January 4, 2026, 10am Worship Service: “Transformative Justice – Restorative Practices for a Broken World.” In person in the Sanctuary and via livestream on this page.
Worship leader: Guest Minister Rev. Jessica James. Rev. Jessica James, M.Div. (she/her), is a UU community minister, affiliated with All Souls UU Congregation of New London, CT. She earned her M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School in 2018 and completed a ministerial internship with UUAC at Sherborn, MA, in 2019. She served as a hospice and re-entry chaplain in Dayton, OH. Rev. James’ community ministry includes post-incarceration family re-entry support, conflict transformation consulting, restorative justice teaching, spiritual direction, and officiating weddings, memorials and blessings. Her husband retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2025, after 28 years, and the family is enjoying civilian life in Silver Spring, MD.
Worship leader: Guest Minister Rev. Jessica James. Rev. Jessica James, M.Div. (she/her), is a UU community minister, affiliated with All Souls UU Congregation of New London, CT. She earned her M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School in 2018 and completed a ministerial internship with UUAC at Sherborn, MA, in 2019. She served as a hospice and re-entry chaplain in Dayton, OH. Rev. James’ community ministry includes post-incarceration family re-entry support, conflict transformation consulting, restorative justice teaching, spiritual direction, and officiating weddings, memorials and blessings. Her husband retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2025, after 28 years, and the family is enjoying civilian life in Silver Spring, MD.
Worship participant: Director of Music & Arts Laura Weiss, Director of Family Ministries and Lifespan Faith Formation Diana Tycer, Worship Associate Máriya Curry
Music: UUCF Choir
Religious Exploration: Age 2 through grade 12 start in worship and then proceed to RE classes. Child care available for infants and toddlers in the Sanctuary Nursery.
Audiovisual Support: led by A/V Specialist 1 Ben Mellott, the team is made up of the following staff/volunteers: Dave Anderson, Bill Braband, Joanna Edie, Donny Emerick, Raina G.; Tom Hettenhouser, Mary Lareau
Music: UUCF Choir
Religious Exploration: Age 2 through grade 12 start in worship and then proceed to RE classes. Child care available for infants and toddlers in the Sanctuary Nursery.
Audiovisual Support: led by A/V Specialist 1 Ben Mellott, the team is made up of the following staff/volunteers: Dave Anderson, Bill Braband, Joanna Edie, Donny Emerick, Raina G.; Tom Hettenhouser, Mary Lareau
Rebroadcasts: The service is rebroadcast on the livestreaming page on Sunday at 1 and 7pm and Monday and Tuesday at 7pm.
Order of Worship
- Announcements Video
- Prelude: Prayer Chant by Mark Miller. Performed by the UUCF Choir
- Introduction to the Welcome Song: Worship Associate Máriya Curry
- Welcome Song: You Are Welcome/Here Together by Laura Weiss/David Glasgow
- Greeting: Máriya Curry
- Land Acknowledgement: Máriya Curry
- Chalice Lighting: Máriya Curry
- Hymn: The Tide is Rising by Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman and Yotam Schachter
- Time for All Ages: I Can Do Hard Things by Gabi Garcia, with illustrations by Charity Russell. Read by Director of Family Ministries and Lifespan Faith Formation Diana Tycer
- Singing the Children to RE: We Send You On Your Way. Tune: Halle, Halle, Halle | Caribbean folk song
- Prayer: Rev. Jessica James
- Ritual of Candle Lighting: Rev. Jessica James
- Music Meditation #1011: Return Again by Shlomo Carlbach
- Offering Introduction: Gina Wells
- Offertory: Love Has Broken Down the Wall by Mark Miller. Performed by the UUCF Choir
- Offering Dedication: Máriya Curry
- Sermon: Rev. Jessica James
- Extinguishing the Chalice: Máriya Curry
- Announcements: Máriya Curry
- Benediction: Rev. Jessica James
- Closing Hymn #1074: Turn the World Around by Harry Belafonte
Share the Plate Offering
UUCF shares half of its weekly offering with a nonprofit doing work consistent with UUCF’s mission. The Share the Plate recipient for January is the African American Policy Forum (AAPF), an innovative think tank that connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequality. AAPF promotes frameworks and strategies that address a vision of racial justice that embraces the intersections of race, gender, class, and the array of barriers that disempower those who are marginalized in society. AAPF is dedicated to advancing and expanding racial justice, gender equality, and the indivisibility of all human rights, both in the U.S. and internationally. DONATE HERE.