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...

Let’s pause for a moment to imagine what it would be like to be a trapeze artist. Have you ever wondered what that would feel like, if it is something you could ever do? You would climb a ladder high above a crowd of people, seated, craning their necks to watch you....

Clearing the Cobwebs Kelly Knox Buddhism teaches three universal truths 1. that everything is impermanent, 2. this causes suffering, 3. our real selves, our spirit, our essence, the part of us that continues to exists when our body dies is unchanging and therefore...

To Create the Peace Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester Unitarian Unversalist Church May 27, 2018   I was quickly scanning the headlines in my email Inbox the other day, and I could tell that there was a holiday approaching because everyone wanted to sell me...

From Reverend Janet Dear Friends, I have been away during a tumultuous time for our country. As many of you know, I had the great privilege of officiating at the wedding of my younger son Eric to his new wife, Jaclyn. Our family grew, as we not only welcome a daughter...

On Sunday, June 17, at 10:00 a.m. Mark Twain, played by professional actor Peter Berkrot, delivered the sermon at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church. In this one-man presentation written and narrated by Brent Wilkes, Berkrot delivered an unforgettable...

Spurred by national concern about mass shootings, a symposium in Gloucester on Saturday, May 19, will put a fresh focus on gun violence, examining both the intent and application of the Second Amendment and the differences among us that led to an impasse in addressing...

On Monday, April 23, Mayor Sefatia Romeo-Theken led a rally and march to end domestic violence. “Shatter the Silence – End the Violence” was sponsored by the Mayor, Gloucester Coalition for the Prevention of Domestic Abuse, YWCA North Shore Rape Crisis Center, HAWC,...

Meet in real life to learn and train on Social Media!  (click on the above title for more info) Bring your smartphone or laptop (and questions) about the scope of Social Media and how it can be used for personal, family, business, politics, and everyday use. We'll...