This Sunday: Rev. Rhina Ramos on Abundant Grace

We are so glad to welcome Rev. Rhina Ramos to the UCH pulpit this Sunday, June 28.

Rhina is someone who has lived the sermon before she preaches it. Before entering ministry, she practiced labor law on Long Island, recovering owed wages for immigrant workers — the kind of on-the-ground, unglamorous justice work that doesn't make headlines but changes lives. She went on to become a local pastor and church planter of Ministerio Latino, and she currently serves as Associate Conference Minister for our own Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC.

She's also the author of In My Heart, a Volcano — a memoir about life as an immigrant and queer woman — and if that title doesn't make you want to hear what she has to say on Sunday, we don't know what will.

This week's theme is "the perseverance that gives way to hope," and Rev. Rhina will be preaching on Romans 5:1-8 — Paul's insistence that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. Her sermon is titled "Abundant Grace."

You are warmly welcome to join us Sunday as we receive what she brings. We gather on Zoom, with fellowship at 10am PT, and worship at 10:30am PT.

Summer Renewal Group: Listening to Our Hearts

I am offering another way for us to gather during our Renewal Summer.  It will be a group focused on listening to: our bodies; our hearts and one another.  We will be using movement, poetry and music. It will be a time for listening deeply to ourselves and one another.

We will begin with gentle Chi Gung movements—slow, simple exercises that can be done standing or seated.  These exercises are designed to turn our attention inward to our center and breath.

We will then read a poem together in the style of Lectio Divina, an ancient spiritual practice that invites conversation with the Holy.

We will close by listening to music. The group will meet for about an hour.

There is nothing to prepare in advance and you are welcome to come for all the sessions or just a few. In Chinese tradition, new moons are good times for beginning, so we will begin on Tuesday, July 14 at 5:30 pm

Meeting time and dates: 5:30—6:30pm, Tuesday, July 14—August 11 (5 sessions)

Yes, there is reason to hope!

I confess that I am a bit of what I will call a click-aholic.  I sign up for Zoom workshops that are recorded so you can watch them later and subscribe to newsletters from people and organizations that I like.  All of which then puts me on other lists of other interesting organizations (and some I could care less about), and my inbox becomes unmanageable.  There is no way that I could actually read or watch all of the things that I subscribe to and I often go for weeks without looking at any of it, but once in awhile my eye catches something that captures my attention.  It happened this morning when I noticed a post from Richard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation.  This is part of what it said:

Organizer and activist Mariame Kaba reflects on hope as a discipline. 

For me, hope doesn’t preclude feeling sadness or frustration or anger or any other emotion that makes total sense. Hope isn’t an emotion, you know? Hope is not optimism….

The idea of hope being a discipline is something I heard from a nun many years ago who was talking about it in conjunction with making sure we were of the world and in the world, [not focused on the afterlife but the here and now]…The hope that she was talking about was this grounded hope that was practiced every day….

I bowed down to that. I heard that many years ago, and then I felt the sense of, “Oh my God. That speaks to me as a philosophy of living, that hope is a discipline and that we have to practice it every single day.” Because in the world we live in, it’s easy to feel a sense of hopelessness, that everything is all bad all the time, that nothing is going to change ever…. I understand why people feel that way. I just choose differently. I choose to think a different way, and I choose to act in a different way. I choose to trust people until they prove themselves untrustworthy.

I take a long view, understanding full well that I’m just a tiny, little part of a story that already has a huge antecedent and has something that is going to come after that. I’m definitely not going to be even close to around for seeing the end of it. That also puts me in the right frame of mind: that … [what] I’m doing is actually pretty insignificant in world history, but if it’s significant to one or two people, I feel good about that….

When I read this, I reflected on a question that was asked in our service last week, “What can I do?” There are certainly things that we all can do in these difficult times:  write letters; make phone calls; contribute to organizations, stay informed.  As was also shared last Sunday we can do small and caring things for the people around us.  And, of course, we can pray. 

I also believe that staying hopeful is “doing something.”  One of the other posts that I stumbled upon this week was from a Juneteenth sermon delivered by Dr. Lauranett Lee.  She was preaching on the mustard seed text and talked about seeds being planted during the horrendous years of slavery, she said:  “And yet—within that system of oppression, seeds were planted.  Hidden seeds. Seeds of faith.  Seed of resistance and resilience.  Seeds of prayer and possibility.  Seeds of family and a future life in freedom. Seeds of hope.”

Yes, it is true, that there is much to grieve these days, things that break our hearts every day, and the good news is that we can still plant seeds of hope—who knows when or how they may sprout.  But it begins with the planting and that is something we can do now.

Sharing opportunity for July 5 Worship Service: Beauty in Nature

As you know, this year America is celebrating 250 years of independence. Some of you may feel like it should be a day of mourning, rather than celebration. At the same time, it is an opportunity to reflect on what we value and to look at our roots.

In the recent copy of Smithsonian magazine the Smithsonian Secretary, Lonnie G. Bunch II recounts going to the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration. In an essay for the festival program anthropologist Margaret Mead responded to those who criticized celebrating in the aftermath of a recession, the Vietnam War and the resignation of a disgraced president. She wrote: “It is quite true that we are living through difficult times, but life does not stop for difficult times,” Noting the parallels to a 19th century America still divided by the Civil War and in the midst of a worldwide recession, she went onto write “The celebration of our 100th anniversary as a nation also took place in a time of trouble, but taking pride was a good thing we gained strength and looked to the future.”  Bunch adds: “It is more urgent than ever for us to remember that the nation was formed by resilience and shaped by those who believed in its highest ideals.”

