ALL ARE WELCOME
Rev. Dianne M. Daniels was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up resisting the restrictive, overly harsh tenets of her mother’s former Baptist upbringing. Her father’s resistance to “organized church” encouraged her to find her way, both religiously and spiritually.
Rev. Dianne married her high school sweetheart, Aaron L. Daniels, the same weekend as their 10-year high school reunion. They are each other’s second spouses and have enjoyed a solid 35+ year (and growing) marriage, and have three grown children (laughingly called His, Mine, and Ours): Christoper, Ronald, and Ariana.
Rev. Dianne was introduced to the UU Congregation of Norwich by Ms. Lottie B. Scott (RIP). She and Aaron loved the people and the atmosphere so much that they’ve been members for over thirty years.
Rev. Dianne felt the call to ministry while attending services in Norwich. She recalls, “I fell in love with the people and the messages I heard from the pulpit.” She graduated from the Starr King School for the Ministry in Oakland, California, graduating with her Master of Divinity degree in 2021. She was ordained in October 2023 by UUCN and the Universalist Church of West Hartford, where she served as Sabbatical Minister from August 2023 through January 2024. Rev. Dianne has guest preached in and around eastern CT, western Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Her previous technology experience helped her feel comfortable with preaching via Zoom to congregations as far away as Washington State.
Rev. Dianne preaches at UUCN on the first and third Sundays of each month and also serves as the Consulting Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Storrs, CT, on the second Sunday of each month.
Gratitude is more than a fleeting feeling; it’s an attitude and a way of life that involves acknowledging the tangible and intangible, often leading to a desire to give back to others.
This mindset can be cultivated through reflection, recognizing your dependence on others and the world around you, and expressing thankfulness.
A few weeks ago, we explored the meaning of Presence and Listening. We talked about slowing down, grounding ourselves, and practicing sacred attention—being fully here, body and soul. Today, we continue that conversation. This time, we go deeper. Because once we begin to live in presence – once we make room to truly listen – … Continue reading “Presence and Listening 2”
Today, we turn our hearts and minds toward Compassionate Transformation — the idea that compassion is not only a feeling or a response to suffering but also a catalyst for deep change in ourselves, in our relationships, and in our world. We live in a time when compassion is often portrayed as weakness, tenderness as … Continue reading “Compassionate Transformation”
Our theme today is Presence and Listening. These may sound like simple words, but they carry deep spiritual weight. Presence is more than just being in the room — it’s being fully present to the moment, fully present to one another, and fully present to the holy. And listening is more than just hearing words … Continue reading “Presence and Listening”
After a summer of growth, change, and challenges, we come back together for our annual Ingathering and Water Communion service at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Norwich, led by our minister, Rev. Dianne M. Daniels. Bring a small amount of water from your summer travels or meaningful places in your life to share in our … Continue reading Ingathering and Water Communion
Imagination has the power to reshape boundaries, ignite creativity, and help us dream beyond past limitations. Drawing on wisdom from Covey, Einstein, and lived experience, Rev. Dianne encourages us to live with possibility and boldness, guided by the Spirit of Love.
Hope is more than a wish — it is a spiritual force that empowers imagination, honesty, and resilience. Rev. Dianne invites us to cultivate hope as a daily practice that strengthens commitment, fuels justice, and lights the path forward.
Memory grounds us in gratitude, connects us with ancestors, and offers grace in both remembering and forgetting. Rev. Dianne explores how recalling our roots — and releasing what no longer serves — helps us live with purpose, love, and resilience.
Words can heal or harm, build up or tear down. In this sermon, Rev. Dianne explores the profound spiritual responsibility of language — urging us to choose honesty, compassion, and respect as we speak our truth and shape our communities.
Suffering is part of the human story — but it doesn’t have to define us. In this sermon, Rev. Dianne explores how we can understand suffering through multiple faith perspectives, discover meaning in our struggles, and turn to spiritual practices and community for relief and resilience.
