Worship Information
The Worship Theme for December is “We Laugh, We Cry”
December 1: “And Yet There Is So Much Light” This is the first Sunday of the Christian season of Advent., a time of waiting. December is often thought to be a time of waiting. Waiting for the solistice. Waiting for winter. Waiting for Christmas. Waiting in the dark for the return of the light. How can we stay in the present moment? Kathy Ellis preaches with worship associate Julie Ham.
December 8: “Care for the Soul” Getting out of our heads and into our hearts. Cindy Terlazzo preaches with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
December 15: “The Gifts of the Journey” What gifts does Unitarian Universalism have to offer a special newborn child? This magical multigenerational no-rehearsal pageant will explore the gifts we have to give the next generation along our journeys. Emily Crutcher leads the service.
December 22: “Solstice Service” Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been seen as a signigicant time of year. It is a time that marks the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun. Join us today as we celebrate this ancient traditon. Cindy Terlazzo leads the service with worship associate Dot Everhart.
December 24: “Stories and Carols” Join us for our annual celebration of Christmas Eve, with traditional carols and Christian scriptures interspersed with contemporary reflections and interpretations, ending in candlelight.
December 29: “We Laugh, We Cry, We SING!” We each have songs that can transport us to a specific memory along our journey through this life. Join us on the last Sunday of the year as we spend an hour singing familiar hymns and carols, reflecting on our journeys through this past year, and readying ourselves to sing into the year ahead.
The Worship Theme for November is “Blue Boat Home”
November 3: “Back to the Garden” Something happened in the 1960s that opened the world up to change – the likes of which seemed unprecedented. But the desire to live in harmony goes much farther than what took place at Woodstock. Cindy Terlazzo preaches with worship associate Michele Burton.
November 10: “Sex and War, Love and Hope” We celebrate UUCV’s Mozambique Bursary project with song and story. An information session and delicious luncheon will follow the service. We remember that even in tense and anxious times, love is always strong and there is still reason for hope in the world. Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis leads the service with Dianne Dusman and Deb Genet.
November 17: “Joy” Join us for this multi-generational service in which we will bring JOY front and center in our worship experience. Cindy Terlazzo preaching with worship associate Cathy Dewalt.
November 24: “Classism in our Closets” As a group, UUs are deeply engaged in social justice efforts AND at the same time we are often puzzled by the lack of diversity in our congregations. Today we will take a look at how classism impacts the ways in which we grow our communities. Cindy Terlazzo preaches with worship associate Chris Kapp.
The Worship Theme for October is “This Is My Song”
October 6: “The Art of Translation” We often find ourselves in situations in which we need to translate our experiences into language that is familar to us. It is through such efforts that we can build bridges to better relationships rather than walls that keep us separate. Cindy Terlazzo leads the service with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
October 13: “The Why” Whether explicitly in conversations with students pondering majors or implicitly in our education budgets, American society asks often, “why choose music”? And while “I love it” ought to be a good enough answer, it’s probably not the best answer to the question. Come join Rev. David as he steps from the piano to the pulpit, and listen, think, and (yes) sing with us about the role of music in our mission as Unitarian Universalists. Rev. David M. Glasgow leads the service with worship associate Chris Kapp.
October 20: “Lost in Translation” As a follow up to a previous service let us take a new look at ancient words: The Lord’s Prayer – as we consder what may have been lost in translation. Cindy Terlazzo leads the service with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
October 27: “Sharing Our Lives Through the Stories We Tell” Ensemble service presented by members of the Telling Our Stories Class. Cindy Terlazzo leads the service.
The Worship Theme for September is “Now Let Us Sing”
September 1 – “Ripples of Kindness” A small stone dropped in a still pond can make ripples that are far reaching. So too, seemingly small acts of kindness can change a persons world. Chris Kapp leads the service with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
September 8 – “Telling our Stories” One Sunday a year we come together to regather and recommit to our beloved community. On that Sunday we ask, where have you been? What have you brought home with you? What has
changed? Please bring water from your past year’s journeys to share. Rev. Aija Simpson preaches with worship associate Julie Ham.
September 15 – “It’s a Surprise” Won’t it be fun to find out? Rev. Aija Simpson preaches.
September 22 – “Now Let Us Sing” How can you sing if you don’t know the song? This Sunday we’ll ask, how do we find our own, unique songs? And where do we find the courage to sing them out loud? Rev. Aija Simpson
preaches with worship associate Cathy Dewalt.
September 29 – “Preaching to the Choir” People often dismiss “preaching to the choir” as a waste of time. Why would you bother to persude people who already agree with you? But if you don’t preach to the choir, who will teach the congregation the song? This morning we ask, who are the choir? And who is the congregation? And heaven help us, who is the preacher? Rev. Aija
Simpson preaching with worship associate Molly Wilkinson.