Since spending time in nature makes our hearts sing and is one of the ways that we connect to the Holy, you are invited to share a photo of your favorite National Park or wilderness area on that Sunday.  You can share it as your Zoom background and/or add it to the Kitchen Wall (by emailing Ashley).

Share your pictures, stories and artwork: What Makes Your Heart Sing

As you know, one of the things that Rev. Jeanne is doing during her sabbatical time is painting and taking pictures of the things that make her heart sing.  When we welcome Rev. Jeanne back we will be able to see some of her photos and hear her stories.  We also want to also share with her our stories and photos. This is a wonderful opportunity to pay attention each day to what makes your heart sing. We can share:

• Photos from our trip to the Filoli Gardens

• Photos of something you are creating:  artwork, poetry, prayer shawls, gardens, bread

• Photos of a trip you took, or something beautiful you noticed out of your window

• Photos of friends, family—I think I heard there was a new grand niece welcomed into the world

• Stories:  talk about something you just discovered or learned, a fun experience, an act of kindness or generosity that you witnessed.

Share this on our Kitchen Wall by emailing Ashley.

Coming This Sunday, June 21

As our Summer of Renewal continues, we are welcoming Rev. Dr. Monica Cross to the pulpit this Sunday. She will be talking to us about prophetic vision. Here is some more information about Rev. Cross.

Rev. Dr. Monica Joy Cross serves as Pastor at First Christian Church of Oakland in Oakland, CA; Associate Minister at Tapestry Ministries in Berkeley, CA; Director of Women's Ministries in the Northern California-Nevada Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); and President of the Oakland Peace Center Board. She is a Transformational Leader Fellow of the Sojourner Truth Leadership Circle of Auburn Seminary in New York City, NY, and Founder of Global Prayer Network. Her activist organizing work includes Laney Teach-In/Poor People's Campaign League of Revolutionaries for a New America. She has authored Reflections of a Prophet Without Honor, a book of reflections that emerge from her life with God, and Authenticity and Imagination in the Face of Oppression, an autobiographical work that addresses gender, race, religion, sexuality, and strategies toward liberation. She also writes a blog entitled The Transgender Scholar. While being a native of Southern California, Monica currently makes her home in Richmond, California.

Pride Sunday

We are also celebrating Pride Sunday this Sunday. As you know, June is Pride Month. The UCC Open and Affirming Coalition has chosen the theme for this year: "We Shall Not Be Moved! Rooted in Love, Justice, and Affirmation." "Jeremiah 17 reminds us that those who trust in God are like trees planted by water. When the heat comes, they do not fear. When drought comes, they keep bearing fruit," writes the Rev. Derek Terry, acting executive director of the ONA Coalition. "That is the image for this moment. Open and Affirming churches are called to be rooted deeply enough to withstand fear, backlash, silence, and hate."

The first Pride marches were held on June 28, 1970, in cities around the United States, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. Thousands of LGBTQIA+ people gathered to commemorate Stonewall and demand equal rights. The first Pride Sunday at a church is attributed to the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in the early 1970s. Since that time, many mainline Protestant churches have incorporated Pride celebrations into their Sunday services. Pride Month (June) is now celebrated worldwide.

On Pride Sunday, we are reminded that we were all created in the image of God. God breathed life into the earth, transforming it into a hospitable environment. This life force brings energy and renewal to all of creation. God's creation is diverse, wonderful, and interconnected. On this Sunday, we celebrate our connection with the LGBTQIA+ community and the value they bring to our world.

A Message from Rev. Kathy

Hello everyone,

This is my first time checking in with you on Updates from the Journey. I am so grateful to be with you in this sabbatical-time journey and looking forward to leading worship this Sunday. As you know, we will be reflecting on our experiences in nature last Sunday. I have to say, spending time in the Filoli gardens was a great way to begin a ministry! The gardens were spectacular, and it was good to meet several of you in person. I also am grateful for the very meaningful Pentecost service where I was welcomed into ministry with you. Some more on that below.

I will begin by reflecting on our time at Filoli. We started our day there with a meditation time before heading out to explore. It was a warm and sunny day, and I was grateful for the many benches in the gardens to stop and rest. There was so much to explore, including bonsai trees, an extensive rose garden, a vegetable garden, statues made of tree branches, and many different floral species. Trees along the trail to an upper level of the garden were filled with colorful bird houses. After exploring by ourselves, we gathered again to share a tasty lunch. Thanks to Kristina for all the work that she did arranging the details so that the day ran smoothly.

