Maribea Berry passed away peacefully at home on January 29, 2026 after years of managing metastatic cancer. She was surrounded by family. Please save the date for her Celebration of Life on Saturday, February 21st at 11AM in the main hall. It would mean a lot to Maribea if you would attend in body, in ...
Take the night off and let UUCPA take care of the childcare. 5-8 pm @ UUCPA. RSVP via email to Rev. Cat at revcat@uucpa.org.
Please join Rev. Peter on Sunday, February 22 for the first part of a lively, two-part discussion of A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism, by prominent UU ministers John Buehrens and the late Forrest Church (the second session in on Sunday, March 22). This classic book examines aspects of UU history, theology, congregational community, social action, and ...
Spiritual Adventures In Parenting, UUCPA’s group for parents of children from birth through high school, meets again this Sunday, February 22, from 11:45 AM–12:45 PM.
We’ll gather in the Room 6. Childcare will be provided!
To learn more, email spiritualparenting@uucpa.org.
You may have noticed that there hasn’t been much construction work lately on the Campus Vision Project. The work has been temporarily paused while the structural and HVAC engineers work with the contractors to adjust the plans. After the demolition was completed, the Kitchen’s walls, floors, and supporting beams were exposed, and complications discovered. The ...
Our first step is to form a Ministerial Search Team to work on our behalf to find our next Senior Minister. We are asking you to take a few moments to consider who should be on that Search Team. Think about people who are trusted by and representative of us and aware of our strengths ...
Interested in making new connections at UUCPA? Join an informal potluck Circle Supper this spring hosted at a UUCPA member’s home! Over a meal is a great way to get to know each other. We currently have three available supper dates between February 27 and March 15. Use this Circle Supper sign-up form to choose the date that works ...
Save the Date: Dancing From Within - Open Movement & Sound Bath for All Ages - Feb 28, 2pm
Are you new or newish to UUCPA? We invite you to settle in and become more connected here. Perhaps you’d also like to gain clarity about what it means to be part of the UU faith and all the ways you can engage in our community? If so, Starting Point was designed for you. This 3-week ...
This is our best opportunity each year to bring the public into our large native garden, hopefully inspiring more native gardening on the Peninsula, and sharing our values, especially with respect to the interdependent web. Can you help on Sunday, April 19, when the UUCPA Native Garden is on the regional Growing Natives Garden Tour?
We need volunteers for ...
To all users of the UUCPA campus,
FOR YOUR SAFETY AT ALL TIMES, PLEASE RESPECT ANY BARRIERS AND SIGNAGE ON CAMPUS.
Construction is temporarily paused, but all current closures are still in effect. Please use caution near construction areas.
CURRENT CLOSURE STATUS:
KITCHEN + CHOIR ROOM
The kitchen and choir room are closed for construction until further notice. The hallway ...
The Forum meets from 8:45 to 10:15 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for March, 2026:
3/1 Social Security problems & proposed solutions – Warren Schmidt
3/8 Ideas for reforming healthcare – Michael Abramson
3/15 The joy of making things – Paula Hillard
3/22 Three favorite trips in our lives — Trisha Suppes
3/29 2/22 Discussion of ...
Would you like to directly help someone who is unhoused? The UUCPA Action Council is holding a backpack drive with our January justice partner, Onyxx Village Connection.
Here’s how it works: After the service on January 25, stop by the Action Council table and sign out a backpack, which we will provide. Take the backpack home ...
Would you like to nominate an organization for Justice Partner? Each month the church supports a social justice organization by donating one Sunday’s plate collection to that organization. Congregants are invited to propose organizations for inclusion in the Justice Partner program. The Action Council will review the current and proposed recipients and present a slate ...
This past Sunday on 2/1, we celebrated the power of us during the installation service, we celebrated our connection to each other and this community.
We discovered that a living fire is actually made of the “heavy lifting” of love. It takes the sturdy wood brought by our adults, the deep, steady embers of our elders, and ...
The Action Council has approved a request by Kevin Ma to collect signatures on the patio for adding a Bay Area regional transit tax measure to the November 2026 ballot. Please look for the petition on the patio in the coming weeks and add your voice to get this initiative on the ballot. You can ...
Starting February 1st, the Thriving Together group is transitioning from a single hybrid meeting to two separate options: an in-person gathering and a Zoom gathering. The in-person group meets at 11:45 am at UUCPA, and the Zoom group meets at 7:00 pm. Both meetings will cover the same content, and participants are encouraged to choose the option ...
