There is a lot going on at UUCPA.  Here is a brief listing of upcoming events.  For a more comprehensive list, please visit the calendar.

Upcoming Events for Children & Youth
Upcoming Adult Classes
Upcoming Music
Upcoming Newcomer/Visitor Events
Upcoming Group Meetings
Upcoming Justice Projects/Events
Upcoming Special Events
Upcoming Holiday Events
Upcoming Non-UUCPA Events

Upcoming Events for Children & Youth

Sunday School for children and youth preK through grade 8

04/12/2026, 10:30 am - 11:30 am UUCPA (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

This Sunday is our first Sunday of the season with our special Spring programming for preschool and elementary students. In the weeks leading to celebrating May Day with the Maypole on Sunday May 3rd, we are welcoming the spring by practicing its ancient traditions. From weaving flower crowns to dancing the Maypole, we will be learning about the season through these activities. We invite everyone to join us in dancing the Maypole on May 3rd together!
This Sunday 
After the story, preschool – 8th grade is invited to attend class.
10:45 AM 
  • K-1 OWL Celebration with Parents meets in Room 4-5
  • 4-6 OWL Orientation in Room 1
  • Preschool – 5th grade in Till Evans Patio for Spring Project
  • 6 – 8th grade in Room 10 for Neighboring Faiths
11:45 AM 
  • Childcare providing pizza and movie in Room 2 for kids. Childcare will run until the Money Matters Info Session is complete.
  • Money Matters Info Session in Main Hall
12:00 PM
  • 4-6 OWL Parent Orientation in Room 1

Because we believe in learning by doing, a very important part of our religious education is participation, with all ages, in the first part of regular worship services. Then during Sunday school, young people learn and play with people their age. Feel free to ask Sunday school teachers what they did this week. If you would like to review curriculum materials that are not online, please contact Rev. Cat Boyle.

Reminders are sent via the weekly Sunday School Reminder email. If you didn’t get it, please email cyrecommittee@uucpa.org to get on our list.Find out more at: https://www.uucpa.org/learning/children-and-youth/sunday-morning-program-for-families/

 

 


OWL 4-6 Orientation Meeting (Parents)

04/12/2026, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

The parent orientation meeting for OWL 4-6 will be held in Room 1.


All Ages Game Night

04/18/2026, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Room 4/5 (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Bring your favorite board game and snacks and learn a new one with your family and friends. Everyone welcome!

Questions?  Contact Rev. Cat.

Check out more family fun activities here.


Sunday School for children and youth preK through grade 8

04/19/2026, 10:30 am - 11:30 am UUCPA (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Because we believe in learning by doing, a very important part of our religious education is participation, with all ages, in the first part of regular worship services. Then during Sunday school, young people learn and play with people their age. Feel free to ask Sunday school teachers what they did this week. If you would like to review curriculum materials that are not online, please contact Rev. Cat Boyle.

Reminders are sent via the weekly Sunday School Reminder email. If you didn’t get it, please email cyrecommittee@uucpa.org to get on our list.Find out more at: https://www.uucpa.org/learning/children-and-youth/sunday-morning-program-for-families/

 

 


Parents Night Out!

04/25/2026, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Room 4/5 (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Parents deserve a break! Let UUCPA take care of dinner and childcare while you go out on the town every fourth Saturday (holidays excluded), usually 5:00-8:00 pm. Age range to participate: 5 and up. Please RSVP so we can get an accurate headcount. (Can’t access the sign up? Email Rev. Cat and she’ll help you sign up and get on the mailing list.)

Do you have a high schooler who would like to be part of our childcare team for this event for community service hours and some change? Email Rev. Cat.


Sunday School for children and youth preK through grade 8

04/26/2026, 10:30 am - 11:30 am UUCPA (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Because we believe in learning by doing, a very important part of our religious education is participation, with all ages, in the first part of regular worship services. Then during Sunday school, young people learn and play with people their age. Feel free to ask Sunday school teachers what they did this week. If you would like to review curriculum materials that are not online, please contact Rev. Cat Boyle.