I hope that those of you who could not attend the field trip did have an opportunity to explore the beauty and serenity in nature. If you haven’t already, be sure to take some time to reflect back on your experience, paying attention to what spoke to you and made your heart sing. The late, great preacher, Rev. Fred Craddock, talks about the importance of remembering in understanding how God works in our lives. He says that there are three possible times that we can understand the significance or importance of an event in our lives: in rehearsal, at the time of the event, and in remembrance. In rehearsal, understanding is hindered because we have not yet experienced the event, and it can be hard to imagine all that might happen. In the moment of the event, understanding is hindered by the clutter and confusion of all that is happening and having one’s attention taken away by various details. But in remembrance, we have the time to look back and take in all that happened; we can recognize what was truly important, we might see that something that seemed big in the moment was not so, and something we barely noticed in the moment has become very special. In doing this, we gain understanding of the experience and of the work of the Spirit in our lives.

I am looking forward to hearing how the Spirit spoke to you through your time in nature.

Now, I want to reflect back on the Pentecost service. The covenant and blessing part of the service was so meaningful. It was a reminder to me of the power in ritual and the way in which it connects us deeply to our faith. Even though we could not meet in person and were instead communing via screens, it was a profoundly meaningful moment.

I want to share with you the story of the stole that I put on that Sunday. Like many pastors, I have several stoles, so a choice needed to be made. The one I chose is one that I received on my ordination. I was ordained by the Lafayette Christian Church (LCC). That stole previously belonged to Rev. Mike Matthews, who was the Music Minister at LCC. Mike had one of those outgoing, bigger-than-life personalities. He loved music and sang in opera companies before going to seminary. He was very enthusiastic about music and even got me to sing in the choir a few times.

As you may recall, I made the decision to pursue ministry later in my life. I was a member of LCC, active in several groups and committees, and served as an Elder. In the Disciples of Christ tradition, Elders serve at the communion table. One Sunday, when I was serving at the table, my husband Alan had come to church with me. When the service ended, he took off, and it took me a while to find him. Once I found him, he told me that he felt like he had seen me receive a call while I was at the table. He was a little taken aback by the experience and so went to Mike to process it. From that point, Mike began to encourage me to go to seminary, and he was not going to take no for an answer. One of the other things Mike was passionate about was cooking, so he invited Alan and me to dinner after my first day of seminary.

During seminary, I did an alternative field education experience looking at the connections between physical health and spirituality. Rev. Mike was one of my supervisors for that experience and remained one of my mentors throughout my time in seminary. When I graduated, we celebrated at the home of Mike and his wife, Rev. Faye Orton. Sadly, Mike passed away before I was ordained.

Like many pastors, Mike had several stoles, and Rev. Faye decided that she would bestow one to each person ordained by LCC. The church had for many years been a field education site, so several people were ordained there. And so, when I was ordained, I received the stole that I put on when you blessed me on Pentecost. It is meaningful, of course, because it belonged to Mike. It also has colors I love and golden stars, musical instruments, and musical notes. It seemed particularly fitting given our sabbatical theme of “What Makes Your Heart Sing?” I have no idea what the words on it say; I assume they are Latin and speak about God and the wonder of music.

Again, I want to say how grateful I am for this experience and that I am honored to be on this sabbatical journey with you.

Rev. Kathy

June at United Church of Hayward

Welcome to Summer 2026 at the United Church of Hayward, UCC! With our minister, Rev. Jeanne Loveless, getting well deserved rest and rejuvenation during sabbatical leave, we have some wonderful guest ministers lined up to lead worship and/or preach. Our main sabbatical minister is Rev. Kathy Cramer, who will facilitate worship most Sundays.

Here is what our line-up for June looks like:

• June 7: Rev. Kathy will celebrate communion and lead us in sharing our Nature Sunday experiences.

• June 14: Our own Jennifer Pridgeon will demonstrate Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), or “tapping.”

• June 21: We will celebrate Pride Sunday with Rev. Dr. Monica Cross as our guest preacher.

• June 28: Rev. Rhina Ramos from the Northern California/Nevada Conference, will be our guest preacher.

Nature Sunday at UCH

Sunday, May 31 is Nature Sunday at the United Church of Hayward, UCC. There will be no Zoom Worship on that day. Instead, we invite everyone to get out into nature that day, be it in someone’s yard, a public garden, or a park. Explore and take time to sit and just be. You may also want to journal.

Here are some suggestions for your time in nature:

• Be open and pay attention to what draws you. What makes your heart sing? What strikes you? How and where in your body do you feel it?

• Consider what speaks to you. What is the message?

• Pick one item, a blossom, leaf or blade of grass for example, and concentrate on it for a few minutes. What do you see? What does it tell you?

• Is there a question in your life you are struggling with? Be still and wait to see if the answer presents itself.

• Nature is full of plants. What other life is there? What else can you see? Sit still and listen: What can you hear?

Use your phone to take some pictures. On June 7 during worship, we will share our experiences in nature. Choose one of your pictures to use as your Zoom background that day.

Gratitude as God Watches Over “Our Coming Out and Our Going In”

God is acquainted with all our ways… and will watch over our coming out and our going in-both now and forevermore.” — Psalm 121:8

There is a part of me that still can’t believe we got the CTS/Lilly renewal leave grant. My renewal leave begins after our Pentecost Celebration and covenanting with Rev. Kathy as our sabbatical minister on Sunday. It is so close! And the good news is that, after months of work, we are well organized. We have a great slate of guest ministers, spiritual practices, and creative projects that fit within the five elements of our “What Makes Our Hearts Sing?” theme. We have set things up so the church community can also have fun and experience renewal during what has been a particularly challenging and draining time in our nation.

