Thursday, November 13th
6:30 PM
Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse

• 880 Front Street, San Diego

There are struggles happening right here in our community that demand our attention and compassion. We are sharing this information and inviting you to join us for a Prayer Vigil in support of immigrants currently detained in extremely difficult conditions.

The Reality of Detention in Our Own Backyard

The facts surrounding the treatment and conditions of detained immigrants are deeply concerning, and they highlight a critical need for our collective response:

• Hundreds of immigrants have reportedly been detained in the basement of San Diego's Federal Courthouse without food or adequate care. This is a stark reminder of the humanitarian needs existing within our city's institutions.
• Tragically, this crisis is nationwide: 29 people have died inside immigration detention centers across the country this year alone.
• Meanwhile, federal spending on these matters is staggering: $170 billion will be allocated to federal agencies for immigration enforcement, detention, and deportations.

This situation calls us to pause, reflect, and act with compassion. We believe that prayer, presence, and solidarity can offer hope and strength to those who are suffering and draw greater attention to these issues.

Join Us in Prayer and Solidarity

We invite everyone in the community to join us as we gather to pray for those suffering in our communities—the detained, their families, and all those working toward justice and human dignity.

• What: Prayer Vigil for Immigrants Detained in the Federal Building Basement
• When: November 13, 6:30 PM
• Where: Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse
  • 880 Front Street, San Diego

Your presence sends a powerful message of care and solidarity. Join us as we lift up those in need and advocate for humane treatment for all.

Sunday, November 23rd
2:00 - 4:00 pm

Ski Beach Park in Mission Bay
1600 Vacation Rd, SD 92109 (on the east side of Vacation Island)

Everything that we give thanks for in this season of Thanksgiving flows directly from our earth and the ecosystems that sustain us.  We of the Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice wish to show our gratitude for our beloved planet with our 2nd annual outdoor interfaith gathering.  We will offer prayers from several faith traditions, listen to the music of Kol Tefillah, and fly kites after decorating them with earth friendly words and images. 

Bring your own kite (as earth friendly as possible with appropriate decoration) or fly one of the FREE kites we will provide.  Some light refreshments will also be provided.  Please join us and bring the whole family!!

And for those who would like to order their own kites, we recommend the Simple Rokakku kites that can be found here.

Rain date – Sun. Dec. 7 from 2 - 4 PM. 

For more information visit the website or email [email protected].  

Dear Members and Friends of First UU San Diego:
 
Like all of you, we are deeply troubled by the delay in SNAP benefits caused by the ongoing government shut down.  We want to let you know how we at First UU are responding, remind you of available resources, and let you know how you can help.
 
Food Pantry Distribution resumes 11/8
The Food Pantry moved from our location on Broadway to St. John’s Episcopal, 760 First Ave in Chula Vista just last week. On Saturday 11/1, we oriented volunteers to our new location, and this week, distribution resumes on Saturday 11/8. We are grateful for the many people who have donated time and treasure to make this move happen. Click here for the pantry webpage. 
 
Help is available
Church members who rely on SNAP benefits are welcome to join the many families and individuals who receive nourishing food from our food pantry. You can find out more about how food is distributed on Saturdays by contacting [email protected]. We also distribute diapers on Sundays at 12:45 pm.

Rev. Kristen and Rev. Justine can also provide assistance to members who are facing challenges due to loss of benefits through the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.  Please contact Rev. Kristen ([email protected], 619-398-4435) or Rev. Justine ([email protected], 619-398-4434) if you need assistance.
 
How you can help
The food pantry welcomes volunteers during the week and on Saturday mornings.  To learn more, contact [email protected]. 

We also welcome financial donations to the food pantry and to the Minister’s Discretionary fund. For $1 a week, the pantry is able to provide 15-20 pounds of fresh food to a family. Providing support to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund helps us to continue to provide support to the members of our church who are struggling. We expect to experience greater need, especially as the government shutdown drags on and as we approach the holiday season. You can donate here: https://www.firstuusandiego.org/donations.html

Unitarian Universalists Respond
We are part of a movement of Unitarian Universalists around the country who are responding to the needs of our communities. You can learn more about the work of UU congregations around the country in this recent UU World article, which also highlights the South Bay Food Pantry: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/snap-benefits-help-unitarian-universalists

We are grateful for the ongoing generosity of spirit and resources from this community of faith.  Let us continue to support one another in these troubling times.
 
