Sermon Archive
Turning Toward the Light
Turning Toward the Light © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church December 22, 2024 It was a clear day yesterday in Newgrange, in Ireland. And so, when people gathered before dawn, as they always do on the Winter Solstice, they were able to witness an age-old...
Ministry of Presence in Turbulent Times
Proclaim120824 Guest minister Rev. Art McDonald Ministry of Presence in Turbulent Times – Gloucester UU Over 50 years ago I entered divinity school at Catholic U. in Washington, DC, to prepare for ministry in the Catholic Church and not long after beginning my studies...
All Is Not Lost
All is Not Lost© Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 17, 2024 “Everything is still on fire,”, wrote my colleague, Julian Soto. “I am sorry that everything is still on fire…” they continued. “Once hate catches, the winds of “not my problem” blow and...
Trust That You Are Held
Trust that You Are Held © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 10, 2024 Like many of you, I have spent large amounts of time this week feeling struck speechless. I’ve experienced almost a sense of suspended animation, a certain stuckness: that I’m not...
Thinking Too Much and Listening Too Little
Thinking Too Much and Listening Too Little © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church October 13, 2024 How many of you got to see the Northern Lights the other night? I found it as thrilling as it was back in May when I got to see them for the very first time in my...
Pilgrims in a Pilgrim Church
Pilgrims in a Pilgrim Church Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church Reverend Janet Parsons September 29, 2024 Part One: Lonely Voyages Into the Unknown I love to picture the scene in my mind’s eye: a traveler from England whose ship had gone aground, walking along a...
A Time for Balance, A Time for Gratitude
A Time for Balance, A Time for Gratitude © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church September 22, 2024 I’ve been noticing an interesting trend all along the shoreline here on Cape Ann in the past couple of years: perhaps you have as well. On many of our rocky...
It is Love That Sets Us Free
It is Love That Sets Us Free © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church September 15, 2024 Back in 2014, some cities in Ohio, including Columbus, Dayton, and Springfield, decided to join a network of communities, a task force, that formed under the name Welcoming...
The Blessing and Grace of Water
The Blessing and Grace of Water © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church September 8, 2024 There are so many ways to talk about water, to think about water. We often consider water as a wellspring, as a source; a still pool that grounds us. But water can also be...
Choose Joy
Choose Joy © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church August 25, 2024 I spent the early part of the summer feeling badly stuck, pinned on the horns of a serious dilemma. You see, I admire our president, President Joe Biden, and hold deep respect for the work that...
For Those Who Live at the Shoreline
For Those Who Live at the Shoreline © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church June 2, 2024 It was such a joy to be present at the flag-raising at City Hall this past Friday to kick off the month of June as Pride Month. It was the largest crowd at this event I’ve...
The Highest Good is Like Water
Upcoming Services
Worship this Sunday is led by guest Reverend Wendy Page, with music by Steve Lacey.
Our service is in-person, or at the livestream link below. Everyone is welcome! Join us at 10am.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIeJfO72kLh-gAtZZT-QOng/live
Recent News
Book Group, Tues June 3rd, 3pm, Williams Room
American Nations, by Colin Woodward In American Nations, Colin Woodard leads us on a journey through the history of our fractured continent, and the rivalries and alliances between its component nations, which conform to neither state nor international boundaries. He...
Rising Up in Joy
Rising Up in Joy Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church April 20, 2025 “Life happens, keeps happening… One day, it happens; you take a breath, and it doesn’t hurt to breathe. You start to see people again, really see them. Hope rises. Community rises. You rise....
Easter Sunday, April 20
Worship this Easter Sunday is led by Reverend Janet Parsons, with music by Beverly Soll, pianist. Our service is in-person, or at the livestream link below. Everyone is welcome! Join us at 10am....