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"Uprooted, Not Yet Replanted: The Spiritual Struggles of these Liminal Times"
It’s been disorienting, to say the least. The volatility of Trump’s second term, the crumbling of norms, the destruction of jobs, lives, and institutions has left so many of us no longer being able to rely on “business as usual.” And with COVID, conflict, ministerial transition, and the open consideration of relocation, “business as usual” at First Church has been in flux for even longer. Living in a liminal time, where one way of being has ended and the “new normal” hasn’t quite taken shape, can be spiritually and emotionally painful. And yet, if we practice discernment, it can also present opportunities for us to live in to who we are truly called to be. Join us for a reflection on how discernment might guide us, as people, and as a community, in these liminal times. Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh is First Church’s primary contact on the UUA Pacific Western Regional Staff. Celebrating her 20th anniversary of ordination this month, Sarah has served as a parish minister, a curriculum author/developer (Coming of Age and Our Whole Lives) and as UUA regional staff. Since 2016 she has lived in San Diego with her family and dog.
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 Tue, April 29th
8:30 - 10:30 am PST Not Working for Workers: The First 100 Days of the Trump Administration 11 am - 1:15 pm PST The First 100 Days: Can Civil Society Defend Democracy? On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to fight for American workers and was rewarded with a majority of working-class votes. As we reach the end of the first 100 days of the second Trump administration—a period that has included mass layoffs, executive orders cancelling union contracts and revoking collective bargaining rights, deportations of immigrant workers, and attacks on the independent agencies that enforce labor laws—it’s time to ask how these actions can be benefiting workers. More broadly, it’s the right time to reflect on what it means to support workers in America today and how we can build an economy with good jobs for all.  May 1st at 6pm
Waterfront Park Join us and our community partners at Waterfront Park (1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101) as we rally in support of workers and immigrant communities and take action in resistance to the Trump Administration’s cruel and racist policies that have torn communities apart. May Day has long stood as a moment to celebrate the rights of workers and immigrants and now is more crucial than ever to rally for those rights to be upheld. More info here.  Sat. April 19 9 AM - 1 PM Visit Project New Village For Earth Month, ICEJ’s Hands in the Soil program is promoting Project New Village’s Earth Day Celebration at Mt Hope Community Garden, 4261 Market St. Garden activities, arts and crafts, music, food, and drinks are included in this family friendly event, as well as gardening giveaways. For more information: [email protected]  Sat. April 26 Bearing Witness Where a Border Runs Through–walk and blessing in the Tijuana River Estuary on the North McCoy Trail. 9 AM–moderate walk and 10 AM–shorter walk; both walks start at Visitor Center at 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach–take your pick! Sun. April 27 9-10 AM ICEJ Forum at St. Paul’s Cathedral–The Light of Faith: Earth Care in Dark Days Guild Room of St. Paul’s at 2728 6th Ave, San Diego Imam Taha Hassane (Muslim), Diana Hartel (Buddhist), and Phil Petrie (Christian) will dialogue about their specific faith traditions and how these address the environmental crisis, the Trump Administration’s savaging of climate action, and Trump’s moves toward Christian nationalism. For more information: [email protected]
 “Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families”
This spring, First UU will be participating in the UUA Common Read. The book, “Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families” is a timely anthology of personal stories. The last two group sessions will take place on April 24th and May 15th, 6-8PM on Zoom. Books can be purchased at the InSpirit Book Store. A limited number of copies are also available to borrow from church. To borrow a copy, email [email protected] There will also be handouts for the group sessions. Handouts and Zoom links will be emailed out to those who register. So even if you're thinking that you might participate, you're encouraged to register at: https://www.jotform.com/build/250146308596056  TRUTH Act Forum
Tue, April 22 at 6pm County Administration Building Join us at the Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act Community Forum. Its purpose is to provide information regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to individuals and to receive and consider public comment. We must ensure the safety, protection, and dignity of all immigrants and reject our county’s cooperation with federal immigration agencies.  Thu, Apr 24th
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner Rainbow Action supports the San Diego LGBT Community Center’s 19th Annual Dining Out for Life. Dozens of participating restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, and nightclubs in San Diego will donate a minimum of 25% of sales for The Center’s health and wellness programs. Grab your family and friends and make plans to Dine Out and Give Back for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, cocktails and more! Dining Out for Life website UC San Diego will soon begin a utility infrastructure improvement project that will impact portions of Arbor Drive, Front Street, and First Avenue. This project aims to underground select SDG&E poles and wires, improving both the safety and aesthetics of the area by eventually removing a portion of the overhead infrastructure. Timeline: Prep work is scheduled to begin next week, with trenching work starting the week of April 21. Access During Construction: Access to and from all surrounding facilities—including medical centers and emergency services--will always be maintained. No full closures or significant delays are expected for essential access points. Key Traffic Impacts:
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to improve the area’s infrastructure. For questions or concerns during the project, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  The Art Guild Sets Its Sights on Summer and Celebrates the Art of Photography and 65 years4/14/2025 It has been quite a while since the Bard Hall Art Guild has had a show made up exclusively of photography, but on April 11 the Guild celebrated their all photos show “ My Eye is a Camera” at a reception for the artists. Attending were many friends, old and new.