You know I believe strongly in practicing gratitude. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to express a lot of it. This renewal leave would not be happening without the work of the impromptu “sabbatical team” that has emerged at UCH. My PPRC and our Council have been the core of that. And I want to especially acknowledge Kristina, who has done a little bit of everything (spreadsheet builder, administrator, proposal writer, order taker for the Filoli gardens excursion, and coordinator of guest preachers). We are excited to have Rev. Melissa Tumaneng (NCNCUCC Conference staff), Rev. Rhina Ramos (NCNCUCC Conference staff), Rev. Dr. Laura Jean Torgerson, Rev. Dr. Monica Cross, and Rev. Paul Gafney as guest preachers. Jennifer, Steve, and Jackie are also all leading worship experiences or preaching and sharing their gifts during this season.

Jessica also helped write the grant proposal and has made reimbursements and record keeping seamless, which has relieved stress for the Council and for me. Jackie and Laurie have organized the Order of Worship process that should unfold smoothly in my absence, Ashley is managing my professional page, Updates publications, livestreaming, and other things while I am away. Scout built the surveys you have been filling out online to provide information and feedback that have driven the entire process. And Steve and Kirk are making sure our worship services will have singable, well organized, shared music. Many of you have also quietly prayed for and encouraged the process, sent me cards, texts, and notes of support. I am grateful for you, and for your ongoing support of this body of Christ.

I also want to say “Thank you” to Rev. Kathy. In order to rest well and renew my spirit in this time of uncertainty and challenge in our nation, I needed to know that the community is well cared for and will have the ministerial support to face whatever unfolds. I am 100% sure that will be the case with Rev. Kathy and our sabbatical leadership team.

I also wanted to thank the congregation for the beautiful journal and pen I received at last week’s Lunch Bunch gathering. The embossed pattern on the outside of the leather journal is an Amaranthus flower. Amaranthus is found all over the Aegean, and in Greek means “immortal” or “unfading.”  It is often used in threshold rituals in Greece and Turkey and is associated with the Goddess Artemis (Particularly Artemis of Ephesus-who was wildly popular in Ephesus in the Hellenistic age and is a primary reason Paul has a bee in his bonnet in the book of Ephesians). I am writing in my new journal already, and it is a particularly fitting gift to take with me on my renewal leave travels.  

As I am preparing to take my leave, I want to invite you to follow my personal page (Jeanne Loveless) if you aren’t already on Facebook. I will be posting there from time to time about our travels and about my sabbatical experiences. I won’t respond in writing to your comments, but I’ll see them.

I also want to be clear that I am logging out of my church email, and will not be posting on my professional page, or on the church page. I will also not have access to Wi-Fi or cell service in Big Sur or be able to even use my US Sim while we are out of the country. So, I can’t and will not receive voicemails, or texts. I will return to UCH on September 13 and preach for the first time on September 20. We will resume Transitions Group and Scripture Seekers on October 1.

Lastly, I want to invite you to join us for worship this Sunday on Pentecost. May 24 at 10:30 Pacific. We will be celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit and birthday of the church on Zoom and Live-Stream. We will also be entering into covenant with Rev. Kathy and will also bless Christy, Clive, and me as I go forth on my renewal leave journey.

So again, thank you for making this renewal leave possible — not just for me, but for all of us. May God bless us richly and watch over us in this season of “our coming out and our going in.” In this present moment “and forevermore.”  

With Infinite Love and Gratitude,
Rev. Jeanne

ICE Out of Dublin Coalition Toolkit

As you know, we have been concerned that the federal government is planning to reopen FCI Dublin, a closed down prison with a history of many problems, as an ICE detention facility. We have been awaiting an environmental assessment from the federal Bureau of Prisons on FCI Dublin. On Friday, May 1, the Federal Bureau of Prisons published an Environmental Assessment Report on FCI Dublin. It is a 2,731 page document, which you can access here.  

The publication of this report moves FCI Dublin one step closer to its possible reopening as an ICE detention center.  

We need everyone to take action now: A 30 day public comment period opened on May 1 and closes on June 1. Let's FLOOD the process with hundreds of our public comments: NO ICE DETENTION CENTER IN THE BAY AREA OR ANYWHERE! 

👉Use the ICE Out of Dublin Coalition Toolkit, which includes a sample comment. 

• Submit your public comment by emailing bop-adm-facilities-s@bop.gov (in the “to:” line), and PLEASE BCC US by including iceoutofdublin@gmail.com in the “bcc” line. Include "FCI Dublin Environmental Assessment" as your email’s subject line. The deadline is June 1.

Fights over environmental impact reports have been crucial in stopping the opening of warehouse detention centers around the country. Together, we can keep ICE Out of Dublin!

Great New Resource About Christian Nationalism from Rev. Benjamin Cramer

I have had several requests for something concise and simple that explains what Christian Nationalism is, and why it is problematic. This free new booklet published by Rev. Benjamin Cramer does a terrific job of answering these questions. And it has a nice bibliography which you have already seen a lot of but is contained in one place. Take a look and share it with your friends.