Summer Series continues: “Words that Unite/Words that Divide”
August 4: “Covenant” What is a covenant? When lived, it becomes our way of being together through the acts of Promise Making, Promise Keeping, Promise Breaking and Promise Renewing. Let’s explore the promises we make to one another. Intern Cindy Terlazzo preaching with worship associate Chris Kapp.
August 11: “Sin” Have you ever been told to hate the sin and love the sinner? Did it make steam come out of your ears? Come explore our complicated relationship to the idea of sin. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Julie Ham.
August 18: “Sacrifice” What re you willing to sacrifice for? Your family? Your beliefs? Your faith? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Michele Burton.
August 25: “Hope” Blessing of Backpacks. Bring a backpack/purse.handbag as we perform our first annual blessing of the backpacks. Come let your community bless you as you go on your journey. We will explore the difference between hope and optimism. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Chris Kapp.
Summer Series is Back: “Words that Unite/Words that Divide”
July 7: “God” Is there a story about God that you can’t believe? Is there one that you desperately want to? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cheryl Parsons
July 14: “Born Again” What does it mean to be born again? Can you imagine it happening to you? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cathy Dewalt.
July 21: “Blessed” In today’s service let us explore: What does it mean to be blessed? To be a blessing? And let’s consider the power we have to bless one another. Intern Cindy Terlazzo preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
July 28: “Authority” Who’s in charge here? Is anyone in charge anywhere? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cathy Dewalt.
The Worship Theme for June is “Looking Back, Looking Forward”
June 2: “Where We Sit” How does where we are affect who we are? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
June 9: “Celebrating Growth” As our term of Religious Education comes to a close, we celebrate a year of growth and community with a multigene service featuring RE students and volunteers. Bring a dish to share for a potluck service after service in the Social Hall. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with RE Families assisting in worship.
June 16: “The Revolution will be Televised (Poorly)” As we honor the 5th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising we ask: who gets to tell our stories? What will out children remember? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Rachel Teates.
June 23: “GA? So What?” Thousands of UUs from around the world gathered in Spokane, WA this past week for our annual UUA General Assembly. What does this gathering mean for the UUCV community and for each one of us individually? Intern Cindy Terlazzo preaching.
June 30: Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis leads the service with worship associate Julie Ham
The Worship Theme for May is “Spirit of Life, Come to Me”
May 5: “Seeking the Spirit” If there is a spirit that moves through the world – where do we go looking for it? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cindy Terlazzo.
May 12: “Choosing Family (Flower Communion)” What does it mean to choose to be a mother? What does it mean to not? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Molly Wilkinson
May 19: “Welcoming the Spirit” How do you welcome the spirit into your life? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cathy Dewalt.
May 26: “Beloved Conversations” Join us as we lay the foundations for a space to explore and re-form the brokenness of racism into new patterns of thought and behavior. The Beloved Conversations curriculum will be offered at UUCV this fall. We hope that you will come and be challenged – come and be inspired. Intern Cindy Terlazzo preaching with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
The Worship Theme for April is “Set Us Free”
April 7: “Me, Myself and I” We live in an incredibly individualistic culture. What are the gifts of a “me” centered world? What are the potential downfalls? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Michele Burton.
April 14: “How Love Becomes Flesh” What is love? We often think of it as something quite abstract. We feel love. We see the results of love (or the lack thereof) but have you ever considered that through our everyday interactions with each other we actually create the conditions for love to become flesh through those very interactions? Intern Cindy Terlazzo preaching with worship associate Cathy Dewalt.
April 21: “Resisting Despair” It has often been said that we are Easter Sunday people in a Good Friday world. As more and more of us lose that confidence, how does our understanding of the Easter story change? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Dick Poland.
April 28: “What Do We Owe Them?” It is said that humans do nothing important alone. What do we owe the people and communities who have guided us on our journey? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Chris Kapp.
The Worship Theme for March is “Give Us Wings”
March 3: “Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler” Come join us for our annual Mardi Gras service as we let the good times roll in celebration of the spirit of New Orleans. Come holler for beads, hunt for babies and tap your toes (or do a wild dance! That would be good too!) Deb Stille will be making a special guest appearance as a worship associate to honor her adopted home state.
This party is for all ages. Kids will join us in the Sanctuary but nursery care will be provided for kids 4 and under. Mardi Gras means MUSIC at UUCV! Clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass, drums, and even banjo join in with David and the choir on music from and inspired by New Orleans, to make this Sunday one you definitely won’t want to miss!
March 10: “Growing Pains – Moving Beyond Shame and Fear” When we were children, growing pains manifested as physical aches in our arms and legs. As we mature, the pain we feel as we grow is more ambiguous. Today we’ll examine the roots of our discomfort and consider how we might learn to welcome the ambiguity of our discomfort. Cindy Terlazzo preaching.
