BFUU Worship Services by date, with titles, leaders/speakers, brief description and video of Ministers’ sermons/Guest Speaker messages if available.

Phantom Waiting Rooms

We all spend time waiting….Waiting for doctors, for dentists, for our tires to be rotated. I realize I’ve also spent a lot of time in ‘phantom waiting rooms’, waiting for something that will NEVER happen…waiting for something I want, but will never get if I keep waiting where I am. Q: What are you waiting … Continue reading Phantom Waiting Rooms

Decolonized Reparation and Liberation Psychology

What are your thoughts about reparation? How would you like it to be decolonized? What does liberation psychology suggests to facilitate the decolonization of reparation? The writings of Psychiatrist and Philosopher Frantz Fanon and Liberation Psychologist Martin Baro would provide the tools for the full and total liberation of the marginalized victims and survivors of … Continue reading Decolonized Reparation and Liberation Psychology

A Path of Nonviolence in a Time of Genocide

Join Rabbi Lynn for reflections on the shape of nonviolent practice as an activist’s spiritual disciple in a time of genocide. Soul tending, Culture Tending, Wisdom Tending, Tending Transformational Solidarity. Rabbi Lynn will bring her newest book, Shomeret Shalom: Replanting Seeds of Jewish Revolutionary Nonviolence. Cost is $28 via check, PayPal or cash. Lynn Gottlieb … Continue reading A Path of Nonviolence in a Time of Genocide

2023 September and prior

Click title to watch video or listen to audio, or as otherwise noted

September 24, 2023: In the Spirit of Aloha youtube video
Patrick Landeza (he/him)
The word “aloha” takes on many meanings, but the most important meaning is “unconditional love.” Through stories and songs, Patrick shares the power of aloha and how its meaning brings us closer to one another and to the universe.
**Uke Jam after service at 12:30 in the Courtyard**

Patrick Kahakauwila Kamaholelani Landeza is an award-winning Hawaiian musician. Born and raised on the “island of Berkeley” to Hawai’i born parents, Landeza is considered by many the bridge between all things Hawai`i and the mainland. He is the Executive Director of HIC Lifestyle (Hawaiian Island Creation), Community Liaison/Cultural Advisor for Trader Vic’s Worldwide and sits on numerous other boards. Patrick is in his 29th year in education and although he is no longer in the classroom, he still continues to impact the students at Moreau Catholic High School where he is the Community Outreach/Auxiliary Programs Coordinator. Landeza is a former high school campus minister and responsible for creating music ministry programs that continue to thrive to this day. A liturgical composer, Landeza’s music is still used today for young adult liturgies. Patrick has five children with his wife Jennifer and currently lives in San Lorenzo, Ca.

September 17, 2023: Genome: the Autobiography of a Species – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles (she/her)
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles shares an exhilarating study of our 23 human chromosomes that lets us see how nature and nurture combine to make us human.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

September 10, 2023: Peace Tales from Islamic Tradition – youtube video

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Encounter mystical tales and peacebuilding encounters from the world of Islam. Enjoy moving meditation, dance and stories of unity and joy. Rabbi Lynn has spent a life time working with Muslim communities around the world and in the United States and is co-founder of the Muslim Jewish Peacewalk. She will also share some beautiful passages from the Qur’an.
Lynn Gottlieb is Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM. Now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.September 3, 2023: The Need to Belong

Rev. Ben Meyers (he/him)
The Rev. Ben Meyers will bring us fresh meanings to the word ‘belonging,’ which holds together the two fundamental aspects of life: Being and Longing.
Rev. Ben is a resident of Oakland, where he enjoys long strolls around Lake Merritt. His ministry spans over 28 years:  half of that time as a parish minister, including as minister here at BFUU from 2009 to 2013. He has also served as a social justice/community minister for several communities and organizations throughout Northern California.  His passion is working with individuals and faith-based communities throughout the country as a Solar and Clean Energy consultant, and his mission is to accelerate the adoption of clean energy as a moral imperative. As a proud parent of a transgender child, he is also a vocal ally and avid advocate for LGTBQ+ rights.

