News - The Week Ahead at UUCB

Self-Compassion or Selfishness?
Rev. Amy Zucker-Morgenstern
Sunday October 12 Worship Service 11 am

The term “self-compassion” has gotten some traction in recent years, prompting the question, is “self-compassion” an oxymoron? Even worse, is it selfish? Buddhist teachers counsel us that in fact, for us to cultivate compassion in ourselves, we need to cultivate compassion for ourselves. We’ll practice that this morning.

In Person, Facebook Live and YouTube
Wanna watch last week’s sermon? Replay it here.

Our free Sunday lunches are one of the best ways we connect as a community across generations, and to keep them going sustainably, we need many more people to take a turn in helping them happen. The work involves preparing, serving, and cleaning up the meal. It isn’t difficult, but it does take teamwork and willingness. Help us keep Sunday lunch joyful and available for all.

Click here to sign up for a cleanup shift

Sunday October 12, 2024

10 am Youth and Children’s Choir Rehearsal
Meditation Room (below the Sanctuary) – Open to all children and youth, ages 5½ and up. Prior musical experience is not required. Email Teacher Katie for questions.

10:30 am Coffee and Community
Atrium – Starts at 10:30 am in the Atrium

11 am Religious Education
In Person – Join us for Religious Exploration (RE). We have activities for children from kindergarten through 12th grade. Together, we will talk about building the common good. Please email Kathryn Jay, Minister of Congregational Life for more information: kathryn@uucb.org.

11 am Worship Service
In Person, Facebook Live and YouTube – Self-Compassion or Selfishness? Rev. Amy Zucker-Morgenstern, preaching.

12 pm Light Lunch
Social Hall – Be our guest for a light lunch in the Social Hall after the service. Helpers to prepare food and clean up are always welcome! For information on how to volunteer, please email Rev. Kathryn Jay.

1 pm Humanist Connections
Zoom and Safir Room – Dennis Monthei will discuss “Impact of Technology on our Children ” followed by a group discussion. The Humanist Connections group meets weekly to discuss topics relating to our humanity, values, ideas. “A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” (4th principle of Unitarian Universalism.) For more information, contact Harold Ogren.

Click here to join on Zoom

1:30 pm Working to Overcome White Supremacy (WOWS)
Zoom – Working to Overcome White Supremacy (WOWS). Bring your MAUBs (Moments of Awareness of Unconscious Bias) and MOIs (Moments of Illumination) to share. For more information, contact Julia Rogers and Julie Winkelstein at wows@uucb.org or 510-520-8230 (Julia).

Click here to join on Zoom or dial 669-900-9128
Meeting ID 894 0793 2840

The Week

Monday, October 13

9 am Write for Your LifeZoom – “Write For Your Life” is a meditative sharing practice for people who like to write. Please email Kit Hewitt for Zoom link and details.

9 am Women’s Meditation Group
Zoom – This group meets weekly to practice “Mettā” (pr. METTT-tttah) or “loving kindness” meditation in the Southeast Asian Buddhist philosophy tradition. Contact: Evelie Delfino Såles Posch.

7 pm Circle SingingSanctuary – Last chance to register! Step into the circle and into the music. In this six-week Unity in Song journey, playful facilitator Renée Benmeleh invites us to co-create songs in the moment—layering rhythms, melodies, and harmonies until we’re singing like a living, breathing choir. Sometimes wacky, sometimes soulful, always connecting—this practice is an invitation to presence, joy, and community through the voice. No experience necessary—just bring yourself. More Info.

Tuesday, October 14

10 am Improving Your Balance Through Tai Chi
In Person – Email Neil Clark for more information.

12:15 pm Applied UU Buddhist SanghaZoom – A weekly discussion group with time for meditation. Contact Lynnette Delgado for more info.

11:30 am – 1:30 pm Immigrant Solidarity Project VigilsIn Person – Join us to show solidarity with people going to immigration court in Concord at 1855 Gateway Blvd. We’ll be on the sidewalk between the entry and exit lanes of the building driveway. Bring sun protection, water and a chair if you need one. We have signs in English and Spanish. Contact Francey (970) 391-2547 for more info. Interest Form and Calendar.

6:30 pm Theology Class A House For Hope (with Rev. John Buehrens)Fireside Room – Rev. John Buehrens will lead our last session of deepening our journey with Unitarian Universalism.

Wednesday, October 15

10 am Walk & Talk Group
A small group meets for a vigorous one-hour walk. All are welcome. We are building loving community while supporting our physical and mental well-being. On 1st Wednesdays, meet at Pt. Isabel (dog park) parking lot. On 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, meet at the UUCB front parking lot and we will walk from there. On 3rd and 5th Wednesdays, contact Ann Harlow or Lisa Maynard for meeting location.

10:30 am Aging with Grace
Zoom – A weekly gathering of people sharing ideas and encouragement as they age. Contact Anne Greenwood or Jane Ramsey.

7 pm Program Council (3rd Wednesday)
Zoom – Monthly meeting for church programming reports and discussion. Contact Marta Tobey for more info.

Thursday, October 16

10 am Thank You Circle In Person – The Board has launched a monthly gathering of folks writing words of thanks to the MANY volunteers at UUCB. Come join us for coffee, chatting and note-writing. We meet on the third Thursday of the month.

