First Unitarian Church of San Jose

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First Unitarian Church of San Jose

We are a liberal religious community dedicated to Making LOVE Visible. We Unitarian Universalists of San Jose welcome all! James Park.
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We are a liberal religious community that seeks, in bold and loving ways, to become agents for spiritual growth, healing, social justice, compassion, and joy. As a spiritual cooperative, we work together to create meaningful worship, ritual, and celebration, and to provide opportunities for religious education, service, and fun for all ages. We value our history as one of the city's oldest religio

us communities, founded in 1865, and yet we are a "living church," always seeking to grow, change, and adapt. Looking to host a special event or for the perfect venue for your summer wedding? Then First Unitarian Church of San Jose is the place for you. Our beautiful and historic building is located in the heart of San Jose directly across from St. Our sanctuary with stained glass windows and a grand piano, a social hall, several classrooms perfect for breakout sessions, and two kitchens can accommodate your event needs with ease. Our facilities are available for rental to the community at large for corporate events, and special celebrations. If you would like more information on our rental rates please contact Maxine Goulding at (408) 841-7542 or [email protected] to obtain information and your quote today!

08/25/2026

This Sunday 8/30/2026 11:00 AM, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live→ https://bit.ly/Sunday-Morning-Worship-at-FUCSJ
Meeting ID: 991 2292 1439 / Password: FUCSJ
By phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose area)
Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/abeU54lCqn
Join us In Person or on Zoom (ID: 991 2292 1439 / PW: FUCSJ)

Sunday, August 30th
"Summer Songs"
Worship Leader: Rick Merritt
Worship Associate: Darcie Grover

A group of the regular performers at the church’s Saturday Night Open Mic will share songs, readings, and stories about personal growth and social justice.

08/22/2026

This Sunday 8/23/2026 11:00 AM, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live→ https://bit.ly/Sunday-Morning-Worship-at-FUCSJ
Meeting ID: 991 2292 1439 / Password: FUCSJ
By phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose area)
Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/abeU54lCqn
Join us In Person or on Zoom (ID: 991 2292 1439 / PW: FUCSJ)

Sunday, August 23rd
"More, More, More: on the difficulties and possibilities of living our UU values by buying less stuff"

Worship Leader: Christine Junge
Worship Associate: Marnie Singer

At the 2001 General Assembly, the Unitarian Universalist Association approved a Statement of Conscience titled “Responsible Consumption Is Our Moral Imperative.” Can we find hope in learning to live with less?

Christine Junge is a writer and mother who lives with chronic pain (and much joy) in Willow Glen. She’s a new member of the church and participated in Rev. Matthew’s “Shared Pulpit” Sermon Seminar.

08/15/2026

This Sunday 8/16/2026 11:00 AM, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live→ https://bit.ly/Sunday-Morning-Worship-at-FUCSJ
Meeting ID: 991 2292 1439 / Password: FUCSJ
By phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose area)
Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/abeU54lCqn
Join us In Person or on Zoom (ID: 991 2292 1439 / PW: FUCSJ)

Sunday, August 16th
"Small Talk"
Worship Leaders: Julia Rodriguez, Betty Chase & Sally Cooperrider
Pianist: Diane Saichek

This church is a place to practice the social skills that foster connection. Small talk can be the first step to deep relationships and nurture continuing relationships. Small talk also makes coffee hour more fun. Come explore the power of small talk.

This service includes a “Blessing of the Backpacks.” Bring your backpacks (or briefcases or bags) to be blessed as part of our service.

08/06/2026

This Sunday 8/09/2026 11:00 am, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live→ https://bit.ly/Sunday-Morning-Worship-at-FUCSJ
Meeting ID: 991 2292 1439 / Password: FUCSJ
By phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose area)
Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/abeU54lCqn
Join us In Person or on Zoom (ID: 991 2292 1439 / PW: FUCSJ)

Sunday, August 9th
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝟏𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐚𝐳𝐳 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞
"𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞"
Worship Leaders: Amanda Sullivan and Sally Cooperrider
Pianist: Diane Saichek

The annual jazz service will be on the theme "Joy in the Struggle". The Neil Kelley Quartet will perform for us again, as well as Peter Block on tenor saxophone. The Alegria Singers will perform "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers and Skip Scarborough, and Guitars Aloud will perform "Feeling Good", by Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse. Come to listen, sing, and be inspired.

A special collection will benefit the group Progressions, which helps low-income, at-promise youth in our community identify, cultivate, and celebrate their gifts through music education and performance. As in previous years, we are collecting donations for the guest musicians. Please make a donation to the Jazz Service fund.

Go to the Donate page on the church’s website at https://sanjoseuu.org/connection/donate/ and press the Donate button. Once there, select the dropdown for “Musicians for Jazz Service.” Thank you so much for your support for this service!

