Dear Friends,

Here we are in mid-November! I'm so glad to be traveling through this fall season with you. As it gets colder and darker, it's even nicer to gather together with our UUSS community and to kindle our spirits and our chalice flame together.

From the Family Dinner Potluck tomorrow (Nov. 13), to our field trip to the Vedanta Society on Saturday (Nov. 14) to our Sunday programming and worship service (Nov. 15) and beyond, we have a lot going on this weekend and I hope you will join us!

I am sending you blessings and good wishes for all that you are busy doing these days. Please reach out to me if I can help you with anything!

With thanks and love at the center,

Crystal Fountain

(she/her/hers)

Religious Education Coordinator

Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento

P.S.--Did you catch our worship service about Hinduism on Nov. 1? You can still watch it on YouTube. A transcript of the reflection by UUSS friend Kaushik Das is also available to read here.

All-ages Potluck -

Friday, Nov. 13

All are invited to join the Family Dinner Potluck on 2nd Fridays of the month in the Welcome Hall (Not meeting in December because of the busy holiday season!). Arrive at 5:30 and we'll sit down to eat at 6:00 pm. No sign up required.

It's okay to come if you are not able to bring a dish. Plates, cups, and silverware (the reusable kind) are provided.

Games and fun activities for all ages are available during and after the potluck. Come and play!

Hosted for all ages by Family Ministry Events at UUSS.

Let's visit the Vedanta Society!

As part of our all-ages comparative religions program, Crossing Paths, we are organizing visits to neighboring faith communities.

Come with us on our field trip to visit

The Vedanta Society

on Saturday, Nov. 14th at 4:30 pm.

We will meet at UUSS beforehand (carpooling preferred!) and arrive at the center together to tour the grounds with the Swami Medhananda who spoke last Sunday after service. They have a beautiful campus with many shrines dedicated to Hindu deities. Send questions to Rev. Roger.

Sign up for this field trip by clicking the button below!

Before Service Parents' Group - Sunday, Nov. 22

9:15-10:15am (arriving late is ok!)

Join Rev. Roger and RE Coordinator Crystal Fountain, before service on 4th Sundays in Room 12 to connect as parents/caregivers of babies, children and teens (expectant parents and parenting grandparents are welcome). Take a breath, have a chat, and a cup of tea. 

Staffed childcare is available next door in Room 11. 

Light breakfast (fruit and cereal bars) and tea are provided. Please use the main UUSS entrance to access Room 12 and not the parking lot side.

Send questions to CrystalFountain@uuss.org

If you are a parent or guardian who would prefer to meet at alternative time/day on Zoom, please let me know.

Baby and Child Blessing

We will hold a ritual of blessing for babies and children of UUSS families at the beginning of service on Sunday, December 13. The ritual is also an act of dedication by the congregation to the support and inclusion of these young lives among us. It is a simple blessing ritual involving a flower a lit candle, words of naming of each child, unison words by the congregation, and prayer. 

Please let Rev. Roger know if your family wishes to participate in the ritual.  roger@uuss.org

Upcoming Service

November 15

Being a Force for Healing

Rev. Lucy Bunch preaching with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Eric Gudz, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva.

Musical Guests: The Sacramento Master Singers (Dr. Brett Epperson, Artistic Director)

Our UUSS mission statement says, “We come together to deepen our lives and be a force or healing in the world.” What does it mean to be a force for healing in our world today? What does it require of us, and how is deepening our lives necessary? Lets explore what healing can mean for our hurting world.

• Before service: Spiritual Practice: Tai Chi & Qi Gong in the Fahs Classroom at 9:30
• After service: Soup Sunday lunch (freewill donations accepted).
• After service: A walk-through of safe rooms by the Safety Committee
• Men’s Group monthly meeting at 12:15 pm.

COVID policy: Masks Recommended but not Required- read more

 Join us for Worship Services in person or on Zoom

 Service time Sundays 10:30 a.m.

Did you miss a service? You can find links to past sermons here. 

Please Register

for Sunday Morning Religious Education Programs

Whether you are new to RE, or you are a returning family, please register so that we have your child(ren) or youth's full and current information.

UUSS will host an Our Whole Lives (OWL) teacher training for grades K-1 and 4-6 (Elementary Grades) February 26-28, 2027

NEW dates!

Learn more about OWL at https://www.uua.org/lifespan/owl and uuss.org/owl

Contact Crystal Fountain for more info on registering for this teacher training.

UUSS RE is also requesting volunteers to help with food preparation during this training as well as volunteers who might be able to host out-of-town participants in their home for that weekend.

Express interest in volunteering here: Click HERE to volunteer!

Our OWL classes for grades 7-9 that was originally scheduled for this fall will be postponed until next fall (starting in September 2027). We expect the schedule to be posted in August 2027. Please check uuss.org/OWL for updates. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Stay-at-Home Dad/Male-Identifying Primary Parents Meeting

If you are a dad doing the primary parenting and household work in your family, and you would like to meet others in the congregation who share a similar role, please contact Rev. Roger as he organizes a meeting to introduce you.

This group is meant to include men/male-identifying parents in any occupation (working traditionally, not engaged in outside-the-home-employment, work-at-home, student, etc.) who are doing the primary caregiving of babies, children or youth in their household. This includes those with or without a parenting partner/spouse of any gender.