Renewal Leave Begins in 35 Days! (Not Like Anybody Is Counting)

I wanted to update you about renewal leave. The church council/renewal leave team have been working hard behind the scenes to put things in place and I am delighted to report that all our Sundays are covered! As Kristina reminded us in council last Thursday, part of CTS/Lilly’s thinking around clergy renewal leave is that the minister AND THE CHURCH can experience renewal. And getting things in place to run smoothly while I am away will create the opportunity for the community to have that experience.

While I am on leave, Rev. Kathy, Jackie, and Steve will be facilitating worship. Steve and Kirk will be sharing music. Jennifer and Steve will be providing special spiritual practice experiences, and Jackie will be preaching and Kristina providing backup if needed. We also have a great slate of guest preachers including Rev. Melissa Tumaneng (Associate Conference Minister), Rev. Dr. Monica Cross, Rev. Dr. Laura Jean Torgerson, Rev. Rhina Ramos, and Rev. Paul Gaffney. And as you now know, we have called Rev. Kathy Cramer to be our sabbatical minister. Rev. Kathy will be with us on April 26 to observe worship, and Council Leadership and I are having Zoom conversations with her to bring her up to speed. If you have not seen our introduction of Rev. Kathy, you can see it here: Meet our Sabbatical Minister — United Church of Hayward

Our field trip to Filoli Gardens will be Sunday, May 31. Kristina will be writing a separate Updates article to give you more information about, and how to opt in with your preferences for rides, lunch, times, etc. within the next couple of weeks. All expenses for this excursion are covered by our CTS/Lilly grant. For those of you that do not live in the south Hayward area, we are hoping you can also spend time out in nature on this day in your location, so we can share observations and perhaps do a spiritual exercise together with Rev. Kathy when we return to Zoom worship on June 7.  

I also wanted to help us prepare our hearts for renewal leave together. So, I have designed a worship series based on the five things we identified in our congregational survey that make our hearts sing, which was the renewal leave proposal theme.

 Spring 2026 Post Holy Week Sermon Series Theme: “What Makes Our Hearts Sing?”

• April 19: What Makes Our Hearts Sing? Spiritual Connection and Spiritual Practices (Resurrection Appearance #2): John 20: 18-29. When Jesus shows up in the upper room after his resurrection, several things happen that point us toward deeper spiritual connection and practice. He makes connections in this pivotal story between breathing, the holy spirit, and peace. Join us for conversation and a group “Lectio Divina” practice on this passage as we talk about what this may show us about Jesus’ spirituality and about what makes their (and our) hearts sing on the journey. You ‘all will be doing some new spiritual practices during renewal leave. And I will be practicing the Greek Orthodox “Jesus Prayer” in preparation for our visit to Greece and a form of Sufi prayer with my prayer beads called “Tasbih/Dhikr” in preparation for our visit to Turkey. So, this feels like an effective way to get our feet in the water.

• April 26: What Makes Our Hearts Sing? Being Creative/Making Things and Enjoying What Others Have Made. Exodus 35. It is no accident that our “Virtual Art Wall” in Updates from the Journey has been popular. At UCH it makes our hearts sing to participate in creation with God, and to enjoy what others have created. You know photography is my artform, and it is central in my renewal leave proposal. But I am also- inspired by Laurie- going to try a new beginner project by trying some watercolors based on my photography. I do want to be clear that heart singing creation is not just about art- it’s also about the skills and beauty that create community. Join us for a conversation about Exodus 35 in which “stirred hearts and willing spirits” create the first tabernacle together by bringing time, talent, and treasure of all kinds forward for an incredibly important community project.

• May 3: What Makes Our Hearts Sing? Living Into Jesus’ call for a relational life and getting to know our neighbors and each other better. I Corinthians 13. We are familiar with Jesus calling for us to “Love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength and neighbor as self” which shows up in one way or another in all the Gospels. But did you know that Paul (in one of his most openhearted, spiritually connected moments) also has something important to say about being in relationship? I will be visiting the agora of Old Corinth on renewal leave (where this letter Paul sent may have first been read) and have been thinking about the Corinthian church. So, we are going to dive into I Corinthians 13 in which Paul talks very poetically about the greatest relational calling, “love.” This is more than just a popular wedding reading. So, join us for deeper conversation about the “Heart Singing (and Shaping)” aspects of relationship, loving, boundaries, and “looking through the glass dimly” before we can “see face to face.” (I will also bring Rumi, who wrote some of the most beautiful poetry in the world about his relationship to the Divine and his beloved Shams Tabriz into this conversation- as we will be visiting his shrine, and learning more about the Sufi tradition in Konya, Turkey on renewal leave.)

• May 10: What Makes Our Hearts Sing? Learning New Things Together: Romans 12. Most of us would not list vulnerability and change as things that make our hearts sing. But our survey indicated that “Learning New Things Together” is heart singing activity- even though that activity can be full of vulnerability and change. I find tension worth a deep dive, especially since I am going to be putting myself in completely unfamiliar places and cultural situations, I am unfamiliar with on renewal leave, and so are you. Paul has some incredibly astute things to say about learning new things and embracing new ways of thinking in Romans 12. Join us as we deep dive into a practice that might make a tremendous amount of difference in our lives: Paul’s invitation to the “renewing our minds.”

