Minister's Message: Casting Your Lot with First Church

“I thank God that my own lot is bound up with that of the human race.”
-Rev. William Ellery Channing 

We are the first church governed by congregational polity in the United States. That may sound like jargon or a piece of obscure church-nerd history, but it really is remarkable! It means simply that, starting in 1629, this congregation chose to be responsible for governing itself. Our predecessors decided to answer to one another and to their highest spiritual values, rather than to a higher ecclesial or denominational body. Yes, we receive guidance and resources from the Unitarian Universalist Association. And as your current minister, I provide spiritual leadership and insight from my professional training. But at the end of the day, it is the members of this church who inherit its past, make decisions that govern its present and chart its course for the future. That was radical for its time and it’s still radical today. Our national politics are drifting further toward authoritarianism, showing less respect for democratic governance and the will of the people. And our social culture is highly individualistic, valuing personal choice and independence over collective care. With such strong tugs toward these two poles, your coming together voluntarily to be part of a covenantal community that makes democratic decisions for the good of the whole, is downright revolutionary.

There is no membership requirement to participate in most activities at First Church. We are an open and welcoming community and we invite folks to attend on Sunday, participate in our lifespan religious education programming, volunteer and attend events without becoming official members of the church. Particularly early on in your time here, we encourage it! No religious community will be a perfect fit, but we want you to have a chance to get to know us, learn more about our faith and history, and feel out if this might be the right spiritual home for you. 

So there is no rush to membership, but there is much to gain from making that commitment when it feels right. Choosing to become a member of this church is a spiritually meaningful decision. It means you get to vote on the matters that shape the future of our community and perhaps take on a leadership role yourself. But beyond matters of governance, it is about freely choosing your spiritual path and the travelling companions you want to accompany you on that journey. It’s making a commitment—to yourself and to one another—to work together in service of a shared vision, and it’s about knowing you have a community around you to support you in that commitment. It’s the joy and responsibility that comes with knowing you are now a steward of this community that has existed for nearly 400 years. 

If you are already a member, then let this be a reminder that your membership here is meaningful! It is a source of great joy for me and for your fellow congregants! Perhaps you want to take some time during this season of welcoming new members to think about what your membership means to you and how you can continue living into your own commitments here at First Church. If you aren’t a member, but have been thinking about becoming one, this is a great time. We will be offering a new member information session after church on November 16th and welcoming in new members on December 7th. 

Our bylaws state simply that, “Any person desiring to become a member may sign an application stating that he or she sympathizes with the purpose of the First Church, wishes to affiliate with it, and intends to aid in its support.” Once you’re a member, any person who has made a donation of record in the past year may vote on church matters. (Note: This is where the Stewardship team would like me to remind you that this whole “congregational polity” thing means we are also self-funded. This is part of how we maintain our freedom and autonomy as a democratically-governed congregation. Finances are never a barrier to participation here, but it is member investment in our mission that keeps the lights on and our staff employed!)

As the minister of First Church, you might assume I’m biased in thinking this is a wonderful community to join. And that’s true! But remember, it was not that long ago that I myself was deciding which congregation in our denomination to “cast my lot,” with. From my very first interview with First Church in Salem, I was so impressed by your welcoming spirit, creativity, good humour, rich history and commitment to congregational health. My admiration for these gifts has only grown in the three months I’ve been here. I’ll be so delighted in December to welcome more of you into this vibrant and caring community. 

If you have questions about membership or what it means to make a more formal commitment to this church, feel free to reach out to me or Membership Committee members Holly Chase and Eric Kenney. We look forward to chatting with you! 

© Rev. Danielle Garrett, 2025

Minister's Message: Caring for Our Community Amidst Cruelty and Crisis

“If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?” - James 2: 15-16

Friends, a cornerstone of my own faith is that everyone—literally everyone—is deserving of food, shelter, healthcare and community. I do not believe there are any circumstances under which it is just or moral to deny these basic human needs. And I believe that when we are able, it is our calling, as people of faith and members of the interdependent web of life, to help provide these necessities. Sure, I love book clubs that help educate us about social issues and I think it’s important that we work towards broader changes to eradicate system injustice. But I think there is something deeply holy about providing for one another’s immediate, tangible, bodily needs. I believe Jesus meant for us to take his assertion in Matthew chapter 5,  “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat” literally.

