Make plans to join us this Sunday for worship and an opportunity to meet Rev. Dave VanArsdale and his wife Ellen. Rev. Dave will provide coverage this summer while Rev. Ney is on sabbatical.

A sabbatical is an intentional time of respite, rest, and growth for a pastor and the congregation. Rev. Ney will be on sabbatical for the months of June, July, and August. During this time, Rev. VanArsdale will lead worship, provide pastoral care, and support the governing committees of the congregation.

A sabbatical team was established by the Church Council to support Dave and the congregation during this time--and to help Central explore some new forms of ministry during this time.

Dave has many years of ministry experience, having served several congregations in the Presbyterian and UCC traditions. He will bring those years of wisdom and creativity to Central this summer and we know that you will appreciate getting to know him.

Sunday's event is a potluck, so if you're able to contribute a dish, you can use the QR code in the flyer to sign up.

When Breath Is Sacred

The Intersection of Insight Meditation and Contemplative Prayer

RSVP Today at the link below!

https://northshoreimc.org/events/when-breath-is-sacred-ccc

Join NSIMC and Central Congregational Church in Newburyport for a donation-based program on contemplative prayer with Ted Jones

Attention to the breath is a common starting point for insight meditation, which can then expand sequentially to include the body, sound, and mental/emotional phenomena, gradually opening to a totally receptive, choiceless awareness of the present moment, just as it is. Contemplative prayer, as described by the late Trappist monk Father Thomas Keating, is also a practice of total receptivity, where that interior silence is infused with Divine Presence. 

Centering prayer is one practice of moving toward contemplative prayer. In centering prayer, "the sacred breath" is one of several symbols that can be used as a way of consenting to the presence of the Divine. The use of breath in these two traditions reveals how they flow in the same direction, intersecting in the sacredness of deep interior silence, stillness, and surrender.

This retreat, held at Central Congregational Church, will be conducted mainly in silence, with guidance provided during the periods of meditation and prayer. This program is open to anyone with an established practice in either insight meditation or centering prayer.

Ted Jones, a nephew of Father Thomas Keating, has been practicing insight meditation since 1978, when he began sitting with his principal teacher, Larry Rosenberg. He spent his professional career in mental health as a therapist, clinical supervisor, and program manager. Read more at Ted’s teacher page.

Registration: Please register by sending an email to northshoreimc@gmail.com and giving us your name(s).

This program is being offered by donation. All donations will be split evenly between NSIMC and Central Congregational Church. You may make a donation now by clicking the button below, or you may make it in person at the end of the program, via cash or check to NSIMC. Send questions to the email above!

https://northshoreimc.org/events/when-breath-is-sacred-ccc

Central Church Joins

The United States of Kindness Challenge

Kindness is not soft or meaningless. It is a force that builds trust and well-being, it allows us to learn, be our best selves and build stronger relationships.

The United States of Kindness challenges every person, organization, and community to participate in 250 acts of kindness, one for every year of our nation’s history. These acts can be large or small, but together, they form a movement that connects people and restores hope in what we share as Americans.

This is more than a campaign. It is a call to act with intention, to notice the good around us, and to celebrate kindness in every form. Each story and every act contributes to a shared goal: making kindness the cornerstone of America’s 250th year.

The United States of Kindness officially launches in 2026 with a collective challenge: 250 Acts of Kindness. Join us in creating a legacy of compassion and unity that defines America’s next chapter.

Share an act of kindness today at the link below.

https://www.usofkindness.org/share-an-act-of-kindness