Entries by Craig Harris

What little critters are elephants afraid of?

You’ve probably heard that elephants are scared of mice. Not really. However, they are afraid of bees. If they disturb a hive, the bees come out and attack them, stinging their eyes, behind their ears, and in their trunks. Elephants even have a sound that they make, a bee rumble, when they hear bees. A […]

Ministerial Search Update

The search for a settled minister is coming down the stretch. There are now only four candidates. These aspiring settled ministers have been invited to come to Delaware County over the next several weeks. The members of the Ministerial Search Committee will spend time with them, getting to know them better, and they will get […]

Is Laughter Really Contagious?

We are designed to pick up other people’s emotions, and all emotions are contagious, and that includes laughter. Laughter is part of our evolution, and it’s something we share with other mammals. It’s well established that apes laugh in a remarkably human-like way. Laughter produces endorphins that help us de-stress, which is why humor helps […]

Media Food Bank

UUCDC supports the Media Food Bank by delivering fresh vegetables, non-perishable food items once a week. Let’s fill up the big wooden box in our lobby to help 55,650 Delaware County neighbors who have food insecurity. Some most-needed items include diapers, wipes, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, feminine care products, sugar, flour, cooking oils, vinegar, canned […]

Ministerial Search Update

On January 2, the Ministerial Search Committee received a list of persons who have voiced interest in becoming our settled minister in the fall. Over the following week, the members of the committee reviewed their detailed written applications and viewed sample sermons to get a better sense of whether they would be a good fit […]

Do you like wearing royal clothes?

The origin of the word corduroy is fuzzy. Originally made of silk and worn by royal servants, modern corduroy was a product of the industrial revolution in the 1700s. A clever marketing ploy said it was corde du roi, “ropes of the king.” But it was really from cord duroy, rope with a heavy woolen […]

Watershed

In keeping with the Soul Matters theme for January of Story, the Indigo Girls tell about a tragic event. They suggest that you take your time as you look at the fork in the road for moving forward. When you’re learning to face the path at your pace, every choice is worth your while. Listen […]

Making a Change Group

The Share the Plate recipient for January is the Making a Change Group, which supports individuals and families in the city of Chester, PA and surrounding municipalities striving to achieve positive change for themselves, their families, and their communities. Their programs include 1) violence intervention and prevention, 2) youth mentoring, and 3) multi-level support for […]

Where was the first 360-degree rotating dining space?

Seattle’s Space Needle? Nah. Let’s go back to 1st century Rome. Nero’s Golden Palace contained a 52-foot circular dining hall that rested on a 13-foot pillar with four spherical mechanisms. It rotated day and night to imitate the motion of the celestial bodies around the Earth and, of course, to impress his guests. The rotation […]