December 04, 2025

Image: Jorge Bautista

Dear Beloved Community,

This Sunday I’ll be preaching with John the Baptist as our very intense, very honest companion (Matthew 3:1–12). John is blunt in a way that most of us would probably find offensive, but underneath his harsh words is a deep conviction: we really can change. Advent is not just about waiting for a baby in a manger; it’s about trusting that God is still opening up a future for us, even when we’ve settled, gone numb, or started to believe “this is just how I am.”

We’ll explore repentance not as “feeling bad” or trying harder to be good, but as returning to our truest selves, getting our lives back on track, and taking even one small step toward wholeness. I’ll invite us to ask: What is one change I could begin today that would move me toward more love, more honesty, more life?

I hope you’ll join us as we listen for hope in John’s hard words and remember together:

we don’t repent because we’re bad, we repent because we are loved and worth it.

See you this Sunday!

Peace and blessings!

-Jorge

P. S. December's Giving Sunday collection is for the UCC's Christmas Fund. The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees. Thanks for always being so generous with your gifts.

The Church Council clarified what monies in the collection plate go to our Giving Sunday recipient each month. On the first Sunday of the month (the "Giving Sunday"), the whole plate goes to the designated nonprofit. Any other time during the month you can contribute by way of a check with the name of the nonprofit in the memo line.

Recent sermons

Check out our YouTube page to see recent sermons. Go to our archive of slides to see bulletins and slides used during recent services.

Recordings of our Taize services are also on the YouTube page.

Upcoming services and events

Thursday Discussion Group: Thursday, October 9, 7pm on Zoom. The new book choice is "Zero Limits" by Dr. Joe Vitale. It's about the Hawaiian system of affirmations called Ho-oponopono. Join us on the 9th and find out about it.

• Thursday Discussion Group: Thursday, December 4, 7pm on Zoom. The new book choice is "Guided" by Laura Lynne Jackson. We've read "The Light Between Us" and "Signs" both by Laura Lynne; this is her latest book.

• Congregational Meeting: Sunday, December 7, right after worship. The annual meeting to approve the budget for next year. Absentee ballots will be available if you can't be there in person.

• Worship & Arts: Sunday, December 7, after worship. Come help us plan the upcoming Christmas season and activities.

• Taize Service: Friday, December 12, 7:30pm. Our Advent service of chant and prayer. Also available on Zoom.

• Church Pot Luck: Sunday, December 28, after worship. Our monthly meal together.

• Book Group: Sunday, Jan 25, 7pm on Zoom. Reading "Buddha, Socrates and Us" by Stephen Batchelor. Read Parts III and IV for the 25th.

Links and resources

Sanctuary People Resource List

Abundant Grace Holiday Party for HMB homeless and field workers -- looking for help with the gift list. See Eva Fulvio if you have questions.

Quote of the week

“To learn which questions are unanswerable, and not to answer them: this skill is most needful in times of stress and darkness.” - Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness

Weekly events

• Meditation group: Wednesdays at 7:30 am. 

In person at the church building

• Sunday worship: 10 am

In person at the church building

• Church Office Hours: Thursdays 2:30pm-5:30pm, in person at the church building.

To schedule an appointment please call or text 510-754-6796 or email xicanominister@gmail.com.