August 27, 2023: Celebrating Women’s Equality Day – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
*IN PERSON, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street and on Zoom*
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles will report on the issues women have faced in the past, and the story of today.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

August 20, 2023: Preparation for New Beginnings in Stories of Creation from Around the World – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
*IN PERSON, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street and on Zoom*
Some creation stories cannot be spoken. Others reflect the way society sees itself in relationship to the natural world. R. Lynn will share some stories to reflect upon about the Creation of the World.
Lynn Gottlieb is Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM. Now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts. 

August 13, 2023: Compassion-based Health and Healing – youtube video
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
*IN PERSON, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street and on Zoom*
What is really “normal” in health? How can trauma and stress, and the pressures of modern-day living affect our bodies and minds? Let us learn to untangle common myths on what makes us sick from renowned physician and author of the Myth of Normal Gabor Maté, who offers a compassionate pathway to health and healing — Body, Mind, and Spirit.
Reverend Jojo V. Gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary/transgender interfaith minister, Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador, and a diversity and inclusion leader. They are practicing the Dao philosophy and Veganism to create a healthier, safer, and more stable world for ALL.

August 6, 2023: Where Do We Come From?: Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage in 2000 Words…Or Less!
Rev. Ben Meyers (he/him)
*IN PERSON, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street and on Zoom*
People often wonder, “Where has Unitarian Universalism been all my life?”…or they ponder what to tell their family and friends when they talk about ‘this religious community’ they have been attending —not really certain how to ‘explain’ the what/where/who/why/how of UU. Well, this sermon approaches ‘where we came from’ and where we are headed…IN ABOUT 2000 WORDS! Hold onto your hats, friends, this will be fun! Bring a friend!
Rev. Ben Meyers is a resident of Oakland, and serves as a Hospice Chaplain and Spiritual Care Provider for Bridge Home Hospice patients and their families in Alameda County. His ministry spans 28 years: half of that time as a parish minister and half as a social justice/community minister. He is the proud father of two sons and loves spending as much time as possible with his two-year old grandson. His passion is working with faith-based communities throughout the country to accelerate the adoption of clean energy–especially solar–as a moral imperative.

July 30, 2023: Does Nature Suffice, or, Isn’t the Universe Miracle Enough? – youtube video
Guest Speaker: Darlene Pagano (she/her)
Guest Musicans: Susan T. Mashiyama (harp) and Live Oak UU Fellowship singers
*IN PERSON, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street and on Zoom*
Our UUA Source #1. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life; If you can’t accept a metaphysical “source of the forces which create….” from where then do you reliably experience transcending mystery and wonder?
Darlene Pagano is a member of the Live Oak UU Fellowship in Alameda and has been on the Worship Team for over 14 years. Folks there are amused at having an atheist so enthusiastic about the state of our spiritual lives. Together, they are making a marvelous harmony of their varied paths within their non creedal faith tradition. 

July 23, 2023: Sally Ride – First Woman in Space – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
*on Zoom only*
The splendid life of Sally Ride ended on July 23, 2012. Rev. Dr. Carrie reflects on the entry of women to the challenges of space.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

July 16, 2023: Prophetic Transformations: Miriam the Prophet – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
*IN PERSON, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street and on Zoom*
Join Rabbi Lynn for her transformative approach to traditional stories about the ancient prophet whose liberation song is the earliest expression of the prophetic stream in biblical traditions, and still speaks to the struggle for justice in our own time.
Lynn Gottlieb is Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM. Now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.

July 9, 2023: Happiness as a Way of Being – youtube video
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
*on Zoom only*
What is happiness? Why is happiness important? How can we cultivate happiness as a skill? What are the fundamental elements of genuine happiness? How can we practice altruism and compassion, and bring happiness to ourselves and others? Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya will help us answer these questions, by sharing their learnings from their Chief Well-Being Officer Training.
Reverend Jojo V. Gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary/transgender interfaith minister, Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador, and a diversity and inclusion leader. They are practicing the Dao philosophy and Veganism to create a healthier, safer, and more stable world for ALL.

