This Sunday, September 29:
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Service at 10:30 am: |
Music 
Stephen Downen, choir director, keyboard, soloist, Amy Rosebush, keyboard.
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Children's Religious Education at 10:30 am:
The Youth RE committee oversees the children's Sunday morning RE program, as well as special events during the year, including a one-week ANT (Art, Nature, Theater) Camp each summer. The children begin their Sunday in Friendship Hall with their families and after the opening hymn, come forward for the chalice lighting and the Children’s Affirmation before being sung off to the Sunday school room for their lesson and accompanying activities, provided by teacher Kim Kroflich. Lessons are provided for children ages 5-12, and child care for those younger than 5, concurrent with the adult Sunday morning service.
The committee is responsible for providing a teacher and a teen assistant for the children's RE and overseeing their work as well as maintaining the rooms where the children's activities take place to make sure they are attractive and welcoming as well as safe for children of all ages. For our curriculum, we use the Tapestry of Faith units available for downloading from the UUA website. Teen programs are also available whenever there is sufficient need and participation.
A final important job of the committee is to publicize the children's program and attract more young families to Friendship Fellowship. We welcome new members to the Youth RE Committee, so if you are interested in working with the children and joining us, please see chair Ruth Rodgers. Read more about our Youth Religious Education program...
The committee is responsible for providing a teacher and a teen assistant for the children's RE and overseeing their work as well as maintaining the rooms where the children's activities take place to make sure they are attractive and welcoming as well as safe for children of all ages. For our curriculum, we use the Tapestry of Faith units available for downloading from the UUA website. Teen programs are also available whenever there is sufficient need and participation.
A final important job of the committee is to publicize the children's program and attract more young families to Friendship Fellowship. We welcome new members to the Youth RE Committee, so if you are interested in working with the children and joining us, please see chair Ruth Rodgers. Read more about our Youth Religious Education program...
Coffee and Conversations at 11:30 am:
Enjoy coffee and other refreshments as you converse with old friends and make new ones.
2024 Services: see below
Zoom meetings were live and not recorded.
Click here for 2023 Services
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 2023 Services
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.
September 22:
Spiritual Practices Sermon by Linnea Nelson (in person) The Rev. Jen Crow, First Universalist Minneapolis, and founder of UU Wellspring notes that "Spiritual practices help us to remember who we really are beyond the roles we play in the world. Think of spiritual practice as making space for the light to shine in on your soul." We will explore spiritual practices and how they can open us to deeper meanings in life. Linnea Nelson serves as the Worship Associates Team Chair at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando. She has also served our Unitarian Universalist denomination as President of the Liberal Religious Educators Association and currently serves as a spiritual director and the Executive Director of UU Wellspring, a spiritual deepening program for Unitarian Universalists. She is the editor of the Skinner House Book, Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love and has had many poems and an essay published in other Skinner House books. |
Linnea Nelson
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September 22:
Thinking Outside the Forgiveness Box Sermon by Dr Laura Mcguire (in person) Forgiveness is a lot like love, easily stated yet almost impossible to define. How we see the concept of forgiveness directly impacts our theology and the ways in which we conceptualize atonement and healing. In this sermon, Dr. Laura McGuire will explore some of the nuances around Western Christianity's views of forgiveness and divergent perspectives that challenge us to think of the individual's own unique needs when navigating a path to move forward from causing pain or being harmed. Dr. Laura McGuire is a consultant, researcher and Unitarian Universalist seminarian who expects to be ordained in the spring. She is the author of the book "Creating Cultures of Consent." Dr. Laura has expressed an interest in becoming our half-time minister and is under active consideration by our Ministerial Selection Committee. |
Dr. Laura McGuire
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September 15:
The Florida Wildlife Hospital Sermon by Tracy Frampton (in person) Florida Wildlife Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. It is a wildlife rehabilitation facility which sees about 5000-6000 patients per year and never charges for their services. Although licensed by the state and federal government, they receive no county, state or federal support. Learn what goes on behind the scenes and what you can do to help. The Hospital is an important asset to our community in caring for our injured and displaced wildlife population - a part of the web of life to which we are connected. Tracy's presentation will highlight the important work the hospital does - and may include a wildlife "helper." Tracy Frampton has a BA from Miami University and has enjoyed a long career in the animal field in various capacities, from zookeeper, to animal registrar to conservation coordinator and even agility instructor. Her career allowed her to participate in field work in Cameroon, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Belize. She has been at Florida Wildlife Hospital for 9 years and has loved watching it grow. In her spare time (what’s that?) she loves to get out in nature, play pickleball, or spend time with family. |
Tracy Frampton
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 Photo: Adventure Kayak of Cocoa Beach
September 8:
Islands in the Indian River Lagoon Sermon by Laurilee Thompson (in person) The Indian River Lagoon is a national treasure. Considered one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America, its mangrove wetlands and salt marshes provide breeding, nursery and feeding areas for a variety of wildlife. Unfortunately, it's an estuary in transition, from one of the most productive places on the planet to one of the most threatened. Plagued by decades of human development, the Indian River Lagoon suffers from algae blooms, fish kills, and a devastating loss of seagrass. Efforts are underway to reverse that trend and progress is being made. The Indian River Lagoon will never again be wild and free as it was before development occurred. However, it can be restored to a system that will, with careful management, regain its role as a vibrant space where wildlife and humans can thrive and not just survive. |
