Sunday Services

April 2026

4/1/2026

April 5, 2026
The Meaning of Life: What’s It All About?
Norma Bailey

"What makes life worth living? Is it family? Friends? A job or career? Is it a sense of accomplishment or fulfillment—a sense that it means something, has value?? Or is it simply feeling happy? We’ll be discussing these questions on Sunday, but, as Kurt Vonnegut says, “Plato claims that the unexamined life is not worth living. But what if the examined life turns out to be a clunker as well?” So, don’t expect profound answers. Sunday’s discussion is just a start!"

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April 12, 2026
Embracing Possibility
Rev. Drew FrantzAs the poet David Whyte asks, “What shape waits in the seed of you/ to grow and spread its branches/ against a future sky?” Like a growing tree, each person is full of possibility – at whatever age and stage of life we may be in. The idea of embracing possibility also offers us hope in the context of national and international turmoil. Outcomes are not pre-determined, but shaped by our will and our values. Realizing this is empowering and liberating.

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March 2026

2/25/2026

March 1, 2026
Title: The Attention Economy
Rev Drew Frantz
"Oliver Burkman says, “If there’s a “war for our attention” – as we’re often told – our role often seems to be that of collaborators with the enemy.” Modern-day social media is expert at capturing and holding our attention. How does that affect us? What can we do to re-direct our attention in ways that are more spiritually healthy?"

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March 8, 2026
Title: Paying Attention to God/Beauty/Nature
Rev Drew Frantz
"Attention may be defined in terms of action–we pay attention to a situation for the purpose of doing something. Or, attention may be defined in terms of connection–we pay attention to something in order to feel more connected. This version of attention is transformative, and is what we need when it comes to our fellow human beings–and to God."

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March 15, 2026
Title: Feminist Ethics
Rev. Drew Frantz
"One definition of a feminist is: “a person who loves women and hates oppression.” As feminist theologian Sharon Welch writes in her book A Feminist Ethic of Risk, this worldview informs how and why we work for social change. Feminist ethics lead us to favor action over contemplation; to expect failure and celebrate limited success; and to center love and community in all we do."

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March 22, 2026
Title: Stewards of Joy and Hope
Rev. Drew Frantz
"Each year at this time, we who make up this Fellowship take time to reflect on our collective sense of mission and purpose–and how each of us supports that mission. The continued thriving of this community of love and radical welcome requires each of us to give–as we are able–of our time, talent and treasure. Each of us doing our part creates a beautiful whole."

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March 29, 2026
Title: Islam: The Power of Unity
Guy Newland
Unitarian Universalism draws inspiration from many sources, including the world’s
religions. But perhaps––seeking peace and understanding as well as inspiration––we
should learn more about the world’s second largest religion: Islam.

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February 2026

1/27/2026

February 1, 2026
Title: Resiliency Practices by Rev. Dr. Sandra Fees
Laura McBride
“The great theologian Howard Thurman says, “[Resilience] is to watch a gathering darkness until all light is swallowed up completely without the power to interfere or bring a halt. Then in that darkness, to continue one’s journey with one’s footsteps guided by the illumination of remembered radiance.” Resilience has to do with staying the course in the midst of pain guided by a “remembered radiance.” It has to do with remembering what was good and beautiful, and holding that memory in the heart while moving forward into the future…”

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February 8, 2026
Title: Imbolc
Rev. Drew Frantz
"Long before Groundhog Day and the Super Bowl, the beginning of February was the time of the ancient pagan holiday of Imbolc. Marking the halfway point from the winter solstice to the spring equinox, Imbolc represents the hope and promise of new life. With all the chaos of human society today, recognizing the predictable progress of the natural world may be grounding for us."

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February 15, 2026
Title: Good News
Rev. Drew Frantz
"This has been true for a long time: bad news gets and holds our attention more than good news–meaning that good news gets less coverage. Today it feels more important than ever to seek and share good news, to pay attention and to lift it up. Join us this Sunday for a service dedicated to good news, from the Buddhist monks on a peace march to DC; to the resistance singers in Minneapolis; and more. It’s time to feel good!"

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February 22, 2026
Title: Songs of Protest
New Member Ceremony
Rev. Drew Frantz
"Today we explore the use of protest songs–popular songs played on the radio and songs sung by marchers in the streets. From the civil rights movement to the “ICE Out” protest in Minneapolis, this music articulates the values and urgency of the movement while giving people a sense of hope and belonging. Show up ready to sing! In this morning’s worship, we also make time for a special ritual to welcome new members to our Fellowship."

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January 2026

12/24/2025

January 4
Hope, JOY and Resistance
Norma Bailey
Given everything that is unfolding in the United States and in the world, how do we find
and hold on to hope and joy in our lives? As well, how do we use hope and joy to help
us resist the negative impact in our lives? In this service, we will explore a response to
these questions through words and music.

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January 11
Hope, JOY and Resistance (repeated due to weather cancellation)
Norma Bailey
Given everything that is unfolding in the United States and in the world, how do we find
and hold on to hope and joy in our lives? As well, how do we use hope and joy to help
us resist the negative impact in our lives? In this service, we will explore a response to
these questions through words and music.

January 18, 2026
Martin Luther King
Rev. Drew Frantz
Unitarian Universalists follow the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in envisioning a ‘beloved community’ where love unites and frees us. On this day every year we celebrate the life and work of Dr. King and re-dedicate ourselves to the version of the American dream he articulated. This year, the holiday comes as protests and violence dominate our national attention, begging the questions: How does this moment compare to the civil rights movement led by Dr. King? What lessons and inspiration can we take from Dr. King to help us today?