March 17: “Where Do We Come From?” What about our past inspires us? Whose dreams are we fulfilling? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cathy Dewalt.
March 24: “Finding our Roots – Letting them Go” Where can we find safety? Where can we find peace? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
March 31: “(Un) Labeled” Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Molly Wilkinson. What does it mean to have an identity? What if the identity you are assigned isn’t yours?
The Worship Theme for February is “Hold Us Close”
February 3: “This is Beauty – We are Beauty” Many traditions hold the recognition of beauty as essential to the understanding of the spiritual life. The Sufis see the One and Only Being as the perfection of Love Harmony and Beauty. Too often we see beauty as something separate from ourselves. Today we will consider the beauty that we are – the beauty that exists within our broken, scarred, perfectly imperfect bodies. For when we truly see the beautiful within ourselves and hold it with tender reverence, how can we not see it and celebrate it within all beings? Cindy Terlazzo leads the service with worship associate Rachel Teates.
February 10: “Protecting Each Other” How do we practice living with each other? How do we practice living in a world with people with whom we profoundly disagree? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cathy Dewalt.
February 17: “How Do You Solve a Problem Like a Body?” What does it mean to have a vulnerable, precious body? How do we live knowing that we won’t always be able to protect it? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Emily Crutcher.
February 24: “Finding Sanctuary” Where can we find safety? Where can we find peace? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Dick Poland.
The Worship Theme for January is “Give Us Roots”
January 6: “”Leap of Faith – Entering another New Year” Here we are at the start of another new year. We never know what the future will hold but after a year like 2018 how do we let go and put trust into the unknown? Cindy Terlazzo leads service with worship associate Michele Burton.
January 13: “At the Purchaser’s Option” What does it mean to control your own body? Who isn’t allowed to? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Molly Wilkinson
January 20: “Somebody’s Calling your Name. Are you Listening?” Rev. Aija Simpson preaching. As people gather to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we ask what is his memory calling us to do.
January 27: “Finding our Roots. Letting them Go” How are our lives informed by where we come from. Are we nourished by our roots? Or tied down by them? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching.
The Worship Theme for December is “The Blessings of Love”
December 2: “A Gift that Keeps On Giving” Out of abundance comes service. Or does it? We gather to celebrate winter, to offer gratitude when we are warm and others are cold, when we have shelters when others do not. Does this reminder of our blessings lead us to extend them? Or to hold them tight? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Julie Ham.
December 9: “Ask the Minister” Ever wonder how something at church works? How does Rev. Aija plan her sermons? Who decides what our kids will do on Sunday mornings? What exactly does pastoral care mean? If you have a question, today is the day to get an answer. Rev. Aija Simpson will take questions as we explore what it means to be a religious community. Christen Kapp will be the worship associate.
December 16: “The Essence of the Situation” As we enter into the darkest time of the year we are reminded not only of the contrast between the light and the dark but of the intertwined relationship between the two. Today we will explore what it means to embrace the All-ness of life and consider what the pure essence of the situation may really be. Cindy Terlazzo preaching with worship associate Molly Wilkinson.
December 23: “A Winter Speech Choir” Join us for a multigenerational winter holiday pageant. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Emily Crutcher.
December 24: “Follow the Light” Join us for this multigenerational evening of stories and carols. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associates Cheryl Parsons and Dick Poland.
December 30: “Lift Up Your Voice” Join us for a quiet, decidedly non-holiday themed musical service. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching.
The Worship Theme for November is “Sing in our Hearts”
November 4: “Finding our Song” As we welcome new members to our beloved community we explore the ways that these new voices will enhance and change our collective song. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
November 11: “Our Actions Matter” What we do matters. This holds true for each and every one of us. From showing up on election day to cast a vote to inspiring a small rural community in Central PA to sponsor the education of young girls in Mozambique – each one of us has the power to change our world for the better. Come – let us consider what we might do with our “one wild and precious life.” Intern Minister, Cindy Terlazzo, preaches with Mozambique Committee members as worship associates.
November 18: “The Stories We Tell Ourselves” Who gets to decide which stories we tell? Who gets to decide who will tell them? As we look forward to Thanksgiving, we explore the stories we have chosen to tell – and the ones we’ve tried to ignore. Rev. Aija Simpson preaches with worship associate Michele Burton.
November 25: “Somebody with a Little Hammer” Do our efforts matter? The challenges of the world can feel so big and our lives can seems so small. Is there any point to our small efforts? Rev. Aija Simpson preaches with worship associate Dick Poland.
The Worship Theme for October is “Come to Us”
October 7: “Wider Grows the Vision” Our minister’s emeriti Rev. Duane Fickeisen and Judy Welles return to reflect on the dream that has become a robust presence for Unitarian Universalism here in the Cumberland Valley. They will celebrate what abides and what unfolds in their own lives as well as in the life of the congregation. Rev. Aija Simpson is worship associate.