July 2, 2023: The Belonging of Everyone: Interdependence Day – youtube video

Rev. Ben Meyers (he/him)
*IN PERSON, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street and on Zoom*
Liberty, like nature, demands a relationship with us in order for it to continue to sustain us. What kind of relationship do we want our children to have with liberty? What kind of relationship do we intend to have with it ourselves so that justice, equity and liberty belongs to everyone?
Rev. Ben Meyers is a resident of Oakland, and serves as a Hospice Chaplain and Spiritual Care Provider for Bridge Home Hospice patients and their families in Alameda County. His ministry spans 28 years: half of that time as a parish minister and half as a social justice/community minister. He is the proud father of two sons and loves spending as much time as possible with his two-year old grandson. His passion is working with faith-based communities throughout the country to accelerate the adoption of clean energy–especially solar–as a moral imperative.

June 25, 2023: Life As Light: A Service for LGBTQ+ Pride Sunday – youtube video
Rev. Ben Meyers (he/him)
*IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street*
*Masks required, windows will be open*
As a celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Sunday, the sermon views being human through the Science of Complementarity Theory and presents Universalism as a prism for acceptance, advocacy and love. Recognition of BFUU leadership and Worship Lay-Leaders.
Rev. Ben Meyers is a resident of Oakland, and serves as a Hospice Chaplain and Spiritual Care Provider for Bridge Home Hospice patients and their families in Alameda County. His ministry spans 28 years: half of that time as a parish minister and half as a social justice/community minister. He is the proud father of two sons and loves spending as much time as possible with his two-year old grandson. His passion is working with faith-based communities throughout the country to accelerate the adoption of clean energy–especially solar–as a moral imperative.

June 18, 2023: Juneteenth, When Slavery Ended – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles reviews the history of our celebration of Juneteenth, the end of slavery in America. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, slavery did not come to its official and practical end until June 18, 1965.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

June 11, 2023: Loving and Welcoming the Enemy/Stranger – youtube videoRev. Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
Valerie Kaur’s book, “See No Stranger,” stretches one’s imagination on how we could possibly love and welcome the enemy/stranger, thereby fostering solidarity and promote unity with one another. Also, the extraordinary story of how the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin decided to confront evil with love, openness and interfaith engagement is another example.
Reverend Jojo V. Gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary/transgender interfaith minister, Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador, and a diversity and inclusion leader. They are practicing the Dao philosophy and Veganism to create a healthier, safer, and more stable world for ALL.

June 4, 2023: The Problem with Evil: A Unitarian Universalist Theodicy – youtube videoRev. Ben Meyers (he/him)
*IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street*
*Masks required, windows will be open*
Theodicy is a fancy way of trying to talk about the problem of evil in the world and why it exists. It is a topic many philosophers call the most difficult problem in theology, and every major religion has at least one position on theodicy (and most of them have several, including Unitarian Universalism.) The ‘problem with evil’ is a question that begs for our attention as religious progressives. This morning, Rev. Ben will offer a Unitarian Universalist response relevant to the events of our time.
Rev. Ben Meyers is a resident of Oakland, and serves as a Hospice Chaplain and Spiritual Care Provider for Bridge Home Hospice patients and their families in Alameda County. His ministry spans 28 years: half of that time as a parish minister and half as a social justice/community minister. He is the proud father of two sons and loves spending as much time as possible with his two-year old grandson. His passion is working with faith-based communities throughout the country to accelerate the adoption of clean energy–especially solar–as a moral imperative.

May 28, 2023: The Poetry of Everyday Life – youtube video
Maw Shein Win (she/her) and Frances Hillyard (she/her)
Guest Musician: Rodney Franklin
*IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street*
*Masks required, windows will be open*
Please join us for a service filled with poetry and music! Local poet Maw Shein Win was honored as the inaugural Poet Laureate of El Cerrito and her most recent poetry collection is Storage Unit for the Spirit House (Omnidawn) which was nominated for the Northern California Book Award in Poetry. Ms. Shein Win and our own Frances Hillyard will share their poems and their journey to becoming a poet with us.

