Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Florida, where seekers find a home

The Sabbatical Committee of UU Clearwater is privileged to present the following schedule of speakers for Phase II

Rev. Sara Zimmerman March 16, 2008 Justice, Equity and Compassion in Human Relations, Our Second Principle James Fowler's premise in his 1981 book Stages of Faith, very few people progress to the sixth and ultimate stage of universal love and justice. Rev. Zimmerman notices that Fowler's Sixth Stage and the Unitarian Universalist Second Principle describe similar ideals. She disagrees with Fowler's premise and describes ways we all live our faith. Rev. Zimmerman was called to be the minister of the Tampa, FL UU congregation in June 2007. She has an extensive background in English literature and had a career teaching on many levels, including college, and in UU RE programs. She was also a college administrator before obtaining a Master of Divinity degree at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. Her ordination as a UU minister was at the Unitarian Church North in Mequon, WI in 2001. She also has had extensive training in Zen Buddhism. Rev. Zimmerman has served UU congregations in Dallas, TX, Kirtland, OH, and Charlotte County, FL. While in Port Charlotte, FL, she was an emergency room chaplain at Peace River Medical Center. That was during a serious hurricane season, so she gained a lot of experience in crisis and grief counseling. Rev. Zimmerman was able to share these skills with UUC following the deaths of some of our members in December 2007. Continuing in that spirit, following the service at 2:00 p.m. in the Patio Room, Rev. Zimmerman will facilitate a group conversation to assist in the ongoing grief process related to that tragic incident. (top)
Rev. Millie Rochester March 23, 2008 Dancing in the Ring of Eternity Easter is a uniquely challenging religious holiday for many Unitarian Universalists. This service explores a means through which we may draw significance from the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. Rev. Millie Rochester has served as Associate Minister of this congregation since August, 2005. (top)
Rev. Marni Harmony March 30, 2008 Beyond Transcendentalism The Transcendentalism of the 19th century made a great impact on Unitarianism. This sermon explores how we might retrieve and revitalize some of its wisdom in order to renew our faith today. Rev. Marni Harmony has served as the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando, FL since 1988. She was ordained to the UU ministry in 1974 and has served churches in Towson, MD, State College, PA, and Milwaukee, WI. She has also served as a college chaplain, a hospital chaplain, and a psychotherapist. (top)
Mark Steinwinter April 6, 2008 Making the Connection This service explores the way love flows and our spirits are nurtured through the connections that we energize, outward with others and inward with ourselves. Mark Steinwinter is Director of Information Technology Services at the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations in Boston, MA. He lives in Newton, MA, with his life partner, Diana Kierein, an attorney and social worker. Together they raised five children and share one grandchild. In 1968, Mark left his Syracuse, NY, home to attend college in Boulder, CO. After eight exciting years protesting the war, programming computers, and performing in amateur theater, he moved to Washington, DC. For the next 25 years, he continued acting and taught jazz and tap dancing, appearing at venues such as the National Theater. He worked as Director of Software Development for the Washington Post website, and earned his degree in business management at Strayer University. Mark was a Methodist as a young lad, a convinced Quaker during his Washington days, and identifies as a Unitarian Universalist since his arrival in Boston in 2002. (top)
Rabbi Stephen Fisher Moch April 13, 2008 I Passed Over; Now You Push Forward Torah paints a picture of a divinity who helps, but then expects us to do our part. This kind of faith requires human action, which is inspiringly explored in this sermon. Rabbi Stephen Moch has served as the rabbi at Congregation B’nai Emmunah in Tarpon Springs, FL since 2001. He has been a rabbi for nearly 30 years, and has served congregations in Winston Salem, NC, Springfield, IL, St Petersburg, FL. He completed rabbinic studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH. Rabbi Moch is well known for his community involvement and social justice work. (top)
Amy Carol Webb April 19, 2008 - Concert April 20, 2008 - Service Sing Me The River Water is life and life is water. This Earth Day we will celebrate the power of water to refresh and restore, and our power to preserve this precious source of earthly life. Amy is both passionate and poignant, both the girl next door and no ordinary woman. She has been a traveling troubadour throughout the world and now makes her home in the Miami area. From her concerts to her sermons, she is a gift of voice, vision and grace. She is currently studying to be a UU minister at Andover Newton Theological School. CONCERT Amy's concert will be on Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. There will be tickets available prior to the concert; however, no benefit in getting them early. (top)
Rev. John Buehrens April 27, 2008 - Service and Workshop The House of Hope Sometimes we think that each of us has to engage in "Building Our Own Theology" from scratch. And, in a sense, we do. But liberal theology already has a solid structure of thought for which we can be grateful. Humbly acknowledging the multiple dimensions of the house of hope we inherit, this sermon explores how we can do a better job of assessing the need for spiritual/intellectual renovation and expansion. Rev. John Buehrens was President of the UUA from 1993 to 2001. He is now Minister of First Parish in Needham, MA. Ordained in 1973, Rev. Buehrens has served congregations in Tennessee, Texas, and New York City. Three-Hour Workshop – Sunday Afternoon Reconstructing Progressive Religion for the 21st Century Drawing on the book he is currently writing with the Rev. Rebecca Parker, Rev. Buehrens will engage us in reflecting on the basic dimensions of a systematic liberal theology. What is the framework of our religious community? What sense of reality do we stand on, and how do we mortar together our differences? The workshop provides stimulating input and challenging reflection on these topics. (top)
Rev. Manish Mishra May 4, 2008 Teach Us and Show Us the Way Drawing on a phrase from the Chinook Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, this service explores the ways in which we human beings spiritually learn and grow drawing on the natural world around us. Rev. Manish Mishra was called to be the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg in 2006. He served four other congregations before coming to this area. Rev. Mishra graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in International Relations. He received his Master’s of Divinity Degree from Harvard in 2005. (top)
Rev. Millie Rochester May 11, 2008 Faith of Our Mothers We refer often to our "founding fathers" as having shaped our current lives. This service will explore the impact and implications on our faith of our luminous "feminine founding figures." [This is Split the Plate Sunday, to benefit ASAP Homeless] Rev. Millie Rochester has served as Associate Minister of this congregation since August, 2005. (top)