The Week Ahead at UUCB

In Our Own Good Time
Rev. Marcus Liefert
Sunday December 8 Worship Service 11 amDigital devices buzz and chime, push little red bubbles counting the new notifications demanding our attention, all designed to activate our sense of urgency. How do we claim our authority to use a deeper rhythm to set the pace of our activity?In Person, Facebook Live and YouTube

Click here to view all the holiday events happening at UUCB

Saturday December 7, 2024

12 – 2 pm Holiday Decorating
2 pm Death Cafe Conversations
4 pm Sing-Along Messiah

Sunday December 8, 2024

9:20 am Personal Theology
In Person and Zoom – Now What? An Integral View of the World We Face. Dr. Karen Voorhees. In times of such turmoil, uncertainty and distress, how can we prepare ourselves for what lies ahead?  A Personal Theology speaker in the past, Dr. Karen Voorhees returns with an update on her views of big history, the humanities and spirituality.  She has a Ph.D. in cultural history.

Join us in the Fireside Room or
Click here to join on Zoom

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: ktlipka@gmail.com.

10:30 pm Coffee and Community 
Atrium – Starts at 10:30 am in the Atrium

11 am Religious Education
In Person – Children and youth will make cards of remembrance and help with the food drive. All while exploring the theme of the month ADVENT and PAYING ATTENTION. Please email Kathryn Jay, Director of Family Ministry for more information: kathryn@uucb.org.

11 am Worship Service
In Person, Facebook Live and YouTube – In Our Own Good Time; Rev. Marcus Liefert preaching.

12:15 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!

12:30 pm Newcomer Q&A
Fireside Room – If you’re new to UUCB, come join us for a casual lunch and learn more about what our community has to offer to explore your spirituality, find inspiration, enjoy music, laughter, and support. Grab lunch in the Social Hall and join us in the Fireside Room.

12:30 pm Fairwell to Tess Snook O’Riva

Join us after the 11am service to celebrate and bid farewell to our departing Executive Director, Tess Snook O’Riva, with lunch and cake in the Social Hall. Take a moment to share your appreciation with Tess in person and contribute to a memory book honoring her five years of dedication and commitment. A table will be set up on Sunday for collecting your words, photos, and memories, with supplies provided for you to write your heartfelt messages. You may also email them to lbmaynard3@me.com, or drop them off at church until Dec. 15.

1 pm Humanist Connections
Zoom – Dennis Monthei will discuss “Elon Musk” 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 Ray Westergard.

The Week

Monday, December 9

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: khewitt@lmi.net.

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. On the 3rd Monday we meet in person. RSVP to Evelie Delfino Såles Posch evelie511@gmail.com.

11 am Textile and ArtSafir Room – Contact Karen Tripp, Helen Toy, and Judy Samtrippklw@yahoo.com, helen_toy@yahoo.com, or jssam47@yahoo.com

Tuesday, December 10

10 am Improving Your Balance Through Tai Chi 
In Person – Email info@uucb.org for more information.

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

Final day to complete LGBTQIA+ survey

If you identify somewhere on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, you are invited to take our survey. It will shape how we plan for the future. The survey will be available till Dec 10 .
Questions? Marsha 510-423-1173

Click here to take survey.

Wednesday, December 11

10 am Walk & Talk Group
In Person – 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 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, meet at the UUCB front parking lot and we will walk from there. Contact Ann Harlow annharlow77@gmail.com or 510-559-3616.

10:30 am Aging with Grace
Zoom – A weekly gathering of people sharing ideas and encouragement as they age. Contact Anne Greenwood annegt1@sbcglobal.net (510) 734-3378 or Jane Ramsey: Jane.rms@gmail.com or (510) 499-5204.

7 pm Good Neighbor Selection during Social Justice CouncilZoom – Now is the time, more than ever to support the organizations that were created by caring individuals to help others. Please come to the Social Justice meeting. Wed, Dec 11, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom to listen to and vote for Good Neighbor nominees 2025. For more information, contact Cyndy Greenleaf

Click here to join on Zoom

Thursday, December 12

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 danielswinslowschmidt@gmail.com, 510-334-1334 or Tom trippthomas@yahoo.com, 510-495-4879.

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, December 13

9:30 am Improving Your Balance Through Tai Chi 
In Person – Email info@uucb.org for more information.

Saturday, December 14

1 – 5 pm Holiday Remembrance Activities
In Person – Join us to create a more Loving Community by reaching out to “Elders and Others” to remind them we are thinking of them with love and appreciation and wish them well, especially in this season that may feel sad and/or stressful. After church on Sunday, December 15, you may choose one or more bags to deliver and share a holiday chat.

Upcoming Events

Dec. 20 – Creating the Labyrinth in the Social Hall
Dec. 21 – Winter Solstice Celebration
Dec. 22 – La Befana: A Christmas Fable. Buy Tickets
Dec. 24 – Intergenerational Christmas Eve Service 5 pm
Dec. 24 – Late Night Christmas Eve Service

Announcements & Resources

Our dedicated staff provide the foundation for what makes UUCB a church that supports, challenges, and inspires us, and we thank them especially during this season. Through December 22, a donation box will be in the atrium to collect cash contributions of any amount, with a goal of raising at least $100 for each of our 21 staff members. The funds will be presented at a special staff gathering next month. Questions? Contact board member Helen Toy: helen_toy@ahoo.com.
We thank you so much for all of the donations that you have gifted the BLESSINGS BAGS project! As the holidays arrive and you start to travel, please keep in mind that the small toiletries provided by hotels are elemental in the bags. Our BB box is now located on a high table just before you enter the Social Hall. We appreciate socks as well. Any questions, please contact Beth Jerde bjerde55@hotmail.com
Nominations for the UUCB Board of Trustees are open for those who wish to enter by Written Petition. The UUCB Bylaws state: Additional nominations (for open positions on the Board) may be made by Written Petition, signed by at least 4% of the certified membership of the church and delivered to the Vice President at least seven Sundays prior to the election. The deadline for Written Petitions is December 22.

Good Neighbor for December

Tiny Village Spirit: https://tinyvillagespirit.org/
The mission of Tiny Village Spirit is to work to end the crisis of homelessness through engaging communities in constituent led development of decent, dignified emergency housing villages and in community organizing for systemic change toward creating housing justice.

UUCB Staff and Board Availability

  • Board Listening Presence: Michael Armstrong: (510) 219-3847 michaelarmstrong2494@comcast.net
  • Rev. Marcus Liefert (Minister) meetings by appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Email: revmarcus@uucb.org
  • Kathryn Jay (Director of Family Minstry) open office hours Tuesday and Thursday. By appointment on Wednesday and Friday.
  • Bryan Baker (Director of Music): in person Thursdays and Sunday mornings, and remotely Fridays. Email: bryan.baker@uucb.org
  • Janae Heard (Office Administrator): in office Tuesdays and Thursdays 11-5. Works remotely M-W-F. Email: janae@uucb.org
  • Peter Barnholdt (Facilities Manager): Tuesday-Friday 11-7:30.
  • Charis Domador (Connections Coordinator) works remotely M-F. Email: connections@uucb.org
  • Diana Steinbach (Finance Administrator) works remotely Mondays and Thursdays.

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 forward to him.
  • Subscribe to our newsletters.
  • To subscribe to the UUCB general discussion list email connections@uucb.org.
  • Subscribe to the Families discuss list
  • Social Justice email list: Email sejones1950@gmail.com

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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