Shine On

Rev. Paula Norbert Epiphany: Matthew 2:1-12I want to wish you all a happy, healthy New Year. I know we bring our collective hopes and prayers to this moment and to this year ahead. We join with all those around the world who are hoping against hope for a far healthier, better year ahead when we […]

Love Is Shining

Rev. Paula Norbert It’s a most beautiful and holy night and we are lucky to be able to gather in this time and place, to be together in prayer and to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, the Prince of Peace, Hope for the Nations, Son of God. We celebrate the gift of love […]

Peace is Still Possible

Rev. Paula Norbert “I Believe in the Light: Illuminating Peace”Synopsis (read at the beginning of worship): The “great light” which we will hear spoken of in the Isaiah reading this morning is echoed in the good news of John’s Gospel: the light that brings peace–that saves the people from all that would extinguish it–has been […]

A Personal Ode to Joy

Rev. Paula Norbert “I Believe in God: Ode to Joy”Synopsis : This week we turn to Luke’s writing which is an account in two acts: the Gospel biography of Jesus and then the story of the early church–the “Jesus community.” Whether you were a Jew or Gentile in those days, deciding to become a part […]

I Believe in Love: Daring Right Relationship

Rev. Paula Norbert Synopsis (read at the beginning of worship): In both the Gospel of Matthew and Isaiah, a messenger appears as a sign from God, heralding a new era. In each passage, we hear the words “do not be afraid” … offering a clue that the messenger–whether prophet or angel–was referencing something that induced […]

I Believe in the Sun: Hope for Tomorrow

Rev. Paula Norbert Isaiah 40: 1-11, Mark 1: 1-15 “Raise your voice… raise it; don’t be afraid!” – Isaiah 40:9 We gather today on this first Sunday of Advent to be together in prayer. I’m sure you have noticed that many in our local communities started decorating for the holidays early this year; I think […]

The Power of Gratitude

Rev. Paula Norbert We’re almost to the Thanksgiving holiday, and like so much this year, it will likely look very different than it has in the past. Throughout Scripture, we read about gratitude to God for the many blessings that the community has been given. In Hebrew Scripture, thanksgiving is offered above all to the […]

Hope on the Horizon

Rev. Paula Norbert Isaiah 65:17-25 In Isaiah’s reading today, we hear words of great comfort and hope that were spoken to the people of that time, close to 500 years before the time of Jesus on earth.  I imagine they may serve as words of comfort and hope to us in this day as well. […]

Marjorie Jamback Memorial

On Saturday, February 22, 2020 the family and friends of Marjorie gathered at the Saco ME Unitarian Universalist Church for a memorial service for Marjorie. Below is the program distributed at this service. Several of the speakers have shared their words of tribute and remembrance – click on the links within the program to read […]

Dare to Hope–Dare to be Hope

August 26, 2018 — Rev. Nancy Parent BancroftReadings: Psalm 137: 1-6; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; John 14:27 Clergy, like all other working groups, have their professional journals. And the big topic being discussed in them this year and often among clergy when they get together is how to preach given the present divisiveness and political climate.  And the […]