Sustaining Fire
Ministerial Intern Liesl Dees
Sunday March 29 Worship Service 11 am

To keep a flame burning, we watch and feed it so it does not go out. But fire can also be sustaining: offering warmth, light, and a place for people to gather. Our spiritual lives are rarely simple, and the work of love is complicated. We live within complexity—tending the fire of love and searching for clarity in its warmth.

In Person, Facebook Live and YouTube
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Saturday, March 28

11 am No Kings Day Marches
In Person and Zoom – UUCB will be gathering with the greater interfaith community at UU Oakland church at 11:30 am to center and sing. We will then move together to the Frank Ogawa Plaza to join the “Faith Contingent” at the start of the march. In addition, there will be stationary vigils at Albany and El Sobrante. A ZOOM vigil is being hosted by UUCB Member, Lonnie Moseley, at 11 am so that all can participate in this outpouring of moral vision countering our government’s tyranny. More info.

Click here to join on Zoom

Sunday March 29, 2026

9:30 am Bridging for Democracy
Fireside Room – The Bridging for Democracy group will meet this Sunday at 9:30 in the Fireside Room. All are welcome to join Dave Belden and Helen Toy in these challenging yet hopeful conversations.

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 – Sustaining Fire. Ministerial Intern Liesl Dees, preaching.

12 pm Potluck Lunch (last Sunday of the month)
Social Hall – This Sunday’s lunch will be our monthly last-Sunday-of-the-month potluck! Your contribution could be a main dish, salad, side dish or dessert. Bring at least six servings if you are single or twelve if you are a couple or family. Please provide a note if your item contains meat, nuts, gluten or dairy–or if you would just like to identify it! Nothing requiring individual bowls, please. Email Rev. Kathryn Jay for more info.

1 pm Humanist Connections
Zoom and Safir Room (North) – Dennis Monthei will lead the discussion topic “Medical Misinformation,” followed by a group discussion. 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.

1 pm Love Songs Encore
Fireside Room  – Please join us for Love Songs Encore, a celebration of tuneful romance. In a relaxed, cabaret-like setting, many singers from our community share beguiling love songs from the classics to Broadway to jazz. More info.

6 pm Joint Mens Group Meeting
Fireside Room  – This event is open to all men’s group members and anyone interested in joining. In a confidential, supportive environment, men share their thoughts and feelings on a focused topic and practice deep listening, often developing lasting friendships in the process. For more information, contact Bob Adams (510-381-2946), Jim Evans, Don Wollwage, or Tom Tripp.

The Week

Monday, March 30

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.

Tuesday, March 31

10 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.

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

Wednesday, April 1

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
Zoom – Contact Selene Fabiano for more info: secretary@uucb.org.

Thursday, April 2

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, April 3

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, April 4

10 am Easter Dance Workshop
In Person – Join dance artists Sarah Bush & KJ Dahlaw for a movement workshop for all ages and all bodies! Workshop is free to attend. Wear comfy clothes, socks, shoes, or bare feet. More info.

Upcoming Events

Apr 5 – Easter Egg Hunt!
Apr 10 – God is a Mother: A Conversation with Savala Nolan
Apr 12, May 17 – Raise Your Voice In Love And For Justice
Apr 12 – Pathway to Connection 2: UU/UUCB History
Apr 22 – Lessons in Loss, Love & Resilience with Arik Housley
Apr 24 – Earth Day: Growing Our Green Sanctuary
Apr 26 – The Vitality of Indigenous Storytelling: Place, Time, and Beings

Announcements & Resources

 

The 2026 year’s Stewardship campaign has begun! Please visit the stewardship table all this month and next month to hear about all the fun and exciting things we’re doing with this year’s annual pledge drive. You can get your pledge form and make your pledge! Stewardship campaign ends with Celebration Sunday on March 29.

Pledge Here!

A Little Work, A Lot of Community

Join us for Volunteer Hour—an easy way to connect while helping with small tasks around UUCB. Drop in, chat, and lend a hand for as long as you like. Thursdays, 1–3 pm. More info.

The Textile/Arts Group, the Peace Committee, Immigrant Solidarity at UUCB, and the Social Justice Council are collaborating on the RESIST with RED FUNDRAISER!  We have mini red hats you can wear on your lapel in solidarity.  We’ll be in the atrium this Sunday (sofa area) before and after the service!  Norwegians wore red knit hats during WW II in solidarity, as a sign of resistance to the Nazis.  We are wearing mini red hats in solidarity, resisting this regime. Funds go to Cuba-Gaza-our local Immigrant community.
 

UUCB’s Chalice Camp in August is now enrolling! Chalice camp is a fun and meaningful week-long summer day camp for rising 1st through 6th graders. We have many community building activities throughout the week.We welcome regular UU church attendees, occasional UU church attendees, and all families interested in learning more about UU values! More info.
 

UUCB’s Ukulele Summer Camp in July is now enrolling! Family-friendly (Ages 8 and up, including adults) Ukulele Summer Camp is a fun day camp for learning to play and sing with the ukulele with musical instruction, games and activities, and a performance with invited family and friends at the end of camp. Parents are encouraged to enroll and learn along with their kids, and families with two or more campers enrolled receive a discount. More info.
Dear UUCBers
We thank you for the socks and the visit from the tooth fairy who brought toothpaste! We still need small toiletries for the Blessings Bags like shampoo, lotion, soap, toothbrushes. Please put them in the fuchsia box in the atrium.
Thank you!
Beth Jerde

Good Neighbor for March

 

Project Second Chance, Inc
Their mission is: “Provides free, confidential instruction in reading, writing and spelling to English-speaking adults with literacy skills below a 6th grade level. PSC recruits, trains and supports volunteer tutors, who work one-on-one with learners to help them achieve their individual literacy-related goals and empower them in their work and personal lives.”

UUCB Staff and Board Availability 

  • Board Listening Presence: Helen Toy.
  • Rev. Marcus Liefert (Minister) meetings by appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 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.
  • 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.

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.”


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Mailing address: 1 Lawson Road, Kensington, CA 94707
Telephone: 510-525-0302
Email: info@uucb.org

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