Teams & Committees

What we do

We recognize and celebrate our connection to one another grounded in our UU faith, love and compassion.  We explore our individual spirituality through conversation and listening to one another. Throughout the church year, we may offer programs for adults in the congregation. 

Who can join

We welcome any North Parish member or friend age 18 years and older who strives to live their life with curiosity, courage, openness to different perspectives, civility and kindness. The team is volunteer led; team members include volunteers, the Minister and the Membership Coordinator. 

To learn more or to talk about your interest in this team, email our minister (RevLee@northparish.org) or Membership Coordinator (Membership@northparish.org). 

A member of the Caring Community team provides a support role during worship services by  monitoring the Sunday Zoom chat window for concerns and joys posted, responding in the moment, and relaying information to the Minister and Caring Community Chair for follow-up.

If you are interesting in helping in this role, please email the Worship team (Worship@northparish.org).

In you are interested in learning about any of their other volunteer needs, please see information on the many services that the team and its volunteers provide.

Work with our Music Director to help manage the music ministry at North Parish. Help plan our music offerings, special events, and outreach connections with other choirs. 

The committee meets every six weeks or so, as the need arises. To find out more, email our Music Director (MusicDirector@northparish.org).

Work with our Director of Family Religious Education and our Minister to help guide and develop our vibrant, multi-faceted programs for children and youth. The team meets monthly. To find out more, email our Director of Family Religious Education (DRE@northparish.org). 

Help us support and advance the effective use of technology for and within our congregation. Possibilities include supporting technology needs of our staff, supporting Zoom broadcasts of our Sunday services, or special A/V needs for an event. If you have expertise to offer or are interested in learning, email our church office (office@northparish.org). 

Do you like meeting visitors and making them feel at home at North Parish? The welcoming team greets visitors at the front door on Sundays, connects with visitors and new members at coffee hour and after church, and helps to integrate them into the greater church community. If you are friendly and love to talk about North Parish, this is the team for you! To learn more or get involved, email our Membership Coordinator (Membership@northparish.org). 

This committee supports the Minister in the planning and realization of our Sunday services. The committee is engaged in all aspects of our Sunday services at North Parish – from managing supplies such as candles, lamp oil, and seasonal decorations, to creating services on Sundays when the minister is not present, to helping chart a course for the congregation’s longer-term spiritual direction. The committee also functions as a communication hub, connecting to other church groups who may participate directly in Sunday services. 

To find out more or offer assistance, email the Worship Committee (Worship@northparish.org).

People’s Food Pantry, which serves hundred of local families every other week. The pantry was founded at North Parish in 1992. Today, it is an independent 501C-3 housed at North Parish. Dozens of community volunteers are required to make it happen, including a large group of people from North Parish. Visit their website for information or to volunteer.

This effort addresses local food insecurity by bringing together diverse communities of volunteers and guiding them in sustainable, organic farming practices. North Parish has supported fundraisers and provided volunteers, including children, youth and families.

We organize people to take part in the Habitat for Humanity Women Build project, working to build affordable homes that strengthen families and communities, and foster hope.

Bread & Roses operates a soup kitchen in Lawrence, MA. Once a month small groups volunteer under the direction of a project leader to make the hot evening meal and transport it to Lawrence.

With food Insecurity is at an all-time high, CAT has a meaningful partnership with The Giving Garden at Rolling Ridge Conference Center,, providing funding and volunteers. Fresh, organic produce in the spring, summer and fall are donated to the People’s Pantry.  North Parish children are welcomed into the garden two Sundays per year, and many members continue to volunteer throughout the year.

The Giving Garden was created in 2015 in response to increasing levels of food insecurity and a lack of fresh, healthy, culturally appropriate vegetables available in local food pantries. Last year over 17,370 pounds of fruits and vegetables were harvested and distributed to People’s Pantry, Neighbors in Need and Lazarus House.

Each Christmas, the Community Action Team works with children and youth on the “Mitten Tree” project, collecting requested donations for local organizations to distribute.

With the help of North Parish children and families, a group of volunteers made 45 “book bundles” with books, stuffed animals, and other writing supplies and donated them to children through two Lawrence organizations, Manos Felices and Si, Se Puede, Inc.