May 21, 2023: Sustaining Social Justice Activism through Mindfulness
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
Mindfulness as sustainability is a game changer. The far-reaching benefits of mindfulness, particularly in sustaining our social justice activism is undeniable. Let us learn the lessons from the world’s religions and practice mindfulness in caring for ourselves, others, and the world.
Reverend Jojo V. Gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary/transgender interfaith minister, Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador, and a diversity and inclusion leader. They are practicing the Dao philosophy and Veganism to create a healthier, safer, and more stable world for ALL.

May 14, 2023: Mothers and Monuments – youtube video
Joanna Winston Foley (she/they)
*IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street*
*Masks required, windows will be open*
Mother, foster mom, godmother, mama to a fur baby. What maternal roles have impacted your life? Which moms do you remember fondly or celebrate with on Mother’s Day? Are the writing and organizing traditions begun by Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis, the 19th Century women who birthed Mother’s Day, continuing today? Joanna Winston Foley will share stories of her own labor as a Monument Mama to create racial representation in public art.

May 7, 2023: Genesis 50:00: How the World Began, and a Search for the Meaning of “God” – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles proposes a new version of Genesis and the presence of meaning in the universe.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

April 30, 2023: The Anthropocene Age: Saving Us from Us – youtube video
Rev. Ben Meyers (he/him)
The clock is ticking on the fate of the Earth as we know it, set in motion by our own doing. Geologists suggest naming this current era “The Anthropocene Period,” or The Age of Humankind since the future of the Earth is now, literally, in our hands. As stewards/partners of creation, how can we ‘save ourselves from ourselves?’ The Rev. Ben Meyers will lead a service encompassing wit, wisdom, and our Unitarian Universalist principles to explore a path forward. All are worthy, all are welcome.
Rev. Ben Meyers is a resident of Oakland, and serves as a Hospice Chaplain and Spiritual Care Provider for Bridge Home Hospice patients and their families in Alameda County. His ministry spans 28 years: half of that time as a parish minister and half as a social justice/community minister. He is the proud father of two sons and loves spending as much time as possible with his two-year old grandson. His passion is working with faith-based communities throughout the country to accelerate the adoption of clean energy–especially solar–as a moral imperative.

April 23, 2023: Healing In Community: The Power of Music
Kaitie Ty Warren (she/they)
*IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street*
*Masks required, please dress warmly as windows will be open*
Singing is good for you! It reduces stress, improves memory and gives your heart and lungs a workout… But the biggest benefit of singing is when it is done in community with other people, which creates feelings of inclusion and belonging. In this service, we will explore how singing together supports not only the individual, but also the wellness of the community as a whole.
Kaitie Ty Warren is a community song leader and community builder. She is the founder and co-director of the Living Room Choir ANEW in El Cerrito, which helps to build community through music. Kaitie writes and creates visual art in addition to her work as a community song leader. She has developed voice work for folks with Parkinsons, and a Simple Harmonies class for babies. Kaitie teaches private lessons upon request.

April 16, 2023: Mitigating Climate Change – youtube video
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
Climate Change is one of this era’s greatest moral challenges. It is inseparable from the core values of many faith traditions. Severe storms, changing seasonal conditions, and other climate changes impact social justice and peace advocacy. How can we as a people of faith help in mitigating climate change and create a healthier, safer, and more stable world for All?
Reverend Jojo V. Gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary/transgender interfaith minister, Blessed Tomorrow Ambassador, and a diversity and inclusion leader. They are practicing the Dao philosophy and Veganism to create a healthier, safer, and more stable world for ALL.

April 9, 2023: Easter: Love, Death, Grief and Hope – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
*IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street*
*Masks required, please dress warmly as windows will be open*
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles celebrates Easter—the time when the words of Jesus, his stories, his counsel speak to us and have the power to transform our lives.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

April 2, 2023: Liberation Stories – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Join Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb as she shares liberation stories in honor of Passover, Easter, and Ramadan.
Lynn Gottlieb is Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM. Now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.