5:30 pm Learn Javanese music at UUCB! In Person – Experience firsthand the meditative Javanese gamelan. All ages and levels of musical skill welcome. Contact Daniel Schmidt or Tom Tripp.

7:15 pm Choir Rehearsal
In Person – Luminescence, our choir of adults, joins to sing on Thursday nights in the Sanctuary. New singers are most welcome! You don’t need choral experience, nor do you need to read music—though both help in learning the new music.

Friday, October 17

9:30 am Improving Your Balance Through Tai Chi
In Person – Contact Neil Clark for more information.

Saturday, October 18

No Kings Day of Mobilzation
Protest Locations:

11:00 – 2pm: 2000 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley
11:30-1pm Mount Diablo Boulevard & Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
12-2pm: Cutting Blvd & San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito
12-2pm: 810 Jackson St, Oakland
12-2pm: 2263 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda
1-3pm: 2070 Second Street, I-80 pedestrian bridge, Berkeley
4-5 pm: Solano Avenue & San Pablo, Albany

To find a another peaceful protest to join near you, visit the No Kings website.

9 am Work Party
In Person – Help spiffy up of our UUCB Building and Grounds. Enjoyable work for all, in good company! party starts at 9AM with coffee and cake; but come anytime to help. Outdoor Projects include weeding, pruning, and improving the terrace and parking lots. Bring work gloves. Questions or suggestions contact PhilMaynard3@me.com

4:30 pm Parents’ Night Out
In Person – UUCB parents and children gather in the Fireside Room, where parents will stay for a short discussion about UU values with other parents before dispersing to enjoy their own activities. Childcare workers will take care of the children until parents return to pick them up – no later than 8:30. This event is for UUCB members and active attendees. Email Rev. Kathryn Jay to register.

7 pm Youth Social Event
In Person – The Youth Group (middle & high school) meets on the third Saturday of the month to have fun and build community! Bring a friend! There will be food and games and good conversation. Please email Rev. Kathryn Jay for more information: k athryn@uucb.org.

Upcoming Events

Oct 19 – Personal Theology Diane Rusnak: Dream Artist
Oct 19 – Newcomer Q&A
Oct 19 – The Beadworkers: Stories by Beth Piatote, Discussion with the Author
Oct 23 – Litquake Presents Mona’s Eyes: Thomas Schlesser’s Epic Journey Through Art History
Oct 26 – Pathway to Connection Session 3 UU and Personal Theology
Nov 1 – Haunted House

Announcements & Resources

No Kings Day of Mobilization

On October 18, 2025 we rise. Not to defend broken systems, but to defend each other. The UUA is an official partner of the No Kings National Day of Mobilization on Saturday, October 18. Building on the momentum from the first No Kings protests in June, we are mobilizing for another mass day of resistance, resilience, and action. Because our communities deserve more than fear, silence, and billion-dollar bailouts for the powerful.

We deserve safety.
We deserve dignity.
We deserve to be heard.

Nominations for 2026 Good Neighbor Organizations

The Social Justice Council is asking for nominations for our 2026 Good Neighbor Line Up. Anyone in the Congregation is free to nominate eligible non profits. Nominations are due by Friday, October 31st. We will be voting to choose the final 12 organizations on December 10th.

Nomination Form

Good Neighbor for October

Tiny Village Spirit
The mission of Tiny Village Spirit is to work to end the crisis of homelessness through engaging communities in constituent led development of decent, dignified emergency housing villages and in community organizing for systemic change toward creating housing justice.

UUCB Staff and Board Availability

Board Listening Presence: Helen Toy.
Rev. Marcus Liefert (Minister): on paternity leave until early December.
Rev. Kathryn Jay (Minister of Congregational Life): open office hours Tuesday and Thursday. By appointment on Wednesday and Friday. Email
Bryan Baker (Director of Music): in person Thursdays and Sunday mornings, and remotely Fridays. Email
Janae Heard (Operations Director): in office Tuesdays and Thursdays 11-5. Works remotely M-W-F. Email
Peter Barnholdt (Facilities Manager): Tuesday-Friday 11-7:30. Email
Charis Domador (Manager of Membership and Engagement): in office Thursdays and Sundays. Email
Eliza Cantwell (Office Administrator and Rentals Coordinator): in office Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-4. Email.
Diana Steinbach (Finance Administrator) works remotely Mondays and Thursdays. Email

Stay in Touch

Pastoral Care Need? If you or a UUCB congregant you know is sick, hospitalized, recovering, grieving or otherwise in need of attention and support, please email us at pastoralcare@uucb.org. In case of a pastoral emergency, you may call Rev. Marcus Liefert at (510) 525-0302 ext. 303 He is always available for pastoral needs, as phone messages will be forwarded to him.
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Social Justice email list: Email Sheldon Jones.

Submit items for The Week Ahead to weekahead@uucb.org by 8 am Wednesday. Please limit announcements to 325 characters (with spaces).

Submit items for the Beacon monthly newsletter to beacon@uucb.org by the 15th of the month.

Our Board of Trustees Widening the Circle Vision Statement:
“We, the trustees of UUCB commit ourselves to championing racialjustice, embodying anti-racist practices, and confronting anddismantling white supremacy culture and all forms of oppression(including but not limited to racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia,transphobia, classism, ageism, xenophobia and religious oppression,including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia) in everything we do.”