David Dean presents
“Neurodivergence and Other Ways to Love”
a sermon written by
Rev. Eric Banner
Senior Minister of First Universalist (Denver, CO)
Kris Kines, Worship leader
Gary Smart, Accompanist
Adero Harrison, Special Music (Voice)
What it means to build a beloved community is to know and recognize that from time to time, we will have to have a conversation about how those words look and feel very different for different kinds of people.
About Our Speaker
David Dean, a BBUUC member and an integral part of our Worship Team, is an Emmy-nominated editor who works as Senior Editor/Post-Producer for the PBS series “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love.” David is also a presenter, writer, and storyteller who volunteers his time as the editor of our worship videos and contributes his other talents in the worship arts to our ministry.
About the Sermon Author
From his earliest years growing up as a UU in a small congregation in Kansas to seminary and service in some of the largest congregations in the country, Rev. Eric Banner and his family have always called church an essential part of their lives. He knows the power of our faith to shape and guide families. Before listening to the call to ministry, he was an environmental scientist for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, where he brought time-saving innovations to his team and laid the groundwork for addressing sediment and nutrient pollution, which are often overlooked. Upon realizing that ministry was his true calling, he attended Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA, followed by an internship year at All Souls Church in Tulsa, OK. He served two other Colorado congregations before accepting the call to be Senior Minister at the First Universalist Church of Denver. He enjoys doing things with his wife and three daughters in his spare time, including hiking in the mountains, swimming with his neighborhood club team, baking, and various home repairs and updates to his family’s 1937 home in east Denver.
Special Music by BBUUC Member Adero Harrison
Adero is a singer whose journey began at the age of four in her grandmother’s church. With a degree in Vocal Performance, she has graced stages from local venues to Carnegie Hall, showcasing her talent across genres like opera, jazz, and folk. Offstage, Adero balances her career with the joys and responsibilities of motherhood, raising her spirited 12-year-old daughter and tending to her lively household of pets. Through her music, she aims to evoke emotions and connect with listeners on a deeper level. Adero believes in musical journeys where every note tells a story, and every performance is a heartfelt expression of life’s experiences.