March 26, 2023: To Nurture and to Serve the Neighborhood; The Life and Legacy of the Rev. Mr. Fred Rogers – youtube video
Rev. Ben Meyers (he/him)
*IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street*
*Masks required, please dress warmly as windows will be open*
March 20, 2023 will mark the 95th anniversary of the birth of Fred McFeely Rogers, who died 20 years ago (2/27/2003) and whose life and pioneering ministry shaped and guided the lives of millions of people, young and old. His words, songs and story continue to touch and inspire. Come be lifted and affirmed as we revisit the lessons of ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.’
The Rev. Ben Meyers has been a UU minister since 1995 and served as minister of BFUU from 2009 to 2013. He is currently a Hospice Chaplain for Bridge Home Hospice and lives in Oakland, near Lake Merritt and his adorable grandchild, with whom he shares the wisdom, wit and whimsy of Mr. Rogers.

March 19, 2023: Fairytales and Fables: Imagination Is Our Heritage – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles observes the week of World Folktales and Fables and how these tales deepen our understanding of human needs and accomplishments.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

March 12, 2023: Celebrating Women: Embracing Gender Equity – youtube video
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
March 8 has been designated as the International Women’s Day since 1977 when the United Nations called on all the world’s countries to adopt and choose any day of the year to celebrate women’s achievements and increase visibility, and create a gender equal, diverse, equitable, and inclusive world. Yet, bias, discrimination, and sexism still exist in workplaces, including churches.
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary jackleg preacher, climate reality leader, and interfaith minister. They are building bridges across differences, as a member of the Interfaith America Bridging the Gap Cohort.

March 5, 2023: Sacred Tree Stories from Around the World – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Join Rabbi Lynn for stories about sacred trees and our spiritual connection to the earth.
Lynn Gottlieb is Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM. Now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.

February 26, 2023: Say Love, Solidarity, and Unity with Flowers!
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
The language of flowers (Floriography) gained popularity as a clandestine method of communication, especially in Victorian England and the U.S. At present, we usually send roses to convey love, chrysanthemums to express condolences, rue for regret, and rosemary for remembrance. Let’s bring and share colorful blooms to express our love, solidarity, and unity with one another.
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary jackleg preacher, climate reality leader, and interfaith minister. They are building bridges across differences, as a member of the Interfaith America Bridging the Gap Cohort.

February 19, 2023: What’s Up With Women in 2023?
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
Betty Friedan’s famous treatise, “The Feminine Mystique,” was published sixty years ago today. Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles reviews the history expressed in Friedan’s work and the world that women face now, in 2023.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

February 12, 2023: Building Better Brains
Jeff Palmer (he/him)
**IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street**
We look at recent recent neurological discoveries (Default Mode Network) and ancient sacred scriptures to help us build better brains today.

February 5, 2023: Ordinary Wonder – youtube video
Rev. Ben Meyers (he/him)
The most common notion of wonder implies that the things that surprise us usually bring delight, connection, and especially joy and reverence for life. Wonder is also the quality of attention that is needed to bear witness to pain and suffering; ‘Joy and Woe are woven fine’ says the old hymn, and for good reason. Our service will focus on what those qualities are and explore how to bring those qualities into our daily lives–through story, sermon and song.
Rev. Ben Meyers is a [newly-minted] resident of Oakland, and serves as a Hospice Chaplain and Spiritual Care Provider for Bridge Hospice patients and their families in Alameda County and beyond. He is the proud father of two sons and loves spending as much time as possible with his two-year old grandson. His passion is working with faith-based communities throughout the country to accelerate the adoption of clean energy, especially solar, as a moral imperative. Ben has served many UU congregations in his 28+ years of ministry, including 4 years at BFUU, from 2009 to 2013. He is glad to return to the pulpit at BFUU.

January 29, 2023: Reflections on Ethical Healing – youtube video
Dr. Jennifer Lisa Vest (she/her)
Dr. Jennifer L. Vest will speak about her experiences as a Medical Intuitive healer and what it means to be an ethical healer. Please join us for this exciting Service!
Jennifer Lisa Vest holds a PhD in Indigenous Philosophy from UC Berkeley, an MA in history from Howard, and BA in Physics from Hampshire College. Her first career was as a philosophy professor at Seattle University and the University of Central Florida. She has also been trained in the traditions of African American Hoodoo, Native American Sweatlodge, Jamaican Revivalism, Trinidadian Shango, and Spiritualism from community elders, and now works as an author, ceremonialist, and medical intuitive. Her most recent book is The Ethical Psychic.