In faith and service,
Rev. Justine and Rev. Kristen
Ministers, First UU San Diego

You may have heard that our congregation has begun what’s called the Call Discernment process. It’s how we will discern whether the time is right for Rev. Kristen Kuriga to transition from her current contract position as Assistant Minister to settled or “called” Associate Minister.

The first step was taken on Sunday, Nov. 2, as more than 50 congregants gathered in Bard Hall and online to hear how the process will proceed. The five-member Call Discernment Team led the Q & A, and encouraged everyone to sign up for one of 16 small group Congregational Conversations that will be offered over the next few weeks. Rev. Justine provided great context and inspiration for what may result in a tighter bond with Rev. Kristin. No worries if you missed this informational kickoff session!

Visit the Call Discernment process webpage to learn more, AND to find a Congregational Conversation you can attend. Many will be offered after the Sunday service at Hillcrest, with additional sessions on other days. South Bay will host three of these facilitated conversations, and another three will take place on Zoom. 

All of this is likely to build toward a full congregational gathering on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 that will end with a vote. It’s very important that all church members attend this meeting. We won’t be able to move forward without a quorum.
​
We look forward to welcoming you as we walk this path together!

When: Thursday, November 20th, 2025 AT 6:00 PM
Where: 3909 Centre St, San Diego, CA

​Join us as we gather to mourn the loss of our beloved trans and nonbinary community members with a candlelight vigil, including performances, a keynote speaker, food, and community resources. Remember and connect with the trans and nonbinary community. This event is free and all are welcome.

Learn more.

Thursday, November 13, 2025
6-8 PM
Bard Hall At First UU
Free And Open To The Public

A Film by Kate Way and Tom Wiggin, 92 minutes, 2025

A diverse cast of visionary teenagers, intriguing characters, stirring public protests, private threats, criminal charges, and profanity-laced school board meetings: this is the world of the explosive new feature documentary, Banned Together.

Banned Together pulls back the curtain on two of the most controversial issues in America today: book bans and curriculum censorship in public schools.

Banned Together follows three young women during their senior year of high school as they fight hostile community members and school board officials to reinstate these banned books.  We witness their evolution from local to national activists as they advocate at school board meetings, sit down with national politician, famous authors and constitutional scholars, and ultimately, speak on stage at the Right to Read Rally during the American Library Association’s annual conference in Chicago.

As we follow their activist journey, Banned Together shines a light on the radical political forces who are vying for control of public education and the nationwide resistance to their efforts.

Watch the trailer.

Monday, Nov. 3
12-1pm
U.S. District Court building, 385 W. Broadway

Join the Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice as we stand in silent witness on the first Monday of each month, calling attention to administration policies which harm the planet and scorn the interconnected web of all existence. If possible, wear black. Learn more.

Pie Sales: Monday, 10/20 through Friday, 11/21
Pie Pickup: Wednesday, 11/26, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m
Cost: $35 per pie


Do you want to enjoy some delicious Thanksgiving pies and help support Mama's Kitchen, too?  Please buy your yummy pies from our First UU team.

Rainbow Action is helping to distribute Mama's Kitchen's fabulous Mama's Pies at First UU's driveway on  Wednesday, November 26th. 

Come join our First UU team and sell more pies because Mama's Kitchen needs us now more than ever! 
​
Five delicious pie options are offered - pumpkin, pecan, apple, Dutch apple, or a mystery pie​

Free entry
May 6 through October 25
8 am - 5 pm
UCSD Park & Market Gallery, 1100 Market Street

Step into the surreal world of visionary Mexican sculptor José Sacal (1944–2018) in this powerful new exhibition to experience emotionally charged, politically resonant sculptures that reimagine cultural and historical figures—from Einstein and Gandhi to Frida Kahlo and Don Quixote—through Sacal’s distinctive abstract lens. Known for his expressive bronze and ceramic works, Sacal challenged traditional forms to explore themes of identity, justice, and the human condition. This binational cultural initiative exemplifies “art as borderless education,” celebrating the powerful role of the arts in fostering dialogue, civic reflection, and lifelong learning between the U.S. and Mexico. Spanning more than six decades of Sacal’s career, the exhibition pushes viewers to question what it means to live with dignity in a complex world.