Laurilee Thompson
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September 1:
Wrongfully Imprisoned - Happening Here in Brevard County Sermon by John Torres, Florida Today (in person) Award-winning reporter John Torres will draw on his years of reporting at Florida Today to discuss the triumphs and failures of efforts to free those who have been wrongfully imprisoned right here in Brevard County. Some are still there. John A. Torres is an award-winning journalist and author of more than 70 books. He is the engagement editor at Florida Today and has hosted "Murder on the Spacecoast." He has reported from Indonesia, Haiti, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, Zambia and many other places. His columns for Florida Today newspaper have earned him many awards and notoriety. John is a graduate of Fordham University. He loves scary movies, sports, reading, writing and spending time with his family at the beach when he’s not at the ballpark. |
John Torres
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August 25:
Fun Technology Service (in person) Led by Andy Petruska We live in a world shaped by technology which has the power to enhance our lives (e.g electronic books available wherever we go) or to leave us feeling "left behind" or "out of the loop" (e.g. ordering a washing machine online). Accordingly, we will spend 40 minutes or so sharing tips and apps designed to make life easier and better: how to schedule an Uber, find your favorite star constellation, access the Fellowship member roster, access free books online, create an online shopping list, get the weather, track a hurricane .... the list goes on and on. So, bring your favorite computer, tablet or smart phone and be prepared to share tips and have fun. |
Andy Petruska
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August 18:
The Presidential Libraries Sermon by Dr. Yanek Mieczkowski (in person) You’ve heard about the Presidential Libraries scattered across America. What is in them? How do they help us to learn about our presidents? Presidential historian and Florida Tech professor Yanek Mieczkowski will answer these questions and talk about how he has used presidential libraries and museums to write and teach history. He will discuss what surprises he has discovered there, and how he has even added to Presidential Library collections himself. Dr. Yanek Mieczkowski is the author of "Surviving War, Oceans Apart: Two Teenagers in Poland and Japan Destined for Life Together "(2024), "The Routledge Historical Atlas of Presidential Elections" (second edition, 2021)," Eisenhower’s Sputnik Moment: The Race for Space and World Prestige" (2013), and Gerald Ford and the Challenges of the 1970s (2005). He has contributed more than forty biographies to The American National Biography, and he has taught at five colleges and universities. Dr. Mieczkowski holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and is currently a professor at the Florida Institute of Technology. |
Dr. Yanek Mieczkowski
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Rev. Lisa Presley
August 11:
Holding Out Hope
Sermon by Rev. Lisa Presley (previously recorded)
We all experience grief—the loss of people, things, ideas, places, and even pandemics cause grief in our lives. Yet we live in a society that tries to make grief disappear. How do we put grief into context, and how do we handle grief, our own and others?
Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley is one of a select few Unitarian Universalist ministers participating in a program which provides sermons of exceptional quality to congregations which do not have a minister. Rev. Presley has served congregations in New York, California and Illinois. She resides in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her partner and their dog Teddy.
(Rev. Sue Bailey was previously announced to be Sunday's speaker. Due to unforeseen circumstances, she will not be able to be with us.)
Holding Out Hope
Sermon by Rev. Lisa Presley (previously recorded)
We all experience grief—the loss of people, things, ideas, places, and even pandemics cause grief in our lives. Yet we live in a society that tries to make grief disappear. How do we put grief into context, and how do we handle grief, our own and others?
Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley is one of a select few Unitarian Universalist ministers participating in a program which provides sermons of exceptional quality to congregations which do not have a minister. Rev. Presley has served congregations in New York, California and Illinois. She resides in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her partner and their dog Teddy.
(Rev. Sue Bailey was previously announced to be Sunday's speaker. Due to unforeseen circumstances, she will not be able to be with us.)
 Margaret Fuller
August 4:
Margaret Fuller and Transcendentalism Sermon by Helen Bennett (in person) Margaret Fuller was considered the best-educated person of her day, but she ended up marrying a man who probably had never read a book. She was an early American feminist and Transcendentalist (who were the fathers of American literature in the mid-19th century). Transcendentalists were not only our literary forbears, but also evolved from Unitarianism. We can be proud of their enlightened attitude and literary genius. Helen Bennett is a poet, educator and member of Friendship Fellowship. |
Helen Bennett
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July 28:
I Don’t Believe in a God – What Should I Call Myself? Sermon by Valerie Tarico (via zoom) Recently there has been a steep uptick in people who identify as godless and a parallel uptick in atheist and humanist visibility efforts. Many godless people are newly out of religion (or newly out of the closet). Some find homes in Unitarian Universalist churches and fellowships, which offer a gathering point for people who like the church tradition but are more interested in spiritual community than codified beliefs. Our speaker will explore these trends and what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. Dr. Valerie Tarico is a nationally recognized speaker and writer and is a frequent speaker at our Fellowship. |
Valerie Tarico
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July 21:
Dances With Dogs Sermon by Rev Lynn Ungar (via Zoom) Why would someone very much old enough to know better spend massive amounts of time and energy teaching dogs to dance? It's absurd! And a little more absurdity might be just what we need in the world. Rev Lyn Ungar is a Unitarian minister and frequent speaker at our Fellowship. She lives and works in Washington State. |
Rev. Lynn Ungar
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July 14:
