Sermon Archive
Take Back the Night, April 23
This important annual event in support of ending Sexual Assault is on April 23. (click the above title for more info.) Rally and March begin at 5:30 at City Hall. The march will end at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church with music and a program. Join us...
Building Peace, Liberty and Justice
Making our voices heard on contemporary issues At our February 18 service, we remembered by name each of the young adults who lost their lives in the Parkland, Florida shootings. During the month of February, members of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church,...
Sermon Podcast February 19, 2017
Sermon Feb. 19, 2017
Healing Our Wholeness – October 2, 2016
Healing Our Wholeness, Healing the World Reverend Janet Parsons October 2, 2016 Once upon a time, back at the very beginning of time, the Ein Sof, or the Ground of Being, or God, filled the entire universe with its presence. And when the Ein Sof decided to create the...
The Creative Spirit (Rev. Parsons April 24, 2016)
A Sermon Given at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church April 24, 2016 By Rev. Janet Parsons I once had the good fortune to be present when someone was struck by a creative spirit, and had the chance to watch what happened. The someone was my husband. We...
Love Will Come Again – Rev. Janet Parsons, Easter 2016
The ancient story has been handed down across time and distance, across languages and cultures. It climaxes unexpectedly: when three grieving women, returning to a tomb to dress the body of their murdered teacher, encounter a mysterious stranger. The body is nowhere...
“Love is Stronger Than Death” by Rev. Parsons (2/14/16)
A couple of weeks ago, the President of Iran visited Rome. Since he was planning to visit the Capitoline Museum, it was decided, by someone – the news reports were a little vague — to cover up statues of classical nudes so as to not offend him. Wooden boxes were...
“Dialogue” by Newt Fink (January 24, 2016)
Question. My great friend Dr. Mike Sperber always asks huge questions. “So where did we come from?” he calmly asks as we speed down Rt. 128 – he’s taking me to a doctor’s appointment. Do you have a friend like that? It stirred thoughts that had been forming in my...
“Spiritual and Religious: The Beloved Community” by Janet Parsons (18 Oct 15)
One Monday morning some years ago, I was with a group of people from my home church, preparing to leave our sleeping quarters in New Orleans to head out to work on a flooded home. “Don’t make lunch,” we were told. “Some friends of the owners are planning to bring...
The Spirituality of Abundance (10/11/15) Rev. Janet Parsons
We are a nation in a time of great division – of starkly different visions. When I see news reports of all the conflict we are experiencing these days, I am struck by a sense that America is living in a place of deep fear. [download id="264"]
Space Between the Logs by Rev. Janet Parsons
When I was first setting out along my path into the ministry, I came upon an essay written by a UU minister, whose name I cannot recall, who was reflecting on the art and craft of preaching. She said something that has stayed with me for years now: that ultimately...
A Variety of Poems — Some in the Key of U.U.
The title of my presentation today is “A Variety of Poems – Some in the Key of U.U.” [Unitarian Universalist] Cape Ann Surrounded by sea on every side Ere at the mercy of storm and tide Touched and kissed by resplendent foam This beautiful island we call...
Upcoming Services
A New Song for America, led by Reverend Janet Parsons with music by Steve Lacey. Our theme for September is Beginnings. What might a new beginning look like for the United States?
Worship is in-person or at the livestream link below. Please join us at 10am. Everyone is welcome!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIeJfO72kLh-gAtZZT-QOng/live
WEATHER CONCERNS
We are watching the predicted storm closely but it's too soon to decide whether Sunday's service will need to be cancelled or moved onto Zoom. We will send out a Constant Contact update either Saturday evening or first thing Sunday morning: watch your inboxes! If the service moves onto Zoom, the link will be included in that email.
Above all, please decide always to do what is safest for yourself!
Recent News
To Take Back Our Land Again
To Take Back Our Land Again © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church January 18, 2026 As I was writing this sermon yesterday, I heard that there was a large-scale protest taking place in Minneapolis, the city most recently targeted for authoritarian control of...
Sunday Jan 18
o Take Back Our Land Again, led by Reverend Janet Parsons We take time each year to honor and remember Dr. Martin Luther King and try to ask ourselves some of the questions he might be asking us today. Music by Robert Noble. Please join us at 10am, in-person or at...
We Fight for Roses, Too!
We Fight for Roses, Too! © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church January 11, 2026 The story began 114 years ago, on January 1, 1912. That day, a new law took effect in Massachusetts that reduced the number of hours in the work week for women, from 56 hours per...