Lay Led Services

First Parish of Beverly, Unitarian-Universalist

Lay Led Services

Every year our Music & Worship committee schedules several Sunday services which are not led by our minister. They may be led primarily by one person or by a group, be drawn from within our church community or from outside resources.

On Sunday October 25, 2009 four members of our church, Julia Quigley Long, Sarah Shamel, Doug Baumoel, and David Flynn, generously and with love shared their spiritual journeys. Although they are from all different backgrounds, their stories were funny and touching, and full of appreciation for where they are now, and for how they got here. Scott Gorman did the responsive reading, and Steve Hoy led the closing circle.

My Journey to Universal Unitarianism at First Parish Church - Dave Flynn

My spiritual journey started as a young child attending services at St. Mary’s church in Beverly and I was confirmed Catholic. I became disillusioned with the Catholic Church in high school and I fell out of religious practice completely toward the end of my college years. I remember many useful lessons from the Bible like loving thy neighbor, but I continue to work on reducing my self-righteousness that was reinforced by my religious upbringing.
About 10 years ago, when Jenny and I decided to start a family, we began looking for a spiritual community (more)

Same Space, Different Place - Julia Quigley Long

I suppose I should have known since childhood what it means to be a UU. Anyone who has been a UU her whole life - who has gone through Sunday School, and who was one of the first to go through the Coming of Age program - should have been able to tell you what, exactly, a UU is... but until relatively recently, I didn’t.
I just knew how to respect the religions of others, and that it was a (more)

My Spiritual Journey, Part 2 - Doug Baumoel

A few years ago, I spoke to you about the spiritual journey which led me to this church. I talked about growing up Jewish, attending Hebrew school, being Bar Mitzvah, and keeping some of the more convenient and family-fun traditions. Then I got married to Victoria who was raised Episcopalian, we had kids and went church shopping. We stumbled upon the UU Pamphlet in the pews during a first-night jazz concert in 2001 and we ended up here. While that may be the story of how we got here, it doesn’t say much about (more)

And in May 2009, another of my favorites.

Memorial Day, 2009 – Steve Hoy

Visualization

Memories of Memorial Day. Grey haired men and women in their old army uniforms marching through town, some of them limping, led by an honor guard of young soldiers with flags. A high school band playing the Battle Hymn of the Republic and America the Beautiful. Children along the parade route waving little American Flags. Brownies, Cub scouts and Boy and Girl Scouts following the band, marching out of step. A convertible with the oldest veteran in town in the back seat, the mayor and other politicians (more)

Page Updated 25 January, 2010 01:40 PM