Frozen Chosen: Jewish Alaska Sermon by Rabbi Craig Mayers (in person) Rabbi Craig will discuss how Jewish people cope with traditions and observance in “strange places” where the sun doesn’t set or rise for part of the year (or even in orbit, etc). A little bit of high tech, a little bit of ancient tradition, a little bit of humor. It's about keeping traditions in the face of challenges and isolation. Rabbi Craig Mayers has been the spiritual leader of Conservative Jewish Temple Beth Sholom since 2018. He was "promoted from within" when the community selected him to be their leader after serving in a variety of volunteer and lay capacities including Hebrew School teacher, Bar and Bat Mitzvah tutor, Synagogue Vice President and even accompanist for Friday evening services. Rabbi Craig is keenly interested in the intersection of technology and progress with the ancient and enduring traditions of Judaism. When not busy with his Rabbinic duties he enjoys visits to Disney, taking cruises with his wife Terry, and rooting for the New York Mets and Buffalo Bills. So far that last part hasn't worked out but he remains ever hopeful. |
Rabbi Craig Mayers
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 Photo: Karly Gomez on Unsplash
July 7:
Comfort Foods Sermon by Rev Fred Hammond (via zoom) As a culture we sometimes talk about ways that we deal with the stressors of our life. One of the ways is our craving comfort foods. What is your comfort food of choice? When do you find this comfort food to be most satisfying? What is behind our desire for comfort foods? We will explore the comfort foods of our life. Rev. Fred L Hammond is the Developmental Minister at Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bradenton, Florida. |
Rev. Fred Hammond
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 Covenant of the Goddess
June 30:
Neo-Paganism Sermon by Oracle Hekataios (in person) Neopaganism has become a positive force since its inception in the 1960s, and continues to become one of the fastest growing alternative religions within the United States. But what is Neopaganism? What values does Neopaganism - the renaissance and revival of ancestral practices - offer the 21st century world? And how does the Unitarian Universalist Church mesh with the ethics and aim of Neopaganism? Oracle Hekataios is an ordained minister through the Church of All Worlds as well as the Covenant of the Goddess, a practicing witch, and an aborisha (devotee) in Lucumí (Santeria). Oracle is a medium and seer of the Goddess Hekate and works to bring forth ancestor practices and links to the present world. Identifying as non-binary, they are the author of 'Strix Craft: Ancient Greek Magic for the Modern Witch.' He lives in Brevard County with his husband, leading covens and groups dedicated to the Old Gods." |
Oracle Hekataios
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June 23 am:
The Wind Phone Sermon by Rev Amanda Aikman (via zoom) How a Japanese man helped hundreds of people deal with their grief after a tsunami. It involved an old English telephone booth, a disconnected phone, and a sort of magic that helped to heal the pain of loss. It's a lovely and mysterious story. The Rev. Amanda Aikman is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister who served churches in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years. Her sermons have won over a dozen national contests. She has had numerous plays, mostly short comedies, produced in the Seattle area, and is the author of the racy 2023 novel, "Miss Lister's Guest House." |
Rev Amanda Aikman
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Photo of a loom: Sergio Gonzalez via Unsplash
June 23 pm:
Sermon led by Rev Molly Housh Gordon
We are all tangled up together in a great web of life that is woven with beauty and hardship, love and loss, thriving and struggle. How do we tend well to the weaving so that all of us are held in care?
Join us for the largest annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists joining in worship. This powerful, communal worship experience will be available by clicking the image to the left.
Embrace the electrifying spirit of the year's largest UU gathering, where we come together in unity for an awe-inspiring Sunday worship celebration like no other! It's a vibrant, communal worship experience that promises to uplift your soul and ignite your passion. And here's the thrilling part – everyone is invited to be a part of this event through a live stream accessible to the public. Don't miss out on this extraordinary gathering of hearts and minds!
Sermon led by Rev Molly Housh Gordon
We are all tangled up together in a great web of life that is woven with beauty and hardship, love and loss, thriving and struggle. How do we tend well to the weaving so that all of us are held in care?
Join us for the largest annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists joining in worship. This powerful, communal worship experience will be available by clicking the image to the left.
Embrace the electrifying spirit of the year's largest UU gathering, where we come together in unity for an awe-inspiring Sunday worship celebration like no other! It's a vibrant, communal worship experience that promises to uplift your soul and ignite your passion. And here's the thrilling part – everyone is invited to be a part of this event through a live stream accessible to the public. Don't miss out on this extraordinary gathering of hearts and minds!
Rev. Molly Housh Gordon
Rev. Molly Housh Gordon will be joined by Violet Vonder Haar, Jamila Bachelder, Rev. Leon Dunkely, Rev. Eric Kaminetsky, Rev. Joan Javier-Duvall, Rev. Jordinn Nelson Long, Rev. Aaron Wisman, Rev. Sadie Lansdale, and Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan.
Featuring musicians: Natasha Steinmacher, GA Music Coordinator; Lea Morris; Francisco Ruiz; beheld; Violet Vonder Haar; Paul Winchester; and choirs from All Souls Unitarian Church, Indianapolis, IN; First Parish in Concord, MA; First Parish UU in Lexington, MA; First UU Congregation of Ann Arbor, MI; UU Fellowship in Athens, GA; UU Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, NY; UU Church in Cherry Hill, NJ; UU Church in Reston, VA; and UU of Minnetonka, MN.
Join us virtually for the largest annual gathering of UUs in worship. Sunday Worship will be live-streamed here, Sunday, June 23, 2024, at 1:00 to 2:30 pm.
No registration required. DVR controls, which provide the ability to pause and rewind the live event, will be available.
The worship collection will benefit Side with Love, including its campaigns for climate justice (Create Climate Justice), democracy (UU the Vote), and bodily autonomy, including reproductive, LGBTQIA+, and disability justice (UPLIFT Action). Your gift to the Side with Love collection supports all this essential work.
Order of Service (PDF)
The on-demand video will also be made available at the same time the livestream starts. The on-demand video will contain closed captions, allowing you to turn on and off the captions. The live broadcast stream will include "burnt in" captions, so it's recommended to turn off YouTube's auto captioning feature.
Featuring musicians: Natasha Steinmacher, GA Music Coordinator; Lea Morris; Francisco Ruiz; beheld; Violet Vonder Haar; Paul Winchester; and choirs from All Souls Unitarian Church, Indianapolis, IN; First Parish in Concord, MA; First Parish UU in Lexington, MA; First UU Congregation of Ann Arbor, MI; UU Fellowship in Athens, GA; UU Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, NY; UU Church in Cherry Hill, NJ; UU Church in Reston, VA; and UU of Minnetonka, MN.