Duane Fickeisen and Judy Welles served UUCV as co-ministers from 1997 to 2011. They reside in Portland, Oregon, where they enjoy an active retirement and seek to “live deep and suck out all the marrow of life,” as Thoreau wrote.
October 14: “Blessed is the Bread We Eat. Blessed is the Love We Share” Breaking bread with others is a ritual that reaches back to the dawning of humankind. To share what we have with others is a holy act, it is the mark of true welcome. Join us today for this multi-generational service as we break bread with one another in a spirit of deep hospitality. Cindy Terlazzo preaches with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
October 21: “What is our New Colossus” In these frightening times it can seem as though the words inscribed on the statue of liberty are empty. What would it look like if our country took them seriously? What would it look like if our faith community took them seriously? Rev. Aija Simpson preaches with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
October 28: “When the Dead Come Back” …or when they never left. As we approach All Souls Day, we ask: what do we do with our dead? Rev. Aija Simpson preaches with worship associate Deb Stille.
The Worship Theme for September is “Spirit of Life”
September 2: “Tending the Spirit” In a world where we are told that we must practice self-care and then reminded of all of the tasks we need to accomplish before we can do any such thing, what does it truly mean to nurture ourselves. Rev. Aija Simpson preaches with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
September 9: “Where Do We Come From?” Join us for our annual service of ingathering as we honor the journeys that have brought us to this place. Rev. Aija Simpson preaches for this multi-gen service with worship associate Christin Kapp.
September 16: “This is Real and We Are Completely Unprepared” It is said that between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur two books are open – The book of the Living and the Book of the Dead. How you behave in that week will determine which book your name is written in. Can we imagine living our lives with those high stakes?
September 23: “Transitions – Listen! The Spirit is Calling ” Each of us makes countless transitions within the course of a lifetime. Some transitions are so routine we hardly notice them, while others are quite momentous and life changing. Today’s service will explore how some of these changes, these transitions are the openings through which we must go in order to grow – in order to answer those deep callings of the heart. Intern Minister Cindy Terlazzo preaches.
Cindy Terlazzo is a seminarian at the Lancaster Theological Seminary and is delighted to have the opportunity to spend the next two years interning with UUCV as she winds her way along her path to ordination as a UU minister. Cindy lives in York, PA, is married with 2 adult children and the two “most wonderful grandchildren in the world”. In addition to life as a seminarian Cindy currently works full time as a case manager for individuals with developmental disabilities. Cindy loves to read, watch movies, eat good food, travel and keep opening to the transitions that life presents.
September 30: “Between You and Me” We often say that the spirit of life moves amongst and within us. But what do we actually mean by that? Rev. Aija Simpson preaches with worship associate Molly Wilkinson.
The Worship Theme for August is “Fluent in Faith”
August 5: “Spirituality: What good is it?” Some talk of being “spiritual but not religious.” Others reject the very word spirit or spirituality. We’ll explore ways of understanding this quality. Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis preaches with worship associate Cheryl Parsons. Marc Renault provides service music.
August 12: “What is God?” God, in the traditional concept, is not something that we all believe in or agree with. How can we as UU’s interpret God to fit our beliefs? Rachel Teates is service leader with worship associate Dick Poland. Music Director David M. Glasgow provides service music, and the choir sings.
August 19: “Sacrament and Sanctuary” What do we experience as an “outward sign of an inward experience of holiness”? For that matter, what really does holiness mean to us? Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis preaches with worship associate Julie Ham. Music Director David M. Glasgow provides service music.
August 26: “Come and Go with Me” We build our future to honor our past. Come celebrate with us as we welcome Rev. Aija home and begin to imagine how that home will grow and change in the coming years. Rev. Aija Simpson preaches. Music director David M. Glasgow, with familiar friends Marc Renault on bass and Dani Fiore on drums, will join the choir in celebrating our community, Rev. Aija’s return from sabbatical, and the shared commitment represented by our capital campaign, with two special pieces.
The Worship Theme for July is “Fluent in Faith”
July 1: “The Theology of the I Don’t Know” Sometimes, knowing that you don’t know requires the most faith of all. Christin Kapp leads the service with Julie Ham as worship associate. Music Director David M. Glasgow provides service music.
July 8: “What is Religion?” We will begin our discussion of the book Fluent in Faith by considering the question of what is religion and what that can mean to us. Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis leads worship with Michele Burton as worship associate. Carole Knisely provides service music.
July 15: “What is Faith?” What can the word “faith” mean to us as a community and as individuals? Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis leads worship with worship associate Dot Everhart. Music Director David M. Glasgow provides service music, and the choir sings music of Meg Barnhouse.