• May 17: What Makes Our Hearts Sing? Being Out in Nature and Finding God There. Psalm 104. The Psalms are full of natural images, and we are clear that noticing God in nature makes our hearts sing. Nature can be beautiful, and breathtaking, and intimidating and scary (which is the nature of spiritual mysteries). Join us for conversation about the elements of creation (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit) that feature so prominently in Psalm 104, and for reflection on the wisdom of getting outside, whether that is on a windswept Big Sur coastal walk (I am opening my renewal leave with a 12 day silent retreat at the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur), or watching the birds in your yard.

• May 24: Pentecost. Acts 2 Celebration and Sending Forth of Rev. Jeanne (and Clive and Christy) to renewal leave. Blessing of Rev. Kathy as she steps in to serve as our sabbatical. minister. More details to come.

If you have additional questions about renewal leave, please contact Kristina. Thank you for giving me this incredible opportunity for sabbatical renewal. It is my hope that with all of the excellent work that we have done, we are setting this up for the congregation to experience renewal too.

 – Rev. Jeanne

UCH at No Kings

I wanted to share news that we had a great turnout of UCH folkx for local "No Kings" protests and rallies last Saturday in Fremont, Hayward, Piedmont Avenue/Oakland, San Francisco, and Union City!

I had several conversations at the Union City Resists rally and food drive with folkx who expressed how much the community needed for Christians to show up and express alternatives to Christian nationalism. It was obvious our visibility and presence was important. And it felt synchronous and fitting to rally on the same weekend we were celebrating Palm Sunday- a 1st Century community action led by Jesus riding through the gates of Jerusalem on a donkey while the Roman Legions entered Jerusalem from the other side of the city with fanfare and clanking armor to keep peace during Passover.

Meet our Sabbatical Minister

Rev. Kathy Cramer was born in the Midwest but has lived most of her life in California. She has a lifelong connection with the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ denomination. While in high school she became very active with the Pomona First Christian Church and with the Regional Church serving in various leadership roles. These experiences led her to declare her intention to go into the ministry. While at Chapman College she worked as a Chaplain’s assistant and library aide. After some soul searching, she decided to pursue social work instead of ministry. In 1982 she graduated from San Francisco State University with a master’s degree in social work. As a social worker she worked with individuals who have developmental disabilities as well as emotionally disturbed children and adults. After working at Napa State Hospital for 9 years, she went to Solano County Mental Health where she was a direct line worker, manager, and Mental Health Director.

While working for Solano County, Kathy again heard the call to ministry and began attending the Pacific School of Religion as a part time student. She was ordained by the Lafayette Christian Church in 2005 but continued her work as a social worker for another few years. During this time Kathy was active with the Lafayette Christian Church in various leadership capacities including being an Elder, chairing committees and leading a women’s group. She continues to lead a monthly women’s group there along with an annual retreat. After retiring from Social Work, Kathy spent time caring for her elderly parents, did some part-time work and began taking tai chi classes.

In 2011 she received a call to serve as a part time Co-Pastor for a small community-based church in Bodega Bay, California—Fisherman’s Chapel. She splits Sunday responsibilities with another pastor and provides pastoral support as needed. In addition, she is now leading a Tai Chi group that meets twice a week in a local park. She lives with her husband Alan and their two cats in Napa, CA. Their adult daughter, Caitlin, lives in Twentynine Palms, CA, where she operates a star gazing tour company.

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Beauty
by Steve Garnaas-Holmes

Beauty is God's bait.
She sets it out and waits
for you to notice.
You pause and gaze,
and, God hopes, linger a bit,
rapt, while she stares at you
because she loves seeing
your face like that.

The 4th Sunday in Lent: Even So Lord Jesus Come -- Converted Over and Over Again In New Ways: A Conversation About Apocalypse Then and Now

Jim Wallis writes, “When I first read Matthew 25 as a student activist, I felt it was the most radical thing I had ever encountered.” He goes on to say that “Matthew 25 has continued to convert me over and over again in new ways.” I find it striking that with all of the talk about apocalypse and the “second coming” rising again in Christian Nationalist circles in the U.S., with our undeclared war upon and bombing of Iran, that this scripture is never mentioned or used in the conversation.

Yet this very apocalyptic scripture about judgment is directly from the mouth and teachings of Jesus. What does Matthew 25:31–45 say about Jesus’s spirituality? What does Jesus want us to know is important in this evocative scripture about “the least of these” and our responsibilities toward them? Does (this scary word) apocalypse mean what we think it means?

Join us this Sunday as we continue our Lenten series about Jesus’ spirituality with “Even So, Lord Jesus, Come: Converted Over and Over Again in New Ways — A Conversation About Apocalypse (Apokalupsis: ἀποκάλυψις), Then and Now.”

I look forward to being with you on Zoom and livestream on our Lenten journey.
—Rev. Jeanne

GREEK WORDS IMPORTANT IN OUR CONVERSATION TODAY:

1. Apokalupsis: ἀποκάλυψις ah-po-KAH-loo-psis: revealing, disclosure, through what is concealed. A manifestation of what is hidden. The book of Revelation in the biblical canon

2. xenos: ξένος KSEH-nos stranger, alien, foreigner, the root from which we get our word Xenophobia.

3. aiónios: αἰώνιος ahee-OH-nee-os eternal, eternity, forever. perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well) (aiṓnios) does not focus on the future per se, but rather on the quality of the age or aiṓn) it relates to. Thus believers live in "eternal life" right now, experiencing this quality of God's life now as a present possession.