Reminders are sent via the weekly Sunday School Reminder email. If you didn’t get it, please email cyrecommittee@uucpa.org to get on our list.Find out more at: https://www.uucpa.org/learning/children-and-youth/sunday-morning-program-for-families/

 

 


Sunday School for children and youth preK through grade 8

05/03/2026, 10:30 am - 11:30 am UUCPA (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Because we believe in learning by doing, a very important part of our religious education is participation, with all ages, in the first part of regular worship services. Then during Sunday school, young people learn and play with people their age. Feel free to ask Sunday school teachers what they did this week. If you would like to review curriculum materials that are not online, please contact Rev. Cat Boyle.

Reminders are sent via the weekly Sunday School Reminder email. If you didn’t get it, please email cyrecommittee@uucpa.org to get on our list.Find out more at: https://www.uucpa.org/learning/children-and-youth/sunday-morning-program-for-families/

 

 


Sunday School for children and youth preK through grade 8

05/10/2026, 10:30 am - 11:30 am UUCPA (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Because we believe in learning by doing, a very important part of our religious education is participation, with all ages, in the first part of regular worship services. Then during Sunday school, young people learn and play with people their age. Feel free to ask Sunday school teachers what they did this week. If you would like to review curriculum materials that are not online, please contact Rev. Cat Boyle.

Reminders are sent via the weekly Sunday School Reminder email. If you didn’t get it, please email cyrecommittee@uucpa.org to get on our list.Find out more at: https://www.uucpa.org/learning/children-and-youth/sunday-morning-program-for-families/

 

 


Children and Youth Religious Education Committee meeting

05/14/2026, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Oversees and evaluates all children and youth programs; plans and carries out special events; organizes Baby Cafe; supports social justice projects that welcome children and youth; more generally, helps the wider congregation better meet the needs of families, children, and youth. Contact: cyrecommittee@uucpa.org. Chair: Edie Keating. Board Liaison: Rev. Cat Boyle


All Ages Game Night

05/16/2026, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Room 4/5 (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Bring your favorite board game and snacks and learn a new one with your family and friends. Everyone welcome!

Questions?  Contact Rev. Cat.

Check out more family fun activities here.


Upcoming Adult Classes

Nothing scheduled at this time.

Upcoming Music

Sacred Harp Shape Note Singing

04/12/2026, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Fireside Room (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Join the democratic and inclusive American song tradition of Sacred Harp music, one of the oldest ongoing music traditions in the United States. Rolling Stone magazine talks about “the soaring magnificence of Sacred Harp.” National Public Radio calls it “full-body singing,” and radio station KALW says it’s a “communal experience.” Come find out for yourself. Beginners are always welcome, and loaner books are available.

Dates:               2nd & 4th Sunday every month

Time:                 2-4 pm

Location:        The Fireside Room

Facilitator:       Palo Alto Sacred Harp singers

Contact:          sacredharp@uucpa.org

Registration:   Not required

Sacred-Harp Singing


By Your Side Singers

04/15/2026, 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm Hamaker Library (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

You are welcome to sing with the By Your Side Singers, the 1st Wed of the month June – Aug, the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays during the rest of the year.


Choir Practice

04/16/2026, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Main Hall (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Singers wanted! We can use singers on all parts. Don’t be shy – give us a try!

The UUCPA choir welcomes singers of all vocal backgrounds. We are looking for people:

  • Who love to sing with others and be inspired by the act of making live music
  • Who want to learn and perform a variety of musical styles, in many different languages
  • Who can join us in weekly rehearsals and Sunday morning worship

You don’t have to sight-read, but you should be able to understand a music score and to learn a part quickly after hearing it. Bruce makes pronunciation recordings to help us learn the text in languages other than English.

