Parson to Person

May 15, 2020

Parson to Person: “New Words to an Old Battle Hymn” May 15, 2020

At last Sunday’s virtual Mothers’ Day service, I introduced a new verse to “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” (Julia Ward Howe, who introduced America’s first Mothers Day, wrote the original […]
May 8, 2020

Parson to Person: “On Niches, Sheep, and Little Princes,” May 8, 2020

If you ever visit First Unitarian Church in Chicago (near Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House in the Hyde Park area), you may notice a niche carved in the front wall […]
May 1, 2020

Parson to Person: “On Gifts” 5-1-20

As we are all sheltering in place during the pandemic, I have noticed some small things, small gifts, that have lifted my spirits a bit: someone making masks for others, […]
April 29, 2020

Share the Plate Recipients

  Share the Plate Recipient for September and October, 2020 In the months that UCN has been closed due to COVID-19, members and friends have been asked to mail in […]
April 23, 2020

Parson to Person:  More Things to Learn from Children 4-24-20

One of you responded to my last Parson-to-Person column on children’s mis-hearing of things adults say (“Howard be thy name,” for example, instead of “Hallowed be thy name”). She wrote: […]
April 21, 2020

Parson to Person: “Howard be thy Name” 4-17-20

I have always been intrigued by the ways children sometimes mis-hear the words to prayers, songs, and sayings (“Howard be thy name” being a misunderstanding of “Hallowed be thy name,” […]
April 14, 2020

Parson to Person: “Why Support a UU Church?”4-10-20

Since we are all still sheltering in place, and since UCN’s pledge drive is still happening, I thought I’d write something about why we give our time, talent, and treasure […]
April 14, 2020

Parson to Person: “Para What? A Gift for the New Year” 12-27-19

As you read this, you may be in a somewhat hectic state: Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, New Year – whatever it is you’re celebrating, and wherever you are in the process […]
April 14, 2020

Parson to Person: “On Broken Chandeliers” 11-29-19

I was thinking recently about Stephen Colbert (who used to host “The Colbert Report” and now hosts “The Late Show”). When he was young, he apparently got into a bit […]