Welcome Home! We are a community that celebrates diversity in Braintree, MA - Imagine the Freedom - More Spirituality, Less Religiousity

We accept you as you are...

It's no accident that you are here.

We are so happy you're visiting our website! We update it frequently, so be sure to drop by often. And please let us know if there's anything you'd like to add.

As a happily diverse community, we attempt to remain engaged with each other's differing views. Thus, we learn while sharing, remaining open to rational argument or spiritual enlightenment.

This allows us to minimize doctrine, ideology, dogma, creed, or any kind of fundamentalist, authoritative ideas that are not to be disputed or doubted. Those things can lead to suffering.

The glue that binds us together is the love of our community and an affirmation to promote the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism. (See the left side bar)

Many of us feel our spiritual lives are grounded in a sense of the fullness and connectedness of all things.

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All Souls Church, Unitarian Universalist

Our Vision is to be an open-minded spiritual community that celebrates diversity and lives successfully with both its gifts and challenges. We seek to understand and appreciate the great diversity of people and ideas in the world.

With our vision in mind, Our Mission, as All Souls Church, is to come together in community, to create opportunities for spiritual expression and exploration, to learn with and from each other, and to make a difference in the world.
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Our Services

Please join us for services on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Children begin in the sanctuary with adults before going to their religious education classes. Child care is available for nursery and preschoolers.

Please check the Newcomers link at the top of this page for additional information you may find helpful.
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Summer Worship Services - 9:30 AM in the Parish Hall

Note that service on July 18th was NOT at the church, but was held on George's Island - see the image near this text

Summer worship services feature the eclectic gifts and interests of All Souls members and friends. Services are informal and last from 30 to 45 minutes.

June 27 - Rev. Estelle Margarones - Community Picnic: All Are Invited
Together, we'll imagine what it might be like if God had a picnic and invited everyone. What would you bring?

July 4 - Bill O'Neill

July 11 - Andrew Pearce

July 18 - An outdoor service held on George's Island will be led by Rev. Steve Wilson -- see the right sidebar for details

July 25 - Jane and Larry Fogg

August 1 - Stephanie Heaney

August 8 - Our former minister, Rev. Kathy Schmitz returns to All Souls for a visit
People often speak of their spiritual life as a path or a journey. Three years ago, I was given a navigation system (GPS) for my car. In addition to helping me find my way around new places, this has inspired some new thoughts about how we navigate our spiritual journeys.

August 15 - All Souls Historical Group - All Souls History

August 22 - Jan Norris - Clare of Assisi (1193-1254) and Marguerite de Porete (1250-1310: Two Medieval Women Who Dared
Jan will talk about these two Medieval religious women, how they stepped out of the female model of their times and the price each of them paid.

August 29 - Don Swanson - Hope
"There is a movement arising and gaining momentum that is without precedent in human history, a movement grounded in hope. I believe we are graced with the opportunity and challenge to live the most significant and meaningful lives ever lived because we are faced with history's most extraordinary threats to life on earth" - Howard E. Friend, Jr.

September 5 - Rev. Steve Wilson

More George's Island Service Images

The Islanders (for the day) Look to the right.
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The Music For The Service On George's Island

We had Native American flute and African hand drums.
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What Do We Love?

We love a Sense of Belonging, Celebration of Life, Fellowship, Spiritual Growth, Freedom, Ecology, Diversity, Justice, Earth, Same-sex Marriage, Humanity, Democracy, Nature, Music, Love, Liberty, Community, Sustainability, Sharing, Truth, Celebrating Common Values, Creativity, Honesty, Learning, Ethics, Interfaith Weddings, Compassion, The Braintree Farmers Market, Equality, Joy, Our 7 Principles... (See the left sidebar for The Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism.)

Remember the caution of Paul Tillich and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that we not separate love from power. Why? Because love without power is sentimental and anemic, and power without love is reckless and abusive.

What Are Our Demographics?

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Here in Braintree, Massachusetts, on the south shore of Boston, our members and friends are happily all colors, all races, married, single, men, women, adults, youth, children, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, in, out, all sizes, all ages, all different abilities, etc...

Our members and friends backgrounds/beliefs include - Unitarian Universalism, Humanism, Buddhism, Theological Christianity, Judaism, Taoism, Neo-Paganism, Hinduism, Shinto, Islam, Native American Spirituality, Spiritualism, Agnosticism, Atheism, Pantheism, Creatheism, Environmentalism, etc. with more coming in.

Most resonate with more than one of the above.

We've Got Small Groups!

A sampling of some of our intentional small groups - Chalice Circles, Monthly Book Group, Discussion of "The God of Your Understanding", Buddhist Reflections, Gay Men's Discussion Group, Women's Lesbian Support Group, Peace & Pizza, Coffee & Conversation, Yoga, Choir, Drummimg, Developing a Deeper Relationship with God etc. For more detailed information on our Small Groups, click on the Get Involved tab at the top of this page.

Installation Service Celebrates New Ministerial Leadership

On November 1 at 3:00 PM, All Souls celebrated a new chapter of service in the Braintree community with the installation ceremony of its new settled minister, Rev. Steve Wilson. Many local clergy came to attend this special ceremony in the Unitarian Universalist tradition that celebrates a new relationship between a minister called to ministry and the congregation. Read the entire press release

Homecoming Celebration Welcomes Rev. Steve Wilson to All Souls Church

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree ushered in the beginning of its new church year with a Homecoming Celebration on Sunday, September 13. The church lawn was filled with entertainment and games for the entire family. Refreshments were enjoyed in an outdoor setting amid the fun! The kick-off event was to welcome Rev. Steve Wilson to settled ministry at All Souls. Rev. Wilson has served family-sized Unitarian Universalist congregations in Rutland, Vermont, Northfield, MA, and Bernardston, MA. He comes to Braintree after a six-month tenure at a growing church in Sydney, Australia.

A dynamic worship leader, Rev. Wilson will officiate at All Souls' Sunday services, which provide a time for reflection and meditation, music, and connection with others. Rev. Wilson brings to his ministry a rich background of experience in social justice and environmental activism. His experience will enhance the ministry of All Souls Church, which has a long history of promoting social justice as well as environmental awareness. It has earned the Unitarian Universalist designation of "Welcoming Congregation", indicating a church community that embraces all individuals whether they are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. It has also earned the designation "Green Sanctuary", indicating its commitment to environmental responsibility. Rev. Wilson recently remarked, "I am excited to be here in a religious community that serves as a magnet for progressive thought and social action. For those who actively yearn for justice, love questions as much as answers, and want to live out their religious lives in a welcoming community, my brief time here has already convinced me that this is a great place."

Rev. Wilson has been working with the church's cooperative religious education committee to develop its engaging Sunday morning Young Explorers Program for children and youth. The program is in session on Sundays from 10:30 am to 11:45 am. It provides a variety of experiences, activities and fun time together to provide young people with the opportunity to nurture new friendships, support their individual journeys and be part of a caring community.

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350.org - International Day of Climate Action

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree took part in the most widespread day of environmental action in history -- over 5,200 events in 181 countries -- to call for a clear solution to the climate crisis: reducing the level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere below 350 parts per million.

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Rev. Kathy and Charlie

A beloved previous minister and her husband joined us for a summer service.

Here's proof...

What a nice time we had.

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