Date: Rehearsals – Thursday, 7-9 pm, and Sunday, 9:45 am; Performances – Sunday, 10:15 am, September to mid-Jun
Location: Main Hall
Facilitator: Bruce Olstad, Music Director (music-director@uucpa.org)

Contact: music@uucpa.org


Choir Practice

04/23/2026, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Main Hall (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Singers wanted! We can use singers on all parts. Don’t be shy – give us a try!

The UUCPA choir welcomes singers of all vocal backgrounds. We are looking for people:

  • Who love to sing with others and be inspired by the act of making live music
  • Who want to learn and perform a variety of musical styles, in many different languages
  • Who can join us in weekly rehearsals and Sunday morning worship

You don’t have to sight-read, but you should be able to understand a music score and to learn a part quickly after hearing it. Bruce makes pronunciation recordings to help us learn the text in languages other than English.

Date: Rehearsals – Thursday, 7-9 pm, and Sunday, 9:45 am; Performances – Sunday, 10:15 am, September to mid-Jun
Location: Main Hall
Facilitator: Bruce Olstad, Music Director (music-director@uucpa.org)

Contact: music@uucpa.org


Sacred Harp Shape Note Singing

04/26/2026, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Fireside Room (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Join the democratic and inclusive American song tradition of Sacred Harp music, one of the oldest ongoing music traditions in the United States. Rolling Stone magazine talks about “the soaring magnificence of Sacred Harp.” National Public Radio calls it “full-body singing,” and radio station KALW says it’s a “communal experience.” Come find out for yourself. Beginners are always welcome, and loaner books are available.

Dates:               2nd & 4th Sunday every month

Time:                 2-4 pm

Location:         Fireside Room

Facilitator:       Palo Alto Sacred Harp singers

Contact:          sacredharp@uucpa.org

Registration:   Not required

Sacred-Harp Singing


Upcoming Newcomer/Visitor Events

Nothing scheduled at this time.

Upcoming Group Meetings/Gatherings

Resonant Reading (Saturday, 4/11)-Not MeetingResonant Reading (Saturday, 4/11)-Not Meeting

04/11/2026, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

An exploration of ideas, feelings, and our life experiences, using a different short reading as our springboard each time. The sessions are on Saturdays, 4-5, and on Wednesdays, 12-1. All are wide open and you are welcome to come twice a week or once in a while.
The participants over the years have found that the approach we take, and the respectful, affectionate community of inquirers in which we read and converse, are as important as the reading itself. While many small groups begin with a check-in, with a session only an hour long, Resonant Reading jumps right in to the conversation. Those who are frequently in the group get to know each other very well this way, and those who are new will soon find they are among friends.

Facilitators use a light hand, posting the reading in the chat and calling on whoever’s Zoom hand is up. Suggestions for readings* come from group members, who also take turns facilitating, if they want to try that role.

The reading for this session: Saturday, April 11

[Science and religion each] has a legitimate magisterium, or domain of teaching authority-and these magisteria do not overlap (the principle that I would like to designate as NOMA, or “nonoverlapping magisteria”). The net of science covers the empirical universe: what is it made of (fact) and why does it work this way (theory). The net of religion extends over questions of moral meaning and value. These two magisteria do not overlap, nor do they encompass all inquiry (consider, for starters, the magisterium of art and the meaning of beauty).
NOMA … cuts both ways. If religion can no longer dictate the nature of factual conclusions properly under the magisterium of science, then scientists cannot claim higher insight into moral truth from any superior knowledge of the world’s empirical constitution. This mutual humility has important practical consequences in a world of such diverse passions.
Religion is too important to too many people for any dismissal or denigration of the comfort still sought by many folks from theology. I may, for example, privately suspect that papal insistence on divine infusion of the soul represents a sop to our fears, a device for maintaining a belief in human superiority within an evolutionary world offering no privileged position to any creature. But I also know that souls represent a subject outside the magisterium of science. My world cannot prove or disprove such a notion, and the concept of souls cannot threaten or impact my domain. Moreover, while I cannot personally accept the Catholic view of souls, I surely honor the metaphorical value of such a concept both for grounding moral discussion and for expressing what we most value about human potentiality: our decency, care, and all the ethical and intellectual struggles that the evolution of consciousness imposed upon us.
–Stephen J. Gould (1997). Nonoverlapping Magisteria. Natural History 106(2), 16–22.

