We strive to be in control so much of the time, but sometimes the wisest course of action resides in letting go or letting be. The sermon will explore the spiritual practice of surrender.

In the aftermath of yet another tragic mass shooting, let us take a look at how we can all participate in creating a healthier, more caring community and the world at large.

In coordination with the Black Lives of UU Organizing Collective, Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout the nation are presenting services centering the black voices among us, to continue our shared work in dismantling white supremacy in our denomination. This service will feature the voices of black Unitarian Universalist religious leaders and will be presented by members of our Program Council, an umbrella group which consists of the four UUCM Committees responsible for most of our programming: Worship, Religious Education, Social Justice, and Adult Education.

How do we find meaning in our lives, especially when facing death? This is a challenge for many of us all our lives. It is a question that arises for anyone who is suffering from depression. As with all deeply meaningful issues, we as UU’s are not given a pat answer. However, Unitarian Universalism can help, and the intention of this talk is to provide hope.Rev. Dr. Jane Ramsey has a doctorate in ministry from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is recently retired from working as a hospice chaplain and is an affiliated community minister with the UU Church of Berkeley. She provides spiritual direction and facilitates workshops relating to death and dying, including such topics as Advance Directives, the California End of Life Options Act, and Writing Ethical Wills. She is certified in Grief and Loss through the UC Berkeley Extension Program, in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement through the Association of Death Educators and Counseling, and in Interfaith Spiritual Direction through the Chaplaincy Institute.

Have you noticed that the word “unprecedented” has been used almost every day during the past year or so? We are witnessing an ugly time in our history when our country is very divided when the democratic norms and institutions that we hold dear are being threatened. It is a time when overt racism, sexism, misogyny, anti-LGBTQ rights and anti-immigrant sentiment is being normalized. We have a responsibility as Unitarian Universalists to speak out and do what we can to clearly Side with Love.

Linda Haumann is a long time member of UUCM and identifies as both UU and Jewish. Taught from an early age “never again” regarding the Holocaust, Linda has always had a passion for fairness, justice, and equity. Having witnessed, as a young child, the murders of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert Kennedy, she has been drawn to social justice causes and does not take her privilege for granted. Linda holds a masters degree in Expressive Arts therapy, has held positions in social services, senior services and was UUCM’s former Director of Religious Education. Currently, she is the new chair of UUCM’s Social Justice Committee.

Evolution Sunday honors the Clergy Letter Project—an effort by the clergy of many faiths to publicly support science education in schools and refute those who would replace science with “creationism.” The sermon will take us on a journey around the universe and explore the interface of science and theology.

Rev. Joy Atkinson retired from parish ministry in 2018, after 25 years as a settled minister and 16 years as an interim minister. She served UUCM as interim minister from 2003 to 2004 and again from 2016 to 2018. She was also a ministerial intern at UUCM in 1971 while attending Starr King School Seminary in Berkeley. Since retiring, she has enjoyed traveling, singing with the Oakland Symphony Chorus and the Contra Costa Chorale and spending time with her grandchildren in Oregon, until the pandemic temporarily cut these activities short. She has continued pursuing other interests including reading, writing, amateur astronomy and involvement in UU organizations.