2025 SUMMER SERVICES
THEME: Hope: A Bridge to the Future
PREACHING
Sunday, July 20
11:00 AM
Rev. Alison Miller, Senior Minister
First Unitarian Church of Portland Oregon
Sermon: “Borders and Belonging”
Reverend Alison Miller has served for three years as the Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon, which is the largest UU church in the Western United States. Prior to that, she served for seventeen years as the Minister of the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in New Jersey.
Alison is an engaged leader in her denomination, currently serving as the Chair of the Board of Starr King School for the Ministry and on the Board of UUs for Jewish Awareness. Alison is a prophetic voice and organizer in interfaith coalitions whose work has included the founding of a Workers Center, a Task Force on Police Accountability, and advocacy around immigrant justice, anti-gun violence, lgbt rights, and environmental justice.
She received her Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and her Bachelor of Arts from Bryn Mawr College with a Major in French.
Alison is delighted to return to preach in Rensselaerville and at the Presbyterian Church. She has generational family ties to both the town and this church. Her family became Unitarian Universalist when she was a child as a path to bridge between her father’s Presbyterian roots and her mother’s Jewish roots.
Alison’s family includes her husband David Snedden, and their son, Asher – also big fans of Rensselaerville.
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220th Anniversary Celebration Service
A service of remembrance and celebration in observance of the 220th anniversary of the first service of worship in our first church building on September 11, 1796 was held on September 11, 2016.
Moderator Rev. Alexandra Lusak officiated. Rev. James Miller brought greetings from former moderator Rev. Robert Lamar and spoke about his own term as moderator. Members of the Session read remembrances from former moderators Rev. Donna Elia and Rev. Joseph Shook, passages from scripture and excerpts from the church history authored by Barbara Dudley and Nancy Chase. The Village Voices sang, led by church Music Director Jan Bishop.
Four new members were received into the church during the service. A gala reception followed in Conkling Hall.
Montage of Anniverary Service Photos by John Eldridge: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I-yTQSgMxW74vH1hENSS4_2xHXVDh2Ty/view
All Are Welcome!
Whether you are a person of faith, questioning faith or no faith, you are welcome in our church and at our services. We are inclusive and nonjudgmental.
Please see the “All Are Welcome” tab on this website for a special invitation.