Our religious education program’s project for the Spring focuses on democracy:
What is it? Why does it matter? How does it work?
The project gets kids on the inside of democracy by engaging in their own election. The project ends with a celebration party on 5/5
The Annual Meeting is on April 21, 12-2pm, in the Main Hall and on Zoom. We will be voting on the budget, justice partners, a bylaws amendment, and candidates for the Board, Nominating Committee, and General Assembly. Full agenda here.
Zoom links will be sent to voting-eligible members a week from the meeting. For those unable ...
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto proudly welcomes AUTHENTIC SELVES, a traveling photo-text exhibit from Family Diversity Projects. The exhibit will be open to the public from 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on three Sundays: March 31, April 7, and April 14, 2024.
Groundbreaking in its depictions of joy and community, AUTHENTIC SELVES celebrates trans and nonbinary ...
In the recent service about talking about Israel and Palestine, I asked you to write your hopes, fears, and questions about this heartbreaking issue. Dozens of people did—almost everyone in attendance—and what I and Rev. Cat learned was that people are seeking sound knowledge about the situation. I’ve found an excellent resource, and am going ...
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VjB7eyFV8q9pcx0RCcff1z0LI87PpiGm/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102293103349038766987&rtpof=true&sd=true
UUCPA’s native garden is one of four Palo Alto gardens featured on the Growing Natives Garden Tour, Saturday April 13 from 10-4. You can visit ours and other gardens in the Peninsula/South Bay area. Register here: gngt.org
This year the Action Council is proposing the addition of two new partners, Peninsula Food Runners, nominated by Amy and Cal Finch, and There With Care, nominated by Ellen Flamen. They will replace Ada’s Cafe and California Interfaith Power and Light (CIPL).
Each month the Church supports a social justice organization by donating one Sunday’s plate ...
UUCPA Family Lunch Bunch 4/7 – Join the Family Lunch Bunch After Service. Meet on Patio for 11:45 AM to take off to Sancho’s (2723 Middlefield Road) together
Spring Project – Kids’ TownHall start 4/14 – Our religious education program’s project for the Spring focuses on democracy: What is it? Why does it matter? How ...
Save the date, April 28 ALJ Class: Getting to Know PRIDEnet
SciFi/Fantasy Discussion Group Next Meeting -- April 17 -- the movie "Super 8"
With our head usher out on medical leave for a few more weeks, and lots of visitors continuing to come to UUCPA, the ushers are more important than ever. If you want to try it out just once, let me know. You’ll be paired with someone who knows the ropes–a fun way to get to ...
Empty Nest Parent Group - May 5
This only happens one Sunday a year, so don’t miss it!
At this Sunday’s Budget Town Hall, we will all see the anticipated budget for the coming fiscal year. Please join in for that important meeting ~ with bagels and fruit at 11:15 to tide you over (online attendees: use the same link as the Sunday service). Pledges keep coming in, but as I write, we ...
UUCPA Family Lunch Bunch - April 7
The Campus Vision Task Force wants to give you an update on what’s been happening with our campus vision project. We’ve had a few bumps in the road, and wanted to catch you up on where things stand.
You may remember that we hired Karin Payson as our architect in April 2022. She helped the congregation ...
On the 11th of each month for over seven years, the many congregations of Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice have come together for a multifaith service. This Thursday, April 11, 7 – 7:30 pm, we of UUCPA host the service, with the theme “Turning Outward Toward One Another.” Join us in the Fireside Room ...
The Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of California was the first UU statewide action network in the country when it formed in 2002, and it continues to connect UUs throughout our state to translate our passion for justice into action for justice.
It’s a big state, so the UUJMCA pulls together Cluster Conversations for us to get ...
On March 17th we concluded our 1-week pledge drive for the 2024-2025 pledge year. Thank you to all who pledged and all who celebrated at either one or both of our pledge week luncheons. While the official pledge drive is over, we’re still short of the amount needed to support our budget. The stewardship ...
Help Wanted……..The Opportunity Center at 33 Encinitas Ave, Palo Alto regularly needs volunteers at meal time. The Center, open 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, provides emergency shelter, food, and case management to adult men and women in Palo Alto. The help needed is at breakfast, 8 – 9:30 am, or lunchtime 11:55 am ...
