AI for Retired Ministers and Partners—A Zoom program on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 4 pm Eastern

The Rev. Emma Farrell, Presenter

Rev. Emma is a new UU minister whose previous career was designing curriculum to make use of AI as a learning tool for the University of Arizona.

She will give a helpful basic introduction to

• the kinds of AI there are
• ways most of us (often without realizing it) are using AI
• how ministers are using AI in their work
• moral and social issues that this new technology brings (such as water and power use)
• how we can think about these matters.

September 21, 4 pm Eastern (3 pm Central, 2 pm Mountain, 1 pm Pacific) on Zoom. Not necessary to register. Just come!

Topic: AI for Retired Ministers and Partners
Time: Sep 22, 2026 03:45 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/93100810653

Meeting chat link
https://uuma.zoom.us/launch/jc/93100810653

Meeting ID: 931 0081 0653

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Speckulations

Richard Speck, President of UURMAPA — August, 2026

Happy Summer to each of you. I was fortunate to make a pilgrimage to Transylvania to visit the birthplace of Unitarianism in late June and early July. Here is the Monument to Freedom in Torda just outside the Catholic Church where the Edict of Torda was proclaimed in 1568.

Here is the Deva Fortress where Francis David was imprisoned and died. This space was created recently as a memorial for his martyrdom.

While there, I got to preach in the modern Dava church wearing a Transylvanian stole given to me by Carol Taylor when she visited the Main Line Unitarian Church many years ago.

This spiritual pilgrimage reinforced my sense of our faith having persevered over centuries and enduring harsh treatment by the rulers of that land whether it was the Holy Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or the Soviet Empire. The Hungarian Unitarian Church is now thriving under the freedom of religious toleration within Romania. May you be fortunate to visit in the future.

Your UURMaPA Board has been meeting monthly and will be holding a retreat in early September. Among the items for discussion will be a common read for our membership on a subject that is important to all of us. We also will make plans for our goals for next year. One part of the retreat will be how to offer more programming of a stand alone nature now that we have decided to hold only one virtual conference a year in the fall.

I invite you to contact me at president@uurmapa.org with things you would like us to offer that meet your needs. While I can’t promise that we have the resources to do what you might suggest, we will earnestly discuss that possibility. We know that we will continue the tradition of offering odysseys from our members in the spring as well as our services of remembrance for those who have passed on to the great beyond. We will continue welcoming new members and providing financial webinars to help answer questions about living into retirement.

As the days start to cool down, I hope that you have had a relaxing summer and are looking forward to the fall. I look toward days where I can walk in a cooler temperature instead of staying indoors. I wish this for you as well.

I want to hear from you as to how we are doing. Let me know. We serve YOU!

Yours in the Faith, Richard

June 23, 2026

The Rev. Fred Cappuccino

The Rev. Fred Cappuccino died on August 6, 2026, at the age of 100 (1926−2026).

Fred is survived by his wife of 73 years Bonnie Cappuccino; their children Robin, Machiko, William, Pierre, Annie Laurie, Michael, Mohan, Tran, Kahlil, Shikha, Lakshmi, Tibiki, Vodinh, Ashok, Mahleka, Mei-Lin, Shan, KimChi, and Tulsidas; their spouses and partners, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Alice Gentile and her children, and his brother Robert Cappuccino, his wife Isabelle, and their children. He was preceded in death by his son Kailash, in 1995.

A celebration of Fred’s life will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Ave, Ottawa, ON K2A 4A1, Canada.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Fred’s memory may be made to the Fred Fund for Education, a part of the Child Haven International Endowment Fund. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence may be mailed to:

Bonnie Cappuccino, 19014 Concession Road 7, Maxville, ON K0C 1T0 or emailed to bonnieamma@gmail.com.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website.If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Kathleen Fowler at kathleenclarkfowler@gmail.com

A 2026 Virtual Welcome to Newly Retired Ministers and Partners

On September 3 from 3-4:30 pm (Eastern Time), UURMaPA will host our annual “virtual” welcome for all Newly Retired Ministers and Partners, who should have received direct invitations. We also encourage any existing UURMaPA members to attend and add your welcome to these new UURMaPAns. All you need to do is email me (vice-president@uurmapa.org) and request a Zoom invitation.

