There is a widespread perception that global warming and human-caused climate change is having devastating effects on the world in which we live.  The severity of those perceived effects is causing many people to experience a grief reaction.  What does it mean to carry on with life in a grieving world?

A native of Muskegon, Michigan, our Minister Emeritus, Rev. David Miller, is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Divinity School. He was called to the ministry of our church in 1970, at a time when the church had been weakened by a period of controversy and strife. At that time we often saw 20 or fewer people in the pews on Sunday morning, the church school had programs only for the elementary grades, and the church was financing a substantial deficit out of its endowment. David and the congregation worked together for 20 years to restore the church to a more flourishing condition.

Having resigned in 1990, David, with Linda, his wife of 40 years, enjoys attending church without all the weighty responsibilities of ministerial leadership. David and Linda have a son, Matthew, born in 1979, who attended the church’s religious education programs during childhood and adolescence. Matthew is married and has a daughter, Lily.

As Minister Emeritus, David provides occasional backup coverage for Aaron, at Aaron’s invitation.

From time to time David teaches in the church school and has volunteered as a mentor in the Coming of Age Group. He is also active in the UU Humanist Group at church. Among his special interests are Humanism and world religions, especially Islam.

Since his retirement, David has enjoyed driving children in the Wachusett Region (mostly Holden) to school and home again in the big yellow school bus. Some of them say that he is “the world’s best school bus driver.”

Since retirement, David has also found time to become a Trip Leader, planning and leading trips for the Worcester Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club. These are mostly canoe and kayak day trips but include an occasional overnight or hiking trip. David also organizes extended summer wilderness trips, mostly in the Eastern US, Ontario, and Québec, and occasional winter campouts in Central Massachusetts.

David is avidly interested in nature studies, including the identification of trees, flowers, birds, tracking, animal signs, and old-growth forests.