05/29/2026
SUNDAY SERVICE May 31, 10AM
"Let the Mystery Be," led by Reverend Janet Parsons, with Andrew Soll, organist. This month we are exploring Awakening Curiosity and how important it is in our human lives. But when do we decide to not discover all the answers? Join us at 10:00 a.m. Worship is in-person, or at the livestream link here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIeJfO72kLh-gAtZZT-QOng/live
The Order of Service is available as you enter the sanctuary and in the weekly e-newsletter.
Please join us for coffee and refreshments in the social hall after the service. Everyone is welcome, especially visitors!
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GUUC Annual Meeting June 7, 2026
The Board of Trustees of the Gloucester UU Church will be holding the Annual Meeting for all congregational members on June 7, 2026. The meeting will take place immediately after the church service, in the social hall. The meeting provides a review of church activities for the fiscal year from July 2026, and a board approved budget for fiscal year July 2027. Please plan to attend this important meeting.
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Benefit Concert for LUCE Mutual Aid
Join us this Sunday for a benefit Concert at our church from 4:00-6:00pm. Proceeds will be donated to LUCE, a local organization that supports local immigrants and their families. Donations will be gratefully accepted at the door by cash, check or Venmo. Bring your friends!
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Comments from May 17 Congregational Meeting Available
On May 17 we gathered at coffee hour to consider the questions of how the church nourishes us as individuals and how we nourish the wider community. Julee Allen, who facilitated the session, has compiled all the comments made, and has emailed them to everyone who signed in to the meeting. If you didn't receive them and are curious, please email Reverend Janet and she'll be glad to forward them to you.
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Reading Together 2026
Join us Wednesday June 24th at 3:00
The Gloucester Racial Justice Team and Cape Ann Pride are offering a community-wide book reading for 2026 – “Identity and Belonging 2026: Reading Together”. The book chosen is “Pretty: A Memoir” by KB Brookins, explores the rich tapestry of African American and LGTBQI+ life.
On Wednesday June 24th at 3:00, please join us for a group discussion of the book in the Williams Room at the Gloucester UU Church. A virtual author talk by KB Brookins will then be offered at the Gloucester Stage Company on Tuesday July 14th from 6:30-8:30 pm.
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Sermons Recorded
Miss one of our services? No problem! Check out the archive of 2026 live-streamed services on YouTube here
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Podcast Episode #5
In this episode we explore our monthly theme “Awakening Curiosity.” Rev. Janet talks more about her recent sermon titled “The Blessing and the Curse.” We explore different ways of looking at “curiosity” and go from myth and bible storytelling all the way up to modern day —even Senator Elizabeth Warren gets a mention.
Episode 5: https://youtu.be/8dyTA3iv9Zo
"Siding With Love" is Gloucester Unitarian Universalist’s monthly podcast, co-hosted by the Rev. Janet Parsons and Carol Bousquet. We explore a range of ideas based on the theme of the month while centering on the principles of the Unitarian Universalist faith. You can find them on our YouTube page or at the links below.
Episode 4 – Possibilities
Winter is turning to Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Rev. Janet shares that she recently noted that Kurt Vonnegut proposed having six seasons a year; whereby, Spring would be "unlocking." Oh, the possibilities...
https://youtu.be/g1omdcnPfgI?si=2rJDjAtEM5Xgmdpq
Enjoy!
Rev. Janet Parsons and Carol Bousquet
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New Celebration at Entryway Gallery, Open 2-5 Saturdays
Leading up to Pride Day, the Entryway Gallery is proud to offer photographic portraits and monographs from the book To Survive on This Shore: Photographs and Interviews with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Older Adults. Representations of older transgender people are nearly absent from our culture and those that do exist are often one-dimensional. For over five years, photographer Jess T. Dugan and social worker Vanessa Fabbre traveled throughout the United States creating To Survive on This Shore, seeking subjects whose lived experiences exist within the complex intersections of gender identity, age, race, ethnicity, sexuality, socioeconomic class, and geographic location, they traveled from coast to coast, to big cities and small towns, documenting the life stories of this important but largely underrepresented group of older adults. The featured individuals have a wide variety of life narratives spanning the last ninety years, offering an important historical record of transgender experience and activism in the United States.
The resulting portraits and interviews provide a nuanced view into the struggles and joys of growing older as a transgender person and, offer a poignant reflection on what it means to live authentically despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
The exhibition comes to us courtesy of the Arlington UU Church. For more information on the book see www.tosurviveonthisshore.com .
The Gallery will be open 2-5 on Saturdays and during events at the Church.
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Aptitudes, Inclinations, Abilities Wanted Here
Do you love to take pictures? Are you a technology geek? Maybe you can read a spreadsheet and balance a checkbook. Or perhaps you’re an organizer who likes to bring order to spaces or projects.
Do you like to fix things around the house? Are you fascinated by old buildings or cemeteries? -- If so, our church could use those talents! Please see Reverend Janet or Holly Tanguay to learn more.
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Sermons are available on the church website. Visit Sermons | Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church (gloucesteruu.org)
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Donating or Fulfilling Pledges Online
If you would like to make a pledge payment or donation, go to the church website: www.gloucesteruu.org. Find the GIVE button on the top right of the page. This will take you to our Donate page, with easy instructions.