July 22: “Resistance” About the “men of July 20th”, (referring to July 20th, 1944) a high level German resistance movement against the Nazis that tried to replace Hitler’s whole government to end the murderous regime, the Holocaust and WWII. One of the men linked to the leaders of this coup was Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Gisela Roethke is worship leader with Dick Poland as worship associate. Pat Spader offers a prelude, and Music Director David M. Glasgow provides service music.
July 29: “God, Goddess, Gods?” How can we talk about God in a meaningful way? How well do we listen to others’ ideas and experiences of God? Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis leads worship with Cheryl Parsons as worship associate. Music Director David M. Glasgow provides service music, and the choir sings.
The Worship Theme for June is “Spiritual Maturity”
June 3: “The Face in the Mirror” When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Who do you see? What do you reflect? Christin Kapp leads the service with worship associate Dot Everhart. Marc Renault provides music on the guitar.
June 10: “”It Takes Courage to Grow Up and Be Who you Really Are” So said Unitarian poet, e.e. cummings. Does it? What does that mean? Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis is service leader. Music Director David M. Glasgow provides service music, and the choir sings music of Pasek & Paul with band accompanists.
June 17: “Our Fathers, Father’s Day and Fathering” We’ll remember and honor fathers who have been important in our lives. Pat Spader offers a prelude, and Music Director David M. Glasgow provides service music.
June 24: “It Takes Courage to Be Awake” Considerations of Spiritul Maturity. Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis leads service with worship associate Rachel Teates. Music Director David M. Glasgow provides service music, and the choir sings music of Stephen Sondheim with band accompanists.
The Worship Theme for December is “Judeo – XN”
December 3: “Mozambique” Rev. Aija Simpson will preach this Sunday with members of our Mozambique Steering Committee assisting in the worship service as we get ready to kick-off our 2018 Bursary Campaign. A Mozambiquan style luncheon and information session will follow the service.
December 10: “Waiting” – In this season of anticipation what does it mean to live in the waiting? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Christin Kapp.
December 17: “Light” – As people all over the world celebrate Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, Kwanza and more we ask: what does it mean to find light in the darkness? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching.
December 24: “Multi-Gen” Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Christin Kapp.
December 24: “Christmas Eve”
December 31: “Janus/Grief Multi-Gen” Student Minister Mathieson preaching. Welcoming a new year also means saying goodbye to the old year. On the morning of New Years’ Eve, we will remember the joys and sorrows of 2017 as we prepare to journey into 2018 together.
October Worship Theme is “Transcendence”
October 1 – “Awe (Yom Kippur)” What does it mean to experience awe. Is it something we can seek? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
October 8 – “Sukkot Without a Roof” Rev. Aija Simpson preaching at this multi-gen service with worship associate Julie Ham. Join us as we celebrate Sukkot, the Jewish festival of huts.
October 15 – “Silence” We often speak of entering into a time of prayer and meditation. What does that look like for us? Rev. Aija preaches with worship associate Michele Burton.
October 22 – “” Our new Student Minister Megan Mathieson preaches with worship associate Dick Poland.
October 29 – “All Souls?” We say all souls are sacred. Do we mean it? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Rachel Teates.
August 2017 – Worship Theme is “Words That Unite/Words that Divide”
August 6 – “Apocalypse” Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Christin Kapp.
August 13 – “Covenant” Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Christin Kapp.
August 20 – “Held by a Vision” Special Guest Speaker David Pyle is preaching with worship associate Deb Stille. Every congregation has a vision of themselves and the world they wish to build. A congregation could not exist without one. For many congregations, however, that vision exists in the implicit assumptions of the members and friends of the community. Rev. Pyle will look at some of the implicit visions that have held Unitarian Universalist congregations, and challenge us to turn our implicit assumptions into an explicit understanding of the mission, vision, culture, and identity of our congregation, in this time of looking to the future.
Rev. David Pyle is our congregation’s UUA Staff Primary Contact as a staff member of the Central East Region of the UUA. He is a UU Minister who has served congregations in Texas, Illinois, Michigan, and California. He has also served for the last 10 years as a member of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. He serves as the UUA Staff Primary Contact for the congregations of Central Pennsylvania, Greater Baltimore, and the Delmarva Penninsula, and serves the region as the Governance, Arts of Ministry, and Large Church consultant.
August 27 – “SGM Sunday- What’s In It For Me?” Our Small Group Ministry Committee will lead the service with several reflections about the benefits of SGM for members, for facilitators, for UUCV as a congregation and for the world beyond. Rev. Aija Simpson will also talk about the benefits of small group ministry for the congregation. The children will experience the “Check-In” process during Moment for all Ages.
June’s 2017 Worship Theme is “Family”
June 4 – “A Chosen Family” What does it mean to be family? Are we living up to our promises? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Christin Kapp.
June 11 – “RE Sunday” We pay tribute to the Religious Educators that have worked with our children during this past school season. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associates from our Religious Education Committee.