The format of an Art Guild reception is to have a half hour of socializing with snacks and beverages and then have each artist discuss their work and answer questions about their technique and motivation. Don Barrie and Nancy Fisk gave insight into nature photography. Fritz Goeckner discussed his original color techniques. “My Eye is a Camera” runs until May 1st and features the works of Donald Barrie, Daniel Booth, Katie Boskoff, Richard ChauDavis, Nancy Fisk, Fritz Goeckner, Betty Hageman, Melinda Hohlbein, John Keasler, Nancy Neel, Robert Riger and Carolyn Woodbury. John Keasler coordinated entries. The installation was designed by Fritz Goeckner and Robert Riger. April 12th, 2025 was the 65th Anniversary of the Art Guild, founded in 1960 as the Religious Arts Guild. Through its history it has contributed much to the design, furnishing and beautification of the First UU campus. It has organized educational and enrichment programs, and it has hosted thousands of established and emerging artists as well as seven children’s exhibits including one from China and three from Belarus. May 1st will mark the beginning of the new exhibit “Therese and Her Friends”, a tribute to the late Therese Belanger, a multimedia artist and member of the Guild. The reception for “Therese and Her Friends” will be at 6 pm on May 1st with special guest host Drew Massicot, Therese’s husband and talented keyboard artist. Members and friends of First UU are welcome to submit their work for our first summer show “Protest and Peace”. The electronic entry deadline for “Protest and Peace” is July 10th. The installation is July 24th. There is never a fee to enter or display in the Art Guild Exhibitions. More information can be obtained at [email protected].  Sat, May 3rd
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA Join First UUs and thousands of San Diegans to rally together, march in unity, and enjoy live music, organization booths, inspiring speakers, face painting and more! RSVP Rhea Kuhlman ([email protected]), especially to coordinate transportation to the march. From scorching wildfires to devastating floods, climate disasters are no longer distant threats—they are happening here and now. The administration has launched an all-out assault on climate, rolling back decades of environmental protections, firing federal workers and climate scientists, and shamelessly calling the climate crisis a “hoax.” We march for clean air and water, to protect our families and homes, for a just economy with good-paying green jobs, and for a world that puts people before polluters. Unite for Climate website  Saturday, April 19th
10 am - 5 pm Join Journey Toward Wholeness (JTW) in commemorating the 55th anniversary of Chicano Park. This free, family-friendly event celebrates the theme "Bringing Back the True Spirit and Energy of the Chicano Park Takeover." Enjoy a car show, live music, delicious food, and more in a vibrant community atmosphere. Everyone is welcome! More info. Location: 1949 Logan Avenue, 92113  Taste of Hope by Laura Coppens
May 8, Thursday | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Bard Hall at First UU “Taste of Hope” is the fascinating story of a workers’ cooperative on their bumpy and conflicting road to real utopia. In 2010, Unilever announced the closing of the profitable Fralibtea processing and packaging plant in the South of France. After 1,336 days of resistance, the workers celebrated their victory against the giant multinational and became owners of the factory. Now, with the take-over of the company and production under workers’ control, a new struggle has begun. After the screening, join us in an open discussion of the film and its themes facilitated by Bob Nowlan. RSVP! This is a free event! Check out the trailer. Location: First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego 4190 Front Street San Diego, CA. 92103  Join us to help wrap burritos on April 21st from 3:45 to 7:00.
