Entries by Craig Harris

Love and Gratitude

On Sunday, June 15, we will celebrate with love and gratitude the retirement from ministry of Rev. Ed Brock, who has been our interim minister for the past two years. During that time, he has guided our congregation with love and care, preparing us for our next settled minister. Rev. Ed has served as a […]

What does Pennsylvania mean?

People say that Pennsylvania was named after William Penn, who founded the Province of Pennsylvania. Nope. He wanted to name it “New Wales.” (New York, New Jersey…) But King Charles II “suggested” it be named after Penn’s father, Admiral William Penn. The admiral had loaned the king money, which was repaid with a grant of […]

What school sport has religious roots?

The Onandaga believe that the Creator gave them the sacred game called Deyhontsigwa’ehs, which roughly translates as “they bump hips.” Most schools call it Lacrosse. It is said to have healing power, which is why it is also known as the Medicine Game. Using hand-made sticks of hickory, the spirit of the tree connects the […]

Nanticoke Indian Association

The Share the Plate recipient for June is the Nanticoke Indian Association. This organization works to preserve Nanticoke culture and language, and educate about their people through the operation of a museum, and community center, and various events in Delaware. Share the Plate receives half of all plate collections and funds received by text: $20 […]

Who gets the three coins in the fountain?

Turning your back to the Trevi Fountain in Rome then throwing a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder is supposed to bring you luck. The fountain receives about €1.4 million annually (around $1.6 million), and most of those funds go to the Caritas Association for help with its charitable work. The toss […]

A Million Dreams

There is a song in the movie The Greatest Showman where a young PT Barnum expresses a sense of hopeful ambition and the belief in the power of dreams to shape a better world. Here is Pink singing A Million Dreams.

What is the Oldest Recorded Joke in English?

A book of Anglo-Saxon poetry from the 10th century includes what researchers believe could be the first recorded joke in the English language: “What hangs at a man’s thigh and wants to poke the hole that it’s often poked before?” The punchline? (Keep it clean.) “A key.” 3,000 years before that, the Sumerians had the […]

Rev. Laura Solomon

At a congregational meeting on May 11, 2025, after a week during which members of UUCDC had multiple opportunities to hear her speak and get to know her, Rev. Dr. Laura Solomon was called to be our settled minister. The vote was unanimous, as 159 people said a resounding “Yes!” There was also a non-binding […]