Amid these holidays/holy days, candles are kindled, trees twinkle, a star shines in the East, and legends of light illumine our hearts and warm our imaginations—as if the very Universe has proclaimed: “Let there be light.”
Today’s service was led by Rev. Dr. Jan Carlsson-Bull, a Unitarian Universalist minister, as of June 2019 retired, or “rechanneled”. She has served congregations in Meriden, CT; Kingston, NY; Cohasset, MA; and New York City. During this time, she has held leadership positions in professional associations and community organizations, with a focus on racial and immigrant justice and trauma response. She continues to be active in the immigrant rights movement, racial justice matters, and advocacy initiatives for progressive voting and is a Good Officer in her UUMA chapter. Most recently, she has taught courses on Henry David Thoreau and on “Hope, Not Optimism, Hope” through Wesleyan University’s Institute for Lifelong Learning. Jan holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Colorado; an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary, NYC; and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Yeshiva University, NYC. Her great loves include family, friends, free-range reading, and ocean swimming. Jan resides in Middletown with her husband Dr. Daniel Bull, and their beloved mutt, Pablo. Their blended family includes three daughters and three adorable grandkids. Jan has been a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair since 1979.