Burrito preparation will take place from 3:45 to 5:00 in the Common Room at First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego in Hillcrest. The process involves scooping beans, rice, and corn into a warmed tortilla, wrapping the tortilla, placing two burritos into a bag with two cold waters, and then putting the bagged items into a wagon. At 5:00, we will caravan to the South Bay to distribute bags containing burritos and water. We expect to return to the First Church campus in Hillcrest by 7:30pm latest. You are welcome to participate in either the preparation, distribution, or both. RSVP to Lara Anderson by April 20th at 9:00pm ([email protected]) Prep Location and Caravan Meetup: First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego 298 W Arbor Dr San Diego, CA 92103 Distribution Location and Meetup: First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego—South Bay 970 Broadway Chula Vista, CA 91911 Funded through the Young Adult Ministry program  First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego showed up in force for the Hand's Off protest Saturday April 5, 2025 in downtown San Diego, the largest protest in San Diego yet against the actions of the current presidential administration, with many participants estimating the total size of the crowd well exceeding 30,000, and perhaps as large as 50,000. Signs were ubiquitous and chants were persistent. The march continued far beyond its official ending point, as protestors eagerly proceeded for more than twice the length organizers envisioned while ending up rallying once again at the starting point, the Civic Center Plaza. Protestors addressed a vast array of specific issues, including devastating cuts to government agencies and the firing of massive numbers of federal workers; attacks on fundamental labor union rights; rounding up and deporting of immigrants while engaging in cruel and callous efforts to intimidate and indeed terrorize entire immigrant communities; outrageous efforts to render transgender and non-binary people legally non-existent; threats to the continued availability of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; and slashing of funding for essential healthcare funding and scientific research. Protesters expressed outrage at the administration's undermining of democracy and replacing this with autocracy; the administration's championing the interests of billionaires over those of the vast majority of the American people; the administration's attempt to rewrite history so as to exclude if not eliminate all contesting positions and all dissenting voices; the administration's assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with the administration's overt racism, sexism, and ableism; and the administration effectively isolating the United States by deliberately antagonizing erstwhile international friends and allies. As organizers declared: Hands Off immigrants! Hands Off worker rights! Hands Off clean energy! Hands Off Medicare! Hands Off libraries! Hands Off schools! Hands Off postal workers! Hands Off housing! Hands Off the courts! Hands Off science! Hands Off unions! Hands Off personal data! Hands Off free speech! Hands Off gun violence prevention! Hands Off consumer protection! Hands Off LGBTQ+ rights! Hands Off veteran services! Hands Off our bodies! Hands Off Social Security! Hands Off our wallets! Hands Off Medicaid! Hands Off public lands! Hands Off cancer research! Hands Off our jobs! Hands Off clean air! Hands Off fair elections! Hands Off Greenland! Hands Off Canada! The downtown San Diego protest joined others in more than 1400 locations, in all 50 U.S. states as well as the District of Columbia, drawing well over three million participants and comprising the largest protest in the United States since the response to George Floyd's police murder in the summer of 2020 and the Women's March in January 2017.
 First UU's Rainbow Action will collaborate with the Transforming Hearts Collective in presenting this webinar. The webinar is aimed at pro-LGBTQ Christians but is open to all people of faith. Registrants will receive key insights from trans faith leaders and advocates from organizations like the Transgender Law Center, the National LGBTQ Task Force, and more. Speakers will discuss the moral and spiritual imperative to defend trans lives and how attendees can take action in both public spaces and faith communities.
