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Family Ministry & Religious Education
Outreach
News & Invitations for the Week of
October 15, 2026
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Dear Friends,
At UUSS, our ministers, staff and lay leaders plan our weeks by the number. The more involved you are with Sunday service, church activities or groups, the more likely it is that you plan your weeks--and especially your Sundays-- by the number as well. Here's your pop quiz: Which Sunday of the month do we light candles and have joys and sorrows cards at the beginning of service? (1st Sunday) Which Sunday can you attend Beginning Qi Gong/Tai Chi before service (3rd Sunday--this week!) When does your Soul Matters group meet? Ok, I can't help with that, but I can tell you about some great repeating events (and some great one-time events) below in this message.
This Sunday (Oct. 18) is the 3rd Sunday in October. In our Religious Education program, this means that our Soul Kids (K-5), Junior High (6-8) and Senior High (9-12) Youth Groups are all meeting this week (scroll down in this message for more info on meetings and subject matter of these RE groups). This Sunday is also when our Congregational Meeting takes place (these important meetings take place twice a year: once in the fall and once in the spring). We will have childcare during the Congregational Meeting (please sign in at Room 11 by 12:15 at the latest).
Speaking of childcare and repeating weeks...there are some changes I want you to know about! We will have childcare until 1:30pm on Sunday, Oct. 25, as we do every 4th Sunday so that you can attend the Exploring UUism class (or other activities on the UUSS campus at that time). Starting in November, we will also have extended childcare every 2nd Sunday to accommodate parents/guardians who are attending the Newcomer Orientation (same as above). We will also offer childcare during our Annual Service Auction on Saturday, Nov. 7. Please pre-register for auction childcare (an invitation will be sent to you after you buy your tickets at the link above).
If you have questions about childcare or anything regarding child and youth Religious Education and family programs, I hope you will let me know. I am always happy to help!
With thanks and love at the center,
Crystal Fountain
(she/her/hers)
Religious Education Coordinator
Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento
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All are welcome to attend the
Fall Congregational Meeting,
THIS SUNDAY, October 18, 2026,
after service in the Sanctuary.
Voting members are encouraged to attend to make sure we have a quorum in order to conduct business. The meeting starts 15 minutes after the service, giving you enough time for a cup of coffee and to introduce yourself to someone new! Attend in person, or by Zoom!
Childcare is available in Room 11 for the Congregational Meeting.
Please sign in your child(ren) there by 12:15pm if you are interested.
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Crossing Paths Field Trip:
Visiting the Seventh Day Adventists
Register Now at the link below!
We will meet at UUSS on
Saturday, October 24
Families and individuals will be invited to join us as we embark on a field trip to visit and attend services at a local Seventh Day Adventist church. Attendance will be limited, so please register by clicking the button below (check out more info on our Crossing Paths program below in this message)
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Before Service Parents' Group - Sunday, October 25
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.
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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. 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.
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Please remember that UUSS will never email you to ask for personal information (especially financial details). If someone you met at church contacts you for information unexpectedly, please take time to verify the sender's identity.
One UUSS member has recently been informed of their email address being used to send phony party invites by email which prompt people to enter personal information.
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Upcoming Service
October 18
Loving Every Body: Disability Justice
Ministerial Intern Sophia McKean preaching with Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Eric Gudz, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
Disability is a huge topic, involving many needs and concerns. This service is an invitation to begin exploring the world of disability justice. How might we better care for ourselves and one another in a world that does not always value every body as it should?
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Spiritual Practice: Tai Chi & Qi Gong in the Fahs Classroom at 9:30
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Congregational Meeting after service (est. 11:50 am) in the sanctuary and on Zoom
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.
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Please note:
This is in addition to a responsible adult sign-in at the RE Welcome Table or Nursery on Sunday mornings.
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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.
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Crossing Paths:
Our Year-long Look at Neighboring Faiths
Starting this fall, UUSS embarks on a program of whole-church religious education, a journey of faith exploration, with adapted materials from the Soul Matters curriculum, Crossing Paths.
Sunday sermons, relevant service projects, after-service forums and field trips to other houses of worship will be open to all ages. Our Sunday Religious Education program for children and youth will feature related faith exploration content and reflection questions related to our monthly themes. More details on our Crossing Paths Program are available on our Religious Education webpage.
Upcoming themes
October: Protestant Christianity
November: Hinduism
December: Catholicism
If you have a particular connection or background to neighboring faiths in the local area, please let us know. If you would like to help with field trips, Sunday programs, or special celebrations or meals connected to Crossing Paths, we invite you to reach out!
If you have any questions or offers to help,
please contact the Rev. Dr. Roger Jones
or our Religious Education Coordinator, Crystal Fountain
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This Sunday, October 18, Soul Kids, JHYG and SHYG will meet during service.
Please sign in at the RE Welcome Table when you arrive! Please start in the Sanctuary.
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Nursery care (5 and under) sign in at room 11
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Sign in and Sing Out: During most Sundays, youth and children coming to RE activities (ages 5-18) will be signed in at the RE Welcome Table by an adult, then start in the service with their families before kids leave together as a group with RE adult volunteers when invited by the congregation singing our song, "Lead with Love" by Melanie DeMore
Soul Kids (grades K-5) will meet this Sunday, October 18 with Annette for a check in with friends, some activities, a song and story from Protestant Christian tradition as part of our Crossing Paths Curriculum. (See above for more info) Make sure you sign in at the RE table when you arrive, and start in service.
Junior High Youth Group (JHYG) for grades 6-8 meets with Crystal and Damon this Sunday, October 18, and continues on 1st through 4th Sundays.
Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) meets again this Sunday, October 18 with Alicia and Sean, and continues on 1st and 3rd Sundays.
Questions? Please contact CrystalFountain@uuss.org or come to
the RE Welcome Table on Sunday morning
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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.
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The Diversity of Hindu Traditions
with Swami Medhananda of the
Vedanta Society of Sacramento
Sunday, November 8,
after service in the Fahs Room
Come meet the Vedanta Society's new assistant minister and research fellow in philosophy, and learn more about Vedanta and Hinduism.
This forum is part of our church-wide exploration of some neighboring faiths. We are looking at one tradition per month here at UUSS in Religious Education for Children & Youth as well as Adult Enrichment and Sunday services. There is no charge to attend but donations to Adult Enrichment are welcome. Light snacks available. Bring your coffee over after church.
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Online Space for Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families
"The Woodlands" is a monthly trans and nonbinary pastoral care space hosted by the UUA. This is a virtual program for trans and nonbinary people and their families. Breakout sessions, co-facilitated by two chaplains, will be formed around age groups and offer time for check-ins to share grief, celebrations, and support. Learn more about The Woodlands.
(this article is excerpted from the newsletter of Kyle Belmont, Director of Faith Exploration, First Parish Watertown, MA)
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Resources for Talking to Kids
About the News or Other Difficult Topics
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Half of all offerings this month will go to benefit our community partner for October:
Planned Parenthood
To donate now at the UUSS website, click here.
"May generosity bless our world. May gratitude nourish our spirits."
| | We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. | | | | |
