2023 Services: see below
Zoom meetings were live and not recorded.
Click here for 2022 Services
Click here for 2021 Services
Click here for 2020 Services
Click here for 2019 Sermons
For 2018 and earlier sermons:
Click here for 2018 Sermons page and
click here for the newsletters page with earlier sermons.
Zoom meetings were live and not recorded.
Click here for 2022 Services
Click here for 2021 Services
Click here for 2020 Services
Click here for 2019 Sermons
For 2018 and earlier sermons:
Click here for 2018 Sermons page and
click here for the newsletters page with earlier sermons.
 Cover art from "Knots: A Forced Marriage Story"
May 21:
Forced Marriage in the USA Sermon by Kate Ryan Brewer (via Zoom) We tend to think of forced marriage, if at all, as a problem that does not affect us in the U.S. Documentary film maker Kate Ryan takes us on a journey into the dark recesses of this troubling issue. Child marriage is legal in most states in America! Born in Seattle and raised in Southeast Asia, Kate Ryan Brewer is an independent writer and filmmaker. Since graduating from Florida State University film school, she has lived and worked around the world. Her first feature film, "Knots: A Forced Marriage Story” is an award-winning documentary about forced and child marriage in the U.S. It's also the subject of her TEDx Talk. She is also a published author and current U.S. Diplomat evacuated from Kyiv and now on assignment in Albania. |
Kate Ryan Brewer
|
May 14:
Centering Love Sermon by Rev. Claudia Jimenez Our Unitarian Universalist denomination is re-imagining its foundational documents i.e. Article II. Have you heard about this? Wow! The last major change was in 1985. The charge to the team reviewing the documents emphasized a core theological value shared among UUs; LOVE. Join us to explore the meaning of love as a theological statement that moves us to choose the path of love for personal and societal change. Read more about our Seven Principles and six Sources on our About UU page... Read more about the team reviewing the documents - the Article II Study Commission... Rev Jimenez is a frequent speaker at our fellowship. She is presently the developmental minister at the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Asheville, North Carolina. |
Rev. Claudia Jimenez
|
May 7:
Religious Issues Facing Today's College Students
Sermon by Rev. Katrina Jenkins
Rev Jenkins will discuss religious issues affecting today's cohort of college students and what this might portend for the future.
Rev Jenkins is the Dean of Religious Life at Rollins College. She will soon be leaving that position for a similar role at Rutgers University.
Religious Issues Facing Today's College Students
Sermon by Rev. Katrina Jenkins
Rev Jenkins will discuss religious issues affecting today's cohort of college students and what this might portend for the future.
Rev Jenkins is the Dean of Religious Life at Rollins College. She will soon be leaving that position for a similar role at Rutgers University.
|
April 30:
The Current State of Brevard Public Schools: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Sermon by Jennifer Jenkins, School Board member, via Zoom
|
Jennifer Jenkins
|
 Photo: Ben White via Unsplash.com/photos/qDY9ahp0Mto
April 23:
Ten Thought Patterns from the Bible Sermon by Valerie Tarico (via Zoom) Perhaps it’s been years or even decades since you left biblical Christianity behind. You may have noticed long ago that there are human handprints all over the Good Book. It may have dawned on you that popular Christian versions of heaven would actually be hellish. You may have figured out that prayer works, if at all, at the margins of statistical significance—that Believers don’t avoid illness or live longer than people who pray to other gods or none at all. You may have clued in that Christian morality isn’t so hot and that other people have moral values too. (Shocking!) But some habits of thought are hard to break. It is a lot easier to shed the contents of Christian fundamentalism than its psychological structure. Let's talk about it. Valerie Tarico, Ph.D. is a psychologist in Seattle, Washington. Raised in Evangelical fundamentalism, she is author of Trusting Doubt: A former Evangelical looks at old beliefs in a new light. Her articles about fundamentalist religion, the role of women in society, reproductive rights, and contraceptive technologies have appeared across the internet and can be found in her archive at ValerieTarico.com. |
Valerie Tarico, Ph.D. is a psychologist in Seattle, Washington. Raised in Evangelical fundamentalism, she is author of Trusting Doubt: A former Evangelical looks at old beliefs in a new light. Her articles about fundamentalist religion, the role of women in society, reproductive rights, and contraceptive technologies have appeared across the internet and can be found in her archive at ValerieTarico.com.
