News

Thursday, March 12, 7:00–8:45 p.m. in the Knatvold room and Saturday, March 14, 10–11:45 a.m. in the King room

Worship services at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream

Sunday, March 8, 1:00 p.m. in the Knatvold room Our next Pink Haven meeting will be this coming Sunday. Please attend, either in person or virtually, to get an update on hosting and volunteer opportunities.  Contact a group leader to get the virtual link: Allisonrjansen@gmail.com , River McCallum or Sage@themcdaniels.net . The Pink Haven Coalition is a national coalition responding to the baseless and severe discrimination against trans and non-binary individuals in red states who need assistance in moving to blue states. Our UUC group is part of this effort, in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, to create a welcome network for trans/non-binary individuals and their families who are fleeing their homes in order to live freer lives and, if needed, to obtain gender affirming care.

Saturday, March 7, 2–3:30 p.m. in Knatvold by registration

Registration open for Saturdays, March 7 & 14, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in person or via Zoom

Sundays, March 8, 15 and 22, various times

Wednesday, March 4, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in Knatvold and via Zoom

Sunday, March 8, before and after services and 2–5 p.m. in the UUC parking lot

Sunday, March 8, 12:30–2:00 p.m. in the Emerson room

Friday, March 13, 6–8 p.m. in Nathan Johnson Hall

Do you love to recommend books to people? Have you dreamed of scaling up from being librarian of your Little Free Library? Would you like to curate books and movies about the people, practices, and history of Unitarian Universalism? Your community engagement staff are looking for 2–4 library volunteers for 2026. Let's channel some fresh energy into our Dix library collection, as a wellspring of learning and liberation. Email Rev. Victoria if interested.

March Is Pledge Month!

Sunday, March 1, 12:15 p.m. in Nathan Johnson Hall and 1–3 p.m. in the chapel

Worship services at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream

Apply for this part-time Childcare Provider position by Sunday, March 1 UUC is seeking a second Childcare Provider to join Jasmin in providing quality and loving care for the youngest in our community. Those who work with our youngest community members are instrumental in providing a strong foundation in what it means to be a part of a loving and supportive church community. Childcare Providers at University Unitarian Church support a safe, fun, and caring environment for children on Sunday mornings and at church events. Childcare Providers work, together with volunteers and teen assistants, to guide young children in creative free-play activities during their time at church. This Childcare Provider position is part-time (4–8 hours per week, depending on church activity) and is compensated at $24.71 per hour. Those interested in applying can do so through Indeed or by submitting a resume to Director of Family Ministry, Aria Curtis . View the full job description here . 

May 22–25 at the Seabeck Conference Center Registration will open at noon on Friday, February 20

From Madi at Bloodworks Northwest: As always, thank you for your collaboration on our drive at UUC last week. UUC drives are so well attended! We really appreciate your support. Fyi, we registered 45 donors and collected 38 units of blood components. Since each donation can support up to 3 patients, up to 114 local patients were impacted because of your blood drive. Thank you for making February a month full of kindness. Because of your blood drive, our community’s loved ones are with them this month. Giving blood is a simple act of kindness. The next blood drive at UUC will be on March 31.

Mondays, February 23, March 9 & 23, and April 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Knatvold, by registration

Tuesday, February 24, 6:30–7:30 p.m. in Knatvold; advance sign-up appreciated

Thursday, February 26, 7:00–8:45 p.m. in the Knatvold room

Rev. Victoria invited us to respond. Are you wondering how you might deepen your capacity to be responsive to immigration enforcement in the Seattle area? Consider attending a virtual training (one or more!) with WAISN, the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network . Registration for Know Your Rights, Accompaniment training, and Rapid Response can all be found here: Upcoming Events & Trainings - WAISN . The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network began in 2016 as a rapid response effort in the face of growing threats to immigrant families across the state. WAISN was founded by and for immigrants, and is transgender and queer-led, those who are often left out of our movements for justice. WAISN’s approach, rooted in non-violence, de-escalation, discipline, and harm reduction, is shaped by local context , which can look different across communities in Washington State. WAISN has several areas of work that you can consider supporting and provides a wealth of resources on its website. You also may want to consider volunteer opportunities with the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW , WAISN's partner for training and supporting folks who wish to volunteer at legal clinics or accompany immigrants to court hearings. If you are new to this work, have patience as you try to find your place in it. There has been a flood of interest in WAISN-offered training and sometimes the Zoom webinar becomes full, even if you have registered. If you feel called to this work, persevere. Times are urgent, but it is OK to slow down for discernment on how you will show up to keep immigrant and refugee communities safe. Finally, would you like to help create an immigrant solidarity community at UUC? Contact Roberta Ray by email or in person at the workshop on Joyful Resistance and Non-Compliance with Heather Vickery , this Saturday, February 21 .

