Introducing Rev. Hannah Capaldi, Ministerial Candidate for USG

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April 12, 2024

Dear USG members, friends, and visitors,

The Minister Search Committee has selected, by unanimous vote, the Rev. Hannah Capaldi to be the candidate for the position of Settled Minister at USG.


From April 21 to 28, Candidating Week, the congregation will have various opportunities to meet Rev. Hannah and learn more about her. Please see below for the schedule. On Sunday, April 28, after the service, the members of the congregation (people who have signed the membership book) will vote on whether to confirm Rev. Hannah Capaldi as USG’s settled minister. Please mark April 28 on your calendar, so you can participate in the vote.

Reverend Hannah Capaldi is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. She was raised in the congregation at First Parish of Concord and was ordained there in December of 2019. She comes to ministry with a passion for preaching an inspiring word, challenging her communities to live into their best selves, and finding joy in pursuit of a better world.  

Rev. Hannah graduated from Union Theological Seminary in New York City where she taught after-school to eighth graders, served as a chaplain at a shelter for LGBTQ+ youth, and worked in the college program at the Bedford Hills Women’s Prison. Upon graduation, she was honored with the Charles A. Briggs Award “for the qualities of conscience, commitment, and courage.” She completed her Clinical Pastoral Education at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital and her ministerial internship at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Washington Crossing in Titusville, NJ. Her last five years have been spent serving the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia as the Minister for Faith Formation. In that role, she oversaw a portfolio that included membership, pastoral care, lifelong spiritual formation, and social justice.  

Rev. Hannah lives in West Philly with her wife Livia and her toddler Antonia. In her free time, she loves to cook and host dinner parties, read long form journalism, and swim in any and all bodies of water. You can learn more about her at her website: revhannahcapaldi.squarespace.comPlease click the video link below to hear Rev. Hannah’s greeting to the Unitarian Society of Germantown.
Schedule for Candidating Week at USG Please remember to wear your nametag at gatherings so Rev. Hannah can learn who we are.

Sunday, April 21
10:30-11:30am: Rev. Hannah will preach
12:00-2:00pm: Fellowship Lunch after the service

Monday, April 22
4:00-5:00pm: Open Zoom Session with Rev. Hannah. Details TBA.

Wednesday, April 24
7:15-8:30pm: Dessert with Rev. Hannah, hosted by Linda and Mark Bernstein at their home. RSVP needed: caring@usguu.org

Thursday, April 25
12:30-1:30pm: Widening the Circle hosts lunch with Rev. Hannah. Limited seats available- please RSVP to wideningthecircle@usgu.org

Friday, April 26
5:30-7:00pm: Open: Pizza Party with Rev. Hannah at USG, for CSD, Children, Families, and Young Adults. RSVP by responding to the invitation email, or emailing ministersearch@usguu.org

Saturday, April 27
10:00am-12:00pm: Open Meet and Greet with Rev. Hannah over Coffee, Bagels, and Doughnuts. Details TBA.

Sunday, April 28
10:30-11:30am: Rev. Hannah will preach
After the service: USG Membership Vote
And then: A Congregational Lunch that will, we hope, be a celebration!

As always, please contact ministersearch@usguu.org with any questions. Rev. Hannah will also be meeting with specific closed groups throughout the week to learn more about our community and committees. If you belong to any group listed below and did not receive an email invitation, please contact ministersearch@usguu.org.

Monday, April 22        
10:00am: Caring Committee
12:00pm: Cathedral Village Members

Tuesday, April 23
11:00am: USG Staff
7:30pm: Child Spiritual Development teachers/ helpers

Wednesday, April 24
12:30pm: Finance
5:15pm: Buildings & Grounds, Safety and Security

Thursday, April 25
2:30pm: Archives CommitteeThank You! 
Finally, regardless of the outcome of the vote on April 28, USG owes a huge debt of gratitude to the Ministerial Search Committee. Here are those people who have worked so full-heartedly on the church’s behalf:Carolyn Cotton, co-chair
Sam Stormont, co-chair
Dennis Brunn
Lisa Dutton
Emily Joy Goldberg
Vanessa Lowe
Rick Rodes 
The committee began work last July of 2023; their many, many Zooms, cottage meetings, focus groups, interviews, phone calls and heartfelt conversations have brought us all to this important moment.