|
April 16:
Immortal Infidel Robert Ingersoll Sermon by Helen Bennett Robert Ingersoll was the greatest orator of the 19th century. He drew enormous crowds speaking on many subjects, but his main appeal was his freethinking in religion. He was called "The Great Agnostic," shortly after that word was coined. He believed in "the religion of humanity," a precursor to modern humanism. His thinking in many areas including the rights of women, children, Jews, and Blacks, was way ahead of his time--and even ours. Helen Bennett is a member and frequent speaker at our Fellowship. |
Helen Bennett
|
April 9:
Sermon by Rev. Lynn Ungar (via Zoom) Looking at both Easter and Passover as ways of putting together history and mythology, reason and faith. Rev. Dr. Lynn Ungar is a Unitarian Universalist minister, a poet, and frequent speaker at Friendship Fellowship. She lives in Vancouver, Washington. |
Rev. Dr. Lynn Ungar
|
Robert Hanssen
April 2:
The Spy Who (Almost) Got Away
Sermon by Jim Caverly
Robert Hanssen, employed as a Special Agent of the FBI from 1976 to 2001, served as a spy for the Soviet Union for fifteen years. Jim Caverly’s service in the New York office of the FBI for two of those years overlapped with Hanssen’s assignment in that office.
Jim will discuss Hanssen’s motivation, as well as the damage caused by this one individual who chose to spy on the government he swore to serve.
Jim Caverly, a retired Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, spent 27 years conducting investigations, including criminal and foreign counter-intelligence assignments. He served as a hostage negotiator and was a member of the FBI SWAT and Evidence Response Teams. After his retirement from the FBI in 1999, Jim conducted vulnerability assessments throughout the United States for the Department of Energy’s Naval Reactor Program.
Jim also served as a grief counselor for the families of police officers killed in the line of duty for 25 years and rode his bicycle from Oregon to Maine in 2012 as a fundraiser for Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). As team leader of the FBI’s Northeast Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Jim conducted debriefings during recovery operations after the crash of TWA 800 in Long Island, the Murrah Building Bombing in Oklahoma City, and the first World Trade Center attack. He last spoke to us in December 2022.
The Spy Who (Almost) Got Away
Sermon by Jim Caverly
Robert Hanssen, employed as a Special Agent of the FBI from 1976 to 2001, served as a spy for the Soviet Union for fifteen years. Jim Caverly’s service in the New York office of the FBI for two of those years overlapped with Hanssen’s assignment in that office.
Jim will discuss Hanssen’s motivation, as well as the damage caused by this one individual who chose to spy on the government he swore to serve.
Jim Caverly, a retired Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, spent 27 years conducting investigations, including criminal and foreign counter-intelligence assignments. He served as a hostage negotiator and was a member of the FBI SWAT and Evidence Response Teams. After his retirement from the FBI in 1999, Jim conducted vulnerability assessments throughout the United States for the Department of Energy’s Naval Reactor Program.
Jim also served as a grief counselor for the families of police officers killed in the line of duty for 25 years and rode his bicycle from Oregon to Maine in 2012 as a fundraiser for Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). As team leader of the FBI’s Northeast Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Jim conducted debriefings during recovery operations after the crash of TWA 800 in Long Island, the Murrah Building Bombing in Oklahoma City, and the first World Trade Center attack. He last spoke to us in December 2022.
 Photo: Vincent van Zalinge at Unsplash.com/photos/mvTGLyiRqx8
March 26:
Curiosity, Empathy and Compassion Sermon by Rev. Pam McMillan Lessons learned from being chaplain include values of curiosity, empathy, and compassion. Rev. Pam will reflect on these qualities and how they work in the real world, especially in crisis, to make us a better person. Rev Pam Mcmillan is a United Methodist minister, hospice chaplain and frequent speaker at our Fellowship. |
Rev. Pam McMillan
|
Photo of Jeanne Crane from celticspiritbooks.com
March 19:
Celtic, Irish and Unitarian Connections
Sermon by Jeanne Crane
What is the connection between Unitarian Universalist principles and sources and Celtic spirituality/wisdom and tradition? Jeanne will draw upon her travel and research which includes Ireland and the Celtic lands of Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man. She will share experiences and insights at Neolithic stone circles, 5th century abbey ruins, Yeats country “Twilight” sites and services at today’s Unitarian Universalist churches in Dublin and Cork. Passages from both ancient and modern poets will also illuminate her message.
