Letters from a Glass House

What is the "ministry of all" and how do we understand our role as ministers? Let's explore the idea!

Joy doesn't have to be quiet. Let's talk about making noise, at home, in church, or wherever you are!

What is the Practice of Loving Kindness—a topic supported by all religions and religious sects- and how can we practice it?

What do you hold so important that you would make the ultimate sacrifice to defend it? Today we honor those who died serving our nation, and we are going to explore what it means to make that kind of sacrifice

Why are Pride events so important? It's not for the people marching as much as it is for those too aftaid to even take a step.

A mother's greatest wish is often that her chilldren grow up safely. A deep wish for peace lies behind the celebration of Mother's Day.

We've heard that some day of the week is a sabbath and that means day of rest, but is that really essential? Let's talk about why you need a break.

Today we celebrate Earth Day, and we remember that the planet we stand on is a part of our web of all existence. 

Community is one of the most important things about UUCOV. We come here and we know that we have found our people. Join us this week for a Flower Communion. Please bring a small potted flower or plant- we will put them all together, and each person will choose a new plant or flower to take home. This service reminds us that, like our flowers, we all bring something different, and we take from here what we need. 

The criminal's death on the cross was mean to destroy, and yet over 2,000 years later, the story of Jesus goes on. Come and explore the meaning of Easter and join us for this traditional Easter Service, complete with an Easter Parade!All are invited to wear your bonnet and join the parade.

John 15:13 says "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". If that is the greatest love a human can show, how great was the love for all of humanity which lead a carpenter's son down the Via Dalorosa?

The liberation feast of Passover has been celebrated for thousands of years. What does it mean to us today?

How did 12 year old Maryam become the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Intercessor with God? And why is there a crescent moon and roses in art depicting her? Let's examine how a human being becomes a goddess.

Humility is a virtue, but why? How humble is too humble? How proud is too proud? Let's talk about humility, pride and the culture of today.

The holy month of Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a month of fasting, worship, service, communal gathering, and spiritual development. Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.The values and practices of Ramadan can lead to a deepening of spiritual life, so lets learn about them together

The Jurassic Park books and movies provide a frightening view of what happens when cloning goes wrong. Cloning of mammals from adult body cells has been possible for 30 years, and amphibians were first cloned over 65 years ago. Can cloning really cause disasters like Jurassic Park? Is it legal? Ethical? Moral? Let's talk about this branch of scientific enquiry and it's implications.

A single song can change the world. Let's talk about the power of musicians, and the ways in which music can reshape the politico-social landscape.

It's a week until Valentines Day, so let's talk about love as the cord which binds our lives and pulls us forward into growth and change.

Christian Nationalism is not Christianity, and today we're going to talk about why you cannot be both a Christian and a Nationalist!

Names in multiple parenthases? 14/88? What's wrong with writing 13/52 or 13/90? Don't we want the "sun to rise again"? Wouldn't everyone love "6 million cookies"?Well, no.These phrases and others are used by hate groups , and today we're going to talk about the use of coded language and symbols used by white nationalists and other hate groups in the United States

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream of peace and equality for all people. What would that dream look like if we created it today?

Does a computer construct have a soul? What exactly is AI? What can it do and not do, and, more importantly, what can we do with it. Let's explore artificial intelligence and it's ethical, moral, and spiritual implications for all of us.

What would you look and act like if you were inventing yourself today? What's keeping you from being the you you imagine? Let's talk, as Jimmy Buffet says, about "changes in attitude, changes in latitude" and changes in the life you want to live in this new year.

We all celebrated the immigrants story, politicians would brag about their family immigration story, but now there seems to be dishonor to those stories.  What happened?  The immigrant has become the scapegoat for this nation's ills. I want to celebrate again. As Walt Whitman said,  These States are the amplest poem,  Here is not merely a nation but a teeming Nation of nations.

Joy to the world as hope and love are born anew. All are welcome for this traditional Christmas Eve service. 

The wheel of the year turns, and we turn with it. Welcome to the return of the light!

We stand at the end of the year and we hold onto the fire of the now and the not yet. Join us for this service which explores Hanukkah and the light which refuses to die.

Join us for this service that explores Jung, shadows, and goodness of direction. With examples by Terry Pratchett. What does it mean to be unafraid of the darkness, and how do we live faithfully?

