The Week Ahead at UUCB

Spiritual and Religious
Liesl Dees, Ministerial Intern
Sunday July 12 Worship Service 11 am

What does it mean to be both spiritual and religious? In this closing service of our series on Reclaiming and Reimagining Religion, explore how personal spiritual practice and shared religious community can deepen and sustain one another. Together, we’ll reflect on what is sacred in our lives, what is of lasting worth, and how we build beloved community rooted in love.

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 July 12, 2026

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

10 am Childcare
RE is on summer break, but childcare for all ages is available starting at 10 am.

11 am Worship Service
In Person, Facebook Live and YouTube – Spiritual and Religious. Liesl Dees, Ministerial Intern

Join us for conversation , coffee/tea, a snack, and cake as we say our farewells to departing Intern Minister Liesl after the service.

1 pm Humanist Connections
Zoom and In Person (Safir Room) – “Search for authenticity” 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.

1:30 pm Working to Overcome White Supremacy (WOWS)
Zoom  – Working to Overcome White Supremacy (WOWS).  Please come prepared to share any MAUBs (Moments of Awareness of Unconscious Bias) or MOIs (Moments of Inspiration) that you have experienced.  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, July 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.

11 am Ukulele Summer Camp (July 13-17)Atrium – Family-friendly (Ages 8 and up) 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. More info.

4 pm Grains of Sand Screening and WorkshopIn Person – Filmed over eight years, Grains of Sand accompanies the filmmaker’s mother and mother-in-law — artists and close friends — as they enter their ninth decade. Through conversation, memories, and artwork, along with reflections by the filmmaker herself, they create together a positive, joyful coming-of-age story. 85 minutes.

Workshop – Building on the film, workshop participants experiment in a tactile, visual realm — playing with color, shape, and materials while discussing scenes that continue to resonate.

More info.

Tuesday, July 14

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.

9:30 – 11:30 am Immigration Courtroom VigilsIn Person – NEW SUMMER HOURS! 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.

Wednesday, July 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 Social Justice Council
Zoom – The Social Justice Council (SJC) meeting for the “Congrats to Grads” ceremony is changed to July 15, 2026. An important Board meeting moved to July 8th and so our SJC meeting is moving to July 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. on Zoom (Zoom link sent later). Thank you to all who donated monies! If you’re still planning on supporting our graduates financially and/or with moral support, please click the link below for ways to do that. More info.

Thursday, July 16

10 am (in person 3rd Thursday) Women’s Meditation Group 
Meditation Room – 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.

1 pm Amp Up The ArtsSafir Room – “Amp Up for the Arts” encourages the flourishing of visual art, music, poetry, storytelling, dance, and other creative expressions within the life of UUCB. Email adulted@uucb.org for more information.

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, July 17

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, July 18

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

Upcoming Events

July 12: Liesl’s last day
July 12: Working to Overcome White Supremacy (WOWS)
July 13: Grains of Sand Screening, Director Q&A, and Workshops
July 15: Congrats to Grads
July 13-17: Ukulele Summer Camp
July 18: Work Party
July 26: Bridging for Democracy
Aug 2: Palestinian Media Literacy Workshop
Aug 3-7: Chalice Camp

Announcements & Resources

The Intern Minister Committee warmly invites you to celebrate our wonderful Intern Minister Liesl Dees after her last service on July 12. We will recognize her during the service then celebrate with cake in the Atrium immediately after. On July 5 and July 12 at church, please look for the table designated for writing notes of appreciation to Liesl. You may also email a message to Lisa Maynard for inclusion in the collection.
We’re cleaning out our Lost & Found closet! There will be a table in the Social Hall with all the contents from the Lost & Found closet for the next few weeks. In August, anything that has not been claimed will be donated or discarded. Thank you!
Chalice Camp is a fun and meaningful week-long summer day camp for 1st through 6th graders. Attending camp deepens our Bay Area youth’s understanding of themselves and helps them develop as Unitarian Universalists. We welcome regular UU church attendees, occasional UU church attendees, and all families interested in learning more about UU values! Learn more and register.

Good Neighbor for July

The MLK Jr. Freedom Center
To advance youth and family civic engagement, ethical leadership, and economic and educational equity. We aim to create change through personal transformation and direct action in the most vulnerable high-poverty communities of the East Bay Region and Northern California.

UUCB Staff and Board Availability 

Staff availability is limited during summer; please reach out via email to make an appointment. Note: Peter is out on extended leave and is not currently responding to emails.

  • Board Listening Presence: Helen Toy.
  • Rev. Marcus Liefert (Minister): 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.

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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