In 1976, Unitarian Universalist theologian James Luther Adams offered five stones of religious liberalism as foundational theological points for our tradition. Years later, Revs. Nancy Bowen and Mike Morran built on these with five jagged rocks of Unitarian Universalism. Today we explore the smooth stones and the jagged rocks. We consider how these foundational points … Continue reading From Smooth Stones to Jagged Rocks … and Beyond
What do we do with the questions that arise from the places of brokenness? How do we find meaning when we’re trying to understand disaster, human harm, or even when things have simply gone wrong? How do we respond to the “bad” of this world? These are especially tough questions in Unitarian Universalism, where there … Continue reading Wrestling with Concrete
In Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series, everyone in this world is born with the potential to travel through a doorway and to a different world, where society, geography, and core values might look similar to our own or wildly different. By the time we reach adulthood we lose that potential. How might we take the framework of … Continue reading Stay Curious
When we explore Interdependence in Unitarian Universalism, we often look to the natural world and consider the co-existing between plants, animals, and people. This week, we’ll look at the lessons we can draw from the reciprocity and co-regulation between two organisms of the same species. Above ground, we see mushrooms or Aspen trees. Below ground, … Continue reading Reciprocity
We are a community woven together, each of us an individual thread coming together to form the cloth that is First Parish Beverly. As we use the metaphor of weaving to continue exploring our theme of Interdependence, we’ll recommit to one another and to our covenant. We’ll celebrate the strengths we carry and the places we … Continue reading Woven
We kick off this new church year with our annual Water Ceremony! Together, we’ll tell the story of our congregation and our relationship to and with water. This multigenerational, ritual-focused service will invite you to be part of creating the imagery on our altar. We’ll gather our individual waters in the collective space of our … Continue reading The Waters That Raise Us
This Sunday we celebrate our annual Flower Ceremony! As we continue the tradition Rev. Norbert Čapek created in 1923, we reflect on how this ritual of beauty and collaboration invites us to sow love in our world. Bring a flower from your garden, from a store, or from the wild, and we’ll build our robust … Continue reading Sow with Love: A Flower Ceremony Service
The celebration of Juneteenth is just five years old as a Federal Holiday, but its earliest celebrations happened in 1866, just one year after the news of, and enforcement of, emancipation finally reached all people in the United States. Today, we honor Juneteenth as we trace the difficult legacy of slavery and the continued work … Continue reading Honoring Juneteenth
This Sunday we celebrate Pride at First Parish! Join us for stories and music about the joyful resilience embodied by queer and trans people throughout time. Receive a Glitter Blessing to carry you into the week. Stick around for our Coffee Hour Pride Fest where we’ll have nail art pens, temporary tattoos, stickers, and Pride … Continue reading Pride: Joyful Resilience
It’s our annual Milestones service! Join us this Sunday as we welcome new members, celebrate our graduates, and extend our gratitude to all of the people whose time, energy, and enthusiasm filled our congregational life this year.