Jeanne Crane is an author and speaker with a depth of experience with Unitarian Universalist congregations. She lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York where she joined a start-up congregation in the 1980s, taking on many roles within the congregation and district. When she closed her organizational development business, she worked as a district consultant with our international Unitarian Universalist Association serving Ohio and New York State. Since retirement, she has spent more and more time in Ireland. She has written two novels about Americans visiting Ireland. In the first, Celtic Spirit, two of the main characters are Unitarian Universalist ministers who bring their perspective to a bus trip in a way very similar to Jeanne’s own views.
Celtic, Irish and Unitarian Connections
Sermon by Jeanne Crane
What is the connection between Unitarian Universalist principles and sources and Celtic spirituality/wisdom and tradition? Jeanne will draw upon her travel and research which includes Ireland and the Celtic lands of Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man. She will share experiences and insights at Neolithic stone circles, 5th century abbey ruins, Yeats country “Twilight” sites and services at today’s Unitarian Universalist churches in Dublin and Cork. Passages from both ancient and modern poets will also illuminate her message.
Jeanne Crane is an author and speaker with a depth of experience with Unitarian Universalist congregations. She lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York where she joined a start-up congregation in the 1980s, taking on many roles within the congregation and district. When she closed her organizational development business, she worked as a district consultant with our international Unitarian Universalist Association serving Ohio and New York State. Since retirement, she has spent more and more time in Ireland. She has written two novels about Americans visiting Ireland. In the first, Celtic Spirit, two of the main characters are Unitarian Universalist ministers who bring their perspective to a bus trip in a way very similar to Jeanne’s own views.
 Photo: floridarighttocleanwater.org/eastcentral
March 12:
How Can We Unite for Clean Water? Sermon by Mel Martin (via zoom) In an era of both societal divisiveness and environmental crises, how is it possible to imagine an effective, comprehensive solution, much less a productive way forward? The answer lies in first taking a breath and zooming out for important perspectives. We'll talk about how a green amendment to Florida's Constitution, for a fundamental right to clean and healthy waters, will help correct systemic errors in state water protection. We'll also discuss good ideas and best methods to cross partisan divides to resonate with and motivate our fellow Floridians and achieve this challenging but critical, shared objective together. Mel Martin, a Florida native, is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a commissioned U.S. Marine Corps Officer, retiring as a Staff Judge Advocate in 2014. She earned her law degree from Barry University School of Law. Active in matters of good governance, clean water advocacy and conservation, in 2016 Mel helped defeat a pro-fracking bill in Florida as Brevard's Area Captain and led a countywide coalition which successfully helped pass a half-cent sales tax to support necessary restoration projects for the Indian River Lagoon. She also served as an Adjunct Law Professor, teaching Water Pollution Law and Environmental Ethics at Barry Law. Still a licensed Florida attorney, Mel currently lives in Eugene, Oregon and volunteers in support of the Florida Right to Clean Water citizens’ initiative as the campaign coordinator. |
Mel Martin
|
 Photo: Wikipedia
March 5:
Lincoln - Temperament and Triumph Sermon by Helen Bennett Abraham Lincoln suffered from depression during most of his adult life, and yet conquered his malady to become one of our greatest presidents. He did this through perseverance, ambition, humor, and the will to do good. He succeeded triumphantly in abolishing slavery and saving the Union by means of the deadliest war our nation has endured. Helen Bennett describes herself as a Humanist and poet who was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. She has Bachelor's degrees from Brooklyn College and Florida Atlantic University and Master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the University of California at Berkeley. A retired librarian, editor, and high school and university English teacher, she has been a Unitarian Universalist since 1995. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. |
Helen Bennett
|
Photo of Bell Hooks: Alex Lozupone (Tduk), CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
February 26:
Critical Thinking and Courageous Conversation
Sermon by Dr Jeff Nall
On December 15, 2021, the world lost one of the great public intellectual voices of our day: pioneering black feminist, Bell Hooks. In this sermon, Jeffrey Nall shares insights from Hooks’ feminist and anti-racist writing. He also highlights Hooks’ timely advocacy of critical thinking, freedom of speech, and courageous dialogue. Against growing trends to ban books and “cancel” opposing views, hooks insisted that democracy required the maturity and courage to respectfully engage with precisely those views we find most mistaken. These commitments were bolstered by her uncommon humility and awareness of her own political and ethical inconsistencies. Above all, Hooks joined Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in grounding her intellectual and political projects in an explicit ethic of love.
