The living tradition, which we share, draws from many sources:
- Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life.
- Words and deeds of prophetic women and men, which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.
- Wisdom from the world's religions, which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life.
- Jewish and Christian teachings, which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves.
- Humanist teachings, which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
- Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions, which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
UUCN holds both in-person and virtual church services.
Enjoy your summer and join us for the start of the 2022 - 2023 church year on Sunday, Septembeer 11, 2022
If you're interested in attending Online (Virtual) services
please send an email to uunorwich@gmail.com
for connection information
Live & Virtual Services:
Sundays, 9:30 am
We hold live services at our NEW location:
67 - 69 Main Street
Norwich, CT 06360
Parking is available on both sides of the street - there is also a parking garage available on the right side of Main Street. We are next door to the Mercantile Exchange building
For security purposes, Zoom meeting passwords will be sent via email - please use the Connection page to request the information for future services.
We've reorganized our Worship page to make it easier to find your favorite speakers' latest services and copies of their sermons.
Thank you for visiting, and check out what your favorite speakers are up to, just below this message!
Rev. Tom Nalesnik
Rev. Tom Nalesnik brings thoughtful and informative sermons to the UUCN community, and we're pleased to share the text of his recent sermons here with you.
Rev. Tom Nalesnik has been a member of the First Parish UU Church in Groton, Massachusetts for over 7 years. He was originally ordained in the United Church of Christ, although he’s now more closely associated with Unitarian Universalism, and has preached at a number of UU congregations throughout the New England area, including the Unitarian Universalist Church of Norwich.
His own pilgrimage has been a zig-zag from TV, communications, and advertising to the ministry. In past years, he served on a task force for small group ministry; was a contributing writer for the Faith Practices intergenerational curriculum project of Pilgrim Press; and wrote religion and spirituality blogs for the web.
As a Benjamin Franklin impressionist, he’s written three books (bit.ly/BensNovels) and has appeared at fairs, festivals, schools, and on several YouTube videos (bit.ly/BensHistoryStories).
He currently serves as a podcaster (bit.ly/ALookBehindBuzz), video producer, freelance writer, graphic designer, and social media consultant for his own company, A Way With Words.
Rev. David M. Horst, Consulting Minister
Rev. David M. Horst served Unitarian Universalist congregations in the Boston area, Nantucket, and New Jersey for 20 years and now works as a community minister at the New London Homeless Hospitality Center.
He is the founder of The Open Circle, a spiritual direction practice for individuals and groups based in Norwich. He is affiliated with All Souls New London, the Spiritual Life Center in West Hartford, Spiritual Directors International, and the Unitarian Universalist Society for Community Ministry.
Rev. Horst leads a monthly online group spiritual direction program called "The Topic," now in its second year. He blogs regularly at the-open-circle.com/ or find The Open Circle Norwich on Facebook.
He holds an M.Div. degree from Harvard Divinity School and a Certificate in Spiritual Guidance from the Unitarian Universalist Rowe Center. He lives in Norwich with his spouse Alyson Gaylord-Loy, an artist and teacher, and their son Darly Horst-Loy, a student at Norwich Free Academy. Their daughter, Domnica-Horst Loy, attends Landmark College in Putney, Vermont.
Rev. Lilia Cuervo
Rev. Lilia Cuervo continues to be a steady and welcome presence as one of our regular speakers. She has an extensive body of work as a Unitarian-Universalist Minister.
The Rev. Lilia Cuervo, a native of Colombia, was the first Latin American woman ordained in the Unitarian Universalist denomination. At First Parish in Cambridge she also made history by being the first woman to be installed as a Parish Minister. She is a co-founder of the Latino/a UU Networking Association (LUUNA), and the initiator of, and a translator of several pieces for Las Voces del Camino, the Spanish language Unitarian Universalist hymnal.
Candidate Minister
Dianne M. Daniels
Dianne M. Daniels is a 20+ year member of the UUCN and Graduate of the Starr King School for the Ministry. She has completed her Master of Divinity degree and will pursue ordination within the UU Faith. Dianne completed the Spiritual Direction with StillHarbor.org, an organization dedicated to creating a network of fiercely loving and compassionate spiritual leaders for social change.
Dianne was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and currently lives in Norwich, CT with her husband Aaron. She guest-preaches in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and Norwich when her schedule permits.