June 18 – “All Of Our Parents” On this Father’s Day we ask the question: is there something inherently special about fathers? About mothers? About our many gendered parents? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Michele Burton. Guest Accompanist Carole Knisely provides service music.
June 25 – “Who Else Is Family?” Even the best families cannot be everything to their children. There is always the larger family, outside of the nuclear family and even outside of relatives altogether. Who has been part of your larger family? Gisela Roethke is service leader with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
May’s 2017 Worship Theme is “Principles: Follow-Up”
May 7 – “The Eighth Principle” – “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
But wait a second. That’s not one of our principles…is it? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
May 14 – “To You I Give” – Mothers Day/Flower Communion. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
May 21 – “An Impossible Promise” – Are we safe? Should we be? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching. The Annual Congregation meeting will follow the service.
May 28 – “An Agnostic in Seminary: Year One” – Teman Cooke reflects back upon his first year as an agnostic seminary student after spending almost 10 years as a physics professor, and discusses what insights he’s found interesting and valuable. Julie Ham is worship associate.
April’s 2017 Worship Theme is “Inter-Dependent Web of Existence”
April 2 – “Ripples” – Every moment matters. Even the ones you thought you were alone for. Especially the ones you thought you were alone for. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
April 9 – “An Invisible Life” – Is it possible to not matter? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Julie Ham.
April 16 – “Resurrect, Not Restore” – We will come back. We have before and we will again. We will come back. But can it ever be the same? Would we want it to be? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Michele Burton.
April 23 – “Leaps of Faith and Taking Risks” – Taking risks usually involves a little faith. Why do we take risks and how do they affect our lives? Rachel Teates is service leader with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
April 30 – “The Web” – Pull one string, pull them all. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Michele Burton.
March’s Worship Theme Is “World Community”
March 5 “Finding Our Gifts” We are all born with gifts and responsibilities. How do our responsibilities call us to use our gifts? How do our gifts call us to responsibilities? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Dick Poland.
March 12 “Seeking Balance” – The Spring Equinox (March 20) is a time of balance between hours of daylight and night. In this time of challenging news, many people report increasing disequilibrium or feeling unbalanced. We’ll explore some ways to celebrate the equinox and to invite more balance into our lives. Dot Everhart preaching with worship associate Michele Burton.
March 19 “Finding Treasure” – Join us as we go on a treasure hunt. Will we follow the clues? Does X mark the spot? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching.
March 26 “A Different Life” – Imagine a different life. Different food, different customs, different family, different everything. Would you want it? Would you be different if you had it? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
February’s Worship Theme Is “Conscience And Democracy”
February 5 “Losing It” – Francis David, father of Transylvanian Unitarianism is often (mis)quoted as saying “We need not think alike to love alike.” Whatever the problem with the attribution, this nicely sums up a core tenant of our faith. But do we really mean it? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching.
February 12 “Oh shush” – How often do you sit in the silence? In our modern world we have so many noise making devices that our opportunities for quiet have shrunk. But if it is never quiet how do we learn how to listen? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Michele Burton.
February 19 – “Making Love A Practice” – Leading up to Valentine’s Day, we’ve been awash in flowrs, hearts, and messages about romantic love, but what might it mean to make love a spiritual practice? Pamela Philips will be our guest service leader.
February 26 “Traditions” – What do we choose to do year after year? What do those choices tell us about ourselves? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
January’s worship theme is “Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning”
January 1 – “Fireworks” On this first day we come to remember, mourn and celebrate this past year. Join us in a ritual of fire as we clear the slate and prepare for what is coming. Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching in this multi-gen service. Nursery care will be provided.
If the Facebook community has anything to say about it, 2016 is a year we’re all looking forward to putting behind us. But we are not the first to stand expectantly on the brink of a new year. Music director David M. Glasgow shares service music, and a couple of special vocal pieces, that honor both of Janus’s faces as reflect on the year’s challenges and look toward a hopeful future.
January 8 – “In Process” Many Unitarian Universalists reject the language of creation. We reject the notion that all of the world was made in one moment. But what if we think of creation not as a moment but as a process. And what if the creators were us? Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship associate Michele Burton.
January 15 – “What Will You Do?” As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr we ask ourselves how we will live up to his legacy. Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
On this poignant Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the beginning of inauguration week, the UUCV Combo supports congregational singing with a gospel touch; the UUCV Choir shares André Thomas’s setting of Langston Hughes “I Dream a World,” and Harrisburg theatre personality Jeremy Patterson joins the Choir for a powerful re-statement of a timeless gospel classic.
January 22 – “What Story Will We Tell” Just two days after the inauguration, we’ll explore how our personal and national narrative might unfold in the coming months. How will we shape that story as we step forward into this challenging moment in our history? Guest Speaker Norman Allen will be preaching with Worship Associate Dick Poland.
