Upcoming Worship Services - Soul Matters

Upcoming Worship Services

December 7, 2025 "There is Hope in Numbers": A Sermon by Nicole Pacent-Lindquist

For a great many of us, 2025 has been a particularly destabilizing year. From the fires that devastated our city, to the flood of authoritarian policies out of DC, to the seismic implications of the rise of AI, we've been subject to an onslaught of news that has too often left us feeling alienated and hopeless. As we near the end of this profoundly challenging year, and begin to ready ourselves for the year to come, we will reframe hope not as an unstable individual feeling, but as an unshakable fact of community .

December 14, 2025 Advent Sermon, "Our Annual Nativity Play" 

The Christmas season rolls in with a service that features all our children (and the young-at-heart) donning stunningly artistic headdresses to enact the "embellished over the ages" story of the birth of baby Jesus.  The story is fanciful - yes, parts from the Luke version and parts from the Matthew version - but with a camel, a horse, a goat, and even mice!  Caesar roars, angels explain, shepherds argue, and the wise ones bring the party!

December 21, 2025 "Limitless Light: A Hanukkah Reflection" by Rev. Gretchen Haley

This is the story of the Jewish people after the rebellion of the "small band" known as the Maccabees.  Finally, these people who lived on the edge of despair for so long would be able to return to their temple, which was for them a place of security and memory and hope.

December 24, 2025 Christmas Eve with Rev. Megan Visser

December 28, 2025 "Long As I Can See the Light" by Lance Anderson

I will explore my unconventional relationship with our church, including two spiritual experiences in the sanctuary separated by over 30 years. Back in the 90s I was a very active member and I was seriously considering going to seminary school to become a UU minister. Instead, I chose a different path, focusing on storytelling and podcasting. Yet even during my long absence, the church remained a beacon of hope. Upon my recent return, I truly felt the full force of the church’s love.  

Launching Our Theme-Based Ministry, 2025-2026

Our church belongs to the Soul Matters Sharing Circle, a network of Unitarian Universalist congregations who commit to connecting with monthly spiritual themes. Beginning in September, our worship services and religious exploration program will becentered around the Soul Matters themes. You will also notice our themes popping up in other places -- the marquee sign out front will have monthly themed welcome statements connecting our neighborhood with what is inspiring us that month and via our newsletter, our minister Rev. Megan will invite you to explore spiritual practices connected to the themes.

Listed in the graphic below, these themes offer us an opportunity to go deeper into our practices of Unitarian Universalism as a whole UUCSC community. One goal of the Soul Matters themed ministry is “to get us out of our heads and into our lives.” Whether you are new to Unitarian Universalism or a long-time UU, these offerings provide a variety of paths to connect to our faith and one another from week-to-week.