One Sunday a month, the Community Action Team designates an outside organization for a special collection. Designees are suggested by the Minister, the Youth Groups, other North Parish groups or members. Make your donation as part of the Sunday offering (write “Special Collection” in the memo line of your check) or online through Realm.

This $1,500 Scholarship is given to a North Parish Youth each year in recognition of their community service. Initiated by North Parish member Cari Marchese, the award continues in memory of Amelia Reeve, a Haverhill resident who dedicated her volunteer service to projects such as feeding the hungry, assisting in hospitals, and coordinating programs about a variety of social action issues.  See the application for award details.

This team sustains our outdoor spiritual space for the congregation and the public. Inspired by our Seventh Principle, respect for the interdependent web of life, we use sustainable garden practices. We also promote art installations, outdoor learning and activities. Typical tasks include raking, weeding, planting, amending the soil, and working on larger yearly projects. We also lead garden tours, engage with the church’s youth groups, and often chat with the public and passing community neighbors. 

Here are summaries of work completed during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

When do we meet? 

In order to best use our volunteers and accommodate the weather, we don’t have a set time. Multi-person or individual work sessions are arranged by email. We also coordinate Volunteer Days during spring and fall clean-ups. 

Who can join the group? 

Our team ranges in age and abilities. We modify tasks for rewarding, positive experiences with leftover energy to socialize! We welcome any North Parish member or friend age 18 years and older with gardening experience and/or a willingness to learn. Whether you’re new to North Parish or new to working outside, we’d love to meet you! Talk to any of the volunteers that you see in the gardens or email Green Gardeners (GreenGardeners@northparish.org). 

Building & Grounds supervises the upkeep of our historic building and grounds. Primarily a working committee, volunteers may help with a periodic task or provide ongoing oversight for a specific aspect of caring for our “spiritual house.” 

What skills do we need?

Volunteer tasks include a wide range of skills and time commitment – seasonal housekeeping (indoor and out), small carpentry projects or repairs, painting touch-ups, monitoring our equipment and systems, organizing history and archive records, and exploring opportunities to generate income through building rentals. 

How much time do you need to commit?

Match your skill, interest and time availability to a task, from a few hours each month or season to whatever it takes to complete the project. The team holds one or two brief meetings per year with ongoing status check-ins by phone, email, or coffee hour conversations.  Many hands make light work! Let us know how you can help! Email House & Grounds (HouseAndGrounds@northparish.org). 

Are you creative? Interested in exploring how to bring an array of visual expressions and sensory experiences to our interior and exterior spaces? This group muses about how we use our display spaces, including our church website, and produces both long-term and transitory installations using a variety of visual and tactile media. Examples of their work can be seen in the banners and altar cloths in our Sanctuary and the many images created for the Beloved Community art project displayed in the foyer outside our sanctuary and enhance our website.

If you are interested in creative endeavors or want to learn more about upcoming projects around North Parish, reach out with your ideas! Email our Engagement Coordinator (community@northparish.org).

Fundraising is a critical way of supporting our church operations, staff, and programs. AND it can be a wonderful way to have fun, meet others, and create community!

Are you creative? Have interesting new ideas to offer? In addition to supporting the annual Red Bow Fair, Mega Yard Sale, and Art & Wine events, the Fun & Fundraising Team helps organize events like the Talent/No Talent and our very own version of Moth Storytelling.

What else might we do? Bring your ideas and join us – brainstorm, plan, and coordinate new fun and fundraising events. To offer your talents or to find out more, email our Fun & Fundraising Team (Fundraising@northparish.org).

For information on the teams that create our regularly scheduled fundraising events (Red Bow Fair, Mega Yard Sale, and others, see our Fun and Fundraising page.

North Parish staff and operations are 100% supported and defined by the contributions of our members – time, talent, and treasure. The Stewardship Team helps educate the congregation about our ongoing financial needs and organizes and carries out the Annual Pledge Campaign, a critical piece of support for church operations in the coming year. This team always finds a way to creatively remind us of our vibrant community – and how joyous giving can be! 

Here is a timeline of Stewardship activities. To find out more or help out, email our Stewardship Team (Stewardship@northparish.org).