PAST SERVICES
This list of past services is intended to provide an indication of the range of topics discussed within our Worship Services
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January 31, 2021 – “Imagining a New Scripture” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony reflects on how science fiction and fantasy literature and film functions as scripture in contemporary western culture.
January 24, 2021 – “Religion and Spirituality in Our Climate Future” Presented by Evan Berry
Evan Berry, Assistant Professor of Environmental Humanities in Arizona State University’s School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies, reflects on the religious and spiritual dimension of climate action and considers how looming planetary environmental changes may, in turn, affect religion and spirituality.
January 17, 2021 – “Imagining an Anti-Racist Religion” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony and Anita Sanders celebrate MLK Sunday, discussing the UUA’s Commission on Institutional Change and their recommendations for dismantling white supremacy culture and creating a more anti-racist faith.
January 10, 2021 – “Making Lemonade” Presented by Jeff May
Jeff discusses using the imagination to transform difficulty into possibility.
January 3, 2021 – “Imagine That!” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony reflects on rediscovering your imagination in the New Year.
December 27, 2020 – “The Moments In Between” Presented by Lynne Grobsky
MUUS Ministerial Intern Lynne Grobsky reflects on how to find and create moments of stillness in our lives.
December 24, 2020 (Christmas Eve)– “A Light in the Darkness” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony leads a brief outdoor service of candles, lessons (short readings) and carols.
Locations and times:
North Green Gazebo, Woodbury at 4 to 4:30 p.m. (also UU Church in Meriden Parking Lot at 6 to 6:30 p.m.).
ONLINE 7 to 7:30 p.m. “How a Unitarian Invented the modern celebration of Christmas” (repeated Christmas morning at 10:30 to 11 a.m.).
December 20, 2020 – “The Dark Before Dawn” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony leads a celebration of the Winter Solstice.
December 13, 2020 – “Be Still and Know” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony reflects on how Stillness is different for each of us.
December 6, 2020 – “Bodhisattva Scrooge” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Celebrating Bodhi Day, the day of the Buddha’s enlightenment, Rev. Tony discusses Ebenezer Scrooge as an example of a bodhisattva, one who achieves enlightenment, but remains on earth to teach others.
November 29, 2020 – “Healing Through Gratitude” Presented by Lynne Grobsky
Ministerial intern Lynne Grobsky reflects on the value of being grateful, even for things lost to us during the pandemic, such as family gatherings during the holidays.
November 22, 2020 – “Healing our History” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony reflects on the necessary reciprocity of healing our past and healing our present in order to heal our future. Cornbread and Cider ceremony.
November 15, 2020 – “Healing our Political Wounds” Presented by Mike Rosen
“All politics is local” is a famous phrase. So many of the themes at the national level have played out on the local level, especially in terms of racism and hateful rhetoric. Mike Rosen, a three term Selectmen, has been the public face of those who want to see Southbury become a more just community. One way or another, the election on November 3 will present new opportunities and threats to Mike as he tries to lead the community forward. Mike will reflect on his experiences of the past few years and look to the future to heal the political fractures at the local level.
November 8, 2020 – “The Work of Democracy Begins” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony reflects on the idea that when the ballots have been cast, the campaign signs taken down, and results tabulated, it is then that the actual work of democracy begins.
November 1, 2020 – “Everyday Accidental on Purpose Holy People” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony reflects on the Autumnal Equinox holidays as ways to celebrate the Universalist idea that each and every person is worthy of dignity and respect, and is in fact, holy.
October 25, 2020 – “Hearing What’s Not Spoken and Listening to What’s Left Unsaid” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Join Rev. Tony for another meaningful service using this month’s theme of “Deep Listening.”
October 18, 2020 – “How Music Came to the World” Presented by Robert Werme
By using the myth of the divine origin of music, Ann Quackenbos and Robert Werme create a time for deep listening. Robert uses an ancient Mexican myth, vividly retold, and contemporary
song for his reflections on the place of music in our world. He served as the MUUS music director from 2011 to 2015.