Sermon

January 25, 2026
Trauma and Resilience
Rev. Drew Frantz
Humans experience trauma in many forms and at many levels. A classic book in this field is “What Happened to You?” by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey. While the book focuses on family trauma, the lessons on how we survive and heal from trauma are applicable to other types of trauma as well. These lessons may give us hope as we navigate our own traumas–in the personal sphere and the public sphere.

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December, 2025

12/3/2025

December 7, 2025:
Choosing Hope
Rev. Drew Frantz

“Choosing Hope” is our worship theme for the month of December. Let’s help one another find hope in our personal lives, through the yearly challenge of a dark winter time and the individual challenges we face. And let’s remember that hope–like gratitude–is more of a practice than a feeling. How can we choose hope, and support each other in doing so?

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December 14, 2025:
A UU Hanukkah
Rev. Drew Frantz
Anticipating the first night of Hanukkah, this Sunday morning we will light a menorah in our sanctuary and reflect on this Jewish holiday. Our Unitarian Universalist way of engaging with religious holidays is to be respectful of tradition; to give the widest possible interpretation of the meanings of the holiday; and to connect it to our UU values. Hanukkah connects us all–Jew and gentile–to hope, justice and interdependence.

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December 21, 2025:
Ritual and Tradition
Rev. Drew Frantz
We use rituals in many contexts, including in our religious gatherings. Many of us have traditions connected with the winter holidays. What is the role of ritual and tradition for us, individually and collectively? When do they help us to make meaning…and when is it good to abandon long-practiced rituals and to break tradition?

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December 28 and January 4
Hope, JOY and Resistance
Norma Bailey
Given everything that is unfolding in the United States and in the world, how do we find
and hold on to hope and joy in our lives? As well, how do we use hope and joy to help
us resist the negative impact in our lives? In this service, we will explore a response to
these questions through words and music.

Order of Service

November 2025

10/29/2025

November 2, 2025:
Day of the Dead
Rev. Drew Frantz
This Sunday we perform our yearly ritual of honoring the ancestors. In keeping with the various traditions of All Souls Day, Samhain, and Día de Muertos, we take this day to remember those who have died and to welcome them as living spirits. What do we have to learn from the ancestors? How can we keep alive their memory and honor them?

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November 9, 2025:
God is a River
Rev. Drew Frantz
In Unitarian Universalism we encompass many beliefs about the nature of – and the existence of – the divine. Does God exist? Where and what is God? One vision of the divine, blending Religious Naturalism and Taoism, is that God is a river. Let’s see how this idea challenges or reinforces your own notion of mystery and of ultimate reality.

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November 16, 2025:
Guest at Your Table
Rev. Drew Frantz
Guest at Your Table is a program of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to partner with human rights organizations domestically and abroad. This year Guest at Your Table supports an LGBTQ+ asylum house in Pennsylvania; a human rights organization in Central America; a commune for Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic; and a river defender in Honduras. In our worship service we celebrate the good work being done; and we recognize that together we create greater justice and greater joy.

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Sermon
Safer Inclusion Policy

November 23, 2025:
Nurturing Gratitude
Rev. Drew Frantz
November is the season of gratitude, and we are reminded that gratitude is a practice, not a feeling. Gratitude is especially important during hard times, and the greatest gratitude is for people, not things. How are you practicing a sense of gratitude in these hard times? Who are the people who have enriched and blessed your life?

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November 30, 2025:
Embodying Abundance
Rev. Laura McBride
We need ways to reopen ourselves to beauty and gratitude—and to see not only the proverbial glass being half full but also the whole glass… This is not a Pollyannaish optimism. Seeing the beautiful glass does not ignore life’s harsh realities… This outlook insists on seeking and finding the best in our lives and the lives of those around us… It invites us to embody abundance even in those mud-puddle times. As the French-Swiss poet Jean Petit-Senn wrote, ‘it’s not what we have that constitutes our abundance, but what we appreciate.’...

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October 2025

10/1/2025

October 5, 2025:
Prophetic Witness: Mariann Budde
Rev. Drew Frantz
Bishop Mariann Budde, leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and the Washington National Cathedral, is well-known for a passionate sermon she delivered at Donald Trump’s inauguration this year. Her example inspires those who would speak truth to power. Bishop Budde’s other published writings are also inspiring, making her a model of faith and wisdom.

October 12, 2025:
Siding with Love: Fred Small
Norma Bailey
Fred Small, a minister at Arlington Street Church in Boston, shares in his homily that the essence of Unitarian Universalism is siding with love in everything we say or do. We will also acknowledge two significant days where we can share our love – October 11, National Coming Out Day, and October 13, Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

October 19, 2025:
Prophetic Witness: Imara Jones
Rev. Drew Frantz
Imara Jones presented the Ware Lecture at General Assembly this past June – the keynote address of our national gathering which boasts past speakers including Mary Oliver and Martin Luther King. Imara Jones is a trans woman and an award-winning journalist. Her talk on how trans people are perceived in America, socially and politically, is both inspiring and sobering. This Sunday we reflect on her message and its meaning for us.

Sermon

October 26, 2025:
Cultivating Compassion
Rev. Drew Frantz
This Sunday we explore several aspects of compassion, including having compassion for ourselves and for others–including difficult people. Our universalist theology teaches that the primary characteristic of God is not judgment but compassion. How can we cultivate greater compassion within ourselves?

Sermon

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