Spiritual Adventures In Parenting, UUCPA’s group for parents of children from birth through high school, meets again this Sunday, December 21, from 11:45 AM–12:45 PM.
We’ll gather in the Fireside Room. Childcare will be provided!
To learn more, email spiritualparenting@uucpa.org.
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 ...
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 ...
FOR YOUR SAFETY AT ALL TIMES, PLEASE RESPECT ANY BARRIERS AND SIGNAGE ON CAMPUS.
Construction hours this holiday week are 8 AM to 5 PM on Monday (12/22) and Tuesday (12/23). There will be no construction on December 24 through December 26.
CURRENT CLOSURE STATUS:
KITCHEN + CHOIR ROOM
The kitchen and choir room are closed for construction until ...
Two beloved holiday traditions at UUCPA take place on Sunday, December 21.
During the morning service, we’ll share our No-Rehearsal Christmas Pageant—an all-ages, audience-participation celebration of the Christmas story. Costumes are provided, and everyone is welcome to join in.
Later that evening at 7:00 pm, we’ll gather for our Winter Solstice Service, a meaningful time of reflection, music, and community as ...
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 winter holidays are here and many of our favorite holiday events are happening at UUCPA: Holiday Bake Sale, Caroling, Concerts, No-Rehearsal Christmas Pageant, and Winter Solstice and Christmas Eve Services. Members, friends, and visitors to the church are welcome to come together in community.
Celebrating the Life of Jerry Strom - January 10, 2026
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, & ...
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. “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 make informed and responsible decisions ...
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, & ...
Have fun and make new connections at an informal potluck Circle Supper this fall hosted at a UUCPA member’s home! There is still availability at the last 3 supper dates in October and November. Use this Circle Supper sign-up form to choose a supper that works for you. The host will contact you to confirm ...
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 ...
The Forum meets from 8:30 to 10 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for August 2025:8/3 What is it we love so much about our pets? – Barbara Symons8/10 Are we a part of a 1% group? – Warren Schmidt8/17 Taking Action for Peace and Justice – Kristi Iverson8/24 The impact of ...
While the remodel of the UUCPA campus hasn’t started yet, we are ready! Due to the hard work of the Campus Vision Task Force, our contractor assures us that there will be evening and weekend access to all UUCPA buildings during construction. What great news!
That means the following will continue as usual:
Sunday worship—in person and on Zoom ...
The Campus Vision Task Force broke ground on Sunday, July 6. After 4 long years of planning, we’re finally getting started!
We convened along the entrance drive outside the door to the back hall, where the outside unit for our heat pump HVAC will be installed. Snacks and celebratory drinks were provided.
Missed the event? ...
Dear, dear UUCPA folks,
I can’t thank you enough for that wonderful send-off on the 15th. All the coordination by Rev. Cat and her great poem for the Time for All Ages (move over, Dr. Seuss!)–all the graceful participation from Mayo Tsuzuki and Rev. Melissa Thomson–Rev. Jen Dillinger’s inspiring sermon–Rev. Lucy Bunch’s very moving laying on ...
You may notice some new signs around campus. They are there because the difference between public and private spaces has legal implications for immigration enforcement. ICE cannot enter private space without a judicial warrant.
We cannot prevent ICE from coming into public spaces, which some of UUCPA’s spaces are. But we can make it clear that ...
The Forum meets from 8:30 to 10 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for July 2025:
7/6 Positive outlook on the global economy – Dave Joki
7/13 What was the most fun thing you experienced this week? Barbara Symons (facilitator)
7/20 Is Trump an “enemy, domestic”? Bob Greene
7/27 Discussion of Matters of Current Local, National, ...
UUs of color, mark your calendars!
We come together as Black, Indigenous, People of Color Unitarian Universalists to be sanctuary to one another. To hear our stories. To share collective grief and joy. We keep us safe. We keep us free. We are so glad to have you connected with our growing movement and we hope ...
Please check out all the fun events we have planned for this summer. Grab a printed copy from the CYRE board this Sunday.
May 25
Summer Sunday School for K-8 Starts at 10:15
Jun 1
Flower Communion Intergenerational Service
Jun 8
Summer Sunday School for K-8 at 10:15
Jun 15
Summer Sunday School for K-8 at 10:15
Jun 21
Equinox Celebration and Game Night 6 ...
American Humanist Association Annual Conference Watch Party at UUCPA - June 28
Glad you asked …
Campus Vision: working to decarbonize the UUCPA campus, getting rid of natural gas
EV ride events, collaborating with Acterra and other to expand awareness
Activity Fair: encourage more walking, bicycling events
Veg forward UUCPA food, kudos to Edie Keating Sundays lunch and brunches, environmentally friendly cheese tasting, and looking for more ideas to get member ...
At our June 1 congregational meeting, the UUCPA congregation resoundingly voted yes to call Reverend Catherine Boyle to continue as Assistant Minister of Religious Education. Rev. Cat accepted our call and sent this message:
Thank you—truly—for the joy and honor of calling me as your Minister of Religious Education. I’m filled with gratitude for your trust ...
The Forum meets from 8:30 to 10 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for June 2025:
6/1 (Great Decisions) International Cooperation on Climate Change – Sarah Doxiadis
6/8 Women are not marrying now. Why? Warren Schmidt
6/15 Memories of Forum Folks – Dick Duda (Facilitator)
6/22 Should we do away with daylight savings time? Tom Parker
6/29 ...
UUCPA members have a big decision to make next week!
Dear UUCPA folks,
Well, here we are! The congregation has gathered in numerous small groups to talk about the future of our religious education (RE) ministry, the Discernment Committee has compiled a report of these conversations, and the Board has unanimously recommended that we call Rev. Cat ...
Great news on the Campus Vision Project! Both of our permits, the Building Permit and the Utility Permit, have been approved! So are we knocking down walls tomorrow? Not quite yet …
The next step is to get an updated bid from the contractor, Bach Construction, based on the approved plans which include changes required by ...