Starting on November 1, SNAP benefits will be abruptly cut off, leaving many in our community without access to affordable food to feed their families. Over 83,000 households in Essex County rely on SNAP. This is not an inevitably, but rather a policy choice and an exceptionally cruel one. As Unitarian Universalists, who believe in the inherent dignity of each person, we are called to respond in this moment. So many of you are already giving, organizing, and sharing resources with your friends and family. Many of you have also asked how our congregation can care for our community during this time of need. I have been in touch with area organizations, including staff at the Salem Pantry, to let them know our church stands at the ready to serve our community in the coming days and weeks. Here are some of the most immediate ways we can help:

• Contribute money at church: Cash donations are the most effective ways to support food pantries. With cash donations, food pantries can save time and money by buying in bulk and focusing on the items people need the most. To support these efforts, over the next two months we will be sharing 50% of our Sunday morning plate collection with area organizations. For the month of November, we will give half of our plate collection to the Salem Pantry. In December, we will contribute to LifeBridge. 

• Donate non-perishable food items: While money is most effective, food donations are always welcome. This is a great option for children and youth, as the exercise of shopping for, pricing, and donating physical items helps kids learn about food insecurity and feel more tangibly connected to their giving. Our Religious Education staff and volunteers are organizing a food drive for the month of November. You are invited to donate non-perishable food items at church on Sunday mornings or at our Nov. 16th Potluck. 

• Volunteer: As food pantries anticipate an increase in donations to process and guests to serve, they also anticipate needing more volunteers. The Salem Pantry is eager to welcome volunteers from First Church and plans to open up new volunteer spots at their market and warehouse in the coming days. You can sign up to volunteer here. 

• Education and Advocacy: The most immediate action from food security advocates is a call for the USDA to release contingency funds that could help keep SNAP benefits going as the government shutdown continues. The Massachusetts based Project Bread has a letter you can fill out here. And the national Food Research and Action Council (FRAC) has a social media kit on their homepage if you’d like to use your channels to share information with family, friends and followers. 

• Spiritual Grounding: While the crisis is immediate, the work to build a more equitable economic system where no one goes hungry is long-term work. We are more likely to stay committed for the long-haul if we have practices that renew us and spiritual grounding that reminds us why we are working for a more just and loving world. Maybe you’d like to spend some quiet time each morning meditating on our Unitarian Universalist values and discerning how you are called to live into them. Maybe you make time to engage with sacred scripture through a justice lense. Or perhaps you join us in reading and discussing our UU Common Read, Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection by Deepa Iyer (see Theo’s message for more details!). Whatever you choose, don’t neglect the spiritual and theological dimensions of this important work.

I welcome your additional ideas for how First Church can show up to meet this moment and care for our community. And if you find yourself struggling financially, emotionally, or spiritually during these difficult days, please do not hesitate to reach out and set up an appointment with me.

Thank you for your care and courage.

In faith,

Rev. Danielle

Minister's Message: Organized Belonging

Two weeks ago, I preached about the ways authoritarian regimes derive power from our loneliness, isolation, and fear of one another (if you missed it, you can read a transcript here). Because of that, showing up here to gather in community is a counter-cultural act of resistance. I joked that perhaps we should affix the famous words from folk singer Woody Guthrie’s guitar, “This machine kills fascists,” to the coffee carafes at fellowship hour. On a more serious note, I cited the work of political philosopher, Hannah Arendt, who in the wake of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, devoted her life to studying the nature of evil and power. Arendt concluded that totalitarianism was “organized loneliness.” I said if that was the case, it was time for us to get serious about organized belonging. And I meant it. So I have two requests this week:

1. Lean into the organized part:
It takes work to sustain this congregation as a site of belonging, connection, spiritual nourishment, and holy resistance. Yes, that means dedicating time and energy to our social justice efforts as a church, but it also goes beyond that. A church community that rejects a culture of isolation and division requires many skills and gifts. We need people who will volunteer for the pastoral care team, teach our children, host game nights, help us keep track of finances, and help us learn how to navigate conflict so we can hold differences without fracture (this work is often referred to as “right relations” in UU jargon). Each of you has a role to play in this work, whether you can commit to weekly meetings or to showing up once a year for a volunteer event. This year we will be embarking on some important endeavors. We will begin articulating our mission and vision and building out a right relations team. I’ll be sharing more details about these efforts in the coming weeks. There is no better time to get involved. You don’t even have to know how you want to contribute yet. If you’re feeling called to get more engaged at church, in small or large (or different) ways, reach out (dgarrett@firstchurchinsalem.org) and let’s talk.


