Community in Bloom
Rev. Marcus Liefert
Sunday May 31 Worship Service 11 am

We celebrate our annual flower communion with the recognition that we bloom always in relationship. Like the interdependent community of flowers and pollinators, we depend on each other more than we know to express our unique and sacred beauty.

Bring a flower to celebrate!

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 May 31, 2026

9:30 am Bridging for Democracy
Fireside Room – Mansi Kathuria, of Cal’s Othering and Belonging Institute, and our Dave Belden will facilitate a discussion as to how we can talk across differences, focusing on the humanity of those with whom we disagree. Organizers: Helen Toy and Dave Belden.

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. Note: This is the last RE meeting of this church year – we will be back in fall!

11 am Worship Service
In Person, Facebook Live and YouTube – Community in Bloom. Rev. Marcus Liefert, preaching.

Flower Communion – Please bring a flower! We will also welcome our new members on the Chancel during service.

12 pm Potluck Lunch
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 – Don Anderson will lead the discussion topic “Karl Marx,” 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 Memorial for Donna Davis
In Person and Livestream – Please join us in celebrating the life of member Donna Davis. Reception to follow in the Atrium. 
 

6 pm Mens Group Meeting
In Person and Livestream – 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. This event is open to all men’s group members and anyone interested in joining. For more information, contact Bob Adams, Jim Evans, Don Wollwage, or Tom Tripp.

 

The Week

Starting this week, we are in Summer schedule mode. Please check our calendar or with program organizers to see if meetings and events are happening. During summer, there will be no RE, no personal theology, no lunches, etc. 

Monday, June 1

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.

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

1 pm Grief Circle
Fireside Room – Grief is part of our shared humanity.  Whether we grieve the death of a loved one or another loss, healing begins when grief is shared and witnessed. In this circle, we gather in a spirit of compassion to listen, speak honestly, and hold one another in care. Show up as you are, with no expectation to “move on” or have answers. Through conversation, reflection, and deep listening, we create a community where grief is honored and healing can unfold.

Tuesday, June 2

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

12:30 – 2:30 pm Immigrant Solidarity Project Vigils
In 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, June 3

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. 

Thursday, June 4

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.

Friday, June 6

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, June 6

4 pm Berkeley Baroque Strings: A Handel Extravaganza!
In Person – Berkeley Baroque Strings presents A Handel Extravaganza! — an evening of works by Georg Friedrich Händel, featuring vocal soloists, concerti grossi, and selections from the Water Music and Queen of Sheba. Entry is pay what you can. More info. 

Upcoming Events

June 13 – Death Café Conversations
June 20 – Church du Soleil Summer Solstice
July 13-17 – UUCB Ukulele Summer Camp

Announcements & Resources

The Immigrant Solidarity Project of our Social Justice Council has been participating in the #ReadThemHome campaign to close the family detention center in Dilley TX. You can view our homemade videos here. When you do, if you are moved, please donate to the commissary fund to help detainees access clean water and food and sign the petition to close Dilley.

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.

Thank you to Dave Belden for coming in to work on a leaky faucet in the bathroom! We appreciate your time and experience!

Dear UUCBers: THANK you for all the donations you’ve made for the Blessings Bags, and then taking them to share with others. As we start to travel and hotel, if you collect toiletries to give to the BBs, the fuchsia box will be in the atrium throughout the summer to collect them. Our next ASSEMBLE will be in September.

THANKS!  Beth Jerde


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.

Good Neighbor for May


Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity
Their mission is: “Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity is a statewide California organization that connects clergy and people of faith to the work of social justice. We work to make the criminal justice system more just, and the immigration system more fair and humane.”

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): by appointment only. Email
  • Peter Barnholdt (Facilities Manager): currently on extended leave. 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 racial
justice, embodying anti-racist practices, and confronting and
dismantling 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.”


Donate

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

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