Learn more here. 
Suggested by Journal Toward Wholeness

Sunday, October 19
2 pm
St. John’s Episcopal Church

Join us to celebrate our new spiritual home at St. John’s! Over several years, the South Bay Worshiping Community and Food Pantry have been working towards a new space to help our ministry in the South Bay thrive. Now we’ve arrived! This special service will include a welcome from St. John’s, rituals of blessing, beloved music, and a celebration of new members!

Congregants and food pantry volunteers and clients invited. We hope to see you there!

Cómo Conseguir un Boleto
El sábado, puede conseguir un boleto enviándonos un mensaje de texto al (619) 678-0134 después de las 7:00 am. Cuando nos envíe un mensaje de texto, le preguntaremos para cuántas familias está recogiendo alimentos. Una vez que responda, le enviaremos sus boletos por mensaje de texto, los cuales puede obtener para un máximo de tres familias.
Qué Esperar en Su Boleto
Su boleto tendrá un número que representa su lugar en la fila y una hora aproximada para la recogida.

Dónde Recoger Su Comida
Recogerá su comida en Saint John's (760 1st Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910). Puede ser útil traer un carrito si tiene uno. Si no tiene un carrito, no se preocupe; tenemos muchas cajas vacías que puede usar.

Por favor, no llegue al sitio antes de la hora indicada en su boleto.
Tenemos estacionamiento limitado y queremos asegurarnos de que todos tengan una experiencia fluida y fácil.

¿Qué Pasa si se Agotan los Boletos Antes de que Nos Envíe un Mensaje de Texto?
Si se nos agotan los boletos para cuando nos envíe un mensaje de texto, aún puede conseguir comida. Por favor, preséntese a las 12:45, pero no antes.

Agradecemos su cooperación y ¡esperamos verle el sábado!

​​How to Get a Ticket
On Saturday, you can get a ticket by texting us at (619) 678-0134, starting at 7:00 am. When you text us, we'll ask you how many families you are picking up food for -- 1, 2 or 3. Once you respond, we'll text you back with your tickets. One ticket per family for up to three families.

What to Expect on Your Ticket
Your ticket will have a number that represents your place in line and an approximate time for pickup.

Where to pickup your food
You will pick up your food at St John's at 760 1st Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910. It may help to bring a cart if you have one. If you don't have cart, don't worry; we have plenty of empty boxes you can use.

Please do not arrive at the site before the time listed on your ticket.
We have limited parking, and we want to ensure everyone has a smooth and easy experience.

What if we run out of tickets before you text us
If we run out of tickets by the time you text us, you can still get food. Please show up at 12:45, but not earlier.
​

We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to seeing you Saturday!

Book club discussion
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Friday, November 7th
6:30-8:00 pm
Room 320 at First UU and online



Crying in H Mart is a 2021 memoir by Michelle Zauner, the musician behind the band Japanese Breakfast. The book is a poignant exploration of her relationship with her Korean mother, grief after her mother's death from cancer, and her journey to reclaim her Korean identity through food, language, and family. It expands on her 2018 essay of the same name and has received critical acclaim, winning awards like the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Memoir. 

Contact Louise [email protected] for more information.

Saturday, October 18th
10am-12pm            
Starting at Waterfront Park in downtown SD

This movement is about standing up together against authoritarianism, corruption, and cruelty. As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to uphold the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and to resist injustice with love and nonviolence. 

​First UU Meet-Up: If you would like to march with other congregants, please meet us at the First UU Hillcrest parking lot by 9:15am. We will head out at around 9:30am to Waterfront Park. Please reply to this Valeria if you plan on joining us so I can get a headcount and better plan for carpooling.