2. Enjoy the belonging part:
There is a lot of good work to do, but church isn’t all work. This is a place to rest, play, pray, learn, cry, question, contemplate, find joy and cultivate friendship. Don’t ever feel guilty about doing those things. You all have worked so hard over these past three years to move this congregation to a place of greater health and financial sustainability. It was difficult and slow work, but you committed to it. You kept showing up even when church wasn’t always a fun place to be. The work isn’t done but you have so much to be proud of. So take a deep breath. You deserve to enjoy this place and each other. And there is so very much to enjoy. Behind your self-deprecating statements about being reserved New Englanders, you are funny, warm, welcoming, creative, talented, and smart in a million different ways. I see the ways you greet newcomers, take joy in our children and youth, engage in our wider community, and cultivate a wicked sense of humor. I am constantly delighted to spend time with you! Truly! And I want you to be delighted to spend time with one another. If what you need to do this church year is just remember how to love church and enjoy one another’s company, that’s more than enough. 


It is such a joy to be your minister. We live in difficult times, but I have so much hope that we have what we need, here in this beloved community, to navigate them together.

In faith,

Rev. Danielle

© Rev. Danielle Garrett, 2025

Minister's Message: Our Unexpected Theological Teachers

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about our unexpected spiritual teachers—the people, places and texts outside of sacred scripture and church teachings where we find deep theological wisdom. One reason this has been on my mind is the wonderful “Thirsty Thursday Theology” discussion many of us shared last night, where we explored the ways ghost stories and horror movies help us understand our relationships with one another and our ancestors, wrestle with grief, process death, and contemplate good and evil and the vast grey areas in between.

The other reason it’s been on my mind is a recent conversation between journalist Nicole Wallace and actor, activist, and devoted Catholic Martin Sheen. The whole podcast is worth a listen. He even mentions Unitarian minister James Reeb! But I was especially moved by this statement, “If we’re lucky enough to surrender and accept the responsibility that we start as a nothing basically, except our humanity, and then we realize, oh, my God, being human is all we need. We’re broken. It’s beautiful brokenness, because if you weren’t broken, nothing could get in to change you. Whether you believe in one, the other God, it doesn’t matter. The spirit cannot get in you unless there’s an entrance point.”

Sheen was an early hero of mine. I was 13 when The West Wing premiered and I was convinced that my calling in life was to become the White House Press Secretary. I already had a bleeding heart and the idealistic depiction of a group of people working for a common purpose and a President who led from a place of deep goodness struck a chord. I did eventually move to DC and spent a fulfilling decade working in public policy, but that was not my calling as it turns out. So, I left my West Wing watching days aside as I turned towards ministry and theology. Listening to this podcast, I realized that Martin Sheen was one of my earliest theological teachers. His commitment to non-violent resistance and his deep faith, both of which he speaks about often and publicly, influenced me before church-going was a part of my own life. As surprising as it sounded, it was Martin Sheen who introduced me to faithful activists and pacifists like Dorothy Day and Dan Berrigan and helped me realize that for many people, there was a deep connection between their religious faith and their commitment to justice. It was moving to listen to the podcast and realize that my teen years hero had impacted my adult faith formation and vocation in unexpectedly deep ways. 

Both of these experiences gave me quite a bit of hope and served as an important reminder about staying attuned to the wisdom all around us. We live in times that call for robust moral imagination. I don’t know the way out of the fear, isolation, and injustice we’re experiencing as a society. I don’t know how to solve the climate crisis, end systemic racism, or bring peace to the Middle East. I’m not sure if anyone does. And our beautiful little community here faces its own set of exciting but complex challenges as we discern how this church can grow and thrive in an increasingly changing religious landscape. We need all the wisdom and creativity we can get, so I want to stay as open as I can to all of the possible sources from which that wisdom and creativity might spring, whether it’s a 19th century gothic novel, a classic horror film, a fictional president, or a deeply faithful actor. This is no time to close ourselves off from sources of moral courage and spiritual insight just because those sources might not look like we expect. One way we can support each other in our collective work for justice and our individual search for meaning is by sharing that deep wisdom when we come across it, and inviting others into our own sites and practices of spiritual renewal.

So this week I have a request. I’d love for you to tell me about your “Martin Sheen.” Who are the unexpected theological teachers and surprising sources of spiritual wisdom in your own life? Where do you reach for inspiration when the “theology” shelf at the book store isn’t giving you what you need? And I mean this literally. This isn’t a question just to ponder on your heart this week. Send me your answers! E-mail me a few sentences about your favorite sources of sacred wisdom. I’ll compile them to share in a future column, so we can share in the wealth. It will help us get to know one another more deeply and it will provide new sources of inspiration when our wells are running dry. I look forward to hearing your own stories.

In faith,

Rev. Danielle 

© Rev. Danielle Garrett, 2025