September 23, 2026
Dear Beloved Community,
This week we will hear from Roy, and he will share with us a powerful spiritual experience he had in Redwood Park last year. Through guided meditation and the metaphor of a Möbius strip, Roy will invite us to reflect on the nature of reality, the mysteries of living, and what makes an experience “spiritual.” Together, we will explore how spirituality embraces both what can be explained and what remains beyond words, and how moments of wonder can arise suddenly and unexpectedly. Roy will also encourage us to consider spirituality as a relational way of living. One that calls us to treat every interaction as a sacred opportunity, remain open to mystery, and faithfully live out our ever-changing truth.
Please keep Astrid in your prayers as she recovers from a stay in the hospital last week.
See you Sunday!
Peace and blessings,
-jorge
P. S. September's Giving Sunday collection is for the Madruga-Remedios Scholarship Fund that Janice and Care have started with Sister Patsy at the Visitacion Valley Mercy Housing facility. The scholarship helps with expenses for college-bound students.
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 1, 7pm on Zoom. Continuing dream exploration. We will be starting soon on a new book -- "The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus" by the Dalai Lama. All are welcome to the discussions.
Work Day: Saturday, October 3, 9-3. Indoor and outdoor projects of all sizes. Any amount of time appreciated!
Instant Choir: Sunday, Oct 4, rehearsal at 9am. Sing for the service. All are invited. Schedule for the whole season available here.
Worship & Arts: Sunday, Oct 4, after worship. All are invited to come help plan Advent.
Taize Service: Friday, October 9, 7:30pm. Our regular monthly service of chant and prayer. Ami Nashimoto on cello.
Council Meeting: Sunday, October 18, after worship. All are welcome.
Book Group: Sunday, October 25, 7pm on Zoom. Our next book is Ann Patchett's latest novel, "Whistler." All are invited to the discussion.
Links and resources
The annual Earl Lectures at Pacific School of Religion are coming up on Sept 25-26.
Puente de la Costa Sur is holding their annual fundraising dinner on Friday, Oct 2 at TomKat Ranch. For more information, check out the poster at church.
Annual Gathering of the Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC, Oct 22-24, City of Refuge UCC, Oakland. Information here.
Quote of the week
The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us how our end will come to pass." Jesus said, "Then have you laid bare the beginning, so that you are seeking the end? For the end will be where the beginning is. Blessed is the person who stands at rest in the beginning. And that person will be acquainted with the end and will not taste death." -The Gospel of Thomas, saying 18
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.
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