For Empathy During a Time of War (written by Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow)

Let us pray —

God, we know empathy will not win this war
— but it will instigate a future of peace
Empathy will not topple regimes
— but it will liberate collective imagination
Empathy will not destroy weapons
— but it will disrupt our tendency toward violence
Empathy will not solve generational hatred
— but it will open us up to generational healing
Empathy alone will not guarantee peace
— but without empathy, peace is not possible

God, during this time of war
when our government wants us to choose
destruction over discourse
nationalism over faith
and mercilessness over empathy
grant us the courage to choose Your way.

When empathy is too difficult to mine from within
— God, grant Your people grace
When empathy causes chasms of conflict
— God, grant Your people persistence
When empathy solicits reactions bound by hate
— God, grant Your people fortitude
When empathy makes clear the holy within our enemy
— God, grant Your people reassurance
When empathy becomes exhausting and overwhelming
— God, grant Your people rest

And God, embolden Your people
to live a life of unapologetic empathy
in a world that would prefer it if we didn't

For these things we pray

— AMEN

Lent 2026: On Level Ground Exploring the Spirituality of Jesus

Most of us think of Jesus as an important part of our spirituality. But what can we learn from closely examining his connection with God and the spiritual world, and his connection with his community, with his neighbors, and with those in political and religious authority around him? I invite you to join us on Zoom and Livestream for our Lenten series: On Level Ground: Exploring the Spirituality of Jesus. We had a terrific conversation last Sunday to kick things off. Join us for the journey. —Rev. Jeanne

2nd Sunday of Lent, March 1: What is Jesus’ relationship with scripture?  (What did Jesus choose for his first sermon? And how is that choice in alignment with his ministry?  Luke 4: 16-21)

3rd Sunday of Lent, March 8: What does Jesus’ prayer life look like? (We’ll look at what we can know of Jesus’ prayer life and explore “The Lord’s Prayer.” How does prayer keep Jesus and us aligned? Matthew 6 and Luke 11)

4th  Sunday of Lent, March 16: How was Jesus in relationship with others? And what does that say about his spirituality? (We will do a deep dive into Matthew 25: “When you do it for the least of these, you have done it for me” and talk about Jesus call for us to align our values with the Kindom of God rather than the Kingdoms of the World.) 

5th Sunday of Lent, March 23: What is the most powerful and useful spiritual alignment metaphor Jesus uses in the scriptures? I’m going to argue it is “The Vine and the Branches” in John 15. We’ll get into it and see what you think.

6th Sunday of Lent, March 30 (Palm Sunday): What gets under Jesus’ (sometimes very human) skin and how does he manage it? What does what he gets upset about say about his alignment and spirituality? We’ll invite him to give us a spiritual justice tutorial on how to stay aligned and turn over tables when the situation requires. On this Palm Sunday we will enter into Jerusalem with Hosannas and explore Jesus’ cleansing of the temple right after the party in Luke 19: 41-48.

How We Learn to Be Brave: Spring Book Club Syllabus

Join us on Wednesday, March 4, at 7:00 pm Pacific for the first gathering of a seven-session book discussion of Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde's "How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith."  We will be meeting every other Wednesday for 7 sessions, and you can find more details here.

Here is a map of our journey (Gratitude to my colleague and friend the Rev. Michal Anne Pepper - Episcopalian clergy in New Mexico - for her guidance): 

• Session 1: Welcome, Introductions. (Please read the intro if you can for the first meeting. And Google "Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde" and watch some videos so you can get to know her. Here is one. Questions for reflection: How is this moment in our nation's history a "Decisive moment" for you personally? Reflect on past "decisive moments" in your life. How have your decisions changed you? How have they fostered a bigger sense of agency in your life? 

• Session 2: Deciding to Go. Deciding to Stay. (Please read chapters 1 and 2). Questions for reflection:  Have you made a “decision to go” that transgressed others’ or cultural expectations? What did you learn from that experience and what was its impact on future decisions? What “life quakes” can you identify in your own personal transitions? Think about a significant time and/or situation when you decided to stay. Identify any sacrifices or blessings you reaped from a decision to stay?.

• Session 3: Deciding to Start (Please read chapter 3)  Questions for reflection: Reflecting on past decisions to start a particular life path, do you agree that they start with small steps? What were your sources of courage to take those first steps?  What vision has carried you through past decisions to start? What is your vision, even if incompletely formed, that supports your current decision to start or to stay?  What are your biggest fears or misgivings associated with your current decision to start or stay?

• Session 4:  Accepting What You Do Not Choose (Please read chapter 4) Questions for reflection: Frodo was not happy that the ring of power had come to him in Tolkien’s Lord of the Ring. Gandalf responded: “We cannot choose the times we live in, but we can choose how to respond to the time we are given.” What corollaries do you find in your life? In events in your lifetime?  Have you ever been part of a community that was faced with the need to take an evolutionary leap in order to thrive in a new environment? What was transforming about walking through that experience?  How have you found meaning in adversity? Have you ever found the divine or your higher self in adversity?