Join us virtually for the largest annual gathering of UUs in worship. Sunday Worship will be live-streamed here, Sunday, June 23, 2024, at 1:00 to 2:30 pm.
No registration required. DVR controls, which provide the ability to pause and rewind the live event, will be available.
The worship collection will benefit Side with Love, including its campaigns for climate justice (Create Climate Justice), democracy (UU the Vote), and bodily autonomy, including reproductive, LGBTQIA+, and disability justice (UPLIFT Action). Your gift to the Side with Love collection supports all this essential work.
Order of Service (PDF)
The on-demand video will also be made available at the same time the livestream starts. The on-demand video will contain closed captions, allowing you to turn on and off the captions. The live broadcast stream will include "burnt in" captions, so it's recommended to turn off YouTube's auto captioning feature.
 Rabbi Ruttenberg and her book
June 16:
Repentance Sermon by Rev. Ember Kelley (via Zoom) Repentance can be hard work. How do we work on acknowledging our own falling short? Let’s explore ideas from the Unitarian Universalist Common Read, On Repentance and Repair by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg. Join Ember Kelley to learn about Maimonides’ steps of repentance. Ember Kelley (she/her) is a Youth and Emerging Adult Ministry Staff with the Lifespan Faith Engagement team of the UUA. Her life journey has taken her through Virginia, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Michigan, China, Vietnam, and New York City. These travels have fostered a desire for continuous learning and the ability to communicate big ideas in relatable ways. Some of her recent experiences include working as a Director of Religious Education, Ministerial Intern, and English Teacher. Her passions include social justice, LGBTQ+ issues, LGBTQ+ religious inclusion, religious trauma recovery, mindfulness, developing self-understanding, and creating and growing community through education. |
Rev. Ember Kelley
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 Brooke Cagle via Unsplash
June 9:
Nones, Dones and Scrabble Together Sermon by Rev. Phil Lund (via Zoom) What can Unitarian Unversalist congregations learn from an international toy company? Plenty! Like how to reinvigorate an experience steeped in tradition by making it more appealing to younger generations—without diminishing the essence of the original. Phillip Lund has over twenty years’ experience serving congregations in the areas of faith formation and spiritual growth, first as a religious educator in Bloomington, Indiana, New York City, and Chicago, Illinois, and most recently as a congregational life consultant working for the MidAmerica Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and a certificate in InterSpiritual Counseling from One Spirit Learning Alliance in New York. Phil is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. |
Phillip Lund
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 Vonecia Carswell via Unsplash
June 2:
Friendship Sermon by Lydia Denworth (via Zoom) Unitarian Universalist Friendship Fellowship is based on the idea that friendship and personal connections are an essential basis as well as a byproduct of our religious experience. Author Lydia Denworth will discuss her research, findings, insights and recommendations with regard to friendship. |
Lydia Denworth
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Lydia Denworth is a nationally known, award-winning science writer and contributing editor to Scientific American. She is the author of several books of popular science including "Friendship: The Evolution, Biology and Extraordinary Power of Life's Most Fundamental Bond" and "I Can Hear You Whisper: An Intimate Journey Through the Science of Sound and Language." Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time and many other publications.
Jesse Zermeno
May 26:
Operation Hope in Brevard County
Sermon by Jesse Zermeno (in person)
Operation Hope of Greater Florida Inc., a non-profit organization, has remained dedicated to providing support, education, and assistance to needy families regardless of race, color or religion. Founded in 1997 by Jesse Zermeno, who recognized the plight of Florida's unprivileged individuals, Operation Hope was created to make a difference in the lives of laborers, families and anyone who wishes to be assisted. With numerous diverse individuals and corporate partners, Operation Hope Seeks to improve the sometimes-desperate living conditions of those that labor tirelessly. Individuals are rallied, and their efforts and donations are channeled to serve the greatest good. Their strong resolve to improving these conditions is demonstrated weekly when volunteers are assembled to distribute donations of food, clothing and household items to the needy. In addition, to this dependable resource of necessities, Operation Hope volunteers offer words of encouragement and support. Each year Operation Hope has many activities, in August they supply about 700 children with school supplies, for Thanksgiving 800 baskets are given to families and for Christmas a celebration is held with as many as 1200 children receiving aid.
Jesse Zermeno was born in Mexico City on November 3, 1947, the oldest of six children. After completing high school (Institute Juventud) he helped put himself through college by working in marketing for a telephone company. Zermeno graduated from the Institute of Technology at Mexico City with a B.S. degree in business in 1974. He continued with the telephone company after graduation and was offered an opportunity by the company to attend school in the U.S. in order to learn to speak English. Zermeno chose a school in Chicago because he had a family living there. While attending school, Zermeno took a part time job as a waiter at La Margarita, a Mexican restaurant. Restaurant management decided that the all-male servers might be more effective if they teamed with female waitresses. An ad was placed in the newspapers for Spanish-speaking waitresses. Despite management’s plan they hired only one waitress - Jann, Jess’s future wife. By 1976 they were married.
Jann, a native of Glenview, a Chicago suburb, was the oldest of three children. After graduating from Glenbrook South High School, she attended Western Illinois for two years and spent her junior year abroad at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Later she was to graduate from the UCF with a degree in elementary education and add an A.A. degree in travel and tourism from FMU to her dossier.
Jesse and Jann lived in Chicago until a former Mexican classmate of Jesse’s was elected to a high-ranking government position and asked Jesse to return to Mexico to be part of his administration. The Zermenos moved to Mexico, but the timing was bad. The bottom fell out of the Mexican economy soon after they relocated and the Zermenos decided to return to the U.S.. They moved to Melbourne, Florida, to live with Jann’ s retired parents until they could get back on their feet. By now the Zermenos had three children: Jesse, Jeanette and Jackie.