January 22, 2023: Artificial Intelligence: Good, Bad or Indifferent? – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles checks up on the rise of AI in science, poetry, art and other creative fields. Does AI present the route to an enhanced future in science and the arts—or a threat to morality as non-human choices and decisions may take over?
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

January 15, 2023: Stories of Liberation in Honor of the Ongoing Struggle for Freedom – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Join Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb for reflection, stories, and folktales about grassroots heroes in the struggle against racism in US history.
Lynn Gottlieb is Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM. Now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.

January 8, 2023: Creativity as a Spiritual Practice – youtube video
NOTE: This video resolution is very low due to necessary cropping
– you may wish to listen rather than view.
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
Rev. Rebecca S. King, dean of chaplains at United Church Homes, says that creativity is one of the “spiritual practices that can deepen our awareness of the essential spiritual part of life and provide frameworks for navigating aging with grace and zest.” Well, I believe that Creativity is also a spiritual practice that can help us Create A World That Works for All! Let’s share our creative juices in baking/cooking, drawing, writing, knitting, photography, singing, playing musical instruments, yoga, dancing, and others to the BFUU, to Create A World that Works For All!
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary jackleg preacher, climate reality leader, and interfaith minister. They are building bridges across differences, as a member of the Interfaith America Bridging the Gap Cohort.

January 1, 2023: Hope for the New Year – youtube video
Simone Chiodini (she/her)
Simone Chiodini uses her undergraduate degrees in history and psychology to overcome the tragedy of the last few years to bring hope for this new year. And there are reasons for UUs to be hopeful.
Simone is a recent graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry, and she has been attending services at BFUU since the autumn of 2016. She considers herself a Taoist Unitarian Universalist. A published writer, her novels include Infinite Power Defied & Infinite Love Decreed. She is a proud proponent of LGBTQ+ equality, Black Lives Matter, and Climate change awareness.

2022

December 25, 2022: Merry Christmas to All! – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles will celebrate this holiday with stories and songs that are our heritage and brighten our Days of Christmas.  May we reach out to families, neighbors, friends and strangers to strengthen our connections in the community in the coming new year.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

December 18, 2022: The Holy Work of Sacred Social Change
Rev. jojo v. gabuya (they/them)
**IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street**
The midterm elections are over. But the Holy Work of Sacred Social Change in this country is still a work in progress. How can we All bring our acts together, to accomplish this Holy Work…?
Rev. jojo v. gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary jackleg preacher, climate reality leader, and interfaith minister. They are part of the Bridging the Gap Cohort of Interfaith America, which has been building bridges/crossing lines of difference on campuses around this country.

December 11, 2022: Cindy Sheehan Returns to BFUU Where She Found Her Power
Cindy Sheehan (she/her)
We are honored that Cindy Sheehan will speak at BFUU. The first time that she spoke publicly after her son was killed in Iraq, she had not planned to speak because she was grieving. Invited by the Social Justice Committee, she attended our service to support another Gold Star Mother whose words moved Cindy to speak impromptu. There was not a dry eye in the house! Retired attorney and long-term BFUU leader, Gene Sharee, was pictured on the news with a tear rolling down his deeply wrinkled cheek. Cindy learned the power of her voice and ran with it. What happened next? We are excited to hear her extraordinary, passionate story. Don’t miss it!

December 4, 2022: The Season of Illumination and Rededication – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Rabbi Lynn will share stories about the return of the light.
Lynn Gottlieb is Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM. Now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.