October 11, 2020 – “Queeroes: The People Who Made LGBTQ History” Presented by Kevin Jennings
In this talk, Kevin Jennings, Lambda Legal CEO, will introduce you to the “Queeroes” who led the fight for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer equality in America over the past century. Kevin’s personal contributions to the LGBTQ movement began in 1988, when he helped students create the first school-based Gay-Straight Alliance club, leading him to found and lead the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) for 18 years. He then served as an Assistant Secretary of Education for President Obama, after which he led the Arcus Foundation, the world’s largest foundation for LGBT rights organizations.
October 4, 2020 – “Listening to Your Heart” Presented by Lynne Grobsky
We make choices literally every minute of every day. Some choices are easy, some more challenging. When we listen to our hearts, our seat of wisdom, we are guided to make the right choice that’s best for us. How do we listen to what our hearts are telling us? In this month’s theme of Deep Listening, join Lynne Grobsky, our MUUS ministerial intern, in exploring the sacred importance of listening to our hearts.
September 27, 2020 – “Renew the Face of the Earth” Presented by Rev. Jeff Barz-Snell
Rev. Jeff Barz-Snell reflects on climate change, environmental activism, and what it takes to renew a planet. Rev. Jeff is the minister at First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist in Weston MA. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light. He has been active in a variety of interfaith environmental and lobbying initiatives on the state and federal level. In addition, he is a member of The Climate Reality Project, being one of now 7,000 people around the world who have been trained to give presentations on climate change.
September 20, 2020 – “Sabbath as Resistance and Revolution” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony discusses ways in which the origin of the Jewish Sabbath is connected to resisting exploitation. Rest is an act of revolutionary resistance to evil power structures.
September 13, 2020 – “Just Like Starting Over” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Rev. Tony reflects on the importance of periodically taking stock of relationships and recommitting to them. He discusses personal relationships, church covenants, agreements between congregations, and the social contract of a democratic society. We celebrate a covenant renewal and water ceremony. Stay tuned for special instructions.
September 6, 2020 – “Let it Go” Presented by Lynne Grobsky.
MUUS intern minister, Lynne Grobsky, reflects on Renewal and Rebirth Through Letting Go. Part of being human is having expectations. We have behavioral expectations for our children, our partners, our friends. We have expectations about what we want to happen in our lives. Buddhism teaches that having expectations leads to suffering. Maybe we think our partner isn’t doing enough, or isn’t listening, or is annoying. How do we let go of expectation and judgement? Let’s explore this together.
August 30, 2020 – “UU The Vote” Presented by the UU Meriden and MUUS SJ Teams.
Hear from the MUUS and UU Church of Meriden Social Justice Team members as they update this non-partisan faith initiative that works to engage our neighbors, educate our communities, mobilize voters, and rally around key ballot initiatives.
August 23, 2020 – “The Grace Scale and Emergent Universalism” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen.
How a Universalist perspective blends with the emergent theology of God as an emergent process. We may also celebrate going back to school with blessings for students and teachers.
August 16, 2020 – “A Tunnel? We’re in a Tunnel?” Presented by Rev. Jan Carlsson-Bull.
How to see light at the end of the tunnel, if we lose sight of the tunnel? When I have moved through a particularly arduous chapter of my living, when we move through a particularly trying time in our human journey, hope flickers if we can’t imagine ourselves moving through a tunnel. When a congregation commits—as UU Church of Meriden did—to being an active sanctuary congregation, members and friends and especially the sanctuary guests enter a labyrinth of “what ifs.” As the weeks stretched into months and the months into so many months, did we dare to hope for emergence? What did it mean to commit to that long winding tunnel called sanctuary?
August 9, 2020 – “Swimming to the Other Side” Presented by Jeff May.
Ours is a faith of hope, and a vision of a world where justice and compassion is alive. What might such a world look like, and are the times we find ourselves in an opportunity to bring that world into being?
August 2, 2020 – “Becoming Who You Are” Presented by Rev. Jan Carlsson-Bull.