Jesse became a U.S. citizen and found employment in production control at Harris Corporation. He also enrolled in a masters degree program at the Florida Institute of Technology. Within six months the Zermenos were able to purchase a home in the Eau Gallie section of Melbourne where they still live. Three years later Jesse bought the Sandpiper Dry Carpet Cleaning Business.
In 1997 Jesse founded Operation Hope after learning of the plight of migrant workers in Fellsmere. Since that time he has organized volunteers, mostly from Melbourne, to make the 70-mile round trip to Fellsmere to bring food, clothing and a message of hope to the desperately poor families of the farm workers. Jann has been by Jesse’s side every inch of the way.
Operation Hope in Brevard County
Sermon by Jesse Zermeno (in person)
Operation Hope of Greater Florida Inc., a non-profit organization, has remained dedicated to providing support, education, and assistance to needy families regardless of race, color or religion. Founded in 1997 by Jesse Zermeno, who recognized the plight of Florida's unprivileged individuals, Operation Hope was created to make a difference in the lives of laborers, families and anyone who wishes to be assisted. With numerous diverse individuals and corporate partners, Operation Hope Seeks to improve the sometimes-desperate living conditions of those that labor tirelessly. Individuals are rallied, and their efforts and donations are channeled to serve the greatest good. Their strong resolve to improving these conditions is demonstrated weekly when volunteers are assembled to distribute donations of food, clothing and household items to the needy. In addition, to this dependable resource of necessities, Operation Hope volunteers offer words of encouragement and support. Each year Operation Hope has many activities, in August they supply about 700 children with school supplies, for Thanksgiving 800 baskets are given to families and for Christmas a celebration is held with as many as 1200 children receiving aid.
Jesse Zermeno was born in Mexico City on November 3, 1947, the oldest of six children. After completing high school (Institute Juventud) he helped put himself through college by working in marketing for a telephone company. Zermeno graduated from the Institute of Technology at Mexico City with a B.S. degree in business in 1974. He continued with the telephone company after graduation and was offered an opportunity by the company to attend school in the U.S. in order to learn to speak English. Zermeno chose a school in Chicago because he had a family living there. While attending school, Zermeno took a part time job as a waiter at La Margarita, a Mexican restaurant. Restaurant management decided that the all-male servers might be more effective if they teamed with female waitresses. An ad was placed in the newspapers for Spanish-speaking waitresses. Despite management’s plan they hired only one waitress - Jann, Jess’s future wife. By 1976 they were married.
Jann, a native of Glenview, a Chicago suburb, was the oldest of three children. After graduating from Glenbrook South High School, she attended Western Illinois for two years and spent her junior year abroad at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Later she was to graduate from the UCF with a degree in elementary education and add an A.A. degree in travel and tourism from FMU to her dossier.
Jesse and Jann lived in Chicago until a former Mexican classmate of Jesse’s was elected to a high-ranking government position and asked Jesse to return to Mexico to be part of his administration. The Zermenos moved to Mexico, but the timing was bad. The bottom fell out of the Mexican economy soon after they relocated and the Zermenos decided to return to the U.S.. They moved to Melbourne, Florida, to live with Jann’ s retired parents until they could get back on their feet. By now the Zermenos had three children: Jesse, Jeanette and Jackie.
Jesse became a U.S. citizen and found employment in production control at Harris Corporation. He also enrolled in a masters degree program at the Florida Institute of Technology. Within six months the Zermenos were able to purchase a home in the Eau Gallie section of Melbourne where they still live. Three years later Jesse bought the Sandpiper Dry Carpet Cleaning Business.
In 1997 Jesse founded Operation Hope after learning of the plight of migrant workers in Fellsmere. Since that time he has organized volunteers, mostly from Melbourne, to make the 70-mile round trip to Fellsmere to bring food, clothing and a message of hope to the desperately poor families of the farm workers. Jann has been by Jesse’s side every inch of the way.
 Opollo Photography via Unsplash
May 19:
Recycling Sermon by Kevin Smith (in person) Caring for our environment is an important part of our Unitarian Universalist philosophy. Kevin Smith will brief us on the updated methods with which we can achieve this through recycling. Kevin Smith is an Army Veteran and environmental educator with 24 years of experience in the fields of water quality education and recycling education. He currently serves as Recycling Coordinator for the Brevard County Solid Waste Department. He is the current President of the Space Coast Science Education Alliance and Vice Chair of the Palm Bay Sustainability Advisory Board. |
Kevin Smith
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May 12:
Love In Its Many Flavors Sermon by Jeanne Crane (via Zoom) On this Mother's Day, let us honor our mothers, those who are mothers, and all those who have offered love and nurturance to us personally and collectively. Let us also explore the many flavors of love. Love comes in many flavors, not all sweet. Some are quite simple while others are complex. The richest of flavors have a depth and complexity that can be transformative. Whether we are talking about familial love, romantic love or love of humankind, Love is THE life-affirming ingredient that we all crave. 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 the Unitarian Universalist Association serving Ohio and New York. She is the author of two novels. |
Jeanne Crane
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 Taylor Swift
May 5:
The Impact of Taylor Swift on Young Adults Sermon by Rev. Pam McMillan (in person) Taylor Swift has influenced popular culture with her music, images, politics , beliefs and actions referred to collectively as the "Taylor Swift Effect." Our speaker will explore this subject via a multi-media presentation. Rev Pam Mcmillan is a United Methodist minister, hospice chaplain and frequent speaker at our fellowship. (Photo by David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons) 
April 28:
Disinformation Sermon by Dr. Scott Tilley (in person) Join us for a fascinating talk focusing on the intersection of artificial intelligence and societal trust. ChatGPT, a leading generative AI from OpenAI, illustrates how machine learning can craft content across mediums, which presents challenges in managing disinformation—deliberately misleading information meant to deceive. This manipulation acts as propaganda, eroding civil discourse and swaying public opinion. We’ll explore AI’s role in both perpetuating and curbing fake news, using the metaphor of a futuristic, robotic Pinocchio to demonstrate how effortlessly false narratives can be spread. This sermon examines the urgent need for transparency and accountability in AI, highlighting the critical implications for society—particularly with the U.S. presidential election just six months away. What would Geppetto say about his creation in a digital Mad Men world? Scott Tilley is an emeritus professor at the Florida Institute of Technology, president of the Center for Technology & Society, president of Big Data Florida, president of Precious Publishing, a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Authors and Publishers Association, and a Space Coast Writers’ Guild Fellow. His books include Systems Analysis & Design (2024), Poems of the Moment (2023), AFTERMATH (2022), PETS (2021), and Technical Justice(2019). He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Victoria. |
Rev. Pam McMillan
Dr. Scott Tilley
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April 21:
Earth Day - Saving the Indian River Lagoon
Sermon by Virginia Barker (in person)
Our speaker will discuss "The Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program" which funds projects that improve the health, productivity, appeal, and economic value of our lagoon and to reverse decades of degradation to this priceless natural treasure. Funding comes from a ½ cent sales tax, approved by Brevard County voters in 2016.
