When our carefully held identities, plans, or hopes fall apart, what remains? Guest preacher Dr. Emma Farrell explores ego, grief, leadership, love, and the courage it takes to meet reality as it is. Drawing from lived experience and wisdom from contemporary thought leaders, this service invites us to rediscover the love at the center of our faith.

Dr. Emma K. Farrell, Ph.D., is a seminarian at Meadville Lombard Theological School and was welcomed into Preliminary Fellowship in December. Prior to heeding the call to ministry, they worked in academia and industry as a biochemistry researcher and instructor. Emma has published professionally in several related fields, including metabolomics, enzymology, and education, but consistently found the most meaningful parts of their jobs to be the relational ones. Their ministry weaves together science, ethics, and UU theology, with a focus on relational leadership, shared discernment, and building beloved community in times of rapid change.