November 2026
November 1: All Saints/Souls Multigen
by Rev. Bethany Russell-Lowe & Jess Pond
Our Unitarian ancestors honored the dead by All Souls and All Saints day practices. This time of year, pagans speak of Samhain, a time when the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is at its thinnest. In worship, we will gather in multigenerational community and honor our own beloved dead. You are invited to bring a picture or object that reminds you of a beloved who has died for our community altar.
November 8: Grief as Protest
by Rev. Bethany Russell-Lowe
In The Wild Edge of Sorrow, psychologist Francis Weller writes about grief as protest. Weller contends that grief is subversive to Western culture and a rejection of numbness; grief is wild and demonstration of aliveness. This service will explore what the act of grieving is a protest against. And can we grieve more fully, feel our grief -- which is our sadness, and our despair, and our anger -- so that we might become more whole and more connected to each other and creation?
November 15: Works in Progress: The Spiritual Practice of Leaving Something Unfinished
by Rev. Bethany Russell-Lowe
Knitters and other crafters use the term "work in progress" (or WIP, as a shorthand) to refer to uncomplete projects. This idea can relate to any creative project or process! Come explore why we leave things unfinished and why we pick them back up to work on. You might even get to see some of Rev. Bethany's current WIPs! As always -- but especially this week -- if you have one, bring your quiet portable craft to work on during worship.
November 22: Music Sunday
by Dr. Jessie Downs
Sunday, November 22nd, is our Fall 2026 Music Sunday, featuring performances of the music of W.A. Mozart by the UUCB Choir, Avanti Chamber Orchestra, and guest vocal soloists. At the heart of the service, these artists will present Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, about 25 minutes of music for a vespers service. Other music by Mozart will flesh out the service, celebrating music’s power to heal and share a vision of a better world through its beauty.
November 29: It’s a Small World After All
by Rev. Dr. Rita Cappezzi
In a world on fire, so many of us want to make an impact, want to bring action that will make a big difference to the devastation of our planet, our democratic way of life, our people. In chaplaincy, it’s the small scale, the slight actions, that make the difference. Join us as we explore how the very small is actually huge. Bio: Rev. Dr. Rita Capezzi is a chaplain with the Catholic Health System in Buffalo, NY. During 2023-2025, Rita served the Unitarian Congregation of Mississauga (Ontario) as Interim Minister. During 2018-2023, she was the settled minister with the UU Fellowship of Mankato (Minnesota). Rita graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 2018 and was ordained the same year by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua Before her work in ministry, from 1994-2015, Rita was an English professor at Canisius University in Buffalo. She lives very happily in the Elmwood Village with her husband, Jeff Lowry, and their two cats, and is pleased to once again be a member of UUCB.
