Our own Sam Love will present us with ideas on how we, as individuals, can show Mother Earth the care she so desperately needs.  The service will end with a meditation of healing for our beloved planet Earth.  

Service Leader: Paula Banks Al-Saihati

Presenter: Michael Conley

Service Leader: Tom Shoup

In poetry the Universal becomes your personal and your personal mirrors the Universal. Its gift is an illumination about the most common and the most important events and questions on all our lives

Presenter: Carole McCracken

Service Leader: Molly Knazek

Travel back to the mid-1850's to hear abolitionist and suffragist Lucy Stone, a Hicksite Quaker, speak on abolition and women's rights.

Presenter: Lotte Wilds
Service Leader: Annie Reiter

But I do believe that a woman's truest place is in a home, 
with a husband and with children, 
and with large freedom, pecuniary freedom, personal freedom, 
and the right to vote.

I expect to plead not for the slave only, but for suffering humanity everywhere.  
Especially do I mean to labor for the elevation of my sex.

As this Sunday marks the middle of Ramadan for the Muslim community, Purim for the Jewish tradition, and Palm Sunday for Christians, we will take time to honor and explore the intersections of the Abrahamic faith traditions through a new lens. Leaning into purpose, living without fear, and finding harmony.

Presenter: Rev. Mary Martin

Service Leader: Paula Al-Saihati

As this Sunday marks the middle of Ramadan for the Muslim community, Purim in the Jewish tradition, and Palm Sunday for Christians, we will take time to honor and explore the intersections of the Abrahamic faith traditions through a new lens.  Leaning into purpose, living without fear, and finding harmony.

Presenter: Rev. Mary Martin

Service Leader:

The voices of refugees are largely unheard for various reasons—unfamiliarity with the language of their new country, fear of political persecution of families in their home countries, lack of a venue, and prejudice against people from other cultures. Lilly will be telling her refugee story on behalf of all those who were not able to tell their own stories.

Presenter: Lilly Krcmar

Service Leader: Cindy Baran

In honor of Women's History Month, our long-time member, Joanne Hill, will share her experiences, challenges and life lessons learned from her time in the U.S. Navy while on active duty. 

 Margaret Tau will be the service leader.

A continuation of her series of services based on the book Why Good Things Happen to Good People. Reverend Zupan will explain how cultivating the qualities of compassion and loyalty can accrue life-enhancing benefits to those who practice these values. Join us for singing, laughing, fellowship, and hopefully, enlightenment.

Service leader: Stephanie Jones

Mike Williams, the retired director of Habitat for Humanity of Craven County, will talk to us about his advice for living in difficult times as a black man from Jacksonville, FL..

Service Leader: Paula Banks Saihati

Everyone, I believe, carries many songs in their hearts. Songs that are, at least metaphorically, the songs of our lives. Songs that, in the words of my colleague David Blanchard, “sing back to us something of our essence, something of our truth, something of our uniqueness … giving testimony to what has been, giving thanks for all we’re given, giving hope for all we strive for, giving voice to the great mystery that carries each of us in and out of this world.” So, how can we keep from singing? 

Presenter: Rev. John L. Saxon.

Service Leader: Joanne Hill 

Our own Joel Tau will talk about his research into the failure of the U.S. armed forces to honor and respect people of color.  This disparity has existed since colonial times and is present in today's military.  Joel will touch on some examples on how the military has failed to protect its Black service members from discrimination, abuse, and injustice.

Service Leader: Michael Conley

A continuation of her series of services based on the book Why Good Things Happen to Good People, Reverend Linda Zupan will explain how cultivating the qualities of humor and respect can accrue life-enhancing benefits to those who practice these values. Join us for singing, laughing, fellowship, and hopefully, enlightenment.

Service Leader: Cindy Baran

Rev. Mary Martin will talk about celebrating the Celtic Irish Festival of Imbolc that honors Brigid and the coming Spring.

Service Leader: Trish Hardy

Our presenter reflects on his surprising and unlikely retirement journey. Fully intending to spend his retirement sailing, he instead followed a path into social action with a deep focus on using his sculpture to bring awareness to the Genocide in West Africa. His focus has widened to include several teaching and aide programs there.

Presenter: Mitch Lewis

Service Leader: Molly Knazek

Presenter: the Equal Justice Initiative poet Nick Courmon

Service Leader: Tom Shoup

Informed by her own experiences, Rev. Zupan will present the next of a series of messages per the title . This message will focus on forgiveness and courage.

Service Leader: Stephanie Jones

Bethanne Jacobson will lead the fellowship in a widespread annual UU tradition:  The Fire Communion.  This neo-pagan ritual is sometimes known as the "burning bowl" ceremony.  The new year calls us forward to mystery and possibility.  As we turn toward that new year, we take a final glimpse of the past year and all that it held for us.  We join Unitarian Universalists throughout the country in letting go of past regrets and sorrows and move together to embrace the possibilities of 2024.  Carole McCracken will be service leader.

The service puts the birth of Christ into rhetorical and historical context, and asserts the birth of Christ was neither silent in the literal sense, nor silent in its significance.

Presenter: Rev. Mary Martin

Service Leader: Stan Allen

Trish Hardy and Annie Reiter will talk about Paganism, the Winter Solstice and Yuletide Celebrations.

Presenter: Matthew McCotter, Director of Missions and Development

Service Leader: Mike Corr

Thoughts on gratitude and generosity as spiritual practices and how cultivating an "attitude of gratitude" leads to a generosity of heart and spirit. 

Presenter: Rev. John L. Saxon

Service Leader: Stephanie Jones

Presenter: Rev. Linda Zupan

Service Leader: Tom Williams

Presenter: Rabbi Benjamin Shull

Service Leader: Joanne Friedman

The famous founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, once stated that religious beliefs are simply “fantasies” created by organized religion.

Presenter: Joel Tau

Service Leader: Margaret Tau

The practice of spirituality is not a one-size fits all.  Spirituality calls on us to expand our lives not just vertically—but horizontally as well.  Chaplin Mary Martin will explore the vertical and horizontal roots and differences in spiritual practices.

Service Leader: Carole McCracken

We examine the commitment, vision, projects, time, talents, and funding to get us where we are today.

Presenter: Dave McCracken

Service Leader: Annie Reiter

Rev. Linda M. Zupan (Rev Z) will start a message series exploring the book, Why Good Things Happen to Good People, written by Stephen Post, Ph, and Jill Neimark. The book, published in 2007, is filled with stories and research data about the benefits of ‘living a good life’. The authors identify and discuss ten ways of giving: celebration/gratitude, generativity/ nurturing others, forgiveness, courage, humor, respect, compassion, loyalty, listening, and creativity within four domains (family, friends, community, and humanity). Each chapter includes real-life stories and multiple practices which readers can use to develop specific habits to enhance their lives. In addition to material from the book, Rev Z will share her insights and growth challenges and celebrations.

Service Leader: Michael Corr

Presenter: Andrea Bruce

Service Leader: Sam Love