Jennifer Bacmeister presents
“The Second Attempt”
a sermon written by Rev. Rebecca C. “Beckett” Coppola
Minister of Kingston Unitarian Fellowship (Ontario)
Kris Kines, Worship Leader
Eileen Morrison, Accompanist
Bill Caine, Vibraphone
Imagine living a life where your work doesn’t need to be perfect—where we can instead focus on living authentically and wholeheartedly without worrying that we will be defined by our failures. Imagine a place where your first try that failed, and your second, which succeeded, were both celebrated. Inspired by the words of Samuel Beckett, Rev. Beckett Coppola explores the ideas of freedom from perfectionism and failure, as well as the freedom inherent in our very nature as humans.
About our Speaker
Jennifer Bacmeister has been a member of BBUUC since 2001. She has served in many roles, including Worship Committee Chair, Building Task Force, Religious Education teacher, and Board Vice President. Jennifer is an accomplished Toastmaster, one of those rare individuals who genuinely enjoy public speaking. After years of being a Worship Leader, she added writing sermons to her skill set. She has spoken at UU churches in Huntsville, Alabama, and right down the road in Palatka, as well as to our congregation. When not crafting services as a worship leader or writing sermons, Jennifer enjoys tending her backyard chickens, spoiling her grandchildren, and sewing (not always in that order!)
About the Sermon Author
A native New Englander, Rev. Rebecca C. “Beckett” Coppola is the settled Minister of Kingston Unitarian Fellowship in Ontario, Canada. She studied at Naropa University, a Buddhist-inspired liberal arts university combining traditional academics and Eastern wisdom practices. She completed her internship at Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, CO, and also served as a Chaplain Resident at a multi-site hospital in north metro Denver. She was an Affiliated Community Minister at the Boulder, CO church and had been deeply involved in the church for several years prior. Before professional Ministry, Rev. Coppola had careers in Office Management and in Film/Public Broadcasting, and at the end of the day always came back to something very different. A lifelong pursuit of and love for spiritual practice informs her Ministry as much as her lifelong pursuit of education and learning. Rev. Coppola’s theology is that of a natural pluralist, as defined by the scholar Diana Eck. Until she found her way into life as a committed Unitarian Universalist, she had not found a spiritual home that allowed every aspect of herself to be present. Love has always been the answer to the questions she’s asked and the journeys she’s embarked on.
About Our Guest Musician
Bill Caine is originally from the Philadelphia area, where he studied at Temple University. He was fortunate to study under Alan Able of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Bill has performed with many Symphony Orchestras in the Philadelphia/New York/Baltimore area as well as with TBA Big Band, the Straight-Ahead Big Band, Doc Severinsen, Ray Charles, Roger Daltry, Amy Lee, Evanescence, Luciano Pavarotti, and many others. He has played for BBUUC several times as a Swing and a Miss member, and this Sunday we will hear his solo vibraphone.