Rev. Joan

On Sunday, April 2 we broke ground on our building expansion project.  We’ll be under construction the next four to five months.  Check this blog for post throughout the construction.  Here is the prayer I wrote for Sunday’s ground breaking celebration Let us enter into a moment of prayer and Read more…

The Director of Religious Education has overall responsibility for planning and managing the week-to-week activities of the religious education program for our children and youth in accordance with goals and objectives developed with the Religious Education Committee. Approximately 13 hours per week; August through May; $12/hr Click here to see DRE Read more…

I’ve received a question wondering why we will pay two Unitarian Universalists ministers to visit our pulpit while I am away.  I agree we have many qualified and interesting speakers within our congregation and in Indiana. However, this congregation has always called on the services of other UU ministers, especially Read more…

Your Worship Service Committee is Pauline Simms, Chair Josiah Gromley Patti Holmes Nonna Randal Sara Steelman other occasional worship associates: Corbin Krug and Gabby Kennedy Lori Rittle also leads a Yule Log Service Annually I hope this clarifies the paragraph in my Sabbatical Letter that some found confusing. rev joan

November 10, 2013 I am very pleased to inform you that our First UU Board of Trustees has approved ministerial sabbatical time for me beginning December 25, 2013 through March 19, 2014.  Clergy take a sabbatical when they have need for a deep and deliberate break from the demands of Read more…

Changing times, well that’s for sure?  When I look around at the world in which I live, I see radical fundamentalists on all sides, and a grave uneasiness for those of us in between.  All of the foundations I have depended on throughout my life seem to be cracking.  This Read more…

In my sermon yesterday, I talked about taking risks across the chasms of our lives that keep us from being the best we can be.  As humans we all experience these situations when doubt or worry paralyzes us.  For me, it has been writing a blog.  A fear of being Read more…

In yesterday’s sermon, I alluded to finding a way to use modern technology to have deeper spiritual and theological discussions within our congregation.  This is my first attempt.  (more…)

It was a wonderful experience, delivering the prayer for the PA Senate.  I felt like a VIP, for sure.  Special elevators, seat, parking space,  and a general feeling of respectfulness. Most importantly Senator Don White was cordial and seemed genuinely impressed with my “prayer.”  After my delivery, he made a Read more…

I got up this morning and wrote a letter to the editor.  Not a common practice for me. Here is the text: I have absorbed news reports from Wisconsin, and other states, in dismay this past week.  I needed only to remember the courageous efforts of the Rev. Dr. Martin Read more…

Below is Josiah Gromley’s original poem that he shared in the service this morning.  Thank you, Josiah, for being willing to serve as our first Worship Associate at First UU.  rev joan The Spiral Path I want to walk the Spiral path, the long path, the path that sees the Read more…

One of my New Year Resolutions is to post more often to this blog.  Requests were made after the service this morning for book references and poems.  I am responding quickly. The book I referenced several times this morning is, A Language of Reverence, Edited by Dean Grodzins, Meadville Lombard Read more…

As the last days of autumn slip away from us, and thoughts of holiday times with family and friends begin to be planned, I want to remind the congregation of our Life Crisis Files program. We have a water and fire proof file box in the office with file folders Read more…

I hope I’m preaching to the choir, but in case you need a nudge, TODAY IS PRIMARY ELECTION DAY. Live your values as a UU and as a US citizen and VOTE. rev joan

This morning we held our annual Day of Remembrance Service at First UU. I am sorry that I could not share my closing prayer, because it is my wish for all of the members and friends of our congregation.  I offer it here for your reflection. As we leave this Read more…

If you’ve been around First UU much this past year you have heard about our dream.  We want to grow!!  We want to grow spiritually and numerically.  We want to create an organizational structure that can adapt to this growth.  And we want to reach out to our community in ways that are both beneficial and at the same time, let folks know who we are, what we value, and that we are here in Indiana County. (more…)

It is our custom at Board meetings for me to offer a reading or poem to start our meeting.  This month on the eve of the last full day of summer and the Autumn Equinox, I found this poem by Edward Hays in the book Earth Prayers. (more…)

For about a year I have read or heard colleagues, the Ohio Meadville District office, the Alban Institute, and even a video for new seminarians from the UU Starr King School for the Ministry encourage ministers to “go tech.”  The thinking is that social networking, website communication, and on-line announcements are the way most folks communicate these days, and the way of the future.  And as clergy, if we don’t get “tech savvy” we (and our denomination) will be left behind. (more…)