The Goodness of Life on Earth

October 18, 2026

Worship Leader: Dave Hudson
Worship Associates: Nancy Blake and Karen Auroy
Cantor: Rachel Walters Steiner
Musician: David Dodd

Visiting with us today? Welcome! We hope you find here a community that nurtures your heart, and inspires you to help build a better world. Questions? A member of the Greeters team can assist you!

Upcoming Service: Sunday, October 25, 10:30 am – “Aspiring Toward Good Conversations with Death,” with visiting guest minister Greg Ward, Worship Associate Dave Hudson, and pianist David Dodd. Have you ever been pushed into life? All of us, at least once, came into this world behind a great push. But many of us get ‘born again’ – not in the fundamentalist Christian sense; but in the discovery of our ‘why?’ we live. Our ‘Why? comes not from avoiding conversations with Death, but rather, aspiring to integrate death’s wisdom into our living.

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
– Desmond Tutu

Welcome 

Gathering Music #30 – “Over My Head”

Call to Worship

Chalice Lighting Sarah York

Affirmation

Love is the doctrine of this church, the quest for truth is its sacrament, and service is its prayer. To dwell together in peace, to seek knowledge in freedom, to serve the world in fellowship, to the end that all souls shall grow into harmony with the divine. Thus do we worship together.

Opening Hymn #34 – “Thou I May Speak with Bravest Fire”

Time For All Ages “Have You Filled a Bucket Today,” by Carol McCloud

Singing Our Children Out  (To the tune of “Amazing Grace”)

We wish for you an open heart
Also a questing mind,
So you may know how best to live
And cherish the divine.

Invitation to Generosity

Dedicating the Offering

To the gifts of life & generosity that sustain Beloved Community within and beyond our walls, we dedicate these offerings and ourselves.

Candles of Community & Meditation

If you wish to share joys or sorrows, please write in the Memory Book in the bell tower. You may also come forward to light a candle at this time.

Meditation & Prayer

If you wish to share joys or sorrows, please write in the Memory Book in the bell tower. You may also come forward to light a candle at this time.

Silent Meditation

Reading “Even in a Time of Intolerance,” by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Sermon

Closing Hymn “What a Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong, performed by Rachel Walters Steiner

Closing Circle

Events & Announcements

It’s Auction Time!
Join us for the annual UUP Auction on Saturday, October 24, from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Proceeds from the auction directly support UUP, so bring your family and friends. This year’s auction has a 1960s theme, so we invite you to dress for the era. There will be delicious food and fun activities, as well as music by the Undogmatics. We’ll have a penny auction and other activities for children, as well as childcare if needed.

Art & Beauty Photo Project.
Hope wants to photograph all of you in small groups, of between 4 – 6 people. The end result will be a photo show, entitled “Portraits of Us,” and will hopefully be completed for the holidays. Pictures will be printed in black and white and labels will include the names of all in the picture. Hope will commence photographing on the 25th.

Getting to Know UU and UUP. October 18 at 11:45 am – 12:15 pm
Are you ready to learn more about this congregation you have been visiting? If Unitarian Universalism is new to you or you have questions about the UUP congregation, please join the membership coordinator Diana Spaulding for a short introduction to our way of faith. A Path to Membership orientation will take place on Sunday, November 1, 12:15 – 2:15 pm. For a deeper exploration of the benefits and responsibilities of membership in UUP, Rev. Aija and Diana will host a membership orientation. Please RSVP to Diana at membership@uupetaluma.org.

Hannah Mayree, founder of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project, is performing in our Sanctuary Coffeehouse series on November 15, 4:00 pm. Janice Hardy wants to offer some scholarship tickets for students and musicians with African heritage to attend the concert. She has started this fund with $100, could you help match her for a total of $200? Please contact Janice at hardy3kell@gmail.com.

The Social Justice Committee encourages you to talk to neighbors and friends to help see that everyone votes. Voting early helps election advocates focus their get out the vote work on those who have not yet voted, prevents long lines on Election Day, and helps speed up processing of ballots.

Thank you to the UUP Audio/Video Team for sound and hybrid technical support, and to the Greeter and Hospitality teams!