• Session 5:  Stepping Up to the Plate (Please reach chapter 5) Questions for reflection: Think about times in which you “stepped up to the plate”, both large or small. What was your experience in making that decision in the moment.? Was there a time when you stepped up to the plate and did not feel ready? How did you manage your fears/anxiety in following through? What were the consequences and how did you manage them? What benefits have you experienced? 

• Session 6:  The Inevitable Letdown. The Hidden Virtue of Perseverance (Please read chapters 6 and 7) Questions for reflection. Bishop Budde describes a variety of types of “let down” (eg natural consequences, backlash, desolation that follows consolations). Why is perseverance called a “hidden virtue”? Think of a time in your life when the “guiding star” of your perseverance was a “hidden companion on the quest” instead of a reward or goal at the end. Have you experienced moments of kairos ? How did that support you on the journey? Reflect on the status of your “heart energy”?

• Session 7:  Hope or Despair? Closure  (Please read the Epilogue) Questions for reflection: How do you sustain hope and speak of hope about the challenges we are facing? How has our reading and conversations helped you in our current “decisive moment”? How can you share any insights, or even transforming thoughts, with your community?

Meeting Dates:

• Session 1: March 4

• Session 2: March 18

• Session 3: April 1

• Session 4: April 15

• Session 5: April 29

• Session 6: May 13

• Session 7: TBD 

Meeting Link

P.S. At UCH, we encourage everyone to support your local independent booksellers. If you are in the Hayward Area, our go-to Bookstore is Books on B. If you'd like to join the group, but can't afford the book, drop me a note and I'll make sure you get a copy.  

Lent: 2026 (We Are Giving Up White Christian Nationalism)

On Level Ground Exploring the Spirituality of Jesus: And Cultivating The Art of Sustoicheó/συστοιχέω (Alignment)

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; and may your Spirit
    lead me on to level ground. -Psalm 143:10

In recent years, we have explored Jesus’s healings, miracles, actions, exorcisms, relationships, and primary teachings. In Scripture Seekers Bible Study we are now studying Jesus’s parables with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine as our guide. And I have decided that in this remarkable and exhausting year, during the Season of Lent, we are going to bring a new lens to the conversation and explore Jesus’s spirituality.

Most of us think of Jesus as an important part of our spirituality. But what can we learn from closely examining his connection with God and the spiritual world, and his connection with his community, with his neighbors, and with those in political and religious authority around him?

This seems like an important conversation to have when Christian Nationalists in the US are getting out of alignment with who Jesus was so drastically. His ministry and life are tutorials in spiritual alignment. His actions, thoughts, feelings, and words usually match up- which is one of the key things that makes him such a fully divine fully human force to be reckoned with. Jesus invites us to live in alignment too, and it is a life-long challenge. If we can get even a little closer to the way Jesus does it- and stand on the “level ground” he does our spiritual journey(s) will deepen, and our joy will be more complete (John 15:11)

The Greeks called alignment sustoicheó: συστοιχέω:  Sustoicheó means literally: “to file together as soldiers in ranks or straight (or for some of us: gayly forward) lines.” Sustoicheó is about being lined up, and parallel with or in alignment with something. There is also a sense of being “level” which is why Psalm 143 is so relevant to our conversation. Sustoicheó shows up in the Pauline scriptures one time in Galatians, in a bit different context. But sustoicheó strikes me as a terrific descriptor for the way Jesus lived and walked in alignment spiritually.  

"The Thousand Columns" at Chichén Itzá. (Yucatan, Mexico)

So, I invite you to join us at UCH on Zoom and Livestream during the Lenten Season for: On Level Ground: Exploring the Spirituality of Jesus and Cultivating the Art of Sustoicheó/συστοιχέω. Here are some things we will be chewing on. -Rev. Jeanne

• 1st Sunday of Lent: What is Jesus’ relationship with the spiritual world and what does that have to do with how he moves and aligns himself in the physical world? (We will look in-depth at Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and his conversation with Satan in Luke 4: 1-13)

• 2nd Sunday of Lent: What is Jesus’ relationship with scripture?  (What did Jesus choose for his first sermon? And how is that choice in alignment with his ministry?  Luke 4: 16-21)

• 3rd Sunday of Lent: What does Jesus’ prayer life look like? (We’ll look at what we can know of Jesus’ prayer life and explore “The Lord’s Prayer.” How does prayer keep Jesus and us aligned? Matthew 6 and Luke 11)

• 4th Sunday of Lent: How was Jesus in relationship with others? And what does that say about his spirituality? (We will do a deep dive into Matthew 25: “When you do it for the least of these, you have done it for me” and talk about Jesus call for us to align our values with the Kindom of God rather than the Kingdoms of the World.) 

• 5th Sunday of Lent: What is the most powerful and useful spiritual alignment metaphor Jesus uses in the scriptures? I’m going to argue it is “The Vine and the Branches” in John 15. We’ll get into it and see what you think.

• 6th Sunday of Lent (Palm Sunday): What gets under Jesus’ (sometimes very human) skin and how does he manage it? What does what he gets upset about say about his alignment and spirituality? We’ll invite him to give us a spiritual justice tutorial on how to stay aligned and turn over tables when the situation requires. On this Palm Sunday we will enter into Jerusalem with Hosannas and explore Jesus’ cleansing of the temple right after the party in Luke 19: 41-48.