We as Unitarian Universalists look forward to being with you in person or in spirit on Sunday mornings. We continue to develop our new hybrid spiritual practice of co-creating beloved community together in person and online in the midst of a global pandemic.
Come to the Sanctuary or join our live online worship service broadcast on the church’s Facebook or YouTube pages on Sunday mornings and be part of the conversation. You don’t need to have a Facebook or YouTube account or be logged in to watch the service. You do have to be logged in to comment and chat with other members of the congregation.
Explore past services, available 24/7, on our Sermons page. So tune in anytime to catch up and worship with your community. We encourage you to light a chalice or candle at home, mediate, and sing along.
After the livestream service, please join us for a Zoom Coffee Hour Check-In and Conversation after the service, from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. Email zoomcoffee@uusm.org for the Zoom link or find it in our private UU Santa Monica Facebook Group. Ask to join.
UUSM has decided to reopen our historic sanctuary to vaccinated members and friends. Vaccinations, well-fitting masks, and social distancing are still required.
October 2022 Theme: The Path of Courage
We’ll explore in our worship, small groups, and personal reflection this month’s theme, The Path of Courage. What is courage? Often, it’s not success. Sometimes courage looks like endurance, or as Joyce Poley sings, “One more step, we will take one more step, till there is peace for us and everyone, we’ll take one more step.”
Maria Popova writes, “Our culture has created a reward system in which you get points for tearing down rather than building up, and for besieging with criticism and derision those who dare to work and live from a place of constructive hope.”
Sri Chinmoy’s poem notes, “To speak ill of the world Needs courage, But fortunately or unfortunately Everybody has that courage…”
Cornel West says, “We need the courage to question the powers that be, the courage to be impatient with evil and patient with people…. In many instances we will be stepping out on nothing, and just hoping to land on something. But that’s the struggle. To live is to wrestle with despair, yet never allow despair to have the last word.”
Ambrose Redmoon offers, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”
The Rev. Dr. David Breeden finds, “Courage is not certitude. Courage is not assurance. Courage is the willingness to join in the attempt. To join in the unlikely, even the impossible. Courage is a choice. Courage is a way of knowing. Courage is a way of joining together. Courage is knowing that together, we will do what none of us can do alone.”
Sunday Worship: St. Francis Day & Blessing of the Animals and Loved Items
Joining with congregations around the globe, we celebrate the sacred circle of life and our non-human animal companions in this special multigenerational service. You are invited to bring your animal companion or a picture of them, or a loved non-animal comfort item with you to be blessed in this service. We will also remember those who have crossed the rainbow bridge as we begin our honoring of the season of the ancestors. Young people are invited to remain in the sanctuary for the entire service. • Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae, preaching • Cassie Winters, Worship Associate.
Sunday Worship: Explorations of the Heart
When Western Civilizations tell their stories, they speak of their explorations and discoveries. Often implying or grandly stating that nothing and no one of import existed until they arrived. How often do we speak of discovering information or interesting places, sharing the news as if we were the first to have the experience? Explorations take courage whether one is traveling across an ocean, into space or deep within one's own heart. • Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, preaching • JoAn Peters, Worship Associate.
Sunday Worship: Why Pray?
Prayer is a spiritual practice at the heart of every religious tradition around the globe, including those that do not believe in a deity or the supernatural. Join us as we explore the many forms this exercise takes and the power of prayer to transform lives this Sunday. • Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae, preaching • Chela Metzger, Worship Associate.
Sunday Worship: Sisters of the Moon
Witches, Wiccans, and Neopagans have found a home in many of our liberal religious congregations. Our 6th Unitarian Universalist Source celebrates these and other Earth-based traditions which "celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature." Come join us as we learn more about these wisdom traditions as the most sacred Sabbat of Year for many neopagans--Samhain or All Hallows' Eve--draws near. • Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae, preaching • Sue Bickford, Worship Associate.
Sunday Worship: Encircled by Our Ancestors (Day of the Dead)
We celebrate Allhallowtide and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in this special multi-generational service. You are invited to bring photographs of your loved ones who have died to be placed on the "Ofrenda" (altar) during the service. Young people are invited to remain in the sanctuary for the entire service. Following our regular worship service, our annual Garden of Eternity dedication service will be held at noon in the Garden.
October Generous Congregation Recipient: Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE)
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday Offering to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church. This month, half of our Sunday Offering will go to Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE).
The power of advocacy: CLUE cultivates a network of more than 900 religious leaders, partnering with allied community organizations and labor unions to advocate for better working conditions, and with lawmakers to establish policies that improve a lot of workers and their families. Building a just and sacred society: CLUE brings together clergy and lay leaders of all faiths with the marginalized, the unheard, and the least protected — low-wage workers — in the cause of a just economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.
Thank you for your generous support of our beloved community and CLUE. To give $10 right now, text “$10 GCC” (or another amount) to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.) Or visit uusm.org/donate.
Our service in the world continues.
