Our Beliefs In Action

While we have no set creed or doctrine, like many UU congregations, we adopt the Seven Principles as part of all we do. Here is how that looks at the First Universalist Church of Essex:

FIRST UU PRINCIPLE – THE INHERENT WORTH AND DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON

• Care & Hospitality Committee Outreach
• Meals for new moms
• Visits to shut-ins
• Dinner Circles
• Pastoral care by minister
• Choir open to all
• Game Nights
• Social Justice/Community outreach
• Membership without set creed

 

SECOND UU PRINCIPLE – JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND COMPASSION IN HUMAN RELATIONS

• ECCO community organizing
• Open Door Pantry
• Meals and food
• Grace Center outreach to those who are marginalized
• Family Promise for homeless families
• P-FLAG support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender
• North Shore Peace & Justice support

 

THIRD UU PRINCIPLE – ACCEPTANCE OF ONE ANOTHER AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN OUR CONGREGATIONS

• Adult, youth, children, and toddler religious education
• Spiritual Parenting
• Music program and choir
• Sunday worship and occasional meditation evenings

 

FOURTH UU PRINCIPLE – A FREE AND RESPONSIBLE SEARCH FOR TRUTH AND MEANING

• Sunday service
• All education programs, adult to toddler
• Special lectures/programs

 

FIFTH UU PRINCIPLE – THE RIGHT OF CONSCIENCE AND THE USE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WITHIN OUR CONGREGATIONS AND IN SOCIETY AT LARGE:

• Board leadership and open meetings
• Annual meetings and voting
• Membership without set creed
• Open pulpit

 

SIXTH UU PRINCIPLE – THE GOAL OF WORLD COMMUNITY WITH PEACE, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL:

• Coffee sales for farmers
• UU Service Committee support
• Project support in Africa and Guatemala
• North Shore Peace & Justice activities
• Witness and lobbying

 

SEVENTH UU PRINCIPLE – RESPECT FOR THE INTERDEPENDENT WEB OF ALL EXISTENCE OF WHICH WE ARE A PART:

• Environmental Committee work
• Support for animal shelters
• Collective decision-making and membership in UUA denomination