Sermon Archive
Gratitude Anyway – Thanksgiving sermon from 2015
Dear friends, Since I did not preach this past Sunday for our joint service of seven UU congregations, I wanted to share an old Thanksgiving sermon from 2015. I’ve been thinking about it a long lately, as it feels especially relevant during these times. I hope you...
Light from the Broken Pieces – Nov 15
Light from the Broken Pieces Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 15, 2020 In the aftermath of this most difficult presidential election, I have thought a great deal about what is happening here in the United States. We are so divided, and like so...
The Soul of the Nation – Nov 8
The Soul of the Nation Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 8, 2020 In the end, I would say that it was worth the wait, this week, as the anticipated blue wave proved to be more of a blue trickle. Yesterday afternoon, as word spread that Joe Biden and...
Side by Side: Holding Grief and Hope – Nov 1
Side by Side: Holding Grief and Hope Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 1, 2020 Tomorrow is the Feast of All Souls, that day each year when people remember and mourn the deaths of loved ones everywhere. We typically commemorate All Souls, at least...
CLUES – Oct 25
CLUES Oct 25, 2020 Newt Fink Now we are here to think about giving. Giving has always been central to worship: we naturally give to what or whom we regard as worthy of our attention, our following and our faithfulness. We give to and for what matters to us. ...
In Another’s Shoes – Oct 18
In Another’s Shoes Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church October 18, 2020 Let’s begin this morning by digging into our memories. Some of us may have to think hard, to dig deeply. Others of us may have a fresh memory right on the surface. ...
We Begin Again in Love – Sep 27
Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church September 27, 2020 Louis Newman refers to himself as having been a model child. We all know some of those – perhaps we were one of them. The child who seems naturally well-behaved, who doesn’t get into...
Whole, Broken, and Then Whole Again – Sep 20
Whole, Broken, and Then Whole Again © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church September 20, 2020 First Reflection: Born and Reborn Again The lyrics of one of the songs in our turquoise hymnal keep going through my mind these days: “Return...
Blessing of the Animals – Aug 30
Reverend Janet Parsons August 30, 2020 Reflection I’ve had some odd encounters with animals in the past few months, but the oddest of all was while camping a couple of weeks ago. We were sitting at the...
On Racial Justice Part 2 – August 23
On Racial Justice, Pt. 2 WE HAVE THE POWER TO BEGIN THE WORLD OVER AGAIN By Carol Bousquet, August 23, 2020 I believe we are finally at THE day of reckoning. Finally we have conditions and consciousness to change the course of history in the ways our African American,...
A Celebration and Appreciation of Gardens -Aug 2
A Celebration and Appreciation of Gardens by Lucille LePage words delivered on August 2, 2020 at Gloucester UU Church online Sunday service Before we begin our celebration of gardens, I should explain that I’m defining gardens a bit broadly this morning. Of...
Children of the Light – June 21
Children of the Light © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church June 21, 2020 Imagine, for a moment, having nowhere that you could get together with friends, or to meet people, that was legal. Imagine, for a moment, not being welcome anywhere, or even allowed to...
Upcoming Services
Building a House Called Tomorrow, led by Reverend Janet Parsons with music by Steve Lacey. As we do each year, we'll reflect on why we create a church community, and how we support it. In a world that shifts daily, a church is meant to hold the center for us. How well can we hold it?
Worship is in-person, or at the livestream link below.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIeJfO72kLh-gAtZZT-QOng/live
Recent News
Next Book Discussion – Jan 13, 2pm
The Director is our next selection. Please join us on Jan 13, 2pm in the Williams Room. The Director (2025), by Daniel Kehlman, a celebrated young German-Austrian author, is an historical novel based on the life of G.W. Pabst (1885-1967), the early film director who...
Sun Nov 9
A Posture of the Soul, led by Reverend Janet Parsons, with musician Steve Lacey. This month, fittingly, we will be exploring gratitude as a way of life. How does it protect and benefit us? Bundle Up! Our boiler will not be repaired in time for this Sunday. While the...
Grief..And Gratitude
Grief…And Gratitude Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 2, 2025 Often when I am leading a memorial service, I tell the people gathered that “it is hard and important work” that we are doing together as we prepare to say goodbye to someone we love. In...