This service from July 27, 2014 was presented by members of UTCAN, the Unity Temple Congregational Action Network. UTCAN helps to coordinate the congregation's social action outreach programs including peace, environmental justice and social justice. Members delivering faith testimonials in this podcast were, in order, John Mikos, Anne White, Rich Pokorny and Jamie Boyce, who has been UTUUC's Community & Action Coordinator. She recently resigned her position to pursue a degree in ministry in the Fall.
Sermon delivered by James Galasinski on July 20, 2014. James Galasinski has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies from Cardinal Stritch University and has just completed his coursework at Meadville Lombard Theological School for his M-Div. He recently completed a ministerial internship at Unitarian Church North in Mequon. First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee is his congregational sponsor and where he has been a member for over 6 years. He has been a pulpit guest in numerous UU churches throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. In September, James will start a 9-month ministerial position at First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, NM.
Sermon delivered by UTUUC member Terry Kinsey on July 13, 2014. Preeding the sermon is a faith testimonial given by Terry's husband, Jay Cohen.
Terry Kinsey joined Unity Temple in 1982. As a member of this congregation he has taught many AYS/OWL classes for junior high students. He participates in the original Men's Group which started in 1984 and has led several Men's Retreats. Terry founded Mother Earth Adventures which existed from 1991-2010 and offered vision quests and sweat lodges. In 1985, he became a counselor at Marwood Camp, a weeklong UU rites of passage summer camp for adolescents. Professionally, Terry is a retired pediatric physical therapist. His interest in secular/liberal Buddhism began in 1998. He has attended many 9- to 11-day silent Buddhist wilderness backpacks and canoe retreats as well as many 6- to 11-day silent center-based Buddhist retreats. His Buddhist "coach" is Stephen Schettini. Terry can be reached at terrykinsey@gmail.com.
Jay Cohen joined his first Unitarian Church back in 1989. He moved to Oak Park in 1998 and became a Marwood counselor in 1999. He is a full-time professor at a community college and is both a certified public accountant and a licensed clinical social worker. Jay recently completed an 8-week course on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction at Rush University. This is a certified course based upon the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Jay and Terry have been together for 19 years and were recently legally married with 10 other couples at Unity Temple's own "Big Fabulous Gay Wedding" on June 8th of 2014. They have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren.
Sermon delivered by Rev. Aidan McCormack on July 6, 2014. Aidan McCormack is the Community and Congregational Relations Coordinator at The Night Ministry. He is a Unitarian Universalist Minister and a 2011 graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School where he was awarded the Charles F. Billings Prize for Preaching. In addition to ministry, Aidan is a writer involved in the live literary scene in Chicago.