News - The Week Ahead at UUCB

Standing in the River
Rev. Kathryn Jay
Sunday November 2 Worship Service 11 am

An All Souls service. Our memories of the past create a mighty river of love, loss, and longing that refreshes our lives, yet sometimes overwhelms us. Today we honor those who came before us: the ancestors who inspire and encourage us, the people and places we mourn and miss.

In Person, Facebook Live and YouTube
Wanna watch last week’s sermon? Replay it here.
Listen to a recording of our sermons wherever you get your podcasts

Sunday November 2, 2025

9 am Information Meeting – Board Organized
Fireside Room – Informational meeting on Board’s recommendation to the Congregation, regarding the Freestone property.

9 am – 1:30 pm Haunted House
Social Hall – Our Coming of Age teens have transformed the Social Hall stage into a Haunted House filled with chills, surprises, and plenty of Halloween spirit. All ages are welcome — brave the scares, stay for the thrills!

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 – Standing in the River. Rev. Kathryn Jay, 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 Pride Project (1st Sunday)
Fireside Room – The Pride project’s objective is to initiate social gatherings, increase visibility, provide a platform for education and awareness, offer support and develop responses to current events.

1 pm Humanist Connections
Zoom and Music Room – Harold Ogren will arrange for the selection of topics and speakers for December. Then a Bonus Discussion led by Marcia Bates “Why proposition 50 is so important.” 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

The Week

Monday, November 3

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.

11 am Textile and ArtSafir Room – Provide support, fellowship and growth through sharing and exploration of fiber and other arts/ media. Contact Karen Tripp, Helen Toy, and Judy Sam

Tuesday, November 4

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.

Wednesday, November 5

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.

7:15 pm Board of Trustees Meeting (1st Wednesday)
Zoom – Contact Selene Fabiano for more info: secretary@uucb.org.

Click here to join on Zoom

Thursday, November 6

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, November 7

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

Saturday, November 8

4 pm Berkeley Baroque Strings: Ayres from the English Court
In Person – Come enjoy Berkeley Baroque Strings Presents: “Ayres from the English Court” for an evening of music from Purcell, as well as Locke, Boyce, and Lawes. Tickets at the door, pay what you can.

Upcoming Events

Nov 9 – Music Sunday
Nov 9 – Newcomer Q&A
Nov 9 – Organ Recital with Christopher Keady
Nov 12 – Bridging for Democracy – Social Justice Council
Nov 15 – Music, the Brain, and Healing Workshop with Barb Minton
Nov 15 – Parents Night Out
Nov 15 – Youth Group Gathering

Announcements & Resources

Tongan Church has completed construction of their own church and will no longer be having their services here at UUCB! We are happy for their them in their new spiritual home!

What this means for us: going forward, the building will be cleared and locked at 3:30 on Sundays. If you have a meeting that will go past 3:30, please make sure you have a trusted user who can complete lockup procedures for the building.

Our wonderful Aesthetics Committee is clearing out the coat closet on November 15! If you think you have anything stored or left in it, please come get it before then. We would love it if items can be reunited with their owners.

The 2024-2025 Annual Report is now available on the UUCB website. You can read it here.

Good Neighbor for November

Contra Costa Family Justice Center
Their mission is: “Since 2011, the Contra Costa Family Justice Center seeks to create a community that is there to support the healing process for those who are affected by any form of family violence and human trafficking. With our commitment towards healing, community, and safety, we strive to integrate capable partners with common goals to create a comprehensive service network to alleviate or prevent future instances of family violence. Together, we can help put an end to family violence and human trafficking.”

UUCB Staff and Board Availability

Board Listening Presence: Helen Toy.
Rev. Marcus Liefert (Minister) on paternity leave until early December. Email
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. Works remotely M-W. 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.

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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.”