You may be wondering: What happened to the ideas for church-wide service and engagement that were generated at the "Revival" in October? Well, our Social Justice Steering Committee (SJSC) has decided to focus on three projects for at least the rest of the year. If you are interested in joining these projects, please contact the listed coordinators. Mutual Aid/Helping Hands Coordinators: Ian Mosher, Leah Evison, Jane Howard Congregants need help at different times with different challenges. How can we support one another? For now, we are hoping to develop a pilot program to match congregants who can offer rides to church with those who need rides. The SJSC will host a learning station after each service on February 22 to answer questions and enroll interested congregants in this “Share-A-Ride” pilot program . The committee also may organize a book group to talk about Dean Spade's Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) . We realize we all have a lot to learn about mutual aid as an alternative to charity. Eckstein Student Support Coordinators: Emily Joseph and Patricia Graesser Many of the students who attend our neighborhood middle school are from low-income households. We are collaborating with social workers at Eckstein to determine needs (probably food and clothing, and perhaps laundry services). With the help of our Coming of Age youth, we envision a first step: building storage shelves in the church. Activism and Advocacy Coordinators: Catherine Ruha and Walter Hatch You may have noticed, or even joined, the congregants holding “Side with Love” signs and singing pro-justice songs on the sidewalk outside UUC on several Sundays. Along with our Acting for Racial Justice Team we hope to help organize more vigils like these. In addition, the Activism and Advocacy group is also focused—for now—on three additional efforts: Organizing UUC efforts to monitor ICE activities and support threatened neighbors. We expect to collaborate with the Church Council and the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) . Lobbying the state Legislature on behalf of bills that reflect UU values. We are working primarily with the Faith Action Network . One example of legislation we are backing is HB 2266 , which would promote housing for the homeless by requiring cities to allow permanent supportive, transitional, and indoor emergency housing in residential zones, and shelters in hotel zones. It prohibits local ordinances that block such efforts. Mobilizing in the spring to remind the Seattle City Council that a budget is a moral document. We intend to work with the Church Council to support social services and housing. While the Social Justice Steering Committee has launched these projects for the current church year, we acknowledge that some, if not all of them, may continue into the following (2026–7) year. Please join us!

More info on Sunday, February 22, after each service

All Ages Services at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream

Sunday, February 22, 9–10:30 a.m. at East Shore Unitarian Church

The Fleagle Lecture and Workshop with Heather Vickery Saturday, February 21, 1–4 p.m. in Nathan Johnson Hall, by registration

Sunday, February 22, 1:15–2:45 p.m. in the Dix room and via Zoom

Thank you to those of you who showed up for The Road Ahead 2026 meeting on February 8. We had a very engaged audience of forty-plus, with thoughtful questions. (It was a quite respectable showing given competing other meetings and Super Bowl party preparations!) Here's what we covered: Key milestones through this church year and into the next and an update on the search process and timeline for welcoming our new senior minister. A framework for thinking about stewardship and what that means to each of us. A recap of our financial situation now and a high-level view of the UUC budget for the coming year. An introduction of and remarks from Tamar Lively, our new Executive for Finance and Operations A preview of the 2026 annual giving campaign and why that is so critical to the health of UUC. For those of you who were not able to attend, it's not too late to learn more: Look through the presentation slides To watch the video recording of the meeting, please contact the church office . If you have questions, please contact Kathleen Cromp . We are all stewards of UUC!

Week Five of 30 Days of Love is live! This week’s theme is Exploring Possibilities. This week is the final week of 30 Days of Love. We hope that you have found these weekly offerings a meaningful way to reflect on your life and on this moment in the world. Please take a moment to share what you’ve found helpful by emailing Rev. Victoria or Morgan. India Harris from UU the Vote 2026 writes, “How do we lean into the unknown while remaining rooted in our values? This is the tension at the heart of our faith, calling us both to question boldly and to remain grounded in our commitment to justice, equity, and the inherent worth of every person. This work demands courage. It asks us to experiment with new programs, new partnerships, and new ways of being in community, knowing that some efforts will flourish while others will teach us through failure. Program development becomes spiritual practice when we approach it with humility and a willingness to learn.” Check out the offerings for this week : a reflection from India Harris, UU the Vote 2026 Lead; an original coloring sheet; a theological conversation with Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford, a meditative body practice, multiple activities for families to do together; and a journal worksheet to reflect on this week's theme. With love, Rev. Victoria and Morgan Rev. Victoria Poling is our Acting Associate Minister for Community Engagement Morgan Sherwood is our Congregational Engagement Coordinator 

Save the Date! Friday, March 13, 6–8 p.m. in Nathan Johnson Hall

Wednesday, February 18, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. by appointment in Nathan Johnson Hall

Wednesday, February 18, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in Knatvold and via Zoom

Nancy Norman was a long-time and beloved member of the UUC community. Early on the morning of January 3, after she was able to see Katie Wilson sworn in as Mayor of Seattle, Nancy Norman passed away at the age of 70 after a 2.5-year fight against breast cancer. A UUC member since 1997, Nancy served on the Board of Trustees, sang in the Intergenerational Choir (the precursor to the All Voices Choir) with her daughter, Halley, taught church school and supported the youth program, and participated extensively in UUC climate and racial justice work In celebration of her life, her family will hold a memorial party at Merrill Hall at the Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle on Saturday, March 28 , 11:30-3:30. See her obituary for details. Read Nancy's obituary

Sunday, February 15, after each service

Sunday, February 15, 10:30–11 a.m. in front of UUC And "30 Days of Love": January 19–February 16

Saturday, February 14, 1–3 p.m. in Nathan Johnson Hall Join Wise Women Connecting on February 14 for an afternoon of games and fun together. Participants are welcome to bring games and finger food snacks to share in Nathan Johnson Hall where we can spread out at tables to play in small groups. Board games and card games with a shorter play time than Monopoly and which can be played by 4 to 8 people will work the best. Share a favorite game or learn a new one! Questions? Contact Cindy Rose . Wise Women Connecting welcomes all UUC members and friends who identify as women and and are in retirement, or contemplating retirement as a new phase of life.