In the past we have tried setting a meet-up location at the starting point but have been unsuccessful given the busyness of the event (not a bad problem to have), if you'd like to meet up with someone that is joining the First UU contingent, please contact them directly. 

Can’t March? You Can Still Help! If you're unable to march, please consider volunteering to give the First UU contingent a ride to or from the event. Making sure everyone can show up—however they are able—is how we embody community care. If you are interested in volunteering for this role contact [email protected].

If you would like to join the event but are unable to walk the distance, consider joining this alternate location: Ruocco Park (585 Harbor Ln San Diego, CA 92101). This will be a space for children and families and may be a good location for those looking to bring their own seat. 

Sunday, November 16th
11:30
Common Room at First UU

For half a decade, Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, films his community of Masafer Yatta being destroyed by Israel's occupation, as he builds an unlikely alliance with an Israeli journalist who wants to join his fight. No Other Land is an unflinching account of a community's mass expulsion and acts as a creative resistance to Apartheid and a search for a path towards equality and justice. Watch the trailer.

This film could not find a U.S. distributor after being picked up for distribution in 24 countries and winning the Oscar.

This is a free event and it's sponsored by First UU's Palestine-Israel Justice Group.

Film Screening and Discussion
Thursday, October 16
6 - 8 pm
Bard Hall at First UU

The majority of jobs that exists today will disappear within a few decades. As technology surpasses human capacity, we have the opportunity to rethink the role of work in our lives. Are we ready for an excess of time? For a work-free existence? Sweeping across four continents, the film describes widely different lives where some barely spend any time outside of work while others bathe in leisure. Through these stories and characters we are thrown into the existential tension between that which is and that which could be.

Free event. Come support independent social justice filmmakers and filmmaking!
Find more info and the trailer.

On August 17 th First UU hosted a well-attended panel focused on the denial of Palestinians’ human rights. The panel was organized in the context of the Apartheid Free pledge movement which First Church members will have the opportunity to vote to join at the annual meeting in June. 

The panel included two UU ministers from Jewish backgrounds, Reverend Sarah Gibb Millspaugh, and Reverend Ellie Kilpatrick. Both spoke passionately in support of human rights for all people, and for an end to the system of apartheid under which Palestinians live. They reminded participants of the 2024 UUA Solidarity with Palestinians Statement of Immediate Witness which condemned Hamas’s October 7 th attack on Israel while demanding an end to Israel apartheid and genocide, and asked congregations to take the Apartheid Free pledge. 

Rabbi Alexis Pearce spoke of growing up in the Los Angeles Jewish community and receiving a one-sided and unreliable narrative about Palestine/Israel. She described her support for Palestinian human rights as founded in her commitment to the Jewish values of justice, compassion, and the sanctity of life. 

Panelist Doris Bittar was born in Baghdad, Iraq of Lebanese and Palestinian parents. An artist and activist for the rights of Arab Americans, she spoke of the silencing of Palestinian voices and perspectives in media coverage about Gaza. She also spoke of the ongoing prejudice Arab Americans are systematically exposed to in many avenues of American life. 

All the speakers agreed that the treatment of Palestinians is a human rights crisis requiring immediate action. They saw the term “apartheid” as valid. That is confirmed by human rights groups including Amnesty International, B’Tselem (Israeli) Human Rights Watch, Physicians for Human Rights in Israel, Yesh Din (Israeli), the South African Human Sciences Research Council, and World Council of Churches. 

​The panel was organized by First UU’s Palestine/Israel Social Justice team. Contact Steve Gelb [email protected] to join the team, or for more information. 

Friday, Oct 17 @ 4pm - 9pm
Saturday, Oct 18 @ 12pm - 9pm
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 12pm - 9pm
Friday, Oct 24 @ 4pm - 9pm
Saturday, Oct 25 @ 12pm - 9pm
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 12pm - 9pm
37ECB, 3729 El Cajon Blvd
​
Gather your friends for two exciting weekends at Fright for Future, a FREE haunted maze of true terrors bringing scary issues concerning people, planet, and animals to light this Halloween! Make this spooky season a hauntingly impactful one and be part of the solution!

This event is recommended for ages 10+. More info.