Dr Jeff Nall teaches courses in philosophy and humanities at the University of Central Florida.
Critical Thinking and Courageous Conversation
Sermon by Dr Jeff Nall
On December 15, 2021, the world lost one of the great public intellectual voices of our day: pioneering black feminist, Bell Hooks. In this sermon, Jeffrey Nall shares insights from Hooks’ feminist and anti-racist writing. He also highlights Hooks’ timely advocacy of critical thinking, freedom of speech, and courageous dialogue. Against growing trends to ban books and “cancel” opposing views, hooks insisted that democracy required the maturity and courage to respectfully engage with precisely those views we find most mistaken. These commitments were bolstered by her uncommon humility and awareness of her own political and ethical inconsistencies. Above all, Hooks joined Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in grounding her intellectual and political projects in an explicit ethic of love.
Dr Jeff Nall teaches courses in philosophy and humanities at the University of Central Florida.
 Photo by Jay Castor on Unsplash
February 19:
You Are the Sky: The Path Out of Suffering Sermon by Rebecca Fisher (via Zoom) “Every second I am on the path that leads out of suffering, suffering is there to guide me,” Thich Nhat Hanh has written. Practicing his teachings on mindfulness and interbeing has helped me thrive during difficult times. This practice is extremely practical and accessible to anyone who aspires to be compassionate both to themselves and others. Rebecca Fisher has been a member of the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, Delaware, since 1994. She began practicing mindfulness in Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition in 2007, and was ordained as a lay practitioner in the Plum Village Order of Interbeing in 2021. |
Rebecca Fisher
|
February 12:
Authentically Unitarian Universalist Sermon by Rev Linda Thomson (in person) What does it mean to embrace our identities as Unitarian Universalists and what are the earmarks of a Unitarian Universalist congregation that lives with integrity? How does all of this play out in a tradition that rejects the idea of 'the right' answer? Rev Linda Thomson is a Unitarian Universalist minister who lives and works in eastern Canada. She first found Unitarian Universalism in 1983 and subsequently studied at Meadville Lombard Theological School, graduating with a Masters of Divinity in 2013. In her Ministry Linda works with the Canadian Unitarian Council, Congregational Life Lead for the Central and Eastern regions of Canada. Knowing first hand the value of religious community – having joys celebrated, care offered and assumptions challenged – Linda is committed to helping congregations and communities respond to the needs of the people they serve. Unitarian Universalism’s liberal and life-affirming theology has made all the difference in her life. She believes that our work will not be done until everyone who would join us has had the opportunity to engage with us, and be changed by the encounter. |
Rev. Linda Thomson
|
 Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
February 5:
Millennial Culture and Spirituality Sermon by Rev Pam McMillan (in person) Who are "millennials" and what do they want? Are they spiritual, hedonistic, misinterpreted or just living in your daughter's garage? Rev Pam McMillan, herself a millennial, will attempt to answer these and other questions related to this unique species of human beings. Pam McMillan is a United Methodist minister, a trained hospice chaplain and member of "Interfaith United" here in Brevard County. |
Rev. Pam McMillan
|
Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash
January 29:
Curiosity Cured the Cat
Sermon by Rev Lynn Ungar (via zoom)
We affirm "a free and responsible search for truth and wisdom." But how exactly does that work? How do we hunt after truth and wisdom, and how do we recognize them when we find them?
Rev. Dr. Lynn Ungar is a Unitarian Universalist minister, a poet whose work has been shared widely, and a trainer who teaches dogs to do elegant, useless things. She lives in Vancouver, Washington with her three Australian shepherds.
Curiosity Cured the Cat
Sermon by Rev Lynn Ungar (via zoom)
We affirm "a free and responsible search for truth and wisdom." But how exactly does that work? How do we hunt after truth and wisdom, and how do we recognize them when we find them?
Rev. Dr. Lynn Ungar is a Unitarian Universalist minister, a poet whose work has been shared widely, and a trainer who teaches dogs to do elegant, useless things. She lives in Vancouver, Washington with her three Australian shepherds.