An award-winning playwright, Norman Allen has seen his work produced by the Shakespeare Theatre Company, the Kennedy Center, and other venues in the Washington, DC area, as well as at theatres in Prague, Tokyo, Cape Town, and Budapest. His essays can be found on spirit-oriented websites such as OnBeing, OnFaith, and Tikkun, and in leading print publications, such as the Washington Post and Smithsonian and Yes! magazines. He serves as Intern Minister at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, MD, and is completing his studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.
January 29 – “A Good Lie?” We affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Is there such a thing as irresponsible truth? What about responsible falsehoods? Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
December’s worship theme is “Acceptance and Spiritual Growth”
December 4 – “Where did Santa Clause come from?” From Bishop Nicholas of Myra to our modern Santa and his elves. What can we learn from the fourth century saint? Gisela Roethke is service leader with worship associate Rachel Teates.
December 11 – “Faith’s Power” As we prepare for the season of festivals of light, we explore the Chanukah story and the quest for religious freedom. Julie Ham is service leader.
December 18 – “Other People’s Spirits” How do we honor the deepest truths of each others lives. In the season of Christmas, Hannukah, Solstice, Kwanza and more, how do we make space for other people’s traditions while we honor our own. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Michele Burton.
December 24 – “Follow the Light” Join us for an evening of Stories and Carols. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Rachel Teates.
November’s worship theme is “Justice, Equity and Compassion”
November 6 – “Love Wins” We often speak of justice and compassion as though they might be in contradiction with each other. On Tuesday we will be called to make a decision in a campaign where both Justice and Compassion have often seemed in short supply. How do we bring these values out of the sanctuary and into the streets, the dinner table and yes, even into the polls? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cheryl Parsons. The 2016 political climate has felt unprecedented for many—even psychiatric professionals are reporting unusual levels of anxiety in their patients, focused on the possible outcomes of Tuesday’s election. Music director David M. Glasgow, the UUCV Choir, and a few special guests share hope and perspective through selections made famous by Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Legend, the Wailin’ Jennys, and more.
November 13 – “Compassion? Equity? Justice? In this Election?” Dick Poland preaching with worship associate Dot Everhart. Service music by music director, David M. Glasgow.
November 20 – “We Offer Thanks” We offer thanks for the gifts we have been given. To what and to whom do those gifts behold us? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associates from the Mozambique Steering Committee. On this Sunday before Thanksgiving, we consider for what, and to whom, we might feel gratitude. The choir sings music of Stephen Schwartz, pianist Pat Spader offers a prelude, and music director David M. Glasgow provides service music.
November 27 – “But It’s Not Fair” We often use the words justice and fairness as thought they were interchangeable. But are they. Are there some things that are just but just aren’t fair? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Deb Stille. Service music by guest pianist Carole Knisely.
October’s worship theme is “Inherent Dignity and Worth”
October 2 – “Dignity” We affirm and promote the inherent dignity and worth of every person. That sounds great but what, exactly, does it mean. And how to we gauge dignity? [Can it be lost? Can we surrender our dignity? Take others’?] Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship assicate Cheryl Parsons.
October 9 – “Silence (And Other Figments of Our Imagination)”: It may seem paradoxical for us to focus on silence at our annual Music Sunday service. On the other hand, where else is a musician to begin, but silence? And what do we do when we can’t find any? Our Music Director, David M. Glasgow, leads this special Music Sunday along with the UUCV Choir.
October 16 – “The Deadly Virtue of Tolerance.” Many UUs think our first principle is about tolerance, but I tend to think that it is so much more than that. As one of our most famous UU ministers, Forrest Church, once said, “virtues are only deadly when malpracticed, . . . for they lend the appearance of nobility to evil.” So what can be evil about tolerance? Rev. Bob MacDicken will be the guest minister with worship associate Dick Poland.
October 23 – “Stump the Minister” Got a burning theological question? Wondering why we do certain things in the service? Curious about the inner workings of the church? Come ask the minister and find out? Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship assicate Gisela Roethke.
October 30 – “Yes, even him. And her. And him again” We don’t mean the inherent worth of everyone do we? Certainly there must be one or two exceptions, right? Spoiler Alert: There Aren’t. Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship assicate Julie Ham.
September concludes “Words that Unite/Words that Divide” and will begin focusing on an Introduction to Principles
September 4 – Words that Unite/Words that Divide: “Guilt and Shame” Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship assicate Gisela Roethke.
September 11 – “Water: We Can’t Live Without It” Cheryl Parsons is service leader with worship associate Michele Burton. Today’s service celebrates the many ways that water enhances our quality of life and also explores the challenges we face when our life waters become turbulent or in short supply. Our much-loved water ceremony provides an opportunity for those in attendance to share either real or virtual water, along with a short reflection about how water has influenced their lives in the last year.
September 18 – “Principled” Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship associate Deb Stille.
