Sermon at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church on January 6th, 2019 Still Christmas? Charles Nazarian   This treasured Meetinghouse, now entering its third century, has witnessed much…the civil war, the 1918 flu pandemic, the great depression, the...

Out of the Darkness Emerges Love © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church December 9, 2018 “Darkness, soothe my weary eyes, that I may see more clearly. When my heart with sorrow cries, comfort and caress me. And then my soul may hear a voice, a still, small...

Awake to Wonder© Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church December 2, 2018 One August night, I found myself stretched out on my back on a splintery wooden dock on the shore of a New Hampshire pond, gazing up at the sky. It was during the...

Now Our Minds Are One© Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 18, 2018   As some of you know, in recent months I have been dabbling in pottery. It has been a challenging and quite humbling hobby so far. I like to tell people that I aspire to...

To End All Wars Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 11, 2018 100 years ago today. Let’s just stop for a moment and think about how long ago that was. 100 years ago, the Model T was in its heyday. It was long ago, but if we were to be transported back...

All Our Memories of Love Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 4, 2018   I had a big surprise one time years ago while talking to one of my former ministers. I was telling her about my dad and how he died. We were quiet for a bit, and then she...

A TIME TO REMEMBER The November 4 service was a time to remember all those whom we have lost but who remain close to our hearts.  Members of the congregation brought forward photos or mementos of loved ones and we spoke aloud the names of those closest to us who have...

When a Stranger Appears at Your Door© Reverend Janet Parsons October 21, 2018 It occurred to me recently that I am the descendant of migrant workers. And of course, many of us in this country could think of ourselves that way as well, as most of our ancestors came to...

In the Shelter of Each Other Reverend Janet Parsons October 14, 2018   “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” These are beautiful words offered to us by the Irish, who so often are sources of lovely language. In recent days I have found myself...

Gratitude 9/23/18 Mother said “Now go write a thank you note to your Grandmother.” Aw Ma …. Later, Mother asked, “Did you write the thank you note to your Grandmother?” Aw Ma …. Then Mother said: “After you have written the thank you note to your Grandmother – then...

  Today I find myself thinking back to my 16-year-old self. I can picture her in my memory: long wavy hair parted in the middle, like all the other non-conformists, and wire-rimmed glasses. That young girl had ambitions. She was for starters a staunch feminist,...

Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church September 9, 2018 It has been a time of great thirst, these past few months. A hot, humid summer, with little rain. An old friend came to visit me one day recently, and said, sighing, “Well, I brought all my beach stuff, but...