 

 

How to join:

  • Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/91019857324, passcode 227385
  • Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 910 1985 7324
  • Join this class by phone: 669 900 9128 US (San Jose), Meeting ID: 910 1985 7324
  • Join this class by on-tap on mobile phones: +16699009128,,91019857324# US (San Jose)
  • Phoning in, but not in the bay area?  Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT

This is the Zoom link for Saturdays. For the Wednesday Zoom link, go to the Calendar and click on a Wednesday session.

Questions? Drop an e-mail to resonant-reading+owner@uucpa.org.

 

*This activity was formerly called “Sacred Text Reading.” That proved misleading–for one thing, more often than not our sources are secular–but it’s worth describing the qualities of a sacred text, which we still look for in the readings we choose. It is any reading that helps us to:

  • connect to something of supreme importance to us
  • feel more connected to other beings or to the universe
  • feel more intensely alive
  • align our lives with our values,
  • perceive or feel more deeply
  • be more fully and authentically ourselves.

Resonant Reading (Wednesday, April 15)-The Ancient Tribes—HawksResonant Reading (Wednesday, April 15)-The Ancient Tribes—Hawks

04/15/2026, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

An exploration of ideas, feelings, and our life experiences, using a different short reading as our springboard each time. The sessions are on Saturdays, 4-5, and on Wednesdays, 12-1. All are wide open and you are welcome to come twice a week or once in a while.
The participants over the years have found that the approach we take, and the respectful, affectionate community of inquirers in which we read and converse, are as important as the reading itself. While many small groups begin with a check-in, with a session only an hour long, Resonant Reading jumps right in to the conversation. Those who are frequently in the group get to know each other very well this way, and those who are new will soon find they are among friends.

Facilitators use a light hand, posting the reading in the chat and calling on whoever’s Zoom hand is up. Suggestions for readings* come from group members, who also take turns facilitating, if they want to try that role.

The reading for this session: Wednesday, April 15th

John Hawks has studied the way human biology has changed over the last 10,000 years.

Hawks: “The first peoples fascinate us, which is natural because they are us—ancestors of everybody today. But we’ve come to realize that, when we look at their skulls, their faces, they’re not our faces. We’ve changed. The obvious question is why?”

Narrator: Hawks believes that humans are acutely responsive to changes in lifestyle. Once we stopped hunting and gathering, we started eating different foods. That alone was enough to change the shape of our skulls. And, living in cities, our brains aren’t having to work so hard; we rely on the intelligence of others.

Hawks: “It may be surprising, but, when we started to settle down, our skulls not only changed in shape; they began to shrink. Presumably, our brains shrank as well. The first peoples, they lived in very tiny groups. Anything that they wanted to make, they had to know how to make it. Any food that they needed to find, they needed to know where it was in their environment. The knowledge accumulated over generations; they had to have it all right here.”

Narrator: Living by their wits, these pioneers opened up a new world. Whether they came by sea or by land, we now know they arrived at least 2,000 years earlier than previously thought and populated the Americas at breakneck speed.

—John Hawks, University of Wisconson–Madison from PBS The Ancient Tribes That Settled the Americas

 

 

How to join:

  • Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/96865808923, passcode 227385
  • Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 968 6580 8923
  • Join this class by phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 968 6580 8923
  • Join this class by one-tap on mobile phones: 6699006833,,96865808923#  (San Jose)
  • Phoning in, but not in the Bay Area?  Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT

This is the Zoom link for Wednesdays. For the Zoom link for Saturday, go to Calendar and click on a Saturday session.

