On Monday we heard from the Rev. A. Powell Davies, a formative figure in the history of Unitarian Universalism. What some may not realize, is that at the side of such prophetic, successful, figures is usually a partner, and helpmate - in Rev. Davies’ case, his wife Muriel A. Davies.

After her husband’s death, Mrs. Davies continued his work, most notably serving as the organizing director for the River Road church in Bethesda, Maryland. This church now has over 600 members, and on November 19th, 2007, Mrs. Davies’ 100th birthday, the congregation ordained her as a Minister Emerita:

“There was no minister in the beginning and for 18 months she was the sole staff person,” said the Rev. Scott Alexander, minister of River Road. “She contacted the families, and then got the church school going. And she did all this from an office in her home.”

. . .

“It was wonderful,” said Davies, contacted later at home. “The day and the ordination meant a great deal more to me than I can say. My connection with River Road is very important to me. I went through a very hard time when my husband died in 1957. The church really changed my life. It gave me self-confidence and I became a different person through that job with the church.”

There aren’t many works by Rev. Mrs. Davies on the internet, but I was able to find a jewel of a sermon that she gave on May 17, 1998, the occasion of the 90th Anniversary of the Unitarian Church in Summit, New Jersey. Enjoy.
(Read on … )