Our speaker, Sarah Van Gelder, was a co-founder, with a tribal elder, of the Suquamish Olalla Neighbors. She has been a member of the city of Bremerton’s Race Equity Advisory Committee, founding editor of YES! Magazine, and writes the blog “How We Rise” on Substack. She has recently retired from 6 years as communication manager of the Suquamish tribe.

This week, children are exploring how our faith gives us the building instructions of widening the circle. They will have the chance to lift up our UU Value of Pluralism, and its call to embrace our differences and commonalities with love, curiosity, and respect.

We gather this Sunday for our annual Water Communion; the ceremony symbolizes that while we may travel as separate streams during the summer months, we unite each fall as one community. As the water is poured into one bowl, we are reminded of the merging of our lives in this community, of all life on this planet.

2nd Friday Film Series: Dear Ms. Sept 12 6pm-8:30pm

Join us on Tuesday, September 9 at 5:30 pm for the inaugural Soulful Connections meeting on Zoom. This group is a "rebranded" Fun & Frolic Committee, and will focus on providing meaningful connections between KUUF members and friends, outside of the Sunday Service atmosphere, through various coordinated activities throughout the year.

This session offers an overview of the political backlash that is now occurring and perspective on this critical issue historically. 

These sessions do stand alone, but the information in the three sessions together offers a rich perspective on an issue that is important to our community and the values we share around inclusion and social justice.   We hope you’ll join us.   This session offers an overview of the political backlash that is now occurring and perspective on this critical issue historically. 

The KUUF Grief Support Group now meets the first Sunday of the month. The next meeting will be Sunday,  September 7 at 11:45 am in the Elmore Room.

This week, children are exploring how our faith gives us the building instructions of seeking truth and nourishment from many sources. They will explore how, as UUs, we are not connected by believing the same exact things, but are instead bound together by covenant - shared promises we make to support one another on our journeys of faith.

To begin the new church year, next Sunday we crack open Eckhart Tolle's book "Practicing the Power of Now" and discover—through the aid of poet, a rabbi, a monk, and a bonging clock—what shimmering wisdoms light up our hearts, calm our minds, and call us deeper into the present moment.

The Truth Quest Book Group meets again on Sunday, September 7, 8:30 to 9:30 am via Zoom. We will be sharing about the book “Sacred Balance: Rediscovering our Place In Nature,” by David Suzuki. You are welcome whether or not you had a chance to read the entire book.

If you’ve been thinking of joining the choir, we need YOU, and now is the perfect time! Practices are every Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the KUUF Sanctuary. We have free childcare available, so bring the family and SING!

Mark your calendars for the next potluck on August 31 when Chalice Circle 5 will be our hosts.

Our September and October potlucks need hosts. Chalice Circles, committee and book group members, you all have the opportunity to be heroes and win the gratitude of the KUUF community by hosting our much appreciated community meals!

8/31 - Gardening

As another Labor Day approaches, America’s workers are anxious about their future. Government firings, robots and A.I. replacing humans, paychecks not keeping up with the cost food and rents, these leave workers feeling unappreciated as well as pessimistic. Let’s reflect on the virtues of work and the role it plays in the cultivation of the soul.

If you’ve been thinking of joining the choir, we need YOU, and now is the perfect time! Practices start again on Thursday, August 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the KUUF Sanctuary. We have free childcare available, so bring the family and SING!

The next KUUF Board of Trustees meeting is Tuesday, August 26 at 6:00 pm on Zoom. Please email admin@kuuf.org for the Zoom link. Members are welcome to join and observe.

In this session, Alex gives information about trans people and the many ways that trans people define themselves.  

These sessions do stand alone, but the information in the three sessions together offers a rich perspective on an issue that is important to our community and the values we share around inclusion and social justice.   We hope you’ll join us.   

8/24-Toothpick Architecture:Use your imagination & creativity to create a shape. Embrace your inner architect and build a house, a tower, or something else, then combine them all.

Many UUs participated in the "Good Trouble" demonstrations on July 17th, the fifth anniversary of the death of the great civil rights activist, Representative John Lewis. In this service, led by guest speaker and UU minister Rev. Florence Caplow, we will celebrate the life of John Lewis and consider how his determination can give us courage in these tough times. 

Join us on the 4th Friday of the Month (August 22nd) for a social potluck. This is a time for anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+ to gather in community and social time.

Soulful Home is an ongoing parent group meeting the third Sunday of each month following the service. Parents are invited to bring a sack lunch for themselves and for their child(ren). Children will remain up in the Matan Building for childcare while parents meet to build community and explore the Soulful Home resources. Soulful Home is a program through Soul Matters that supports families as they explore the sacred in everyday spaces by providing materials to help parents integrate Unitarian Universalism into everyday home life. 

After the service on August 17, Rev. Carol McKinley will lead a class for current lay leaders and anyone else who is interested in learning more about presenting quality worship services. The class will last 60 to 90 minutes and take place in the Sanctuary.

8/17-Obstacle Course: Use your curiosity and imagination to complete an obstacle course with extra points for helping and encouraging each other.

Everyone has their reason for going to church, and being church encourages us to embrace the concept that the congregation is not just a building or a place to go, but rather the collective body of committed persons who are living their faith in the world. In doing so, they and the world are transformed.

The Staricka family's adopted Russian family, Nastia, Paul, and little Jamie, are expecting another baby boy! We are throwing a tea party baby sprinkle to celebrate and warmly welcome their upcoming addition on Saturday, August 16, 3:30 pm at 3037 Keel Ave NE, Bremerton. Admin@kuuf.org

Join us as historian, teacher, folksinger and actor, Joel Underwood performs an hour that is part concert, part theatrical drama and part lecture. Sing along to Woodie's songs and learn the -sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic- stories behind the songs. Friday, August 15, 2025

Rowan and Chris are having a baby boy and would love to celebrate with you. You are invited to come and share in their joy (and help to get them ready). The baby shower is Saturday, September 13 at 10:00 am.

Please join us to learn about an amazing organization working to reduce poverty and disease throughout the world. Beth Wilson, longtime advocate for RESULTS and current group leader and Volunteer Regional Coordinator, will be sharing the latest news about the organization. Don't miss it!

8/10-Junk Sculpture: Use your imagination and creativity to create unique sculptures with recycled items and duct tape.

Wildly unpredictable – no doubt most of us would describe events in our lives and in the world today.  Amidst political and social uncertainty, you may not be seeking escape through the latest Netflix series, but with others in a place that offers hope, assurance that we are all in this together.  For many, religious community is the place where we are reminded of life’s possibilities.