Questions? Drop an e-mail to resonant-reading+owner@uucpa.org.

 

*This activity was formerly called “Sacred Text Reading.” That proved misleading–for one thing, more often than not our sources are secular–but it’s worth describing the qualities of a sacred text, which we still look for in the readings we choose. It is any reading that helps us to:

  • connect to something of supreme importance to us
  • feel more connected to other beings or to the universe
  • feel more intensely alive
  • align our lives with our values,
  • perceive or feel more deeply
  • be more fully and authentically ourselves.

Sci-Fi / Fantasy Discussion GroupSci-Fi / Fantasy Discussion Group

A Case of Conscience, 1958 novel by James Blish

04/15/2026, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

We’ll discuss the novel A Case of Conscience (1958) by James Blish (256 pages, audio 8 hrs, 1 mins)

From Goodreads:

*Father Ruiz-Sanchez is a dedicated man–a priest who is also a scientist, and a scientist who is also a human being. He has found no insoluble conflicts in his beliefs or his ethics . . . until he is sent to Lithia. There he comes upon a race of aliens who are admirable in every way except for their total reliance on cold reason; they are incapable of faith or belief.

The book is available in an anthology at Palo Alto Library, also via Hoopla, on Amazon, or on Audible

At the end of the meeting, we will choose a book for our June 17th meeting.

The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Discussion Group was meeting via Zoom before it was cool! Lovers of science fiction and fantasy, at UUCPA and beyond, have been getting together online to talk about books, movies, and television episodes chosen by the group, every other month since early 2019. Past books include The Broken Earth Trilogy (N. K. Jemisin), The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Robert Heinlein), Parable of the Sower (Octavia Butler), The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula K. Le Guin), Red Moon (Kim Stanley Robinson); past television and movies include Arrival, Blink (Doctor Who), Serenity and The Train Job (Firefly), and The Day the Earth Stood Still.

The meeting method: via Zoom, 7-8:30 p.m.

  • Dates: Third Wednesdays, except for December and summer
  • Time: 7-8:30 pm
  • Location: Online
  • Facilitator: Bill Hackenberger (scifi+owner@uucpa.org)
  • Registration: Not required

Join the meeting via Zoom: Link

  • Meeting ID: 924 4906 7832
  • Passcode: 825590

Dial by your location •

  • +1 669 444 9171 US
  • +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Find other upcoming dates on the web page.

Saturday MeditationSaturday Meditation

04/18/2026, 9:00 am - 10:30 am (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

The Saturday morning meditation group welcomes all to join us on Zoom for meditation and conversation. Meditation time begins promptly at 9:10 and lasts for 40 minutes, including several short readings. Next, we share tea and conversation, talking about what is important to us in the moment – perhaps our response to the readings or something that is going on in our lives.

  • Dates: Every Saturday
  • Time: 9:00 – 10:30 am
  • Location: Online
  • Facilitator: Leadership is shared and rotates weekly
  • Contact: The Zoom link is available from Susan Owicki – email susanowicki@uucpa.org by 9:00 pm on Friday.

Come Meditate with Us!

Resonant Reading (Saturday)Resonant Reading (Saturday)

04/18/2026, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

An exploration of ideas, feelings, and our life experiences, using a different short reading as our springboard each time. The sessions are on Saturdays, 4-5, and on Wednesdays, 12-1. All are wide open and you are welcome to come twice a week or once in a while.
The participants over the years have found that the approach we take, and the respectful, affectionate community of inquirers in which we read and converse, are as important as the reading itself. While many small groups begin with a check-in, with a session only an hour long, Resonant Reading jumps right in to the conversation. Those who are frequently in the group get to know each other very well this way, and those who are new will soon find they are among friends.

Facilitators use a light hand, posting the reading in the chat and calling on whoever’s Zoom hand is up. Suggestions for readings* come from group members, who also take turns facilitating, if they want to try that role.