Our cells are constantly changing. The rhythms of soul and psyche are ever in motion. My whole self is not the same as it was a 40 years ago, 10 years ago, 10 minutes ago. So, who am I? Who are you? How do we recognize ourselves over time? In ways we cannot anticipate, we are becoming who we are. I am becoming who I am. You are becoming who you are. Let’s explore in worship mode this distinctive form of emergence.
July 26, 2020 – “When Southbury Said ‘No’ to the Nazis” Presented by Ed Edelson.
In 2012, Ed Edelson and others took a little-known story about Southbury in 1937 and made it into a captivating documentary that brought pride to Southburians. It became apparent that this story had many moral lessons to tell. Ed will share the journey of this story from obscurity to being a pivotal part of a major exhibit at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum where its message and meaning has been shared with thousands.
July 19, 2020 – “White. Like Me.” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen.
Rev. Tony shares stories from his personal history of waking up white and the lessons he’s learned so far about racism and white supremacy culture.
July 12, 2020 – “The Real Dangers of Universalism” Presented by Sierra-Marie Gerfao.
Where can we find hope in these times, and how can we live into that hope? Sierra-Marie Gerfao, MDiv, MSW, is in preliminary fellowship for Unitarian Universalist ministry and is just waiting on a congregation to decide to ordain her. She lives in New Haven, CT with her wife, two teenagers, and a 100-pound dog. She works half-time as Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth at the UU Congregation of Danbury, and the other half of the time she has an emerging ministry of public theology which involves scholarship, writing, and activism.
July 5, 2020 – “What Song to Sing?” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen.
Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on the 4th of July, whitewashed patriotic songs, and what we might sing instead.
June, 28, 2020 – General Assembly Live
LIVE from the UUA Virtual General Assembly, we will broadcast the Sunday morning worship. Worship on this Sunday will begin a half hour earlier at 10 a.m. so we can join the service from the beginning.
June, 21, 2020 – “Play the Way You Practice” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen.
We celebrate the UU Flower Ceremony and Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on Rev.Norbert Capek and the importance of practicing faith when things are going well, so that you’re ready to play when life gets rough.
June 14, 2020 – “Calvinball” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen.
Rev. Tony reflects on the difference between finite and infinite games. With the help of a certain little boy and his stuffed tiger.
June 7, 2020 – “It Takes Practice” Presented by Matt Meyer.
Our favorite songs, whoever the artist or whatever the style, were created in a strange alchemy of study and inspiration, of strict practice and of letting go.Spiritual Practice is a similar combination of dedication, muscle memory, and perhaps a little divine inspiration. Join us for a musical exploration of learning to risk, building the muscle memory of courage, and the spiritual practice of relationship. Matt Meyer is a musician and community organizer who has led hundreds of services for UU congregations across the country. He has a degree in hand drumming and serves as Director of Community Life for Sanctuary Boston.
May 31, 2020 – “Graduation Day” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen.
Rev. Tony will celebrate milestones. We will welcome new members to both congregations. We will also celebrate other milestones such as graduations, retirements, births, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other things that may not have had a public recognition or ceremony due to COVID-19.
March 22, 2020 – “Celebrating 80 years of UUSC: Brave Legacy, Bold Future” Presented by the MUUS SJCT. The Social Justice Coordinating Team celebrates the 80 year legacy of the Unitarian Universalist Service committee (UUSC). UUSC is an international human rights organization, grounded in Unitarian Universalism, that has been a powerful force for justice since its founding in 1940 in response to the rise of Nazism.
March 15, 2020 – “Love in the Time of Corona” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen. Rev. Tony reflects on how we remain in relationship during a time of social distancing due to coronavirus and talk a bit about Family Ministry, what we mean by family, and the home as the primary location for both faith development and the practice of faith.