Virginia Barker completed undergraduate degrees in Science and Math and a Masters in Coastal Environmental Management at Duke. She has worked in Sri Lanka for US AID, as a research diver for the Florida Department of Natural Resources, and in marine and environmental management positions for Monroe County and Brevard County.
Ms. Barker is now the Director of Brevard County’s Natural Resources Management Department. During her 27 years with the County, she has been responsible for beach management, the stormwater utility program, mosquito control, and numerous environmental initiatives and programs.
Earth Day - Saving the Indian River Lagoon
Sermon by Virginia Barker (in person)
Our speaker will discuss "The Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program" which funds projects that improve the health, productivity, appeal, and economic value of our lagoon and to reverse decades of degradation to this priceless natural treasure. Funding comes from a ½ cent sales tax, approved by Brevard County voters in 2016.
Virginia Barker completed undergraduate degrees in Science and Math and a Masters in Coastal Environmental Management at Duke. She has worked in Sri Lanka for US AID, as a research diver for the Florida Department of Natural Resources, and in marine and environmental management positions for Monroe County and Brevard County.
Ms. Barker is now the Director of Brevard County’s Natural Resources Management Department. During her 27 years with the County, she has been responsible for beach management, the stormwater utility program, mosquito control, and numerous environmental initiatives and programs.
April 14:
Reflections In Seaglass Sermon by Rev. David Pyle (recorded) Walking along the beach Rev Pyle reflects on how, like our own search for truth, beauty and wisdom, one has to look carefully to find that which we seek. Rev Pyle is a Unitarian Universalist minister who holds a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Theological School along with BA degrees in History and Political Science from East Tennessee State University. He has served as a minister for congregations in California, Michigan, and Illinois. This sermon was selected by the Unitarian Universalist Association for inclusion in their yearly program of exceptional services.  Photo by Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash
April 7:
Love Is a Verb- Responding to Violence in the World Sermon by Dr. Laura McGuire (in person) In a world awash with violence, from climate change to the global conflict, it is easy to get lost in the pounding waves. Join Dr. McGuire as they discuss how we can faithfully respond to a world filled with so much suffering. Ways to mitigate secondary trauma, mindful engagement so that we can advocate for healing, and tools for community transformation will be shared- all through the lens of love. Dr. Laura McGuire is a consultant, researcher and Unitarian Universalist seminarian. She is the author of the book "Creating Cultures of Consent - A Guide for Parents and Educators." |
Rev. David Pyle
Dr. Laura McGuire
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 A fool as depicted on a tarot card
March 31:
A Foolish Faith Sermon by Rev. Dr. Lynn Ungar (via zoom) This year Easter and April Fool’s Day are only one day apart. In honor of that convergence, Rev. Ungar will invite us to reflect on the ways in which the spirit of foolishness might be just what we need to grapple with the idea of resurrection. |
Rev. Lynn Ungar
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 Rembrandt: A defiant Christ Driving the Money-changers from the Temple
March 24:
A Ministry of Defiance Sermon by Rev Fred Hammond (via zoom) What if we have been looking at the ministry of Jesus all wrong? What if his primary mission was not to save humanity for an eternal afterlife but rather to interrupt and dismantle the oppression of empire building and offer an alternative way to live? What if the ministry of Jesus was one of radical defiance of power? If this is true, then Unitarian Universalism values and principles may be closer to the way Jesus wanted us to live. Maybe. On this Christian holiday of Palm Sunday, we will explore the ministry of Jesus and his defiant entry into Jerusalem. Rev. Fred L Hammond is the Developmental Minister at Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bradenton, FL. |
Rev. Fred Hammond
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March 17:
Interdependence Sermon by Adam Tritt (in person) We are here for each other, to serve, delight in, help, and protect, befriend, feed, listen to, and walk along with on the path, wherever our paths lead. To speak up when you are in need, say something, write a note. To stand up when you know there is a need, a challenge, a misfortune - yours, someone else's, that we, as a congregation can address, assist with, diminish. We can share each other's joys, and we can relieve each other's sufferings. But only if we speak. Only if we know. And only if we stop seeing ourselves as a collection of individuals who see each other once in a while and, instead, as the connected, loving community we are. This is the covenant we should pledge. Adam Tritt is a member of our fellowship. He has six books and over two hundred published essays and poems to his credit, has a bunch of masters degrees but says he hasn’t seemed to have mastered anything at all, really, and despite what the world may think, he insists he is the luckiest man on the planet. |
Adam Tritt
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 Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
March 10:
Lessons from the Ancestors Sermon by Rev Linda Thomson (in person) The challenges we face in our lives and in our congregations can seem daunting. However, earlier generations have faced challenges too. What lessons can we learn from them?" Linda Thomson first found Unitarian Universalism in 1983. Before beginning work supporting congregations, she was an active lay leader, serving as Chair of the Board, on the Human Resources committee and as a Lay Chaplain. In her work, Linda brings her experience of community development and program development from her first career in Parks and Recreation. Her interest and training in Conflict Management has translated into a passion for helping congregations develop sound communication and conflict processes. Linda studied at Meadville Lombard Theological School, graduating with a Masters of Divinity in 2013. Her studies also included a semester as a member of the Spiritual Care team at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, Canada. The First Unitarian Church of Hamilton ordained Linda in May of 2013. In her Ministry Linda works with the Canadian Unitarian Council, Congregational Life Lead for the Central and Eastern regions. 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