Starting January 25, 2026 during our usual Sunday School time (10:45 AM-11:45 AM), UUCPA is offering K-1 and 4-6 OWL classes (4-6 OWL start date TBA). “Our Whole Lives” (OWL) for elementary students is a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum. It is a comprehensive, values-based program designed to provide age-appropriate information on topics like human development, relationships, and sexual health to help children ...
The Forum meets from 8:45 to 10:15 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for February, 2026:
2/1 Things that we keep because they helped to define who we were – Ann Zeise
2/8 What would you like for the future of the Forum, and how can we foster it? – Susan Owicki
2/15 Discovering the ...
Happy 2026 Greetings and SalUUtations!
I hope you and yours enjoyed a lovely and restorative holiday season, and wish you all the best in the new year.
I’m writing to say that I’ve been putting together some thoughts that link outlooks on the human soul to personal and societal well-being; and how in my view the modern ...
I share with the congregation our deep sense of loss at the passing of Kay and Byron Brown. I also want to honor Kay’s indomitable spirit and no-nonsense approach to life by saying that UUCPA needs your help to find our next Treasurer, a position Kay held until very recently. If you or someone you ...
The Forum meets from 8:45 to 10:15 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for January, 2026:
1/4 What are you hoping to make happen in your life in 2026?
1/11 How long has it been since you made a new friend? Is it time to make some new ones? How will you do that? (in ...
This year’s Undie Sunday campaign was once again a great success! Thank you to everyone who participated! We donated numerous undies, hats, socks, coats, notebooks, sleeping bags, and more to the Opportunity Center’s annual Holiday Faire. All items have been delivered, and the Faire will take place on December 22. LifeMoves and the Opportunity Center ...
Thank you to all of you who have made the 2025 UUCPA Auction a huge success!
If you donated items to the auction, you should have received an email with the subject “UUCPA 2025 AUCTION donation receipt” from “Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto – UUCPA <noreply@auctria.com“. The email should include contact information for winners should ...
Remember those posts to Announce in early November about upcoming service projects? The projects served two of UUCPA’s Justice Partners, Onyxx Village Connection and LifeMoves, and were sponsored by the Social Justice Action Council and Children and Youth Religious Education committees (and you, indirectly 🙂). If you wondered whatever happened with those projects, or if ...
The Forum meets from 8:45 to 10:15 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for December 2025:
12/7 How Holiday Celebrations Change as We Move Through Life – Sarah Doxiadis
12/14 AI beyond ChatGPT – Michael Abramson
12/21 Our Remembrances of Christmas – Sarah Doxiadis
12/28 Discussion of Matters of Current Local, National, & International Interest, & ...
Our auction party took place on November 15, 2025, and it was a tremendous success thanks to the incredible generosity of our community. Whether you donated items, contributed your time, or gave financial support—thank you. We are deeply grateful.
This year we even surpassed our fundraising goal, something we haven’t achieved in many years. Your contributions ...
Help our youth grow with courage and care! Train as an Our Whole Lives (OWL) facilitator for Grades 7–9 and 10–12 And you’ll also be certified to teach the younger levels (K–1 and 4–6). Become a trusted guide for conversations about values, identity, and healthy relationships. Email Cat for more information: revcat@uucpa.org
In 1991, Halloween was approaching in my home town of St. Paul, Minnesota. Just as when I was young kids were eager to don their costumes, fill their bags with treats, then head to the local park for a neighborhood get-together. There they could warm up with free hot chocolate from massive stainless-steel urns, which ...
The Board has approved the addition of two new voting members to the Action Council (UUCPA’s social justice council). The new members are Chris Jacobi and Robert Neff. Robert is the Board Social Justice Portfolio holder. Peter Farriday will also be added as an ex-officio member, replacing Amy Morgenstern. If you have any questions about these changes, please email ActionCouncil@uucpa.org. The updated list of Action Council members is on this webpage.
Welcome Chris ...
Peek behind the cars parked along the entrance drive to see the male and female Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis) which have bloomed and are going to seed. The male plants had yellow flowers now turning brown. The female plants are covered with little white “tails” that turn fluffy to disperse their seeds in the wind. The nurseries don’t carry ...
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the UUCPA Board of Trustees spent the day together on campus for our annual board retreat. It’s a special time when we step away from the usual meeting agenda to reconnect, dream a little bigger, and talk about the year ahead. We wrapped up the day with a delicious potluck ...
The Forum meets from 8:45 to 10:15 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for November 2025:
11/2 American policy in the Middle East – Jim Basiji (Great Decisions)
11/9 What we know and don’t know about autism spectrum disorder – Paula Hillard
11/16 What can we do to combat fragmentation in our culture? Cybele LoVuolo-Bhushan
11/23 ...
