It is that time of year when we start thinking about who we will select as our Good Neighbors for 2027.   During the month of October, we ask for nominations from our community.  The final day to submit nominations is Sunday, Nov. 1.

Click here to submit your nomination.

Rev. Jay Atkinson and Anne Greenwood traveled to Poland to walk the places where Unitarian faith first took shape. Now they’re coming home to share the story: the people, the places, and what it all means for us today.

Join us for photos, reflections, and time for your questions. Everyone is welcome, whether you’re a longtime Unitarian Universalist or just curious about where this tradition began.

This Sunday, November 1, will be an info session about engaging the whole congregation in a discernment process facilitated by Tim about the church’s purpose.

Benjamin Bachmann, a fantastic local musician, will be playing a program of french music – some iconic pieces of organ repertoire, including, among others, Litanies by Jehan Alain and Choral No. 3 by César Frank. Click through for the full program and bio.

Announcing a fabulous weekend ARTS SHOW AND SALE:

Friday Nov. 6 Reception, 6 – 8 pm
Saturday Nov. 7 11 am – 4 pm
Sunday 12:30 – 3 pm.

18 UU Artist and Artisans and their friends!!
Much media: paintings, drawings, photography, guitar making, mobiles, books, cards, collage, textiles, etc.

Fri. reception will also feature poets and musicians and food/drink. A fine party for all!

Let’s celebrate the COLOR and ART and EXPRESSION and CRAFTSMANSHIP that’s alive in our community!

How do we create rituals that anchor our UU faith while expanding our spirituality? Rituals — whether quiet daily practices or shared communal moments — help us mark transitions, hold grief and joy, and stay rooted in what we value most. In this day-long retreat, we’ll explore the role ritual plays across Unitarian Universalism and other spiritual traditions, reflect on the practices already present in our own lives, and experiment with creating new rituals.

9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room, in-person and on Zoom. “Spiritual Practices of UUCB Members.” Presenter, Lonnie Moseley. Kicking off this new Personal Theology topic for 2nd Sundays of each month, UUCB Member, Lonnie Moseley, will share with participants her particular spiritual practices that renew and sustain her. Click the heading for the link.

After Service, Sunday, November 8!
Please bring a potluck dish! Homemade or purchased foods, inspired by the by the harvest or food that you’re inspired to bring!

9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room, in-person and on Zoom. “Poetry as a Spiritual Practice.”  Presenter, Peter Guerrero, will engage participants in discovering how poetry — (in the words of poet, George Orr) — plays a crucial role in our psychological, imaginative, and spiritual lives.  This is not a “how to write poetry” talk.  It’s how to use existing poetry as part of our spiritual practice.  Come to Personal Theology and be prepared to be delighted. Click the heading for the Zoom link.

Poetry as a “Spiritual Practice” is a new class being offered by UUCB’s Adult Education/Exploration program. Facilitator,  Peter Guerrero, is an avid reader of poetry and uses poetry in his own spiritual practice. Each week participants will read and discuss a poem that they want to share with the group. By the end of the sessions, the class will have shared dozens of poems that will become the building blocks for participants to create their own personal “book.” Please email Lonnie at adulted@uucb.org to register for this free 10-week workshop. Click the heading for more details.

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. In-person in the Fireside Room and on Zoom. UUCB friend and supporter, Dr. Brent Duckor and his co-author, Dr. Carrie Holmberg, have written a timely and deeply researched book called “AI and Deeper Learning: Promises, Paradoxes, and Evolving Practices” with Harvard Education Press. Their talk will explore what the rapid growth of AI means for students, families, teachers, and communities and what kind of learning experiences we want to preserve and promote, with time for open discussion. Personal Theology is donating the room for this event. Click heading for Link.

The Board has called a special Congregational Meeting for Sunday, November 22 at 1PM, on authorizing use of the balance of the Calkins Trust funds for a portion of the five-year capital projects budget. Please mark your calendars.  An Informational session (date TBA) and background materials will be provided in advance of the meeting.

1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Social Hall Join us for an afternoon of professional live theatre where ordinary people encounter extraordinary circumstances, laughter fades to reflection, and nothing goes quite as planned. Written and directed by UUCB member HAROLD DEAN JAMES, a New York-trained actor and director AND featuring professional SAG actors! $20 Donation. Click the heading for more information on this fundraiser.

Carols, harp, and a cookie buffet. Join us Saturday, December 5 at 4 pm in the sanctuary for an afternoon of holiday music with our children’s, youth, and adult choirs, including Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. Free, donations welcome.

UUCB’s covenant names something bold: that building healthy relationships is a spiritual practice. In this session, we’ll move beyond the words of our covenant and into the practice of it. We’ll dig into questions like: How do we communicate honestly and compassionately in the middle of conflict?