The Week Ahead at UUCB

Sunday October 25, 2026

9:30 am Hospicing Modernity
Fireside Room – Join Rev. Marcus, writer Courtney Martin, and friends for an exploration of the theme of “hospicing modernity,” drawn from a book of the same name by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira. So much is breaking down right now in our personal and political lives, but there is also potential for real breakthrough. We will explore questions of growth together over the course of six weeks. No need to read the book, but you can learn more about the themes here. Drop ins welcome. Limited series, meeting Sundays through the end of October. More info. 

9:30 am Caring For Aging Parents
Chrysalis Room – Are you caring for an aging parent? Join us for a supportive Discussion Circle where we’ll explore the challenges and emotions of this journey together. Through readings, reflection, and deep sharing, we’ll cover themes including grief and loss, complex emotions and changing roles, self-care and boundaries, and community support. Drop-ins welcome, no sign-up needed. 

10 am Childcare
In Person – Located in the Childcare Building. Parents must sign out latest after service. All ages welcome.

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 am Coffee and Community 
Atrium – Coffee, tea, and light refreshments

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. For more information, please email Kathryn Jay, Minister of Congregational Life. 

11 am Worship Service
In Person, Facebook Live and YouTube – The Oldest Altar. Rev. Marcus Liefert, 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.

12:30 pm Pathway to Connection: Theology
Fireside Room  – Pathway to Connection is a series of three short classes where participants share their own spiritual journeys, learn how we create loving community in our congregation, and the history of our church and tradition. This series is especially useful for people who have newly joined the church or are considering becoming members.

1 pm Humanist Connections
Zoom and Music Room – Dennis Moutei “Big Tech in our public schools, ”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.

2 pm Memorial for Sandra Soderlund
In Person – Please join us in celebrating the life of Sandra Soderlund. Sandra was the UUCB organist and a music leader for many years. The service will be held in the Sanctuary, followed by refreshments in the Atrium. 

The Week

Monday, October 26

9 am Write for Your Life

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

5 pm Climate Justice Committee

Zoom – The Climate Justice Committee, a project of the Social Justice Council, meets once a month to plan and carry out projects and actions that address local and global climate and environmental crises. We are also working to earn Green Sanctuary recognition from UUCB from the Uniitarian Universalist Association’s Green Sanctuary program. We are an action-oriented group. Contact SocialJustice@uucb.org for more information.

7 pm HEBREW BIBLE: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals
Zoom – Join Rev. Dr. John Buehrens, former UUA President and author of Understanding the Bible: An Introduction, for an eleven-week evening journey through the Hebrew Bible — built for skeptics, seekers, and religious liberals alike. Meeting Monday evenings via Zoom from September 21 through December 14, this course moves from Genesis through the Prophets, exploring the Bible not as dogma but as a library of human wisdom, struggle, and hope worth wrestling with on our own terms. More info and registration here. 

Tuesday, October 27

9:30 am Improving Your Balance Through Tai Chi 
In Person – Tai Chi reduces stress, improves cognitive functions, increases your body awareness, enhance your stability, and build strong muscles. Share in quiet community with Neil, a seasoned practitioner and patient teacher. Sessions are donation based. Email Neil Clark for more information.

10 am Lunch Program at Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP)
In Person, off-site – UUCB volunteers prepare and/or serve lunch at the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) every fourth Tuesday. Make sandwiches from 10:15 to 11 am, serve lunch between 11:15 am to 12:45 pm. If you’re interested. Contact: Andrew Swan.

12:15 pm Applied UU Buddhist Sangha

Zoom – A weekly discussion group with time for meditation. Contact Lynnette Delgado for more info.

9:30 – 11:30 am Immigration Courtroom Vigils

In Person, off-site – Come show solidarity with people going to immigration court in Concord at 1855 Gateway Blvd. We’ll be on the sidewalk in front of the building’s driveway. We hold signs, offer food and blessings, and side with Love. Bring sun protection & water — a chair if you need one. Register to volunteer here: Interest Form. Contact Karen (510-219-5544) for details.

7 pm World Peace Committee

Zoom – The mission of the World Peace Committee at UUCB is to promote peace through education, social action, and charitable funding. Our work includes providing a forum to facilitate gathering information, sharing and discussing all perspectives, and promoting constructive dialogue.  We also provide a platform for members conducting peace-related action projects supporting our mission. Contact Don Klose for more information.

Wednesday, October 28

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.

6:30 pm Your Inner Compass Awaits: Find Grounding in Chaos (Module 2: True Purpose Workshop)
Fireside Room – Learn how to open a real, two-way connection between you and the deeper sacred presence that already knows you intimately. No dogma, no religion to believe in, just an open heart and the willingness to have a direct, personal dialogue with a trusted source of wisdom and guidance that you can return to every single day. Prerequisite: Module 1: Trusted Source Connection. Registration required. This is the third of three sessions for Module 2. More info. 

Thursday, October 29

9:30 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.

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 30

9:30 am Improving Your Balance Through Tai Chi 
In Person – Tai Chi reduces stress, improves cognitive functions, increases your body awareness, enhance your stability, and build strong muscles. Share in quiet community with Neil, a seasoned practitioner and patient teacher. Sessions are donation based. Email Neil Clark for more information.

Saturday, October 31

Upcoming Events

Announcements & Resources

Good Neighbor for October

UUCB Staff and Board Contact 

• Board Listening Presence: Helen Toy. 
• Rev. Marcus Liefert: Email
• Rev. Kathryn Jay (Minister of Congregational Life): Email
• Bryan Baker (Director of Music): Email
• Janae Heard (Operations Director): Email
• Peter Barnholdt (Facilities Manager): Email
• Charis Domador (Manager of Membership and Engagement): Email
• Eliza Cantwell (Office Administrator and Rentals Coordinator): Email.
• Diana Steinbach (Finance Administrator): 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. 
• Subscribe to our newsletters.
• 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.