Service Times

Sundays
10:00 AM

There are currently no events scheduled in this category. Please check the home page for other church events

Year-Long Theme: Simplicity

Do you believe that we must embrace words such as “durable, sturdy, stable, hardy and robust” in the future rather than words such as “rapid growth, consumer spending and more”? The Social Action Committee is sponsoring a year-long theme focusing on “Living Simply so that Others Might Simply Live.” Read More >>

Guest At Your Table

At a church service, usually before Thanksgiving, small collection boxes will be handed out and stories of courageous individuals will be shared as we join others promoting human rights around the world. Read More >>

Other Outreach

Groups of First Parish members and friends participate in programs and fund-raisers: Read More >>

Community Involvement

Local Community

Love is the spirit of our church, and service our law. Beverly Bootstraps Community Services is our church-sponsored local community program. This and other programs are described below. To learn more about social action at First Parish or to volunteer your time, please contact Social Action Committee co-chairs Dunc Ballantyne at or Tony Constantino. We welcome your help, even if is only for a few hours.

World Community

ASAPROSAR in El Salvador is our church-sponsored international program. We support ASAPROSAR’s “Barefoot Angels” Urban Youth Program by conducting an annual Learn and Serve Volunteer Trip (described below) and through donations of money, clothing, toys, school supplies, and toiletries. To learn about the Learn and Serve Trip, please and contact Carol Ballantyne or Nelda Quigley.

First Parish also supports the Guest At Your Table program of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (see below).

Monday Night Suppers

On the second Monday of each month (from 5:30-7:00 pm), volunteers prepare and serve meals to 50-60 guests nextdoor at the First Baptist Church, 221 Cabot Street, Beverly.

Recently, Three Star Pizza in Beverly has generously donated pizza and pasta each month. Thank you Three Star Pizza!
Volunteers usually provide dessert.

Here is what one young person wrote about her experience:

“My community service project for school in sixth grade was to help out at one of the dinners. When we shared our projects I realized that I had touched many more lives than any of my classmates. I know that economy is down and I know that many people are unemployed but something hit last Monday night supper. I had never seen anyone other than adults at these dinners but last Monday we served three young children all younger than me. This woke me up and I realized that the Monday and Tuesday night suppers help so many people that truly need it.”

If you and your older child are interested in volunteering, please contact Coordinators Martha Brennan or Fran Gerrior.

Beverly Bootstraps

As part of our commitment to Beverly Bootstraps:

We have conducted annual food drives, collected baby items, and filled backpacks with school supplies for students in need.
We donate ten-percent of the net proceeds from our annual Auction to Beverly Bootstraps.

Tuesday Night Suppers

Every Tuesday evening (from 5:30-7:00) volunteers serve supper to 30-40 guests at First Parish.

Most of the food is graciously donated and prepared by Beverly Hospital.
Helping to serve meals can be a rewarding way to spend 1½ hours doing something to benefit others.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ron Sweet.

Fair Trade Coffee

We serve and sell Fair Trade coffee. The chief concern of the Fair Trade movement has been to ensure that the vast majority of the world’s coffee farmers (who are small holders) get a fair price for their harvests in order to achieve a decent living wage. Fair Trade guarantees to poor farmers organized in cooperatives around the world: a living wage (minimum price of $1.26/pound regardless of the volatile market); much needed credit at fair prices; and long term relationships. These fair payments are invested in health care, education, environmental stewardship, and economic independence. Fair Trade coffee is a simple solution that means the difference—quite literally—between surviving and not surviving for small-scale coffee farmers.

ASAPROSAR

The Salvadoran Association for Rural Health (ASAPROSAR) is a multi-service non-governmental community service organization based in Santa Ana, El Salvador.

It was founded in 1986 by Dr. Vicky Guzman, a Salvadoran doctor. ASAPROSAR is staffed by Salvadoran physicians, social workers, health promoters, teachers, and other professional outreach workers.

The Barefoot Angels Program seeks to eradicate high-risk child labor primarily in Santa Ana’s bus terminal marketplace and municipal city dump.

Many boys and girls between the ages of six and eighteen who are forced to work in these areas become victims of gang associations, prostitution, and related violence.
ASAPROSAR offers these youth a program of physical and psychological health and quality educational training. It is the only alternative for youth living and working in the streets and on the margins of western Salvadoran society.

Two members of First Parish lead an annual Learn and Serve Volunteer Trip (Contact Carol Ballantyne or Nelda Quigley)

The purpose of the trip is to build relationships and encourage cross-cultural understanding.
We create opportunities for individuals of all ages to use their talents and interests in partnership with Salvadorans to work on projects that benefit local communities.
Through these partnerships, visitors gain knowledge about another culture, experience personal growth and learn that they can make the world a better place.
Participants need not be members of First Parish Church.