The event will include a brief introduction of what UURMaPA offers our members. We will share information about what your Board is doing, the upcoming Fall Conference, special webinars that will be offered this year, and how you can be more involved in UURMaPA, such as in our small groups. We will have time for questions for the UURMaPA Board members.

Warmly, –Charles J. Stephens, UURMaPA V.P.

The Rev. Jeremy Brigham

The Rev. Jeremy Brigham died on July 27, 2026, at the age of 82 (1943-2026).

Jeremy is survived by his wife Selma Dannenfelser Brigham, brothers Larry (Mary) Brigham of Cincinnati OH and Daniel (Donna) of Canandaigua NY, his children Emily Brigham of Iowa City, Elizabeth (Mark) Smejkal of Cedar Rapids, and Sophie (Bill) Nicholson of Casa Grande AZ. He also leaves behind eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

A memorial and visitation will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre, 2121 Bowling St. SW in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation begins at 10:00 followed by the memorial service at 11:00.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist, 4980 Gordon Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids IA 52405, Iowans for Gun Safety, Linn County UNA-USA, the African American Museum of Iowa, or Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website. If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Kathleen Fowler at kathleenclarkfowler@gmail.com

The Rev. Susan Davison Archer

The Rev. Susan Davison Archer died on July 14, 2026, at the age of 79 (1946−2026).

Susan is survived by her son Ethan, and his partner Lauren, her daughter-in-law Sara, her grandchildren Max and Sid, and Laurel’s children Trenton, Kingsley, and Rosalie.

A memorial service will be held on September 26, 2026, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem, 4055 Robinhood Rd, Winston-Salem NC 27106. Additional details will be shared as they become available.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem, 4055 Robinhood Rd, Winston-Salem NC 27106; Beacon House, P.O. Box 29629, Washington DC 20017; or Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, 9601 Cedar Ln, Bethesda MD 20814. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence may be shared here.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website. If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Kathleen Fowler at kathleenclarkfowler@gmail.com

Daniel Bull

Daniel Bull died on July 8, 2026, at the age of 87 (1939-2026). He is survived by his wife, Rev. Dr. Jan Carlsson-Bull, daughter Lisa Bull (Rob) Lemon, grandchildren Oliver and Sophia, stepdaughters Shana Adelman and Sarah Adelman; son-in-law Robb Kidd; grandson Forrest, and sister Joanna Bull.

A memorial service was held on August 1, 2026.

UURMaPA will contribute in memory of Daniel Bull to the Ministerial Relief Fund, which benefits both ministers and partners.

To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s partner obituary editor, Eleanor Richardson, grandmoot@aol.com.

The Rev. Charles A. Gaines

The Rev. Charles “Chuck” A. Gaines died on July 4, 2026, at the age of 90 (1936−2026).

Chuck is survived by his wife Carolyn Hawkes Gaines; his three children Lynda Gaines, Stephen Gaines, and Susan Gaines Duncan (Jim); his half-siblings Cindy Krusen, Peter Gaines, Tom Gaines, Melanie Anderson, and Martha Davis; six grandchildren Quinn, Charlie, Corey, Gwen, Bennett, and Juliette; two step-grandchildren Michael and Bill; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his half-sister Pam Fogarty, his sister Karen Barker, and his brother Donald Gaines.

A memorial service will be held at the First Parish in Framingham MA, in October. Details will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund, First Parish in Framingham, 24 Vernon St, Framingham MA 01701, or to the Memorial Fund, Unitarian Universalist Church, 4831 E 22nd St, Tucson AZ 85711. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence may be shared here.

The Rev. Johanna Boeke

The Rev. Johanna “Jopie” Boeke died on June 28, 2026, at the age of 88 (1937−2026).

Jopie is survived by her daughters Elinore Boeke and Diana Boeke, her grandchildren Zachary Ludwig, Juliana Ludwig, and Alexander Ludwig and her sister-in-law Ria Leoni Baarslag. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Richard F. Boeke, and her brother Theodoor Baarslag.

A memorial service was held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Goodwin House Alexandria, 4800 Fillmore Ave, Alexandria VA 22311.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:|
• Goodwin Living Foundation, 4800 Fillmore Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311.
• Culmore Clinic, Post Box 8332, Falls Church VA 22041

UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence may be shared online or mailed to Diana Boeke, 4435 Wood Edge Rd., Troy VA 22974.