November 27, 2022: The Science Behind Creativity – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
Where does creativity come from? Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes how psychologists and neuroscientists are exploring the sources of creativity and how we can increase our own.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

November 20, 2022: Doing the Work of Christmas
Rev. jojo v. gabuya (they/them)
**IN PERSON Service, BFUU Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar Street**
*Masks required – please dress warmly as windows will be open*
What does Dr. Howard Thurman say about the work of Christmas? How can we do the work of Christmas every day in our lives, as Unitarian Universalists? Let’s have a conversation.
Rev. jojo v. gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary jackleg preacher, climate reality leader, and interfaith minister. They are part of the Bridging the Gap Cohort of Interfaith America, which has been building bridges/crossing lines of difference on campuses around this country.

November 13, 2022: Tapestry of Faith Spirit in Practice: Justice Practices
Virginia Hollins-Davidson (she/her), Coordinator
Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom, who developed the Tapestry of Faith series, quotes several well-known leaders to introduce and to help us understand the importance of the Justice segment. We will share these perspectives and further explore justice practices in our own BFUU community.

November 6, 2022: Spirituality of Accompaniment – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Join Rabbi Lynn for an exploration of the practice of accompaniment. Have there been times when you received an unexpected act of accompaniment or giving, and a time that you practiced accompaniment? We will explore the history of accompaniment in the past century in both personal and political contexts.
Lynn Gottlieb is Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM. Now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.

October 30, 2022: Ghost Tales from Around the World
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Storytelling can help us explore grief, love, and unfinished dreams.
Lynn Gottlieb is Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM. Now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.

October 23, 2022: The World that Other Animals Perceive – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
It’s time to bless the animals.  Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes how Earth teems with sights, sounds, textures, vibrations—and smells, tastes, electric and magnetic fields. Yet we each live within a small unique sensory bubble—just a sliver of this world. Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles graduated from the Starr King seminary in 2011 and retired from UU ministry in 2016. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

October 16, 2022: Wonder, Recover, Create, Dream
Pastor Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
**IN PERSON Service**
What gives us a sense of awe and wonder and interconnects us with All Beings? What do we want to let go of, to recover who we truly are?  What would help us create strength and wisdom for ourselves and others in this Fellowship? Let’s share our stories and our dreams. Pastor Jojo V. Gabuya is a proud non-binary transgender, Filipinx, interfaith pastor, and an ordained minister in the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples founded by Howard Thurman.
Rev. jojo v. gabuya is a Filipinx non-binary jackleg preacher, climate reality leader, and interfaith minister. They are part of the Bridging the Gap Cohort of Interfaith America, which has been building bridges/crossing lines of difference on campuses around this country.

October 9, 2022: Intention, Discipline, Commitment, and Accountability
Kathy Riehle (she/her), Coordinator
Religious traditions from around the world agree that we eventually need to take what we do in private and in our congregations and bring it out into the rest of our lives—in our relationships with our family members, in our workplaces, in our interactions with strangers. Our UUA Tapestry of Faith: Spirit in Practice series continues with the seventh of eight Spheres of spiritual practice: “Life Practices.” Coordinated by Kathy Riehle, BFUU Board President.

October 2, 2022: Beloved Fellowship: Ethics in a Spiritual Community – youtube video
Jennifer Lisa Vest (she/her)
Jennifer Lisa Vest holds a PhD in Indigenous Philosophy from UC Berkeley, an MA in history from Howard, and BA in Physics from Hampshire College. Her first career was as a philosophy professor at Seattle University and the University of Central Florida. She has also been trained in the traditions of African American Hoodoo, Native American Sweatlodge, Jamaican Revivalism, Trinidadian Shango, and Spiritualism from community elders, and now works as an author, ceremonialist, and medical intuitive. Her most recent book is The Ethical Psychic.

September 25, 2022: The Great Thaw – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes our planet’s crises as the world’s temperatures continue to rise and permafrost starts to melt.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

September 18, 2022: Our Creative Souls
Steve Ogden (he/him), Coordinator
Concern about failure keeps us from taking a risk and trying something new. Again and again we find ourselves hampered by our attachment to the outcome of a given situation. Let us encourage engagement in artistic expression for the purpose of the engagement itself. Our UUA Tapestry of Faith: Spirit in Practice series continues with the seventh of the eight Spheres: “Soul Practices – Creative Arts.” 