Tuesday, April 8th at 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm on Zoom Register and learn more here.  I am pleased our initial Social Justice Film Screening and Discussion Series event attracted a sizeable crowd and a lively discussion. For me, a principal lesson of The Lesson is that fascism is insidious. Even after fascism has seemingly suffered a crushing defeat, and even in a country where fascism is seemingly thoroughly discredited, fascism is not dead, and fascism can return to power. In our discussion one attendee initially thought I underappreciated the fear many people in this country experience in 'resisting' fascism. I am glad this attendee and I quickly recognized we actually agreed we each other. Because fascism is nothing if not frightening.
Throughout my 38 years as a university teacher I emphasized that I feared fascism is a real threat in this country and that we here in the U.S. need to be prepared to do what we can, together, to resist. I maintained this position even when many found the idea absurd, because fascism, they claimed, was 'long ago' and 'far away'. But in support of my position I cited evidence of frightening tendencies in U.S. society and culture, including frightening tendencies in everyday life. And I made it clear that all of these frightened me. Fear of the damage and destruction that fascism exerts must be the basis upon which we collectively organize and commit to resistance. We cannot effectively resist individually, isolated, and alone. We can only do so united together in a collective movement that manifests substantial support for and solidarity with the distinctive struggles of all constituent groups involved. We can only do so united together in respecting and caring for each other, including respecting and caring for each other's real vulnerabilities. We can only do so united together in recognizing and appreciating the need for different people to contribute in different ways and to different degrees in different times and at different places. After all, what we want, and what we need, is the antithesis of fascism, and this is a society in which care for each other and for the collective good is fundamental, and this is a culture of solidarity, where we appreciate we are not only all interdependent but also all vulnerable, and that our shared vulnerability as well as our shared dependence is our greatest strength. -- Bob Nowlan  For some time, the Pantry’s community volunteer Manny has picked up and unloaded a truckful of food every Friday by himself. When another volunteer, Adrienne Kaplan, heard that Manny’s back was bothering him and realized that he needed help, she marshalled her artistic talents, made a sign, and took to the patio. In solidarity, four UUs answered Adrienne’s plea, and now the pantry has new volunteers – one every Friday – to help Manny. Thank you, Manny, Adrienne and all those who make the pantry work! To volunteer at the Pantry, email Deirdre Lonergan ([email protected]).  April 5th has been named as a National Day of Action, with demonstrations happening all across the country. Our San Diego community is gathering at the San Diego Civic Center Plaza beginning at 12pm. This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of the billionaire class and to show up in support of those who have been greatly affected by the current administration's policies.
If you would like to join First UU at this demonstration, here are some details for meet up below: If you want to meet at First UU (Hillcrest): Meet at the campus parking lot by 11:15am We are encouraging participants to carpool or rideshare into Civic Center Plaza due to limited parking Please email [email protected] if you are planning to meet with us here so we can accurately plan for transportation If you want to meet at SD Civic Center Plaza: Meet near the fountain outside the Civic Center Plaza building at around 12pm Please email [email protected] if you are planning to meet with us here so we can get an accurate head count Come prepared with comfortable shoes, hats, sunscreen, and water. You may participate in some or all of the aspects of the demonstration—join us at whatever capacity fits your needs!  The Lesson by Elena Horn
April 3, Thursday | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Bard Hall at First UU “The Lesson” is the personal journey of director Elena Horn who returns to her small hometown to follow four children as they experience Holocaust education in the public school system in rural Germany. Filmed over five years, from 2014 to 2019, the film is a window into deeply rooted social and political attitudes in Germany amidst the resurgence of the far-right, xenophobia and a fractured, disparate collective memory of the nation’s history. This is a free event! RSVP here: bit.ly/4c4iDg1 After the screening, join us in an open discussion of the film and its themes facilitated by Bob Nowlan. Some of us have trouble imagining what our church campus might look like if we choose to Go, or Stay and Share. We have gathered information and photos of new church buildings, as well as churches that have shared their property. You can explore these possibilities on the OSF web page or by viewing the PDF document here. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and exploring these possibilities together.