In a world where we are always building bridges, beliefs, identities, and sometimes walls, we pause to examine what our creations mean. Through the chancel drama The Wall Between Us, we’ll explore how fear can divide us and how courage can draw us back together. Join us as we reflect on the structures that shape our lives and the spiritual work of choosing connection over separation. This episode features the chancel drama "The Wall Between Us" (presented by Marianne Koerner, narrator, Nancy Menaldi Scanlon, Thom, and Rev. Dr. Amy Petrie Shaw, Geoffrey) and the sermon, "The Things We Build"

Maintaining an attitude of gratitude can be challenging, but it is well worth the work. Join us for this warm Thanksgiving service and let's discuss why it's important to find things to be grateful for!

Grow up. Act your age. Stop playing around. So many times we get told that playfulness is only for children, but today we are going to talk about play as a spiritual practice!

A veteran is someone who wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount up to and including their life. Today we honor those who have served our country, and we'll explore what it means to join something greater than ourselves.

Halloween has just passed and this is still the time of year where the veil between the living and the dead id thin. What better time to talk about monsters, or at least monster movies and their theological implications!

Whatever happened to tell the truth?  One only has to listen to the news today, to know that honesty is sadly lacking in our society.  Notable people who have been recorded or videoed violating the law or a regulation simply say, I didn’t do it!” And half the viewers seem to agree with them.  A young man is caught on video gunning down an executive and enters a plea of “not guilty.”  How does honesty fit into our world? How does honesty fit into your world?

Good always wins in the end. If good didn't win, it's not the end yet! Join us for the celebration of Diwali! If possible, please bring a small amount of sweets (candy, confectionary, cookies, whatever!) to share; the sharing of sweets is a sacred part of this Hindu holiday!

Words like grace and faith can get lost in the UU vocabulary. What, exactly, is grace, and what does it have to do with faith? 

Life is change; nothing alive is fixed, but in today's world, changes can come faster than we can tolerate. How do we find a sense of peace and security when nothing is certain except for death and maybe taxes?

What's the difference between an amend and an apology, and, honestly, why should we care? Let's talk about it!

Is prayer effective? Does it do anything at all, or is it just talking to empty space? Come in and let's talk about the power of prayer!

In 1836, Osceola led a small group of warriors in the Seminole resistance during the Second Seminole War. An intelligent man, he refused to allow white men to simply take the lands of his people. Today we'll be talking about the story of Osceola, and about resisting wrongness whenever we can.

Labor Day began as a holiday to honor the people who worked with their hands. The Labor Movement, trade unions, and the American workers have built this country, and yet, so often, get left behind.Come and explore work as a spiritual practice, and let's honor the workers!

Crises don't happen to everyone at the same time. How are we called to help when we aren't the ones at risk? Are we responsible all the time? Join us for this exploration of love and responsibility. 

Please join us Sunday morning to hear Minister Alberita Johnson's thoughts on "Faith and Belief". Min. Johnson joins us from the All Faiths Unitarian Congregation in Fort Myers.

The Values of Unitarian Universalism include the use of the democratic process in society at large, and that every person is inherently worthy. Today I will look at how our world, after years of moving towards a more open democratic society, has started to shift to more authoritarian governments throughout the world. Why has this happened? I will explore what Fascism is and what we can do to stop the fascism we see in our current government. Featuring Rev. Jay Wolin

The bird is an intriguing metaphor appearing in many religious traditions, stories, songs and legends. We have long been fascinated by (or sometimes afraid of) the winged creatures. What lessons can we learn from the lives of birds and how can we apply these lessons during this unusual time in our lives? Featuring Rev. Katie Culbert

"Belief is a powerful action in times when the future is uncertain. Come hear the story of Arepo the Sower and join in reflecting on why it's important to believe in something." Featuring Will Esty, Intern Minister

 By providing free medical services and medications, the Good Samaritan Health Services is positively affecting the health and quality of life for uninsured or financially challenged members of our community. Come hear about their ongoing good works. Featuring Sandy Keith, President of the Board of Directors for Good Samaritan Health and Pharmacy in Nokomis, FL

We live in various neighborhoods/communities. Some people know their neighbors casually, some have friendships with their neighbors while others do not know the names of their neighbors. Today we will explore what it means to be “neighborly” and we will answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Featuring Rev Rick Rhen-Sosbe

What does it mean to be "American Enough?" Come and explore this topic with guest speaker Ayleen Howe.

Today we’ll honor our fathers and all the other men who had a positive influence on our lives—and maybe share a laugh or two. Featuring Janet Knudsen and Moe Morrison