Get free tickets at https://www.frightforfuture.org/tickets 

This month's burrito project will take place on Tuesday, October 28th. We are gathering in the Common Room to assemble burritos from 4-5pm. Next, we will clean up our working area, load Lara's van and drive south together for distribution. Distribution is from 6-7pm. We will return to the Hillcrest campus at 7:30pm. ​
 
Assembling burritos 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.
 
You are welcome to participate in either the preparation, distribution, or both. 
 
RSVP to Lara Anderson ([email protected])

Prep Location and Caravan Meetup:
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego
298 W Arbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92103
 
Funded through the Young Adult Ministry program

Back in August, our very own Rev. Justine Sullivan was interviewed by KPBS Public Media on the topics of "Power" and "Agape" in the article titled "Civic Values in the Age of Polarization."

Read the article and watch the videos here, or click on the videos below: 

Dear Fellow Congregants,
I’m looking forward to working with you on the many exciting things happening at First Church this year. The search for a settled lead minister is certainly one of the key projects we’ll be undertaking together and I’m writing to give you an update of where we stand.

Rev. Kristen has been in discernment about whether or not she would like to be considered for the lead minister position. After much thought, she has decided not to pursue the position of settled lead minister. That said, her ministry at First UU has been deeply fulfilling and she has a strong commitment to our congregation’s future. Rev. Kristen is currently Assistant Minister on a two-year renewable contract basis.

Rev. Kristen is beloved, respected, and valued in our church community. We have the opportunity now to acknowledge how much she and her ministry mean to First UU by calling her Associate Minister. Moving Rev. Kristen from a contracted minister to a called minister would demonstrate our appreciation for her work with us and provide her — and First UU—long-term stability as we work our way through the important decisions that lie ahead.

This work will be guided by the Contract to Call process, a framework provided by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

To begin this process, our Board has appointed a five-person Call Process Task Force to lead the congregation through the discernment process. This team will also be responsible for guiding us toward a congregational meeting where we will vote on whether to officially call Rev. Kristen as our new Associate Minister.

      The members of this task force are:
      • Christy Anderson
      • Leland Beck
      • Susanna Concha-Garcia
      • Martha Hall
      • Mat Kaplan

An essential part of this process will be a series of small group meetings which will be similar in format to the Our Sustainable Future small group sessions we held last year. After these meetings, the Task Force will prepare a summary report for the board, ministers, and the congregation with a recommendation on whether to bring the call decision to the congregation for a vote.

The work of the Call Process Task Force will begin soon, with the small group meetings taking place in October and November. I anticipate that the congregational meeting will be held in January. The process of calling a settled lead minister will begin in February.

Thank you for the energy and commitment you bring to our church community! Please contact me [email protected] if you have any questions.
​
Karen Lamphere
Board President

This month's burrito project will take place on Tuesday, September 30. We are gathering in the Common Room at First UU to assemble burritos from 4-5pm. Next, we will clean up our working area, load the van and drive south together for distribution. Distribution is from 6-7pm. We will return to the Hillcrest campus at 7:30pm. 
​
 
Assembling burritos 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.
 
You are welcome to participate in either the preparation, distribution, or both. 
 
RSVP to Lara Anderson ([email protected])

Prep Location and Caravan Meetup:
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego
298 W Arbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92103
 
Funded through the Young Adult Ministry program

Are you interested in participating in future Pilgrimages with UUJMCA? Come help build a home with UU Justice Minbistry of California (UUJMCA)! 

Team up with 20-25 other UU congregants across the state from October 10th to 13th.


​For the past two years, UUJMCA has partnered with Casas de Luz to provide a home for a family living in Tijuana, Mexico. Casas de Luz, a non-profit with UU roots, has organized building small homes in Tijuana and San Diego for 20 years. Between registrations and donations, the total cost of this trip is $15,000. Your support helps keep a family housed and secure.
Local master carpenters guide the project and there are jobs at every skill level to choose from.

IMPORTANT: You will need a current passport or Global Entry pass.

Please contact Mark Chase [email protected] for more information.

Register/donate.
More info.

October 3, Friday
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Room 320 at First UU

Contact Louise at [email protected] for more info.