Last Sunday’s Gospel Service was incredibly moving and inspirational to me. One of the things that struck me was how joy is intrinsic to how the soul can sustain itself in the midst of terrible challenges. This Sunday I’ll be talking about good news in a similar vein: Even when times are really hard, or … Continue reading Friday News – Feb 13, 2026

Happy Friday! Soul Food originated in the American south, when enslaved West and Central Africans adapted their culinary traditions to the harsh limitations of slavery. They took ‘the worst’ foods they were limited to, (chitlins, pot liquor, ham hocks, collard greens, etc.) and combined them to make something amazing. Food can be deeply uniting, and also … Continue reading Friday News – Feb. 6th, 2026

It seems rather ironic that the title of the service I was going to do last week and will now do this Sunday is “Turned to Stone.” It might as well have been “Turned to Ice!” I am planning to talk about how to deal with the sense of paralysis that overcomes us when faced with … Continue reading Friday News – Jan 30, 2026

Last week a call went out to religious leaders from around the country to gather in Minneapolis this weekend to protest the ICE violence and occupation. Thousands are heeding the call, including many UU ministers. It pains me, almost literally, to not be able to go. Due to my recent knee surgery it simply isn’t … Continue reading Friday News – Jan 23, 2026

This Sunday we’ll be hearing from Paisha Thomas, our Justice and Equity Student Minister, as she reflects upon Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” While there have been many cultural and social and political changes since the writing of that letter, we seem to have unfortunately cycled back to some of his … Continue reading Friday News – Jan 16, 2026

Happy Friday! I was talking to my therapist about all of the ways I’m hoping to work on myself in 2026, and she offered a suggestion: instead of focusing on the traditional New Year Resolutions, what if I focused on setting 2026 intentions? Instead of saying “I will go to the gym three days a … Continue reading Friday News – January 9, 2026

Happy Friday and Happy New Year! Winter As Crucible Fluffy snow falls thickly in a coniferous forest. The changes that take place in winter are a kind of alchemy, an enchantment performed by ordinary creatures to survive… Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on … Continue reading Friday News – January 2, 2026

I supposed you could say we had an early white Christmas! While beautiful, the snow combined with the frigid temperatures meant it was unsafe for participants and attendees to hold our Lessons and Carols service last Sunday. But never fear, we still have the holiday spirit at First UU! The cookie sale and gift wrapping … Continue reading Friday News – Dec. 19, 2025

This Sunday will be a special holiday treat for music lovers! The service will be a “Lessons and Carols” service with a UU spin! Unlike traditional Christian lessons and carols, this one will feature readings about all the holiday traditions, and different readers for each, as well as our fabulous choirs doing amazing holiday music. … Continue reading Friday News – Dec 12, 2025

It is an annual tradition of mine to spend time with friends in Harrisburg, PA – going on over 10 years with the exception of covid times. We’re baking enthusiasts and this year we were planning on trying a Basque cheesecake (yum!) So when I realized the cold I was nursing meant I wouldn’t be … Continue reading Friday News – December 5, 2025