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.
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. One of the most impactful feelings you’ll ever experience is hope. Hope occurs when we center … Continue reading Hope is Power
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. We’ve all been there: kicking ourselves because we can’t remember someone’s name or an “important” … Continue reading “The Power of Memory: A Harvest of Grace”
Stories connect us across generations and cultures, reminding us of our shared humanity. Rev. Dianne reflects on storytelling as a radical act of truth-telling, empathy, and justice — a way to both honor tradition and envision transformation In times of great political and social upheaval, stories serve as both mirrors and windows: they reflect who … Continue reading “The Power of Stories”
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. For those who adhere to the Christian faith, suffering … Continue reading “Theology of Suffering: Getting a Handle on It and Relieving It”