September 11, 2022: Building Bridges and Engaging Difference
Pastor Jojo V. Gabuya (they/them)
Pastor Jojo V. Gabuya is a proud non-binary transgender, Filipinx, interfaith pastor, and a newly ordained minister in the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples. They will speak today about bridging the gap across differences and finding a common ground, fostering solidarity and unity among all peoples of this land.

September 4, 2022: Creative Arts as Spiritual Practice – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM, and now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.

August 28, 2022: Women’s Bodies, Women’s Choices, Women’s Lives: What the Supreme Court Decided on Roe v. Wade – youtube video
Rev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles looks at the Supreme Court’s undoing of Roe v. Wade. That decision in 1973 had changed the lives of all Americans, but most critically, had given the freedom to women to control their bodies, their health, and their choice of how to spend their lives. The overturning of Roe v. Wade suggests future attacks on other human rights our nation has taken for granted.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

August 21: Unity of Mind, Body, Heart, and Spirit – youtube video
Pastor Jojo Gabuya (they/them)
How can we unite/unify our mind, body, heart, and spirit experiences? How can we integrate the different parts of ourselves and attain wholeness? Let’s look at our experience in new Ways.
Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya is a proud non-binary transgender, Filipinx, interfaith pastor, and a newly ordained minister in the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples.

August 14, 2022: Indigenous Land Back as a Spiritual Practice – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM, and now a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.

August 7, 2022: Embodied Spirituality
Worship Team
We understand our spiritual journeys to be, not separate from our own physical experiences, but deeply rooted in them. Our UUA Tapestry of Faith: Spirit in Practice series continues with the fourth of the eight Spheres: “Body Practices.”

July 31, 2022: Choosing to Love – youtube video
Pastor Jojo Gabuya (they/them)
Bell Hooks says, “When we choose to love, we choose to move against fear, against alienation and separation. The choice to love is a choice to connect, to find ourselves in the other.” For her, love is a combination of care, compassion, commitment and respect; and, trust is the foundation of love. Rev. Jojo V. Gabuya is a proud non-binary transgender, Filipinx, interfaith pastor, and a newly ordained minister in the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples.

July 24, 2022: When Aging Brings on Alzheimer’s Disease, How We Live – youtube videoRev. Dr. Caroline Knowles (she/her)
The onset of Alzheimer’s Disease destroys memory, disconnects the sufferer from loved ones, and degrades so much that is human. Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes the effect of Alzheimer’s Disease on the lives of the sufferer and the impact of the disease on all who are connected to that person. Rev. Dr. Carrie reviews the strategies that may ease the issues that arise, and the hopes for prevention and stabilizing the symptoms.
Rev. Dr. Carrie Knowles describes herself as a recovering psychologist and recovering attorney, who graduated from Starr King in 2011 and was ordained to UU ministry in 2013. Along with providing pastoral care at BFUU and preaching at Bay Area churches as a guest speaker, she writes poetry, short stories, and is working on a memoir.

July 17, 2022: I Call That Mind Free
Frances Hillyard (she/her)
Throughout time and across cultures, it has long been recognized that reason and rationality are among many paths to the discovery of deep truth. Our UUA Tapestry of Faith: Spirit in Practice series continues with the fourth of the eight Spheres: “Mind Practices.”

July 10, 2022: Reimagining Radical Faith Community – youtube video
“Reimagining Radical Faith Community” was the theme of our UUA General Assembly this year. Come hear some of the ways the Unitarian Universalist Association is reimagining radical faith community – and ponder how it applies to us in our time of transition. Video sermon by Ben Ogilvie of Starr King Unitarian Universalist Church of Hayward, CA.

July 3, 2022: Interdependence and Atonement Day – youtube video
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb (she/her)
Rabbi Emerita of the Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM, and now
a resident of Berkeley, CA, Rabbi Lynn engages in multifaith, intergenerational and
multicultural organizing in solidarity with racial, indigenous, gender justice and Palestinian liberation struggles as she teaches joyful spirituality, storytelling, ceremony, and ritual arts.