We are committed to compassion. We are….
…a sanctuary for diversity, spiritual growth, and social justice
…nuestra misión es ser un santuario de diversidad, crecimiento espiritual y justicia social
Worship Services
Sunday Worship: The Epic of Love
News in Brief
November’s Share the Plate: Holiday Gift Drive for SafeHouse of the Desert
In what appears to have become a holiday tradition, our in November Share the Plate is a holiday gift drive for SafeHouse of the Desert. Your generous giving will be used to purchase Target e-gift cards from our Scrip program, then SafeHouse/Harrison House recipients will buy their own presents.
As you probably already know, Safehouse of the Desert, part of Operation SafeHouse, has been doing its important work in our county for more than three decades. It is a life-saving shelter for youth ages 11 to 17 who have run away from home or whose parents no longer want them there. Without SafeHouse, these youth are vulnerable to human trafficking and the myriad of other undesirable elements of life on the streets. SafeHouse operates two shelters, one in Riverside and the other here, that provide approximately 600 runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth with over 4,000 bed nights annually.
Harrison House is transitional housing for young adults 18 to 21 years of age, some who have “aged out” of the foster care system and have limited ability and resources to live on their own. Besides housing, it also provides on-site schooling, including GED classes, individual cognitive behavioral therapy, group counseling, financial education, employment assistance, and life skills. SafeHouse’s transitional living programs serve approximately 40 youth and their children annually. These youth are transitioning to adulthood under very challenging and undeserved circumstances.
We have been repeatedly told that, essentially, we are the only source of holiday gifts for these youth!
Your donation will provide a happier holiday for these young individuals who have literally nowhere to go and need almost everything. Please give as generously as you are able. For more information, please contact Bob Rancourt.
Bread Not Stone: Pluralism
This month we continue our exploration of the values that unite and inspire us as Unitarian Universalists. A reminder that individuals and congregations across the Unitarian Universalist Association are exploring these values in preparation for deciding on adopting new language in our UUA bylaws that express our shared values and covenants with each other. We’ll be sharing conversation and reflection together, including in our Chalice Circles each month.
For November, we’ll be looking at Pluralism.
Save the Dates! Church Is Back in Full Swing!
Mark your calendars! Perhaps it’s too generous or optimistic to say that it’s starting to cool a bit here in the desert, and many Members and Friends are beginning to return for the Coachella Valley’s anticipated cooler months. We’ve had our ingathering and it’s time to get church things done.
Sacred Grounds Update: November 2023
Celebration Garden
Huge progress! Our stunning Celebration Garden is really taking shape. The walkway is embossed with designs inspired by native plants and lizards, a ring of Encelia (brittlebush) circles the metal sculpture, and a new bladderpod hedge to screen off the parking lot is in place.
Desert Canyon Habitat
On October 23 we started planting the Desert Canyon Habitat with over a hundred native plants!
What’s Happening This Week
Week of Events
Formula on the Fourth
Introduced by the Social Justice Committee in January 2023. Donate formula, which will be given to Galilee Center for distribution to their families with babies.
Why donate formula rather than money? Due to shortages, stores have been setting tight limits on the number of cans per purchase. Our donations help Galilee Center hand out more formula each month to families with babies who are unable to buy it on their own.
Click through to see images of the only powdered formulas they will accept....
Sunday Worship: Rest as Resistance
Sunday Worship: Rest as Resistance
Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
Worship Associate: Joni Padduck
Oliver Burkeman wrote, “The core challenge of managing our limited time isn’t about how to get everything done—that’s never going to happen—but how to decide most wisely what not to do, and how to feel at peace about not doing it.” Join us as we explore the choice to find rest and restoration in the face of the world’s demands and the call of the coming season.
Full Moon Soundbath and Labyrinth Walk
Full Moon Soundbath and Labyrinth Walk
Join us for a casual full moon sound bath at our UUCOD Peace Labyrinth, just as the full moon is rising. Explore this beautiful desert space to connect with the […]
Men’s Breakfast
Men’s Breakfast
Join us at Don and Sweet Sue's Cafe in Cathedral City at 8:00am on the first Friday of the month.
Food Basket and Toy Drive for the Migrant Education Program Christmas PartyYour Title Goes Here
Each year the Migrant Education Program of the Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) holds a Christmas Party for their students and families. This year’s party is on December 14. At the party, each student receives a gift and each family receives a food basket.
Currently, there are 1230 migrant children & youth in kindergarten through grade 12 within CVUSD. You can help our neighboring migrant families living in the East Valley have a more joyful Christmas by donating to our Toy and Food Drives.
Click to find out how you can participate in one of our most loved gift drives of the year!
Volunteer Oppportunities
Galilee Center Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution
Join your UUCOD friends and hand out Thanksgiving food baskets to low-income families in the East Valley. On Wednesday,November 22 we will carpool to Galilee Center in Mecca, arriving before 2pm. This is a no contact distribution – you will put food boxes in the trunks of cars in assembly line fashion. Must be able to lift up to 5 pounds.