Speaker: Pastor Jacqueline

The Reverend Jacqueline Duhart has a Masters of Divinity from the Starr King School of Ministry and is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. Prior to moving back to the Bay Area she was a Community Ministerial Intern with Unity Church Unitarian in St. Paul, Minnesota. There she was a pastoral associate with the pastoral care team. Among her primary responsibilities were working with the neighborhood block nursing program called Summit University Living at Home, co-facilitating the church’s anti-racism leadership team, and directing the youth religious education program “Our Whole Lives.”

Rev. Jacqueline has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from Baylor University and the University of Texas. She spent more than 20 years as a social worker for the U.S. Air Force, where she spent time on the ground as a chaplain in Iraq during the first Gulf War. Rev. Jacqueline has spent many years serving a justice ministry outside of traditional faith. Among her extensive justice work, she was a health educator and community trainer with Standing Together Against Rape in Anchorage, a member of Anchorage Domestic Violence Task Force, and a board member of Planned Parenthood of Alaska where she was instrumental in the 30% increase of funds over a three-year period.

May You Have Safe Passage – 2019 Bridging Ceremony

Each year in the spring we join with Unitarian Universalist congregations all across our country to honor our graduating high school seniors in a Bridging Ceremony. We take time to celebrate our young people, to hear from them about their growing up years at First Unitarian, and to symbolically create a bridge which they will … Continue reading May You Have Safe Passage – 2019 Bridging Ceremony

The Liturgical Power of Church

Worship offers every soul who participates a place where we can be,  breathe in and be “in-spired”; opportunities to breathe out and cast off or “ex-pire” that which no longer serves our common good; and experiences to breathe with or “con-spire” with spirit. Joyful Noise sings and Crescendo Choir offers their rendition of “My Old … Continue reading The Liturgical Power of Church

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee: BREADTH of Spirit

Around the globe the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) confronts unjust power structures and mobilizes local communities to challenge oppressive powers. What motivates & contributes to the global impact of the UUSC? Please join Pastor Jacqueline, Jane Facente, Evelyn Sheridan and Emily Stoper as we share stories and reflect on the longstanding successes of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. We will also distribute our UUSC boxes. This is a Time for All Ages Sunday.

Finding The Light in Each/Other’s Eyes: The Miracle of Connection and New Member Ingathering

As we approach the first night of Chanukah, we will reflect on the miracles of faith, hope, and perseverance against seemingly bleak odds. Just as the Maccabees experienced the joy and relief of a menorah that only held oil for one night yet endured for eight, we will celebrate the miraculous journey of discovery that … Continue reading Finding The Light in Each/Other’s Eyes: The Miracle of Connection and New Member Ingathering

Love, Unity, Aspiration: Blended Family as Metaphor

What does choosing a new minister have to do with my life? What does choosing a new minister have to do with what is happening in our shared world? Please join our guest preacher Dr. Leon Spencer, Pastor Jacqueline, Worship Associate Katrinca Ford, your Search Committee, and pianist Geoff Ullerich and Ted Curran and Band as we embrace what Dr. Spencer has to say about, loving, building unity and living into our aspirations in the search process.

“Called to Love,” Two Worship Services, 9:20 and 11:20

“Called to Love”, is our 2017 stewardship theme. Our Stewardship Kickoff Sunday coincides with a call out form Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism to organize a teach-in to further examine our relationships to white supremacy. Is there a spiritual connection between stewardship and white supremacy? If so, what is it? From a place of love and generosity are you ready to support our stewardship campaign? How does your love call you to engage the struggles that are bond together in the phrase “white supremacy”?  Please show up for worship and join Pastor Jacqueline, Rev. Mary Foran, Worship Associate Isabel Call and members of our Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Team, and members of our Stewardship Campaign Team as we kickoff our stewardship campaign and spiritually explore the relationships between stewardship and dismantling systems and practices of oppression. Inspirational music will be provided by Joyful Noise and Crescendo Choir.  Whoever you are, where ever you come from, you are welcome to worship with us. See you Sunday.

A Vision: Within, Among & Beyond, Worship Services, 9:20 and 11:20

A Vision: Within, Among & Beyond. As an individual, as a family; where are you going and how will you get there? As a religious community where is First Unitarian Church of Oakland going? How will we get there? In these days of hate speech, mass killings, devastating weather patterns and depressing uncertainties for more and more of humanity, beloved communities like First Unitarian Church of Oakland must have a clear and compelling vision that SPIRITUALLY GUIDES AND INSPIRES the DIVERSE WHOLE  of US and offers BRIGHT HOPE for CHANGE. Join Rinda Bartley, Jeff Leyser, Michael Schafer,& Pastor Jacqueline as we prayerfully launch and embrace our  process to co-create a new vision  statement. A vision that will guide and inspire the WE of US to live into our highest aspirations.  Inspirational music will be brought by Stefan Schneider, Geoff Ullerich and Joyful Noise. Members, friends and allies whoever you are, please join us. Together let us imagine the future and begin to discern what we can do to make a remarkable and holy difference for many.  There will be two worship services, 9:20 and 11:20. Children’s Chapel will be provided.

“Border Crossing, Personal Reflections”, Worship Services at 9:20 and 11:20.

“Border Crossing, Personal Reflections.” June of 2016 six young spiritual leaders from First Unitarian Church of Oakland participated in a Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministries Border trip to Tijuana. Please come and hear how Estelle Jefferies, Julianne Kelleher, Aria Killebrew Bruehl, Sophia Killebrew Bruehl, Lydia Macy and Wynnie Savageford were moved and changed by their experiences. … