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Help With Worship |
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This information
is provided as a service to congregations who are seeking speakers and
performers for worship services. The UU District of Metropolitan New
York assumes no responsibility for the content posted here or for the
quality of the services provided. We recommend that you ask for and
contact references to determine if the service provider will meet your
needs. Be sure, too, to ask the service provider about fees or special
equipment the service provider may require.
In addition to the Worship Service
Providers listed below, click here
for links to other online worship service resources. |
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If you would like to be included as
a service provider,
click here. |
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If you are already on the list and would
like to update your information,
click here. |
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Worship Service Providers |
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Name: Arthur R. Aldrich
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UU Minister: No |
Email (click icon): 
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Phone: 845-357-7316
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Service Description: Brave
New World or 1984? Has humanism failed? George Orwell prophesied that
external oppression would deprive us of our autonomy, maturity, and
history. Huxley, on the other hand, warned us against adoring the
technologies that would reduce our capacity to think. In other words,
what we had come to love would destroy us. Which prophesy was correct? |
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Name: Rev. Leland
Bond-Upson |
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UU Minister: Yes |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 646-896-1658 |
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Service Description:
Experienced supply preacher, having conducted services in a majority of
UU congregations in the Pacific Central District, plus five years as the
regular preacher at UUs of Petaluma CA. Popular sermons include "Forging
Our Own Deliverance," a homage to liberalism, "Cause, Effect, Good,
Evil, Crime, Punishment," a utilitarian critique of our attitudes toward
wrong-doing, "Essay on Jim," the story of my travels with the UU Rev.
James L. Stoll, the first US clergyman to come out as gay, in 1969, and
"The Way Things Are Supposed To Be," a Buddhist-ish look at the pain
caused by
Expectation. Many others. |
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Name: Rev. Ben Bortin
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UU Minister: Yes |
Email (click icon):
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Phone: 718-816-0160
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Service Description: How
Deadly Were the Seven Deadly Sins? These infamous seven don't appear in
the Bible, but they have been bandied about in Christian tradition since
the Middle Ages. Each of these shortcomings poses a problem for us
humans. Each, as well, is a behavior which is all too familiar. I would
contend that there are sins far graver than any of the seven, in scope
and in nature. |
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Name: Melanie Davis,
M.Ed.
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UU Minister: No |
Email (click icon):
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Phone: 908-722-1632
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Service Description:
Melanie's
programs
may include songs, readings, and a sermon. (1) "Honoring Your Inherent
Worth and Dignity": UUs covenant to affirm the inherent worth and
dignity of all people but may neglect to affirm our own, despite a
spiritual rationale that recognizes our personal value. (2) "A UU Take
on Faith and Miracles": These highly charged words can be relevant for
religious liberals from many belief systems. (3) “The Abstract Art of
Parenting”: Childrearing is only one aspect of parenting; we may need to
care for ourselves and others, including aging parents. Explore
parenting in light of the 2nd UU principle. |
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Website for more information:
www.honestexchange.com |
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Name: Rev. Dr. Len De
Roche, D. Min.
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UU Minister: Yes |
Email (click icon):
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Phone: 610-317-2338
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Service Description: I tend
toward cognitive sermons but develop sermons for the particular
congregation and setting. I have served three congregations. My
interests include Jungian psychology and systems theory and am working
as a financial advisor as my day job. Examples include The Gospel
According to Dr. Seuss, (Dr. Seuss was not a theologian, but his
children’s books are full of faithfulness, fairness, friendship, fun and
alliteration); The Malstrom (a sermon using a story by Poe as a theme);
and The Green Bag (a sermon derived from a Norwegian folk tale). |
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Name: Rev. Dianne
Disston, M.S.
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UU Minister: No |
Email (click icon):
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Phone: 845-494-6789
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Service Description: A
Spiritual Mentor in Brewster NY, Rev. Dianne Disston, M.S. has a
Bachelors in Business and Psychology and a Masters in Leadership. After
25 years in the corporate world as manager, coach, and corporate
trainer, Dianne was ordained as an Interfaith Minister in 2003 at St.
John the Divine in New York City. In 2004 she received her candidacy for
psychoanalytic certification and licensing at the Westchester Institute
in Bedford Hills NY. Dianne provides worship services for local UU
congregations. Topics include: The Feminine Church, Something Greater
Than Ourselves, On Common Ground: An Interfaith Perspective, Spiritual
Depression in the 21st Century. |
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Name: Tom Duncan
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UU Minister: No |
Email (click icon):
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Phone: 201-836-6076
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Service Description:
Dr. Dubious and
the Agnostics provide traditional jazz music for congregation events
and for worship services in the New Orleans style. References available
from Central Unitarian Church, Paramus, NJ; All Souls, NYC; St. Paul's
Lutheran, Teaneck, NJ; Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Ramsey, NJ and
Colts Neck Reformed Church, Colts Neck, NJ. |
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Name: Rev. Jef Gamblee
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UU Minister: Yes |
Email (click icon):
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Phone: 718-818-0065
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Service Description:
Sermons focusing on our ministry to one another in congregations and the
challenge of practicing our UU vision outside the walls of our
buildings. |
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Name: Amy Wright Glenn
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UU Minister: No |
Email (click icon):
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Phone: 609-895-2696
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Service Description: Amy
Wright Glenn is a talented and warm-hearted speaker experienced in
addressing UU congregations receiving very positive feedback. As a long
time UU, Glenn draws upon her extensive study of comparative religions
and her unique experiences as a birth doula and hospital chaplain to
make philosophical topics come to life. She speaks powerfully and
evocatively on subjects relating to the study of World Religions, Myth
and Culture, Birth and Death, the Middle East, Gender Studies, and
Contemporary Ethics. |
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Website for more information:
www.amywrightglenn.com |
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Name: Rev. Harry C.
Green |
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UU Minister: Yes |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 201-857-8567 |
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Service Description:
Willing to provide a variety of Sunday services based on the
congregation's needs and desires. |
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Name: Rev. Debra W.
Haffner |
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UU Minister: Yes |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 203-840-1148 |
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Service Description:
"Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing":
Rev. Haffner,
the director of the
Religious
Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, offers a worship
service on the connection between sexuality and religion and a new
paradigm for sexual health and justice in faith communities. She is
also available to conduct workshops for congregations on building a
sexually healthy faith community and creating safe congregations. |
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Name: Julia Hamilton
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UU Minister: No |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 347-204-9452
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Service Description:
A Candidate for Ministry and a lifelong UU, I have led diverse worship
services for many congregations and UU groups. I tend to write sermons
and services for the specific community that I am working with.
Particular interests of mine are the intersection of science and
religion, UU social justice history, and the situation in New Orleans. I
am currently finishing my internship at the Unitarian Church in Summit
(NJ), having graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 2008. |
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Name: Rev. Tony
Johnson |
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UU Minister: Yes |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 646-515-4729 |
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Service Description:
Topics include 21st Century Universalism, Ambitious Generosity, America
Never Was a Christian Nation (But What If It Were?), Forward Movement,
Healing with Truth, Love and Addiction, Obscene Boundaries and Friendly
Borders, Talking about God, The City Is Sacred Space, and many others.
Worship should be lively as well as thoughtful. So don't expect me to
stay behind the pulpit or leave my tambourines at home. In my 32nd year
of ministry, I am affiliated community minister at the Community Church
of New York UU and interim parish minister of the First Unitarian
Society of Plainfield. |
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Name: Geoff Kaufman
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UU Minister: No |
Email (click icon):
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Phone: 860 443-2711
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Service Description: I
perform songs in the acoustic folk style, mostly with guitar or a
cappella which can dovetail with many Service topics, particulary
environmental and social justice. I can also offer entire services with
readings, music and my reflections. |
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Website for more information:
Musical
Programs by Geoff Kaufman |
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Name: Jennifer
Kelleher |
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UU Minister: No |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 609-577-7600 |
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Service Description:
Founding Member, Unitarian
Universalist Church at Washington Crossing Young Adult Group and
current Chair, Worship Associates. Experienced in leading
intergenerational, adult, youth and young adult services - contemporary
and traditional. Topics include - Finding Meaning in Difficult Times,
Flame in Our Hands (fostering YA groups), Spirtual Folk (music linked to
UU principles), Four Noble Truths, Love My Country-Fear My Government,
What is worship? Loves to work
with others to create meaningful services specific to congregations/fellowships. |
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Name: Rev. Dr. Nicole
C. Kirk |
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UU Minister: Yes |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 609-452-2280 |
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Service Description:
Currently pursuing a PHD in American Religious History, I served a
Unitarian congregation for eight years in Kirtland, Ohio. In summer
2008, I was the July Minister at the Unitarian Church in Summit. I have
a variety of services on every topic and nearly every holiday. |
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Name: Rev. Jan
Vickery Knost |
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UU Minister: Yes |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 401-377-8989 |
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Service Description:
Active parish minister for 45 years. Educated at St. Lawrence
University, Brown and Oxford, England. Served on the UUA Board as
elected trustee from Mass Bay District. Also served on the Ministerial
Fellowship Committee and the Continental Program Fund Committee. Served
churches in RI, MA, NJ, TX, FL and NM. Married to Lorna Smith Knost.
(Celebrated our 46th anniversary this week.) Four children, 1 son and 3
daughters + 7 grandchildren. Interests: fishing, gardening, golf,
writing (prose and poetry), classical music, amateur theater (acting and
directing), a good martini. |
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Name: Jeff Liebmann |
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UU Minister: No |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 412 760-6588 |
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Service Description:
I am serving as a ministerial intern during 2009 at the UU Congregation
at Shelter Rock and have two previous years of student ministry
experience at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. I have preached
at several fellowships and churches and can design a worship service on
a variety of topics to meet your needs. |
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Website for more information:
Jeff Liebmann's home page |
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Name: Rev. Jon Mundy,
Ph.D. |
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UU Minister: No |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 845-496-9089 |
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Service Description: I am
an author, lecturer, and, as Dr. Baba Jon Mundane, a standup philosopher
comedian. As a lecturer in philosophy at the State University of New
York, my specialization is the History of Mysticism, American
Transcendentalism, and the Psychology of Religion. I’ve authored eight
books, including my newest book What is Mysticism? I am Senior Minister
Emeritus of Interfaith Fellowship with services in Cami Hall across from
Carnegie Hall in New York City. Sermon topics include: Remember to
Laugh: On the Healing Power of Humor (I guarantee 30 plus good laughs in
this message); I’m Nobody, Who are you?; The Spiritual Diet and
Developing Positive Addictions. |
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Website for more information:
Miracles
Magazine |
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Name: Rev. Julie
Newhall |
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UU Minister: Yes |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 732-291-2221 |
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Service Description:
Sunday worship on a wide variety of themes, weddings, memorial services
and funerals. |
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Name: Herb
Ouida
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UU Minister: No
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 201-265-7765
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Service Description:
"Transforming Tragedy Into Hope". How Herb's family dealt with loss
of Herb's son on September 11. The family chose to honor Todd and his
memory by creating
The Todd
Ouida Children's Foundation. The
foundation is dedicated to helping children who suffer, as Todd did,
from anxiety disorders and depression. |
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Name: Rev.
Jennifer Pader
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UU Minister: No
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 212-765-6340
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Service Description:
Serving as the Affiliate Minister for Pastoral Care of the
Fourth Universalist
Society (Manhattan), I am an urban minister preaching on a variety
of topics according to the needs of the season, the circumstances, and
the congregation. I am known for wide-ranging and often humorous
sermons, including stories about oysters, Martha Stewart, and dogs I
have known. But my sermons are also in touch with pain, compassion,
self-knowledge, and community. |
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Name: Rev. Wendy Pantoja
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UU Minister: Yes
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 908-789-1599
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Service Description:
Within an overarching theme of building Beloved Community, some topics
addressed in my sermons are: cultural misappropriation, accessibility,
covenanting, the search for truth and meaning, and the environment. I am
also available to officiate weddings, civil unions, memorial services,
funerals, and child dedications. As a bilingual person, I can offer
these services in Spanish as well as in English. |
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Name:
Elizabeth Putnam
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UU Minister: Yes
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 646-920-2262
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Service Description:
I am able to create services for a wide variety of themes and formats.
Previous traditional format services include Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Sojourner Truth, Interdependence, and Transcendentalism. I am also able
to create alternative format services that allow for direct
congregational interaction, usually building around earth-based themes.
Prior services of this type include May Day, Mid-Summer, and Day of the
Dead. I love to create worship, so special requests for new services are
welcome. |
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Name: Donna Renfro
and Core of Fire |
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UU Minister: No |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 732-513-8867 |
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Service Description: Core
of Fire is an interfaith dance ministry of mature women who use the
healing power of dance to combine spiritual connection and creative
movement into choreography that speaks to our deepest longings to
express the awe, wonder, and anguish of the life experience. We can
bring sacred dance to your congregation in three ways: 2-3 dances in a
worship service; an entire worship service on several topics;
intergenerational workshops on improvisational and choreographed sacred
dance. References available. See some of us perform at General Assembly
2008: Click the Website link below, and then click on video coverage.
Core of Fire is included in the video for the June 26 Worship Service. |
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Website for more information:
About Core of Fire Interfaith Dance Ministry |
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Name: Rev. Ron
Sala
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UU Minister: Yes
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 203-559-9620
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Service Description:
I can preach from my catalog or on a requested subject. Recent sermons
include “Catching Up With Happiness,” “Gnosis: A Western Path Of
Spiritual Knowledge,” “Epiphanies of Rumi,” “Proud to Be Judgment-Free,”
“Jesus Who?” “Let Me Not Whine, Want to Shine, or Recline," “A Busload
of Faith," "Confessions of a Mennonite Menace," and “Life in Balance:
Wisdom from the Tao Te Ching.”
Willing to travel. |
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Website for more
information:
uusis.org/minister.htm |
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Name: Rev. J.
Manny Santiago
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UU Minister: No
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 347-243-3261
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Service Description:
Ordained in the progressive Christian tradition, can provide pulpit
supply in both English and Spanish. Commitment to progressive/liberal
theology. Experience in the fields of Queer theology and spirituality,
Afro-Hispanic religious experiences and spiritualities, and others. |
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Website for more
information:
Manny's blog |
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Name: uu4ia (pronouced
"euphoria")
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UU Minister: No
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 215-321-3343
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Service Description:
A Women's Quartet providing inspirational harmonic singing for services,
special events, celebrations of life, memorials. The group's mission is
to further service to our faith through song. Areas of interest: women,
earth spirituality, musical meditation, being an intergral part of
service. We are able to provide music for services or provide a musical
service. Members of UU Church at Washington Crossing (Titusville NJ):
Marianne Chopp Alt, Sarah Burke, Holly Bussey (founder), Kathy Frey. |
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Name: Rev. Allen Wells |
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UU Minister: Yes |
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Email
(click icon):
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Phone: 973-539-0301 |
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Service Description:
Allen is especially interested in exploring the inter-relationship of
our inner, spiritual worlds - and the outer: political and social world
of our culture, and how each affects the other. He is an Insight
Meditation teacher and active environmentalist. |
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Name: Angelo Zappala |
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UU Minister: No |
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Email (click icon):
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Phone: 401-855-6325 |
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Service Description: "Music
That Speaks to Unitarians". An unorthodox but very popular survey of
music old and new, with read-along-lyrics that will remind you of why
you're a UU and rekindle your commitment to your very core! It is a very
engaging, entertaining, and challenging service that will leave you much
to think and talk about! |
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