My background:
I am an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister in preliminary fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association. I am also a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry through the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. I'm currently writing a dissertation with the title "Welcome Back! Mindfulness as a Path to Theosis."
A proud mom of 3 adult children, I was brought up in a conservative Christian household. When I was a teen, my family converted to Eastern Orthodoxy and my father became the founding priest of Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Linthicum, MD. After 25 years in the Eastern Orthodox Church, I found myself unfulfilled with conservative Christianity. I discovered First Unitarian Church in Baltimore in 2011, and experienced a feeling that is familiar to many UU converts: astonishment that my lifelong beliefs and philosophies were honored in this beautiful tradition.
Before seminary, I spent 7 years working at Sears, first in sales and then in management. Because of this background, I am very comfortable managing people, and equally comfortable asking them for money! (In sales lingo, I am a "strong closer.") Management is a joy to me because I love bringing out the best in people.
(For my full story, please click here to listen to my sermon titled "My Journey to Unitarian Universalism.")
My spirituality:
A friendly extrovert, I find great joy in leading worship services. My spirituality is rooted in a natural fascination with and reverence for all religious traditions, and I have found no greater happiness in life than walking with others along their unique spiritual paths. I love all faith traditions that I have encountered thus far on my path.
I am a practitioner and teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion, and I love spreading the "good news" of Laughter Yoga! Spirituality for me is about the joy in connecting to the divinity within all of us and the Spirit of Life that holds us.
My style:
My ministerial, personal, and preaching styles can be described as warm, encouraging, and thought-provoking. I am passionately committed to the UU principles, and have a lot of social justice experience around anti-racism and environmental issues. My ideal congregation would be searching for a minister who is both an openhearted companion on the journey to spiritual wholeness as well as a joyous, energetic presence who is committed to keeping the congregation involved in, and in service to, its surrounding community.
The Ministerial Formation Committee at the UUA called me "Joyous, Warm, and Pastoral."
Please feel free to get a sense of my preaching style by visiting my sermons page.
References are provided immediately upon request. Simply email me here.
I am an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister in preliminary fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association. I am also a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry through the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. I'm currently writing a dissertation with the title "Welcome Back! Mindfulness as a Path to Theosis."
A proud mom of 3 adult children, I was brought up in a conservative Christian household. When I was a teen, my family converted to Eastern Orthodoxy and my father became the founding priest of Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Linthicum, MD. After 25 years in the Eastern Orthodox Church, I found myself unfulfilled with conservative Christianity. I discovered First Unitarian Church in Baltimore in 2011, and experienced a feeling that is familiar to many UU converts: astonishment that my lifelong beliefs and philosophies were honored in this beautiful tradition.
Before seminary, I spent 7 years working at Sears, first in sales and then in management. Because of this background, I am very comfortable managing people, and equally comfortable asking them for money! (In sales lingo, I am a "strong closer.") Management is a joy to me because I love bringing out the best in people.
(For my full story, please click here to listen to my sermon titled "My Journey to Unitarian Universalism.")
My spirituality:
A friendly extrovert, I find great joy in leading worship services. My spirituality is rooted in a natural fascination with and reverence for all religious traditions, and I have found no greater happiness in life than walking with others along their unique spiritual paths. I love all faith traditions that I have encountered thus far on my path.
I am a practitioner and teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion, and I love spreading the "good news" of Laughter Yoga! Spirituality for me is about the joy in connecting to the divinity within all of us and the Spirit of Life that holds us.
My style:
My ministerial, personal, and preaching styles can be described as warm, encouraging, and thought-provoking. I am passionately committed to the UU principles, and have a lot of social justice experience around anti-racism and environmental issues. My ideal congregation would be searching for a minister who is both an openhearted companion on the journey to spiritual wholeness as well as a joyous, energetic presence who is committed to keeping the congregation involved in, and in service to, its surrounding community.
The Ministerial Formation Committee at the UUA called me "Joyous, Warm, and Pastoral."
Please feel free to get a sense of my preaching style by visiting my sermons page.
References are provided immediately upon request. Simply email me here.