07/29/2026

This Sunday 8/02/2026 11:00 am, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live→ https://bit.ly/Sunday-Morning-Worship-at-FUCSJ
Meeting ID: 991 2292 1439 / Password: FUCSJ
By phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose area)
Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/abeU54lCqn
Join us In Person or on Zoom (ID: 991 2292 1439 / PW: FUCSJ)

Sunday, August 2nd
"Question Box Sunday"
Worship Leader: Rev. Matthew McHale
Worship Associate: Ram Kakarala

As Unitarian Universalists we place a great spiritual value on the practice of asking questions. This Sunday, as a celebration of our quest for truth and meaning, you have the opportunity to ask Rev. Matthew your burning questions about faith, spirituality, and life… or whether he thinks pineapple is an acceptable pizza topping. He will answer as many questions as he can off the top of his head and from the bottom of his heart.

07/24/2026

This Sunday 7/26/2026 11:00 am, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live→ https://bit.ly/Sunday-Morning-Worship-at-FUCSJ
Meeting ID: 991 2292 1439 / Password: FUCSJ
By phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose area)
Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/abeU54lCqn
Join us In Person or on Zoom (ID: 991 2292 1439 / PW: FUCSJ)

Sunday, July 26th
"Pathways to Quiet Mind"
Worship Leader: Dena Dickinson
Worship Associates: Diana Mecum

Quieting our monkey minds helps us release stress and suffering, find peace, and connect with our divine center. This service will offer experiences of different meditation and contemplation techniques that finds the stillness, the essence, the compassion and love.

04/21/2026

This Sunday 04/26/26 11:00 am, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live→https://bit.ly/Sunday-Morning-Worship-at-FUCSJ
Meeting ID: 991 2292 1439 / Password: FUCSJ
By phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose area)
Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/abeU54lCqn
Join us In Person or on Zoom (ID: 991 2292 1439 / PW: FUCSJ)

Sunday, April 26th
“Earth Day: A Story Still Being Written”
Worship Leaders: Rev. Matthew McHale
Worship Associates: Bruce Halen & Steve Madden

It’s tempting to fall into despair about the state of our environment… but nothing is settled. And the future is still being shaped by our care, our choices, our imagination.
Join us this service, led First Unitarian's Climate Justice Ministry.
Guitars Aloud will perform "Love Song to the Earth" by Natasha Bedingfield, Toby Gad, Sean Paul & John Shanks Sunday, April 26th

04/15/2026

This Sunday 04/19/26 11:00 am, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live→https://bit.ly/Sunday-Morning-Worship-at-FUCSJ
Meeting ID: 991 2292 1439 / Password: FUCSJ
By phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose area)
Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/abeU54lCqn
Join us In Person or on Zoom (ID: 991 2292 1439 / PW: FUCSJ)

“Poem in Your Pocket – Reaching the Soul”
Worship Leaders: Dena Dickinson & Patricia Ohanian
Worship Associate: Diana Mecum

April is National Poetry Month – a time to recognize poetry's ability to express emotions, tell stories, and inspire change. It has been said that while poetry doesn’t have a single purpose, it can help us live with purpose.
The feel, sound, and emotion of a poem communicate meaning as deeply as the words themselves. In this service, we engage the voices of congregants to share poems that reflect their spirit, whether of their own writing or from a favorite poet.
We invite you to settle in and let the poetry touch your soul. Share a poem and take a poem to keep in your pocket to contemplate and move your spirit.
We invite anyone who wants to participate by reciting or reading a special poem to contact Dena Dickinson at ([email protected]) by April 11.
Alegria Singers will perform "Earth Song" by Frank Ticheli

This Sunday 03/29/26 11:00 am, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live...

04/02/2026

03/24/2026

This Sunday 03/29/26 11:00 am, Time for Gathering begins at 10:45 am. Join us in person in the Sanctuary or online live→https://bit.ly/Sunday-Morning-Worship-at-FUCSJ
Meeting ID: 991 2292 1439 / Password: FUCSJ
By phone: 669 900 6833 US (San Jose area)
Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/abeU54lCqn
Join us In Person or on Zoom (ID: 991 2292 1439 / PW: FUCSJ)

“Pivot to Presence: The Season for Moral Courage”
Worship Leader: Rev. Stefanie Etzbach-Dale

Worship Associate: Marnie Singer

Habitual behaviors can serve us well for long periods of time – until they don’t anymore. Today we’ll explore what Passover, Palm Sunday, and Trans Day of Visibility can teach us about the power of “pivot”.

Bio: Rev Stefanie Etzbach-Dale joins us today from Redwood City. She has been actively serving Unitarian Universalist communities in the PCD for almost 25 years. Since becoming affiliated with the UU of Palo Alto as Community Minister at retirement in 2017 she has enjoyed building a vibrant Spiritual Direction practice, painting, teaching classes, offering sound baths, and volunteering as chaplain at Stanford Hospital (To learn more visit TendingSpirit.com)

Address

160 N 3rd Street
San Jose, CA
95112

Telephone

+14082923858

Website

http://sanjoseuu.org/

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