVP: Please click HERE.        Admission is free however if you would like to make a donation to support The Pantry, please click HERE. This event is open to anyone in the community who aspires to learn about food insecurity and is hosted by FUSF's Food Justice Team. For more information, please email info@franklinfoodpantry.org.

Franklin Food Pantry | 341 W Central St. | Franklin, MA 02038 US

Acting Director of religious education at FUSF appointed

FUSF has appointed Sara Allegretti as Acting Director of Religious Education!

Sara Allegretti

A longtime Unitarian Universalist, Ms. Allegretti holds a Masters Degree in education. Most recently she worked in the Franklin Public Schools as an Interventionist. She has also been active on FUSF’s Welcoming Congregation Committee and the Franklin LGBTQ+ Alliance.

“Sara is a highly-qualified professional who values collaboration and creativity in her work, and cares deeply about the children of our congregation. We are delighted to have Sara join FUSF as our Acting Director of Religious Education.” —Board President, Caitlin MacDonald

The First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin MA. For further information about FUSF and its religious education program please explore our website at fusf.org or contact Sara Allegretti, Acting DRE at 508 528-5348 or dre@fusf.org

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/2FXUCmTnMzCWoVpH/

Art Wall at FUSF - Artist Reception, Sunday, Sep 8

Artist Reception, Sunday, Sep 8 from noon to 2:30 PM. View the painting by Roon. 

Art Wall at FUSF - Artist Reception, Sunday, Sep 8

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/yB3oPVH5QmghUbPh/