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 Pew Nguyen via Unsplash.com
March 3:
Vessels of Compassion: Liberating Love Sermon by Linnea Nelson (in person) If we strive to be vessels of compassion, we will inspire love at the center of all that we do. “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive." The Dalai Lama, The Art of Happiness. Linnea Nelson serves as the Worship Associates Team Chair at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando. She has also served our Unitarian Universalist denomination as President of the Liberal Religious Educators Association and currently serves as a spiritual director and the Executive Director of UU Wellspring, a spiritual deepening program for Unitarian Universalists. She is the editor of the Skinner House Book, Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love and she has had many poems and an essay published in other Skinner House books. |
Linnea Nelson
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February25:
Sermon by Rev Kristina Spaude (via zoom) Our speaker will reflect on growing in community through a generosity of spirit through the lens of time and imagination. Rev. Spaude (she/her) currently serves as the contract minister for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs, Florida. Her six-word story of faith is, "We're here to build Love's house," and she is passionate about making the way for more justice in this world. |
Rev. Kristina Spaude
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February18:
When Religious Teachings Become Immoral Sermon by Valerie Tarico (via zoom) Religious teachings that once made sense sometimes become harmful under changing conditions. That can put believers in the awkward position of defending practices—either historical or current—that are now widely perceived to be questionable or even immoral. This is especially the case now with people in the Middle East paying a tragic price for conflict perpetuated and peace made impossible by the “Parties of God”, as Christopher Hitchens called them. Valerie Tarico, Ph.D. is a nationally acclaimed writer and 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, contraceptive technologies and social myriad issues have appeared across the internet and can be found in her archive at ValerieTarico.com. Shown above are protesters with a Hezbollah flag burning the Zionist flag in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. "Hezbollah" is Arabic for "Party of Allah" or "Party of God." (Photo credit: Firdaus Latif, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons) |
Valerie Tarico
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 Photo by Daniel Thomas via unsplash
February11:
Changing Stories Sermon by Jeanne Crane (via zoom) We are our stories, both as a culture and in our personal lives. Let's explore these questions together: What are the stories from our past that still have meaning in our lives? What stories are influencing us today? What might we do to have the power of story bring positive meaning and influence to our world and to our own lives? 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 is 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 the Unitarian Universalist Association serving Ohio and New York. She is the author of two novels. |
Jeanne Crane
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 Photo: Alexander Grey via Unsplash
February 4:
Addressing Us Right: The Importance of Pronoun Usage By and For the Transgender Community and Beyond Sermon by Vance Ahrens (in person) |
Vance Ahrens
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I would love to hold a town hall style event for people to ask a transgender woman questions about issues related to being transgender. Put another way an, "Ask a trans woman anything you were scared to ask." In my experience, most transphobia and discrimination against the transgender community originates from a lack of knowledge of someone who is transgender and of what it means to be transgender. I would like to dispel some of the myths and misinformation by sharing my story and perspective.
In full disclosure, I am a candidate for Florida State Senate District 19 (most of Brevard County). I do not intend this as a campaign event.
Vance was born and raised in South Florida where she developed a passion for science and music. When she wasn’t traveling through the summer with her family to historic sites of our past wars she was exploring the woods, rivers, and marshlands across her home state.
After High School, she served in the Navy for 4 years as a Hospital Corpsman where she learned to be a Surgical Technologist as the student class to maintain the Navy’s Flagship Hospital through Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
She first moved to Palm Bay in 1995 where she began her family. She now has four adult children and two grandchildren. In 2019 she came out as transgender to her family and friends and was finally able to begin living life as her authentic self at 48.
She began her drive as an activist in 2022 protesting racial disparity, restrictions on the LGBTQ+ community and women’s rights. In 2023 she announced her campaign to run for State Senate. When she is elected, she will not only be Florida’s first openly transgender State Senator, but the first transgender person to be elected to a state level position in Florida History.
In full disclosure, I am a candidate for Florida State Senate District 19 (most of Brevard County). I do not intend this as a campaign event.
Vance was born and raised in South Florida where she developed a passion for science and music. When she wasn’t traveling through the summer with her family to historic sites of our past wars she was exploring the woods, rivers, and marshlands across her home state.
After High School, she served in the Navy for 4 years as a Hospital Corpsman where she learned to be a Surgical Technologist as the student class to maintain the Navy’s Flagship Hospital through Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
She first moved to Palm Bay in 1995 where she began her family. She now has four adult children and two grandchildren. In 2019 she came out as transgender to her family and friends and was finally able to begin living life as her authentic self at 48.
She began her drive as an activist in 2022 protesting racial disparity, restrictions on the LGBTQ+ community and women’s rights. In 2023 she announced her campaign to run for State Senate. When she is elected, she will not only be Florida’s first openly transgender State Senator, but the first transgender person to be elected to a state level position in Florida History.