The reading for this session:

 

 

How to join:

  • Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/91019857324, passcode 227385
  • Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 910 1985 7324
  • Join this class by phone: 669 900 9128 US (San Jose), Meeting ID: 910 1985 7324
  • Join this class by on-tap on mobile phones: +16699009128,,91019857324# US (San Jose)
  • Phoning in, but not in the bay area?  Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT

This is the Zoom link for Saturdays. For the Wednesday Zoom link, go to the Calendar and click on a Wednesday session.

Questions? Drop an e-mail to resonant-reading+owner@uucpa.org.

 

*This activity was formerly called “Sacred Text Reading.” That proved misleading–for one thing, more often than not our sources are secular–but it’s worth describing the qualities of a sacred text, which we still look for in the readings we choose. It is any reading that helps us to:

  • connect to something of supreme importance to us
  • feel more connected to other beings or to the universe
  • feel more intensely alive
  • align our lives with our values,
  • perceive or feel more deeply
  • be more fully and authentically ourselves.

Seasoned Souls - Group for Older AdultsSeasoned Souls – Group for Older Adults

04/19/2026, 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Room 10 (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Some things take time to age, like fine wine and wonderful cheese. If you are a “seasoned soul” and want to find camaraderie and support and discuss the challenges, opportunities, and transformations we encounter as we age, please join us!

We are a group of seasoned souls 60+ years young who meet the third Sunday of each month, from 11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m., following the church service. Room 10. The group will be facilitated by Jan Rosin and Kathy Puryear.

Questions? Email seasonedsouls@uucpa.org

Spiritual Adventures in ParentingSpiritual Adventures in Parenting

04/19/2026, 11:45 am - 12:45 pm Fireside Room (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

If you are a parent to a child between the ages of birth through high school, we invite you to join UUCPA’s monthly parent group, Spiritual Adventures In Parenting!

We meet on the third Sunday of each month, from 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., following the church service. Childcare is provided, and families can choose to have lunch together afterward if they wish.

Together, we:

  • Explore the spiritual dimensions and meaning of our parenting and
  • Cultivate deep connections with one another.

The group is facilitated by fellow UUCPA parent Matt Rosin.

To find out more, email spiritualparenting@uucpa.org.

Parent Groups page:

Parent Groups

Resonant Reading (Wednesday)Resonant Reading (Wednesday)

04/22/2026, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

An exploration of ideas, feelings, and our life experiences, using a different short reading as our springboard each time. The sessions are on Saturdays, 4-5, and on Wednesdays, 12-1. All are wide open and you are welcome to come twice a week or once in a while.
The participants over the years have found that the approach we take, and the respectful, affectionate community of inquirers in which we read and converse, are as important as the reading itself. While many small groups begin with a check-in, with a session only an hour long, Resonant Reading jumps right in to the conversation. Those who are frequently in the group get to know each other very well this way, and those who are new will soon find they are among friends.

Facilitators use a light hand, posting the reading in the chat and calling on whoever’s Zoom hand is up. Suggestions for readings* come from group members, who also take turns facilitating, if they want to try that role.

The reading for this session:

 

 

How to join:

  • Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/96865808923, passcode 227385
  • Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 968 6580 8923
  • Join this class by phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 968 6580 8923
  • Join this class by one-tap on mobile phones: 6699006833,,96865808923#  (San Jose)
  • Phoning in, but not in the Bay Area?  Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT

This is the Zoom link for Wednesdays. For the Zoom link for Saturday, go to Calendar and click on a Saturday session.

Questions? Drop an e-mail to resonant-reading+owner@uucpa.org.

 

*This activity was formerly called “Sacred Text Reading.” That proved misleading–for one thing, more often than not our sources are secular–but it’s worth describing the qualities of a sacred text, which we still look for in the readings we choose. It is any reading that helps us to:

  • connect to something of supreme importance to us
  • feel more connected to other beings or to the universe
  • feel more intensely alive
  • align our lives with our values,
  • perceive or feel more deeply
  • be more fully and authentically ourselves.

