The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia

With Hearts on Fire | Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper

In the Christian tradition, Pentecost marks the moment when the Holy Spirit came down “like tongues of fire” and was revealed to many people, when previously it had only been known to the 12 disciples.  A small fire sits at the center of our flaming chalice symbol, and is an elemental representation of commitment and transformation.  What can we learn from the intangibles of “spirit” and “fire?” And how might we invite transformative power into our own lives?

Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper, Kelli Danaker, Tom Monroe, Lorien Haavik, Michael Phillips

More Than a Hungry Coat? | Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper

Join Rev. Lisa for an interactive worship service that will explore our varied experiences of welcome and belonging and feeling seen and unseen.

We are pleased to welcome back talented UUCC member Dave Lopes, who will offer some special music for us. Dave will sing and lead us in a well-known Bob Dylan song — and share another unique song by a musical group known as Fruition — out of Portland, Oregon.

Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper, Michael Adcock, Dave Lopes, Betsy Osterman, Jen Siegal

 

The Myth of the Perfect Mother | Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate those who nurture, while we also acknowledge the varied experiences of being and having mothers. Join together at 10AM in a supportive environment on this holiday full of varied experiences and complex feelings.

For this Mother’s Day service, the choir offers a sweetly nostalgic song from 1938, “M-O-T-H-E-R”, as the introit. And for the morning’s anthem, we will repeat one of the most-appreciated pieces from our recent Earth-Day inspired music service, “For the Beauty of the Earth”.

Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper, Kelli Danaker, Michael Adcock, The Chalice Choir, Renee Lau, Alex Cauthen-Zach, Steve Parr

 

As Tranquil Streams | Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper

May is a big month for Unitarian Universalist anniversaries. On May 2, 1819, William Ellery Channing’s Baltimore Sermon took the pejorative “Unitarian” and declared it a liberal faith. On May 12, 1961, the consolidation of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America created the Unitarian Universalist Association to which we belong today. Let’s explore this history and these anniversaries together.

This Sunday, we welcome guest French Horn player Kyle Pompei in worship.

Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper, Kelli Danaker, Michael Adcock, Kyle Pompei, Lisa Marini, Jen Siegal

 

A Choral Celebration of the Earth | Michael Adcock

Join UUCC’s Chalice Choir for their annual Spring Music Service! This year’s music service will be an Earth-based worship experience, inspired by Earth Day on April 22. The Chalice Choir, Director of Music Ministries Michael Adcock, and Worship Associate Betsy Osterman in conjunction with the UUCC Climate Team, create a blended service of poems, readings, and music to honor our planet. Highlights include “Earth Song” by Frank Tichelli, an arrangement of “For the Beauty of the Earth” by John Rutter, and “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” by Dolly Parton – with Vickie Beck, soloist.

Michael Adcock, Chalice Choir, Chalice Singers, Vickie Beck, Tom Monroe, Betsy Osterman, Jill Cairns, Tim Lattimer, Trish Steinhilber, Chris Crandell

 

Making a Deal with the Devil | Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper

UUCC members Valerie and Ted Nolan, auction sermon raffle winners, offered Rev. Lisa the little-known musical version of “Faust” written and composed by Randy Newman (of Disney/Pixar fame) as her text for this Sunday’s sermon. Join in a conversation about the devil and much, much more.

Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper, Tom Monroe, Alex Cauthen-Zach, Jill Cairns, Jill Christianson

 

Love in Action Together | Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper

We’ll hear reflections from within our community as UUCC continues to partner with People Acting Together in Howard County (PATH). Together we’ll explore how this important work has inspired and impacted the people within the movement, especially as connections have expanded with Action in Montgomery (AIM), Anne Arundel, etc.

This Sunday, for the PATH Follow Up Service, your Chalice Choir offers a new work titled “Come and See” by the composer Karen Marolli. This moving anthem focuses on an ideal world, where we can all reside “free from judgement, pain, hatred, fear and hurt” — where “only love, compassion and grace remain“. Additionally, the piece has a beautiful cello obligato part, which will be rendered by guest cellist Pei Lu. Ms. Lu will also offer the well-known “Bach Arioso” for the offertory.

Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper, Michael Adcock, Pei Lu, The Chalice Choir, Alex Horn, Ken Rock, Kathy Leonard, Jen Siegal,

 

Easter Sunday | Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper

This Sunday, we’ll engage the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. This is an all-ages worship service; children will stay with families in Sanctuary C during the entire service.

For this Sunday’s Easter Service, the Music Ministry is pleased to welcome guest musicians Zach Nelson and Hilary Dean to the chancel, for some special music to celebrate the Easter season. Zach Nelson will join me for some festive and brilliant fanfares for trombone and organ, by the wonderful composer/arranger Phil Lehenbauer. And we welcome back wonderful soprano Hilary Dean, who will offer the well-known and beloved Panis Angelicus by composer Cesar Franck. We are grateful that these talented musicians are willing to share their gifts with us in worship. Thank you, Hilary and Zach!

Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper, Kelli Danaker, Hannah Nelson, Michael Adcock, Hilary Dean, Zach Nelson, Lorien Haavik, Michael Phillips, Anita Long

 

Making Meaning | Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper

As we continue to find ways to resist authoritarianism and cultivate resilience, the practice of making useful objects is one popular coping mechanism. Let’s talk about the history of crafting as resistance found in quilts, knitted objects, weaving, and more. During the service we will honor Transgender Day of Visibility.

For this Sunday’s service entitled “Making Meaning”, the Chalice Choir shares a favorite hymn-anthem usually sung during the harvest season — “Bringing in the Sheaves” — in a rhythmic and fun arrangement by John Coates. The offertory, “Weaving”, is a relatively new work by Native American composer Connor Chee. The meditation will be a familiar “Gnossienne” by the French composer Erik Satie.

Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper, Michael Adcock, The Chalice Choir, Becky Reese, Kathy Leonard, Miriam Pokharel-Wood, Tina Horn

 

Imagining Abolition | Rev. Michael Tino

At GA 2025, our delegates chose Abolition, Transformation, and Faith Formation as our denomination-wide study-action issue. In order to begin thinking about prison abolition, we need to be able to imagine the world in which it is possible. This Sunday guest minister, Rev. Dr. Michael Tino, will address questions like, “What needs to change in order to get everyone truly free?” It starts with theology, believe it or not.

Rev. Michael Tino, Tom Monroe, Becky Reese, Betsy Osterman, Ken Rock