Chad Vanden Bosch
January 22:
Growing Plants in Outer Space
Sermon by Chad Vanden Bosch (in person)
With the recent Artemis 1 mission we are one not-so-small step closer to returning to the Moon. As space organizations send astronauts on prolonged missions into outer space and onto other planets they must replenish and recycle resources with greater efficiency. What better way to produce oxygen and fresh food on a long space journey than by growing plants? This lecture will provide a brief history of astrobotany and its promise for the future of farming in space and on Earth. Along the way, Chad will share the story of his own giant leap into astrobotany.
Chad Vanden Bosch is a plant physiologist who works to facilitate plant science experiments aboard the International Space Station. He also works with the Space Agriculture Laboratory Analysis Database (SALAD) where he aggregates past astrobotany research into an easy-to-use database. Chad holds an MSc degree in Plant Physiology from the University of Louisiana
Growing Plants in Outer Space
Sermon by Chad Vanden Bosch (in person)
With the recent Artemis 1 mission we are one not-so-small step closer to returning to the Moon. As space organizations send astronauts on prolonged missions into outer space and onto other planets they must replenish and recycle resources with greater efficiency. What better way to produce oxygen and fresh food on a long space journey than by growing plants? This lecture will provide a brief history of astrobotany and its promise for the future of farming in space and on Earth. Along the way, Chad will share the story of his own giant leap into astrobotany.
Chad Vanden Bosch is a plant physiologist who works to facilitate plant science experiments aboard the International Space Station. He also works with the Space Agriculture Laboratory Analysis Database (SALAD) where he aggregates past astrobotany research into an easy-to-use database. Chad holds an MSc degree in Plant Physiology from the University of Louisiana
 The Martin Luther King memorial in Washington, DC
January 15:
Are We There Yet? Sermon by Robert Watts (in person) Looking at the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King: how far has society come since King's death in 1968? Captain Watts juxtaposes his 32 years as a Naval aviator with the issues he faced as a Black officer. Where does society stand today and where might we go in the future? Captain Robert D. Watts graduated from the United States Naval Academy in June 1973 with a BS degree in Analytical Management. He completed flight training in 1975 and flew from various ships including aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS Nimitz. In 1990 he had the distinction of becoming the first African American to command a Navy Helicopter Squadron. Captain Watts also later commanded Training Air Wing FIVE. Upon completion of his major command tour Captain Watts attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and earned a MS degree in National Resource Strategy. From June 2001 to May 2005 Captain Watts served as the Commandant, Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, here at Patrick AFB. After retiring from the Navy, he became Superintendent of the New York Military Academy. He served in that position for five years before retiring to Melbourne. |
Rev. Dr. Paul S. Johnson
|
 Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash
January 8:
Leading a Balanced Life Sermon by Rev. Paul Johnson (via Zoom) Rev Johnson uses Aristotle's idea of the "Golden Mean" out of his Nicomachean Ethics as a jumping off place to consider balance in our lives during the coming year. Rev. Johnson holds the Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Divinity degrees from Meadville/Lombard Theological School in Chicago. He is a frequent speaker at our Fellowship. |
Rev. Dr. Paul S. Johnson
|
January 1:
Technology Trends for 2023 Sermon by Dr. Scott Tilley (in person) In today’s fast-paced world, nothing is as certain as perpetual change. Nowhere is that truer than in the world of technology. Amazing (and alarming) advances seem to appear in the news on a daily basis. Artificial intelligence applications are upending the definition of creativity. Cryptocurrency is under intense scrutiny, but it’s also being suggested as the basis for the next worldwide monetary system. Fusion energy may finally put “the sun in a bottle” and usher in an alternative green economy based on clean and virtually unlimited resources. The geopolitics of these developments are far-reaching and thought-provoking, but what do they mean for you? Come to this stimulating sermon by Scott Tilley to learn more about technology trends in 2023. Scott Tilley is an emeritus professor at the Florida Institute of Technology, president and founder of the Center for Technology & Society, president and co-founder of Big Data Florida, president of the Space Coast Progressive Alliance (SCPA), a member of the Florida Writers Association Board of Directors, and a Space Coast Writers’ Guild Fellow. His recent books include AFTERMATH (2022), PETS (2021), Systems Analysis & Design (2020), and Technical Justice (2019). He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Victoria. |
Scott Tilley
|