Saturday MeditationSaturday Meditation

04/25/2026, 9:00 am - 10:30 am (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

The Saturday morning meditation group welcomes all to join us on Zoom for meditation and conversation. Meditation time begins promptly at 9:10 and lasts for 40 minutes, including several short readings. Next, we share tea and conversation, talking about what is important to us in the moment – perhaps our response to the readings or something that is going on in our lives.

  • Dates: Every Saturday
  • Time: 9:00 – 10:30 am
  • Location: Online
  • Facilitator: Leadership is shared and rotates weekly
  • Contact: The Zoom link is available from Susan Owicki – email susanowicki@uucpa.org by 9:00 pm on Friday.

Come Meditate with Us!

Resonant Reading (Saturday)Resonant Reading (Saturday)

04/25/2026, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

An exploration of ideas, feelings, and our life experiences, using a different short reading as our springboard each time. The sessions are on Saturdays, 4-5, and on Wednesdays, 12-1. All are wide open and you are welcome to come twice a week or once in a while.
The participants over the years have found that the approach we take, and the respectful, affectionate community of inquirers in which we read and converse, are as important as the reading itself. While many small groups begin with a check-in, with a session only an hour long, Resonant Reading jumps right in to the conversation. Those who are frequently in the group get to know each other very well this way, and those who are new will soon find they are among friends.

Facilitators use a light hand, posting the reading in the chat and calling on whoever’s Zoom hand is up. Suggestions for readings* come from group members, who also take turns facilitating, if they want to try that role.

The reading for this session:

 

 

How to join:

  • Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/91019857324, passcode 227385
  • Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 910 1985 7324
  • Join this class by phone: 669 900 9128 US (San Jose), Meeting ID: 910 1985 7324
  • Join this class by on-tap on mobile phones: +16699009128,,91019857324# US (San Jose)
  • Phoning in, but not in the bay area?  Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT

This is the Zoom link for Saturdays. For the Wednesday Zoom link, go to the Calendar and click on a Wednesday session.

Questions? Drop an e-mail to resonant-reading+owner@uucpa.org.

 

*This activity was formerly called “Sacred Text Reading.” That proved misleading–for one thing, more often than not our sources are secular–but it’s worth describing the qualities of a sacred text, which we still look for in the readings we choose. It is any reading that helps us to:

  • connect to something of supreme importance to us
  • feel more connected to other beings or to the universe
  • feel more intensely alive
  • align our lives with our values,
  • perceive or feel more deeply
  • be more fully and authentically ourselves.

Upcoming Justice Projects/Events

Nothing scheduled at this time.

Upcoming Special Events

UUCPA Money Matters Meeting (treats provided!)UUCPA Money Matters Meeting (treats provided!)

04/12/2026, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Main Hall (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Ever wonder how your pledges determine the size of our budget and how much we have for things like salaries and programming? Or, how much it costs to keep our campus open? Or, if UUCPA has any other sources of income besides pledges?

Come to the Main Hall for the Money Matters Info Session on tomorrow, April 12, from 12 noon to 1PM for answers to these questions and more! Learn about how UUCPA works financially and how UUCPA is planning to use its funds in the coming 2026-2027 fiscal year.  You’ll also get the latest status update on our current pledge drive.

Tomorrow is usually Second Sunday lunch. Instead, there will be bagels, fruit, Jeff’s famous baked goods, and Mayo and Liam’s choir-approved Meyer lemon bars offered between the service and the Money Matters Info Session. Never fear—Second Sunday lunch will happen on April 19!

Childcare providing pizza and movie in Room 2 for kids. Childcare will run until the Money Matters Info Session is complete.

To attend the meeting remotely, use the same Zoom link as the 10:30AM service.

