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"I wrote the song: War is Not the Answer, Never Was, Never Will on the
30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. The word “imagine” is in the
song. The song is totally financed by Veterans For Peace chapters,
individuals, national and local peace groups."- Pat Scanlon

watch video below
OPEN DOOR PREPARE, COOK AND SERVE.
Every two months we prepare, cook and serve meals at the Open Door at 28R Emerson Ave. in Gloucester. The next date is Thursday February 9, 2012. The Open Door serves community meals free of charge in a clean, pleasant and friendly atmosphere.  Anyone who is hungry or lonely is welcome.  There are no eligibility requirements .  You can help us by preparing or purchasing supplies for the meal, helping us serve and cook the next time or by making a donation.

SOCIAL JUSTICE...a call to action.


As our rituals and celebrations together nurture us, we are also called and challenged to share our faith in good works – works for peace, justice, and healing.


Many of our ongoing efforts include:


  • We are a Welcoming Congregation.  Offer monthly PFLAG meetings, lobby our political leaders on critical legislation for the GLBiTran community.

  • Support of Wellspring House.  Rev. Art McDonald serves as a member on the board.

  • Environmental:  Aprilla Farm, Essex, MA Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for our children in the Religious Education program.  This program provides fresh produce to The Open Door food pantry and it's community meals.

  • Participation in the yearly count of the fish in the Alewife Brook, located in Essex, Ma.

  • A green building by promoting  recycling.  We continue to strive toward an energy efficient building.

  • Cooking meals for those with limited means at The Open Door, Gloucester, MA : Ongoing food donations to the Food Pantry and cook/serve/clean monthly at The Open Door community meals where we serve residents of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Manchester and Ipswich.

  • Promoting and selling Fair Trade Coffee and Teas in our Fellowship Hall.

  • Serve the North Shore Coalition for Peace and Justice with peace building efforts:  Monthly presence at the Gloucester Grant Circle peace protest.  Annual host for the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Monks during their walk for peace, support Veteran's for Peace efforts.

  • One of the first on Cape Ann to become active members of Essex County Community Organization (E.C.C.O) raising awareness, action and funding North Shore community action projects in our local area and beyond.  Rev. Art McDonald serves as a member on the board for E.C.C.O.  
PHOTO:  Rev. Art McDonald dedicates a peace pole as part of The Peace Pole Project on the church grounds in Essex, MA, 2004.  For more information on the Peace Pole Project go to www.peacepoleproject.org

Member of our church, Noah Kellerman,  has produced a gorgeous crop for the start of Aprilla Farm's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)venture. A graduate of Hampshire College with a sustainable agriculture degree, Noah has created a local organic CSA on the Alprilla Farm in Essex located on Johnwise Avenue. Join in his success by getting a share of the CSA, or buy some produce at the Cape Ann Farmer’s Market.  CLICK HERE for more info. on Aprilla Farm's CSA!
For more information on our current projects and events relating to faith in action and social justice go to our events calendar and newsletter.
 For the UU Essex Calendar click here

E.C.C.O., Essex County Community Organization,  is developing a new strategy on the North Shore for its organizing which involves a regional approach, from Lynn to Rockport. We hope to bring together 30-40 clergy in late January, then congregational lay leaders (5 from each congregation) in March/April, then work on an issue across the region. Hopefully, all of this will lead to a major action meeting in the Fall. With our new organizer, Daniel Lesser, it's a very exciting time for ECCO.