UUCPA Campus Work Day - April 6
The Forum meets from 8:30 to 10 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for April 2024:
4/7 Great Decisions – Science across borders –Steve Ludington
4/14 The experience of gardens – Kay Culpepper
4/21 Water in the Western states — Richard Heydt
4/28 Discussion of Matters of Current Local, National, & International Interest, & Selection of ...
You are invited to a discussion on our CYRE goals on Saturday March 30 2024, 10 AM – 12:00 PM in the Fireside Room @ UUCPA and via Zoom.
Who should come? Everyone at UUCPA has some relationship with our children and youth programs – from being on the CYRE Committee or teaching Sunday School, to ...
https://youtu.be/_cwV3eVFYJ8
Join us this Sunday for the debut of the “Authentic Selves” exhibit, featuring stunning photos and stories of trans and non-binary individuals and their families, in the Fireside room and main hall. Also, get ready for an egg-citing Easter service filled with inspirational stories, beautiful music by Liz Russ and Veronica on piano, and, of ...
The Elder Journey group at UUCPA thrived for many years, meeting twice a month and discussing everything under the sun, from How to Prevent Falls to My Favorite Thanksgiving. Membership waxed and waned, but the toughest challenge was COVID. Being unable to meet in person took the wind out of our sails.
Inspired by many, many ...
Heart and Home Women’s Shelter arrived at UUCPA on Sunday, March 3, and is here for 6 weeks. So we need some dinner sign-ups! You will be signing up to bring a dinner for 12-15 with an entree and sides. (Drinks, plates, salad dressing are provided. Dessert is optional.) Bring a ready-to-eat dinner to the ...
Starting in April over several Sundays, kids will learn about the power and importance of democracy through enacting their own campaign to improve the church. If you would like to be involved either as a teacher or guest speaker, please reach out to Cat.
Game Night – 3/16 6-8 pm
Bring your buddies and your board games for a fun night!
Parents Night Out – 3/23 5-8 pm
Take the night off and let UUCPA take care of the childcare.
Easter Egg Hunt – after service on 3/31 invite your friends and come to UUCPA’s Easter Egg Hunt
UUCPA Workshop - What We Choose: UU Ethics, March 24 @ 11:30 am
Newcomers, join Amy for tea after the service on March 24–a great way to get to know UUCPA and each other better.
Dear UUCPA folks,
Sometimes when I’m typing or writing the date and I get to that “2024,” I wonder, “How will this year go down in history?” It seems inevitable that for good or ill, 2024 will be one of those years to remember, like 1941, 1865, and 1776. How can it not be, when November’s ...
If you’re planning to buy chocolate for Easter or Mother’s Day or other Springtime events, the Action Council urges you to consider fair trade chocolate. Much of the world’s chocolate (and coffee and tea) is grown and harvested by children, some of them in forced labor. This chart will let you know which chocolate ...
The 2024 Nominating Committee (Kim Carlson, Autri Dutta, Ed Haertel, Esa Jacobi, and Marilyn Stoddard) is delighted to put forward two outstanding candidates for election to the Board of Trustees: Autri Dutta and Judy Lookabill. The election will occur during the congregation’s Annual Meeting on April 21. As stated in the Bylaws, “Additional nominations may be made for ...
Would you like to suggest a non-profit organization for Justice Partner? Each month the Church supports a social justice organization by donating one Sunday’s plate collection to the organization. Suggestions for new partners and support for existing partners should be sent to the Action Council (email actioncouncil@uucpa.org or talk to an action council member) before Wed, March ...
Spiritual Adventures In Parenting, UUCPA’s group for parents of children between the ages of birth and tween, meets again this Sunday, March 17, from 11:30a.m.–12:30p.m., following the church service.
We’ll gather in the Fireside Room. Childcare will be provided.
We’ll share joys and challenges from the past month. We’ll also share our questions, insights, and surprises from ...
