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Sermon Archive

The Privilege of Vulnerability

The Privilege of Vulnerability © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church March 12, 2023     They haven’t caught the vandal or vandals that spray-painted hate messages on 16 businesses and the local synagogue in Portsmouth, New Hampshire late in February. But the...

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To be Alive is to be Vulnerable

To Be Alive is to Be Vulnerable © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church March 5, 2023     We have learned a lot these past three years. We’ve learned some science, and some medicine. We’ve learned a lot about our economy, and how dependent we are on the global...

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General Assembly, 1969

General Assembly, 1969 Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church February 19, 2023     “I’m not saying that a demonstration is going to solve the problems…It’s going to take something much more than a demonstration, but at least the demonstration calls attention to...

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To Call Yourself Beloved

To Call Yourself Beloved Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church February 14, 2023     “And did you get whatyou wanted from this life, even so?I did.And what did you want?To call myself beloved, to feel myselfbeloved on the earth.”                       ~~ Raymond...

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The Crucible

The Crucible © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church February 5, 2023     I took time yesterday to stand and watch the sea smoke rising and blowing. At times it was so thick that the water was completely covered with a layer of swirling white. Huge puffy clouds...

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Those in the Shadows

Those in the Shadows © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church January 15, 2023     Those “honor-driven activists.” We ‘find memory beneath their doors, and taste the blessings of their midwifery.’  (Sonia Sanchez, “Progress Report”)   Today we pause and look...

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A Dual Hunger

A Dual Hunger © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church January 8, 2023     There is a moment, when we are watching the swinging of a pendulum, when there’s a slowing, a pause, before the pendulum begins to move back in the other direction. Picture this with me...

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We Are the Dwelling Place

We Are the Dwelling Place © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church December 24, 2022   The photo was posted on social media, among many photos of the flooding and the angry surf over the past two days. The photographer, Jay Albert, managed to capture the moment...

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Who Makes Much of a Miracle?

Who Makes Much of a Miracle? © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church December 4, 2022   “As for me, I know of nothing else but miracles,” wrote Walt Whitman.   We have entered the season of miracles, of enduring stories, tales of events that we cannot explain,...

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Living Free From Hunger

Living Free From Hunger © Reverend Janet Parsons Gloucester UU Church November 20, 2022   You can tell when Thanksgiving is approaching in my extended family. Conversation on the family WhatsApp group starts to heat up, with queries about the head count, and food...

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So That Fresh, Green Leaves Might Grow

So That Fresh, Green Leaves Might GrowReverend Janet ParsonsGloucester UU Church  November 13, 2022“The moon changes, the atmosphere changes,And yet this is all somehow a constant,Something solid to count on, Constantly in motion.”        (Mary Wellemeyer, Constantly...

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All Souls’ Day

Jeremy Taylor Melvin Reflection - All Souls’ Day Given at: Gloucester UU Church October 30th, 2022   I went to Ipswich yesterday.  I grew up there, but go there infrequently.  Or at least not much to the part of town I grew up in.  And when I do, I am usually driving,...

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Upcoming Services

Dec 22, 2024

Turning Toward the Light, led by Reverend Janet Parsons, with music by Nami Hamada.

Join us at 10am in-person or at the livestream link below.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIeJfO72kLh-gAtZZT-QOng/live

Childcare will be provided for elementary-age children and older.

Christmas Eve Service, Dec 24, 7pm. Please join us for a retelling of the traditional Christmas story with scripture, contemporary readings, and lots of music. We will sing Silent Night by candlelight at the end. Everyone is welcome! This service will be livestreamed at the link above.

Recent News

Sunday Nov 10

Trust That You Are Held, led by Reverend Janet Parsons, with Steve Lacey, musician. In the aftermath of the presidential election, how do we find hope and healing? Please invite friends and family who are in search of caring community this week. Join us at 10am...

Sunday Nov 3

Liberating Love, led by Rev. Michael Hall with music by Andy Soll. Please join us at 10am in-person or at the livestream link below. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIeJfO72kLh-gAtZZT-QOng/live Children's programming will be provided by Kiana during the worship...

Sunday Oct 27

This I Believe, led by members of the congregation. From time to time we invite members to offer statements of their own religious beliefs. This always is a meaningful and enjoyable service, and a great opportunity to get to know more about Unitarian Universalism and...