March 8, 2020 – “Confronting Slavery and Jim Crow in Connecticut” Presented by Dr. Jesse Nasta. In this presentation, Dr. Jesse Nasta will discuss his research and teaching on slavery, and African American struggles for freedom and equality in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Connecticut. Although New England is remembered as part of the “free North,” it was New England, not the South, that led the trans-Atlantic slave trade in colonial North America. And, here in Connecticut, thousands of enslaved African Americans were bought, sold, and labored against their will from the mid-1600s until Connecticut finally abolished slavery in 1848. Jesse Nasta (PhD, Northwestern University; BA, Wesleyan University) specializes in the social and legal histories of slavery, emancipation, and African American mobility during the eight decades before the Civil War.
March 1, 2020 – “Members of a Thinking Group” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen. Rev. Tony helps us welcome 3 new members and shares some thoughts on the difference between Group Think and a Thinking Group and how this might affect the way we imagine membership in a congregation. New Member Ceremony – We welcome new members to the congregation and then all of us participate in a group wisdom exercise about the future of the congregation!
February 23, 2020 – “Loving Trees” Presented by Susan Schefflein. Do trees talk to us and do we listen? Susan Schefflein, member of the Fourth Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Westchester in Mohegan Lake NY, will speak about the importance of trees to our emotional and physical well-being.
February 16, 2020 – “On the Evolution of Morality” Presented by Jack Lander. Unlike a housefly or a goldfish, humans have a strong innate sense of right, wrong, and justice. Without the long history of morality’s evolution, Homo sapiens would have joined the 99 percent of species that have already suffered extinction. The service will reveal how we became moral humans.
February 9, 2020 – “Bouncy Church” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen. Tony reflects on how each of us as individuals, and our congregation as a group can avoid system failure and rebound from setbacks both minor and substantial.
February 2, 2020 – “How to Be Resilient in a World of Chaos” Presented by Rev. Lynne Grobsky. In the apocalypse that we are experiencing, resiliency is a critical element in navigating the challenges of life. How do we develop and grow our resilience in such a chaotic environment? Lynne reflects on the value of resiliency and how it gets us through life’s challenges. She will present ways of strengthening our resilience in these troubled times. Lynne Grobsky is a retired elementary school teacher with 16 years’ experience in the Meriden Public Schools system. She is presently a full-time seminary student pursuing her Master’s in Divinity. She also is a part-time journalist and advertising specialist.
January 26, 2020 – “The Promise of All Lives Mattering” Presented by the MUUS Social Justice Coordinating Team. The SJCT will continue our observance of Dr. Martin Luther King and racial inequity in our country with a service based on a sermon by Amanda Udis-Kessler, a provost at Colorado College and a member of the High Plains Unitarian Universalist Church in Colorado. Dr. Udis-Kessler asks if the idea of all lives mattering is a “faith-stance” or a “description of reality.” Join us as we explore this question and the role of UUs in racial equality and justice.
January 19, 2020 – “Afrofuturism for White People” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen. This all-ages service will take us into the Spider-Verse and Wakanda! Racism isn’t just a problem of the past — it’s also a problem for the future — both the actual future and a reimagined future. Rev. Tony reflects on how the problems of the past limit our ability to imagine a better future and how Black nerdiness enables Black resilience in a white supremacy culture.
January 12, 2020 – “Another World Is Possible” Presented by Robert Werme. Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of heaven.” He also said, “For you will always have the poor with you.” Whether or not you believe in a place called “heaven”, we all remain perplexed about the dramatic material inequities that persist among us. We have our opinions, of course, about why some people remain poor, while others acquire riches beyond imagination. Let’s explore the ubiquity of poverty in our world and consider together how most authentically to understand and address it.
January 5, 2020 – “I Don’t Think Unitarian Universalism Means What You Think It Means” Presented by Rev. Tony Lorenzen. Rev. Tony tells us how to briefly and powerfully explain Unitarian Universalism to others. He reflects on how we misunderstand our own Unitarian Universalism and what an integrated and accurate Unitarian Universalist theology looks like using the Five Smooth Stones of Religious Liberalism. Everyone will receive pocket reminders and our children will decorate smooth stones.