Dear Congregants, We want to take a moment to remind everyone to stay vigilant against recent email phishing scams that have been circulating, particularly ones targeting church members. There has been a troubling scam in which someone is posing as Rev. Justine, reaching out through email and requesting gift cards to help victims of the recent LA fires. One of our congregants nearly fell victim to this scam when they received a response from the scammer, despite initially reaching out to Rev. Justine’s official email address. The scam became clear when the scammer asked for gift cards, which is something our ministers will never request from anyone. Key Points to Remember:
Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides excellent resources and materials, such as infographics, posters, and handouts, to help raise awareness about scams. For more information, visit the following FTC resources:
(Click image to enlarge)    2025 PSWSA Assembly Friday, April 25 to Sunday, April 27, 2025 First UU San Diego Unitarian Universalism: Now More Than Ever Come join Unitarian Universalists and other like-minded individuals as we gather together this April in San Diego to explore how we can better cultivate a culture of love and put these beliefs into action. It's going to be a weekend, full of amazing keynote speakers, informative workshops, great music and food and most of all, having time to connect with old friends and make some new ones! Here are just some of the highlights planned for the weekend:
We are also offering Youth FUUN at Assembly is for K-5th and 6-12th graders. Bring your school-aged youth to the Assembly for camp-themed activities with trained UU camp leaders. No infant or non-potty-trained childcare will be available. Parent or Guardian must be on site at Assembly. Learn more on the website. Sign up to be a Delegate and represent your church at Camp's Annual Meeting on Saturday morning. According to Camp bylaws, every Member Church (UU Churches, UU Congregations, UU Fellowships) in the Pacific Southwest Service Area shall designate delegates from its membership and shall have the right to be represented in membership of the governance of DE BENNEVILLE PINES, INC., based upon the number of church members as certified by the Member Church to the UUA each year as follows:  Sign up to represent your congregation when you register! If you have any questions about becoming a delegate, please contact Dale Botts, PSWSA Assembly planning co-chair and Vice President of the Board of Directors for De Benneville Pines, Inc. Dale can be reached at [email protected]. Camp's Board of Directors expresses its sincere thanks to outgoing board member, Paul Wallace. He has served the board for over 10 years in several capacities. The Nominating Committee is recommending Louise Klatt be approved as the seventh member of the board, serving as a member at large. This important vote will occur during Camp's Annual Meeting.
 Camp de Benneville Pines Contact Information:
Camp de Benneville Pines PO Box 82 Angelus Oaks, CA 92305-0082 (909) 794-2928 Voice Messages Only http://www.uucamp.org  In this challenging time of mass deportations, the South Bay Food Pantry is helping our neighbors and friends understand their rights as treasured members of our community. Social Justice Coordinator Valeria Aguilar and UU congregant Nina Douglass handed out flyers and wallet cards from immigration rights advocates including the ACLU and helped answer questions and concerns. While the mission of the Food Pantry is to feed hungry San Diegans, our real objective is to care for our whole community.
 This holiday season, help support families by donating new, unwrapped blankets and toys. We recommend blankets sized 60" x 80" or larger. You can also explore our Amazon wish list. Items purchased through there will be sent to our Hillcrest campus: loom.ly/WTK7OP4. Drop off at the Hillcrest or South Bay campuses. Donation deadline is December 18, with distribution on December 21. There are volunteer opportunities! Contact [email protected] if you are interested in helping with the drive or the food pantry.
Click on the flyer to see a bigger version!  Dining 4 Dollars is our beloved community-building fundraising auction of events to be offered between January 2025 and May 2025. Bidding is open through Sunday, December 1st. Past events have included luxury Air B&B stays, amazing dining experiences, valuable professional service packages, goat adventures and much more. Learn about all of the current offerings at our D4$ page or go ahead and ...
Go to the auction site to bid today. |
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(619) 298-9978 | Staff Directory
We have two campuses:
Hillcrest campus: 4190 Front Street, San Diego, CA. 92103 | South Bay campus: 970 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA. 91911
For GPS to our Hillcrest Campus, please use 298 W Arbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92103
For detailed directions, parking and more see our Contact page.
We have two campuses:
Hillcrest campus: 4190 Front Street, San Diego, CA. 92103 | South Bay campus: 970 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA. 91911
For GPS to our Hillcrest Campus, please use 298 W Arbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92103
For detailed directions, parking and more see our Contact page.
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