3 Norman Ave
Gloucester, MA 01930
We are congregational and a member of the United Church of Christ denomination.
Two of Congregationalism’s fundamental tenants are the democratic autonomy vested in the local church members and each congregant’s freedom of conscience. We seek unity not unanimity. We ask the Holy Spirit for grace among those who differ. We believe God’s love binds us despite differences, controversies, varied interpretations of scripture and God’s will.
Our church was established in 1887 and initially met in what is now a private home in Magnolia. Our current sanctuary was built in 1903 and is considered a blend of Shingle and Queen Anne styles. The interior has remained unchanged since an organ and stained glass were added about a hundred years ago. It seats about 80. Despite a 35 foot vaulted ceiling, the space is intimate and the acoustics are excellent.
The Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA)  has bus service (including “On Demand”) from anywhere on Cape Ann to the seaside village of Magnolia where we are located.
If you are driving, parking is along Norman Ave or its side streets.
Eclectic. We use 2000 years of Christian traditions and a contemporary worship band.
Expect a 15-20 minute sermon and a time of congregational sharing and prayer when we welcome congregants to express their joys and tribulations and pray for each other and our world.
Come dressed in what makes you comfortable.
We always convene for conversation with hot and cold beverages and often fruits and home-made treats. Depending on the weather, we may be inside or outside. We’re just a block from a beach and rocky shoreline.
Yes. Our calendar has all our events.
As Jesus taught, we believe God is love and we are all children of God, equally deserving of that love.
We don’t tell people what to believe. We encourage each other on our individual spiritual journeys, asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to live lives that Jesus taught and modeled. We desire to experience God’s love and learn how to share it with all creation. We live in hope, despite the tension between our nature’s and God’s ways, and the paradoxes that imbue living.
We attempt to understand current issues and all of life through the lens of the Greatest Commandments that Jesus taught: Love God, Your Neighbor, and Yourself. Unpacking these commandments is a lifetime of learning and practice. It keeps us from perseverating on doctrines, traditions, and scriptural interpretations of lesser import. We humbly seek to avoid categories and labels that divide; rather, we aspire for concord, reconciliation, and flourishing communities.
Come as you are. We are like you. No one here is perfect; no one here has it all together. We won’t offer facile answers to complex questions or simple solutions to daunting issues. But we will come alongside you in your faith journey.