We look forward to seeing you there!
-The UUCPA Board and Finance Committee


All Church & Community Family DanceAll Church & Community Family Dance

04/18/2026, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Main Hall (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Save the date, UUCPA! Our own Paul Kostka is bringing a Family Dance Party to the Main Hall on Saturday, April 18, 2–4 PM and we’d love to see you there!

This joyful, all-ages event is co-sponsored by BACDS Family Week and is open to everyone who loves to dance. Kids and families are especially welcome, but if you just love a good dance party, come on in! All dances will be taught and called.

Admission is free, though donations are warmly welcomed if you want to see this become a regular UUCPA tradition!

So what kind of dances might you expect at the community dance?  Easy-to-learn fun dances designed to get all ages up and dancing!  Dances that have been done in the past include:
Jump Jim Joe:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvAzqa4c8vE
Brandy Rump Bump:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG44_0XJbQk
Sasha:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OBKjTjI1NM
For more information see the attached flyer.
Bring your family, bring your friends, and bring your dancing shoes. See you on the dance floor!

 


UUCPA on the Growing Native Garden TourUUCPA on the Growing Native Garden Tour

04/19/2026, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm UUCPA (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

UUCPA’s native garden will be on the California Native Plant Society sponsored garden tour on Sunday, April 19 from 10-4. Donors to CNPS may
receive a small CA native plant propagated from the church or our home gardens, so come see us at the GNGT table next to the entrance drive
before or after the service. There will be some Blue-eyed Grass, Soaproot, buckwheat (Eriogonum arborescens), Aster, tiny Buckeye trees,
and more. 

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 docent (some knowledge of natives preferred) and greeter. The shifts are 10-1 and 1-4 but do come early and stay a bit later as needed for overlap.

Contact Nancy Neff garden@uucpa.org.  Or visit on Mondays 10:00-12:00+ and do a little gardening with us!

To attend the tour, for insurance purposes please register at www.gngt.org (Of course UUCPA members may tour the UUCPA garden any time without registering.)


2026 Annual Meeting

04/26/2026, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm UUCPA (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

The Annual Meeting is on April 26, 12-2pm, in the Main Hall and on Zoom. We will be voting on the budget, Justice Partners, and candidates for the Board, Nominating Committee, and General Assembly.
Zoom links will be sent to voting-eligible members a week from the meeting. For those unable to attend, you may submit an absentee ballot or name a proxy by the day of the meeting.

 

To be eligible to vote, members must have made a contribution of record during the past 12 calendar months or received an exemption from this requirement from the Senior Minister or President of the Board of Trustees. You can verify your eligibility by emailing or calling the office.

Email uucpa@uucpa.org if you think you should be able to vote but did not receive the link.

 

 


Upcoming Holiday Events

Nothing scheduled at this time.

Upcoming Non-UUCPA Events

Eid Festival (celebration of Muslim holidays)Eid Festival (celebration of Muslim holidays)

04/26/2026, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm Mitchell Park Community Center (Add to calendar: Google, iCal, webcal)

Sunday, Apr 26 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

A Holiday to build a “Beloved Community.” All faiths encourage their followers to love their neighbors but to love them we must know them.

Please join us to experience how Muslims celebrate their holidays at this free Annual Eid Festiva with:

  • Complimentary gourmet Pakistani dinner
  • Desserts from around the world
  • Cultural experiences
  • Mehndi (Henna) artistry
  • Nasheed (Spiritual singing)
  • Neighbors of all faiths building community

Eid marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan and is therefore a feast day, as well as a religious holiday, and is often marked by gatherings of the family and friends. Being charitable to take care of the less fortunate is an important part of Eid.  The name Eid al-Fitr translates as “the festival of the breaking of the fast”.

This event is sponsored by AMV Foundation in cooperation with the City of Palo Alto.

 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eid-festival-celebration-of-muslim-holidays-tickets-1985012491798