News: January 2, 2026
Dear First Unitarian Universalist Community:
Happy New Year! I hope that your winter holidays were lovely and that your 2026 is off to a strong start. I am confident that 2026 is going to be a great year for our beloved congregation. Our December services were wonderful. It was great that so many children participated in the Christmas pageant. I particularly enjoyed our marathon of Christmas Eve programs. Las Posadas, Nochebuena, cookies and stories, and the traditional English Christmas Eve service make for a beautiful and full celebration!
This Sunday, Rev. Scott completes our holiday celebration with the annual Inspired service. For a long time, First Unitarian Universalist has marked the turning of the year with an acknowledgment of those inspiring people who we lost in the last year. This year Rev. Scott will get us started with a reflection that includes the opportunity to honor such icons as Jules Feiffer, Jane Goodall, and Bill Moyers.
Then later in the month, on January 11th, we’ll continue our exploration of religious dissent with services devoted to the nineteenth century abolitionist, Massachusetts Senator, and Unitarian Charles Sumner. Sometimes called the “conscience of the nation,” his vision was so far reaching that the civil rights legislation he penned after the Civil War formed the basis of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The following Sunday we’ll celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a consideration of the importance of education in realizing his hope that people would be judged by the content of their character. As part of the service, I will sharing some reflections on my experience as the co-chair of the Commission on the State Takeover of HISD.
After that I will be off for three weeks study leave at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, where I am Visiting Fellow. Our ministerial intern Nina will close out the month with a sermon titled “The Universal Body: Universalism and Disability Justice.”
I know it will be a rich and lovely month of programs and a great way to start the year!
love,
Colin
Where are the Ministers?
Dr. Bossen will return to the office on January 6th. He will be preaching on January 11th and 18th. On the afternoon of January 19th, he will leave for three weeks of study leave at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, returning to the office on February 10th and the pulpit on February 15th.
Rev. Scott will preach his annual "Inspired" sermon on January 4. He will reflect on the lives of individuals who passed in 2025 and made a difference in the world. He will then join Rev. Colin on the chancel on January 11, before being away for the remainder of January.
Nina will preach at Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church on Sunday, January 4th. Then, she’ll be in Palestine on a witness visit with the Sabeel Ecumenical Palestinian Liberation Theology Center from January 7th through 21st. She will preach again at First UU on Sunday, January 25th.