Sunday, February 15, 1–2 p.m. in Emerson

Week Four of 30 Days of Love is live! This week’s theme is Nurturing Community. We’ll focus on covenant, collaboration, and shared care—practicing how to stay connected even when the work is hard. Because transformation happens in relationship. Rev. Cathy Rion Starr of Side with Love notes, “Building community that nourishes relationships is core to our UU faith and must be central to our justice work. When we share food, play together, and prioritize time to get to know each other in our committees, congregations, and communities, we live into our interdependence and make our organizing stronger. We counter the myth of the charismatic solo leader by cultivating teams, not heroes.” Check out these incredible offerings for this week : a reflection from Rev. Cathy Rion Starr, UUA Leadership Development Specialist; an original coloring sheet; a theological conversation with Rev. Dr. Jé Hooper; a meditative body practice; multiple activities for families to do together; and a journal worksheet to reflect on this week’s theme. With joy, Rev. Victoria and Morgan Rev. Victoria Poling is our Acting Associate Minister for Community Engagement Morgan Sherwood is our Congregational Engagement Coordinator

Worship services at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream

Thursday, February 12, 7:00–8:45 p.m. in the Knatvold room

Sunday, February 8, during both coffee hours and 2–3:30 p.m. in the UUC parking lot

Sunday, February 8, 12:45 p.m. in Knatvold and via Zoom

Sunday, February 8, 1:00 p.m. in Channing Our next Pink Haven meeting will be this coming Sunday, and will adjourn by 2:15 p.m. so folks will have time to get home for the big game. If you need childcare, please contact Aria Curtis ahead of time. Latest news is that hosting is now underway and volunteers are needed. Please attend, either in person or virtually, to find out how to help. Contact a group leader to get the virtual link: Allisonrjansen@gmail.com or Sage@themcdaniels.net . The Pink Haven Coalition is a national coalition responding to the baseless and severe discrimination against trans and non-binary individuals in red states who need assistance in moving to blue states. Our UUC group is part of this effort, in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, to create a welcome network for trans/non-binary individuals and their families who are fleeing their homes in order to live freer lives and, if needed, to obtain gender affirming care.

Worship services at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. in the chapel and via live stream

Friday, February 6, 6–8 p.m. in Knatvold and via Zoom

Apply by February 8 for groups meeting March–May, 2026

Rev. Beth Chronister and her partner, Danny, are excited to share with the UUC community that they are expecting their first child in mid-March! Everyone is healthy, well, and eagerly anticipating this big life change. They'll be sure to send an update once the baby makes their grand entrance into this world!

Last Thursday, UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt was arrested in Washington, D.C., alongside other people of faith while protesting the Department of Homeland Security budget. Rev. Betancourt joined religious leaders at the U.S. Capitol Complex to oppose a budget that continues to fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection—agencies responsible for ongoing harm and violence in our communities. As she said earlier, there is no moral justification for a budget that deepens this damage . Read more about action and Rev. Betancourt’s remarks in this UU World article .

This week, Side with Love invites you to mobilize into action by paying attention to where you are wishing to be invited in and what you could invite others into. Caitlin Breedlove, UU the Vote 2026 Lead, shares a story of how she and her father build community: “…When was the last time we went outside? Not just on a hike or walk, but outside of our friends, family, and network? The last time we took a risk, felt awkward, greeted someone we do not know, attended a meeting of a new group, or asked a neighbor for coffee? When my father comes to visit, he likes to bake cookies for a small army. In order to not allow my kids (or self) to enter sugar shock, every year, I am inclined to wrap some up for neighbors in my townhouse complex, and deliver them.” Read more here and try out a Body Scan Meditation by Lóre Stevens, listen and sing to music by UU Children’s Choir and more. Also this week, check out the UU Solidarity Initiative ICE Out! Week of Action In this time of moral crisis, our faith calls us to live our values through courageous and prophetic action. Join Unitarian Universalists across the country for a national Week of Action, February 2–6, against the violent, immoral actions of ICE. The week will include a 40-hour phone call blitz to Congress, five straight days of virtual action hours led by UU State Action Networks, and an opening event with UU Solidarity Initiative. Read more and sign up for action here. With love, Rev. Victoria and Morgan Rev. Victoria Poling is our Acting Associate Minister for Community Engagement Morgan Sherwood is our Congregational Engagement Coordinator