Did you get to see all the little gifts that went out by email this week? If not, you can catch up now!
https://youtu.be/m8ImX9taqDU?si=JJg4PNVBXzPm2fkX
https://youtu.be/SjBbo0qPIQ8?si=RIO7PIrj8Ba8ZWrL
https://youtu.be/ppFLZTOb9jU?si=-TQ7-HaJM2H8cxAQ
https://youtu.be/jDc43ciicjw?si=8u7iKENmrKV6bEYR
https://youtu.be/En6gG96QLH4?si=SVh8ZoOZ6mrL_KUn
To stay in the loop, click here to sign up for:
The Weekly Update, sent on Saturday morning
Announce, which you receive in real time*–low volume, automatically includes the Weekly Update
CREParents, which you receive in ...
Connect with other UUs in the Pacific Western Region. Our 4th Regional Assembly will be held in Denver on April 19 and 20, at the beautiful First Universalist Church. You can attend either in person or online. The keynote address will feature a conversation between our UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt and the new President ...
The Forum meets from 8:30 to 10 am on Sunday mornings. Here are the Forum topics for March 2024:
3/3 Great Decisions – The U.S. and the Middle East – Jai Cho
3/10 Photography: a brief history and some current issues – Chris Cassel
3/17 How do we know what is true? – Susan Owicki
3/24 Bipolar Disorder: ...
It’s pledge week, a.k.a. Celebrate This Wonderful Community Week!
This Sunday, March 10, we have an extra-special Second Sunday Lunch, with ice cream sundaes for dessert. At that lunch, our emcee Sven Thesen will draw the first of six prizes. The way to get your name onto a slip in the drawing is to turn in ...
Our next SciFi/Fantasy meeting is March 20, 7-8:30, on Zoom. We’ll discuss the novel Piranesi, by Susannah Clarke.
At the end of the meeting, we will choose a book for our May meeting.
Contact: Jane Chronis (scifi+owner@uucpa.org)
On Sunday, March 10, we kick off our one-week pledge campaign with a great service, enjoy an extra-special Second Sunday Lunch, have the first prize drawing for all who have made their pledges, and celebrate the life of John Pierce. You don’t want to be late for any of this, nor Forum, Religious Education, or ...
Click for a preview of the March 10 service
See you there,
Amy
We will remember and give thanks for the life of John Pierce on Sunday, March 10 at 2 pm, in the Main Hall. John, who served UUCPA in numerous capacities over his more than 20 years as a member of the congregation, died on November 1. All are warmly invited to share their memories of ...
The Action Council of the UUCPA has joined the Becoming Beloved Community Task Force at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church as a co-sponsor for their free speaker series, Community, Faith, and Racial Justice. They have invited us to attend the first talk by Dr. Lerone A. Martin, Professor and Director of the Martin Luther King, ...
Join the Buildings, Grounds, and Garden team to improve UUCPA on this Saturday Morning!
Last month, we did a great job cutting back plants along the exit drive,
fixing the slamming door in the main hall (!!), and clearing off the
office roof.
This month there are:
o New LED tubes to install in the office. ...
What does it mean to be a member of UUCPA? What does it mean to belong?
In one sense–perhaps the most important one–simply being involved in the congregation is belonging. Sure, when you’re new to a congregation, as with any community, it usually takes a while to feel like you belong. At first, the names are ...
Dear UUCPA folks,
Rev. Cat and I have been making plans that are still a little too nebulous to have a spot on this site’s calendar, but that we want you to know about.—————–
On March 25, the Sunday service will be about Israel and Palestine, the heartbreaking war in Gaza, and how we can talk about ...
This message is to inform the congregation that the Board of Trustees has voted for UUCPA to co-sponsor the following two efforts:
1. A speaker series to be offered by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto entitled Community, Faith, and Racial Justice. The series begins on March 6. You can find out more about this speaker series here. There ...
New to UUCPA? Come have tea with our Parish Minister!
As I announced here last week, regular Newcomers’ Tea times are now resuming, with the next two on the calendar for Sunday, February 25, at 11:45 and Sunday, March 24, at 11:45.
Because attendance appears high for February 25, we will meet in Room A, which is ...
Let’s train together: Date now April 2
Opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, methadone and oxycodone have killed thousands of Californians and sent tens of thousands more to the emergency room in each of the past several years. An easy-to-administer treatment called naloxone, also known as Narcan, can save the life of someone who is overdosing on ...