 The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group and USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike groups deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean amid the 2023 American–Middle East conflict and 2023 Israel–Hamas war.
January 28:
Israel and Hamas in the Era of Great Power Distraction Sermon by Dr. Michael Kimmage (via zoom) Dr. Kimmage will address the role of great powers in the current Hamas/Israel war. The collision of great powers' ambitions in the Middle East, Europe and Asia has led to great powers' paralysis in the face of less powerful regional actors. Great power distraction invites considerable long-term risk. It invites aggressive risk taking by others. Dr. Kimmage will address this and other factors which are occurring as the global order once dominated by the U.S. weakens. Dr. Michael Kimmage is professor of history at Catholic University of America and former member of the State Department Planning Staff where he held the Russia and Ukraine portfolio. His latest book, Collisions: The War in Ukraine and the Origins of the New Global Instability, will be published this year. |
Dr. Michael Kimmage
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Amazon gives the following description:
One war: three collisions--in this vividly written, narrative history of the war in Ukraine, Michael Kimmage puts together the pieces of a complicated international puzzle to understand the origins of the current conflict that has brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War.
In Collisions, Michael Kimmage, a historian and former State Department official who focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, offers a wide-angle, historically informed account of the origins of the current Russia-Ukraine war. Tracing the development of Ukraine and Russia's fractious relationship back to the end of the Cold War, Kimmage takes readers through the central events that led to Vladimir Putin seizing a large portion of Ukraine--the Crimea--in 2014 and, eight years later, initiating arguably the most intensive military conflict of the entire post-World War II era.
From the halls of power in Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow to the battlefields of Ukraine, Kimmage chronicles Putin's ascendancy to the Russian presidency, delves into multiple American presidencies and their dealings with Russia and Europe, and recounts Europe's efforts to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union. He tells the story of how Ukraine went from an embattled country on the edge of Europe to a formidable military power capable of pushing back the Russian military. Just as importantly, Kimmage captures how the current war has transformed multiple centers of power--from China to the United States--and dramatically altered the path of globalization itself. He makes the case that the war in Ukraine has shifted the direction of major macro-trends in world politics, contributing to the fragmentation of international politics, higher inflation, greater food insecurity, and the general collapse of arms control. These intersecting dangers amount to a new age of global instability, born in war and in the collision between Russia and the United States that has brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War.
An authoritative interpretation of possibly the most important geopolitical event of the post-Cold War era, Collisions is essential reading for anyone interested in the origins of this epochal conflict and its ripple effects across the globe.
One war: three collisions--in this vividly written, narrative history of the war in Ukraine, Michael Kimmage puts together the pieces of a complicated international puzzle to understand the origins of the current conflict that has brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War.
In Collisions, Michael Kimmage, a historian and former State Department official who focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, offers a wide-angle, historically informed account of the origins of the current Russia-Ukraine war. Tracing the development of Ukraine and Russia's fractious relationship back to the end of the Cold War, Kimmage takes readers through the central events that led to Vladimir Putin seizing a large portion of Ukraine--the Crimea--in 2014 and, eight years later, initiating arguably the most intensive military conflict of the entire post-World War II era.
From the halls of power in Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow to the battlefields of Ukraine, Kimmage chronicles Putin's ascendancy to the Russian presidency, delves into multiple American presidencies and their dealings with Russia and Europe, and recounts Europe's efforts to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union. He tells the story of how Ukraine went from an embattled country on the edge of Europe to a formidable military power capable of pushing back the Russian military. Just as importantly, Kimmage captures how the current war has transformed multiple centers of power--from China to the United States--and dramatically altered the path of globalization itself. He makes the case that the war in Ukraine has shifted the direction of major macro-trends in world politics, contributing to the fragmentation of international politics, higher inflation, greater food insecurity, and the general collapse of arms control. These intersecting dangers amount to a new age of global instability, born in war and in the collision between Russia and the United States that has brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War.
An authoritative interpretation of possibly the most important geopolitical event of the post-Cold War era, Collisions is essential reading for anyone interested in the origins of this epochal conflict and its ripple effects across the globe.
January 21:
Cryptocurrency Sermon by Scott Tilley (in person) Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that uses cryptography for security, making it difficult to counterfeit. Unlike traditional currencies issued by governments and central banks, such as the US dollar, cryptocurrencies operate on blockchain, a decentralized system spread across many computers that manage and record transactions. The most well-known cryptocurrency is Bitcoin, which can be traded on platforms like Binance. As the now-defunct FTX exchange shows, trading in cryptocurrency can be like living in the Wild West: dangerous, lucrative, and largely unregulated. Come to this talk to learn more about what might be in your virtual wallet in 2024. Scott Tilley is an emeritus professor at the Florida Institute of Technology, president and founder of the Center for Technology & Society (CTS), president and co-founder of Big Data Florida, president of Precious Publishing, a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Writers Association (FWA) and the Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA), and a Space Coast Writers’ Guild Fellow. His recent books include Poems of the Moment (2023), Aftermath (2022), PETS (2021), Systems Analysis & Design (2020), and Technical Justice(2019). He has a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Victoria. |
Scott Tilley
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 Photo: Nathan Dumlao via unsplash.com
January 14:
Racial Equality: 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? Capt. 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. |
Captain Robert Watts
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January 7:
Humanism vs Theism: A Conversation With God
Humanism vs Theism: A Conversation With God
 Photo by Meiying Ng on Unsplash
Sermon by Hellen Bennett
(in person) This is a poetic service in which our speaker will ask God whether or not He really exists. If not, is humanism the answer? Humanism says that people have the need and responsibility to solve their own problems, ethically. God’s wife intrudes and maintains that she would have done a better job in creating the world. Who is right? Draw your own conclusions. |
Helen Bennett
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