The Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae, preaching; Cassie Winters, worship associate. We enter the summer months each year by celebrating the many volunteers, leaders, and professional staff who contribute their time, efforts, skill, passion, creativity, caring, and love to our community. Join us this Sunday as we name our gratitude and review the many accomplishments of this congregational year. Rev. Jeremiah will deliver the minister's Annual Report during the service to hopefully reduce the length of the Annual Meeting. Members please plan to attend the Annual Meeting of the Congregation following the service. We appreciate you!

The Rev. Sue Fisher, guest speaker; The Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, worship associate. In life, the most beneficial thing we can do for each other can also be the most intimidating: being there for others in the joys and tragedies of life. We will explore the ministry of presence and discover how simply "being there" is a profound blessing. Maya Angelou wrote: “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” Join us in-person or online.

Jessica TenHave-Place, M.Div., Director of Multigenerational Religious Education; Karen Hsu Patterson, worship associate. Our Peace Campers will lead this multigenerational service as they share what they learned about peace from the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, Humanism, Bahai'i Faith, and Unitarian Universalism. Join us in-person or online at this kid-friendly service for all ages as we practice peace together by building bridges of understanding across difference!

James Witker, guest speaker; John Hart, worship associate. One of America’s most famous skeptics and satirists, Mark Twain’s commentaries on religion are humorous and razor sharp. In his time he befriended a number of Unitarians, his sensibilities often overlapping with their tradition of critical thought and social reform, and he remains well-loved in UU spaces. Today, many of Twain’s critiques apply to a world we find still beset by false piety, as well as greed and war. But there is also something deeper than cynicism in Twain’s writing, and in the odyssey of his most famous protagonist, that challenges skeptics and seekers alike, and resonates with the prophetic spirit of liberal religion. Join us in-person or online.

Rabbi Shira Freidlin, guest speaker; Rebecca Haggerty, worship associate. Come join Rabbi Shira Freidlin from the Santa Monica Synagogue as she shares with us the Jewish practice of chanting nigunim. A nigun is a wordless melody that is traditionally repeated over and over again in a desire to bring us into closer connection with our inner selves, each other, and the Divine. Please come with an open heart and a willingness to sing! Join us in-person or online.