Don’t forget! THIS Sunday, October 12, 2025, our Sunday worship start time is 10:30AM. This change is in response to several requests to move our Sunday worship start time later as well as to pick a time that is intuitively easy to communicate and remember. Enjoy the extra 15 minutes to arrive, greet friends, and settle in!
The UUCPA Action Council has voted to adopt the work of the recently formed Immigrant Action Task Force as a Justice Project for the coming months. The Task Force is accompanying an immigrant from Honduras, in conjunction with All Saints Episcopal Church of Palo Alto, for the next six to twelve months. As a formally ...
Are you planning to hand out chocolate this Halloween? Did you know that some well-known chocolate brands purchase their chocolate from farms and plantations that use child or slave labor? And some other brands choose to look the other way or don’t track their ingredient sourcing carefully.
Buying Fair Trade chocolate is a good way to support growers who are not using child or slave labor. Please ...
The Forum meets from 8:30 to 10 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for October 2025:
10/5 AI and American National Security (Great Decisions) – Susan Owicki
10/12 Experiencing the Resonant Reading Group – Ann Zeise
10/19 Inspiring Quotes and Sayings – Dick Duda
10/26 Discussion of Matters of Current Local, National, & International Interest, & ...
Folks at the Action Council table will show you how to support groups working to improve conditions for people in Gaza. Look for the table on the patio after the service.
We will be highlighting (and encouraging UUs to contribute to) these non-profits: Redwood City based Rebuilding Alliance (https://www.rebuildingalliance.org/), currently working to supply food specifically for ...
Last Sunday we celebrated Water Communion together and now your hopes, prayers and blessings are shared on campus. Come see the River you all created this Sunday. It is located on the walkway towards the office. If you can’t get to campus, you can read the cards here:
If you registered your child(ren) last year, you are registered for this year. New families and folks who need to update their information please register here.
This Sunday all children and youth will go to class together after the Story for All Ages with their teachers.
Preschool – 2nd Grade will meet in Room 6.
3rd – 5th Grade ...
Can’t commit to teach every time but would like to help out? Join our substitute list! No experience teaching required but a background check is. Reach out to revcat@uucpa.org.
Hello again!
Last month I offered an initial introduction that mainly contained practical information about how to best contact me, my typical schedule, and the like. I said there I’d follow up with some personal, professional, and spiritual background, and I’m happy to share that with you now.
I grew up in St. Paul, MN, third in ...
The Hotel de Zink Homeless Shelter will be hosted on our campus each night in September 2025, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with about 10 guests staying on cots in the main hall. Many thanks to all who volunteered to bring meals—we now have every night covered! If you signed up and would like ...
The Forum meets from 8:30 to 10 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for July 2025:
9/7 The Future of NATO and European Security – Michael Abramson (Great Decisions)
9/14 The New Telescope in Chile – Warren Schmidt
9/21 The Contamination of Ethnic Lingo, Symbols, and Everyday Words: How the Interconnection of Politicalization and Propaganda ...
Have you been thinking of joining the choir? If so, this is a good time to try it out. Studies have shown that singing is not only fun but good for you! It reduces stress, increases your ability to fight disease, helps strengthen lung capacity and memory, and builds a sense of joyful community. We rehearse ...
The Resonant Reading group, an exploration of ideas, feelings, and our life experiences using a different short reading as our springboard each time, meets on Saturdays at 4 pm and Wednesdays at noon via Zoom. All are wide open and you are welcome to come twice a week or once in a while. ...
We are recruiting teachers and advisors for the fall. Want to teach but never have done it before? Taught for a long time ago and would like to teach again? Do you want to lead a short-term project instead of an entire class for next year? Reach out to Cat to learn more at revcat@uucpa.org
The Action Council has recently made the following endorsements:
Co-sponsorship of the Interfaith Booth at the Silicon Valley Pride Festival on August 30-31 in San Jose. As a co-sponsor, the Action Council has made a donation to the cost of the booth and UUCPA will be listed again as a welcoming congregation on the sponsor list and on the ...
Small changes create big results! This in-person support group is designed for anyone looking to improve their quality of life through better sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management. 3Whether you’re looking to boost your energy, prevent disease, or manage a chronic condition, we’ll explore science-backed strategies and real-life best practices from peers to help you feel ...
I’m so pleased to begin my time as UUCPA’s Interim Minister! Some of you may not know that I served as Sabbatical Minister from July – December of 2023, and I’m thrilled to have been invited back. I’m grateful to the Search/Hiring Team for their confidence in me, and very much look forward to getting ...