September 25 – “Hey, Who Made This Decision?” Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship associate Dick Poland.
August continues with the summer series “Words that Unite/Words that Divide”
August 7 – “Doctrine” – Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship associate Dick Poland.
August 14 – “Evangelize” – Rev. Aija Simpson is preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
August 21 – “Small Group Sunday” – UUCV’s Small Groups will be leading the service
August 28 – “Sin” – Rev. Aija Simpson is service leader with worship associate.
July begins our summer series “Words that Unite/Words that Divide”
July 3 – “Religion” Dan Cozort will be service leader with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
July 10 – “God” Rev. Aija Simpson is service leader with worship associate Dick Poland.
July 17 – “Tithe” Rev. Aija Simpson is service leader with worship associate Michele Burton.
July 24 – “Covenant” Rev. Aija Simpson is service leader with worship associate Deb Stille.
July 31 – “Gay Pride” Dot Everhart will be service leader with worship associate Michele Burton.
The Worship Theme for June is “Starting Over”
June 5 – “Beginner’s Mind” Is there wisdom to be found in not knowing the answer? Yes, but…beginner’s mind ≠ ignorance. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
June 12 – “We Forgive Ourselves and Each Other” But how? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Julie Ham.
June 19 – “We Need Each Other” This Sunday we will worship with a joyful, solemn intentionally multigenerational service that honors the lives of those lost and the communities that support us all. Special musical guest Indian Summer Jars will join us for an hour dedicated to our sorrow and our joy. Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship associate Michele Burton.
June 26 – “Religion and Science: Partners in Faith” Julie Ham is service leader with Rachel Teates as worship associate.
May 1, 2016 – “Practice Matters” What role does practice play for our body, mind, and spirit? Gisela Roethke is service leader with worship associate Kate Barr.
May 8, 2016 – “Flower Communion” We celebrate our mothers. The ones who brought color to our lives. The ones who could be prickly. The ones who were exotic and the ones who were beautiful in their familiarity. We invite you to bring a flower to share as we explore the variety of love that makes our collective bouquet.
May 15, 2016 – “This Matters” This, right now, this matters. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, not somewhere else, not someone else. This matters.
May 22, 2016 – “Gratitude” Come celebrate the amazing work that our RE teachers and committee members have done in holding our program steady through this year of transition.
May 29, 2016 – “Where I Stand and Learn to Fly” A personal look by service leader, Julie Ham, at UUCV and her faith journey on the 20th anniversary of her first visit with worship associate Dot Everhart.
April 3 – “The Waters of Life” Water is sacred in traditions worldwide both present and past. Why is this element so powerful? Kate Barr will be preaching with worship associate Julie Ham. “The cure for anything is saltwater, sweat, tears or the sea.” Isak Dinesen
April 10 – “How Much Does Your Soul Weigh?” – People once believed that you could weigh a human soul – now we’re not even sure if we’ve got one, let alone what it would weigh. What does it mean to have soul? Do you have one? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Dick Poland.
April 17 – “Soul Siblings” – Some people touch your soul – if you are willing to let them close enough to do so. Are you brave enough to try? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Deb Stille.
April 24 – “The Dark Night of the Soul” – What gets us through? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching.
March 6 – Love and Justice: Universalists Heritage. Rev. Kathy Ellis serves the remaining Universalist heritage congregation in Philadelphia. She will share some Pennsylvania Universalist history and discuss why it still matters today.
March 13 – Hand in Hand: From the moment we are born to the moment we die we need each other. Even the most self-sufficient among us probably lives in a home that someone else built, eats food that someone else tended, uses goods that someone else made. We cannot escape our connections from each other, what a lonely, hard world it would be if we tried. Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Kate Barr. Music director David M. Glasgow provides service music, and the choir sings.
March 20 – Where I Come From: In our mobile world it is hard to remember how much place has mattered to humans for all but our most recent history. Are we still rooted in place? Do our roots hold us tighter than we might think? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Gisela Roethke.
March 27 – We know how the Easter story ends. How do we cling to the hope of Resurrection when its coming is less certain? Rev. Aija Simpson preaches with worship associate Cheryl Parsons. The Choir performs with Music Director, David M. Glasgow.
February 7 – “Running Wild” Join us for a multi-generational service as we celebrate Mardi Gras. Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship associate Deb Stille. The Town Hall meeting will follow the service.
February 14 – “Every Person, Not Everyone” Our first principle asks us to affirm and promote the inherent dignity and worth of every human person. How do we live up to this promise? Are there ways that we fail to honor the dignity of some people and tell ourselves we are doing right? Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching with worship associate Michelle Burton.
February 21 – “Bring It Here” Here We invite you to bring us your joys, your sorrows and the full truths of your life. Rev. Aija Simpson will be preaching.
February 28 – Rachel Teates will be the service leader with worship associate Dick Poland.
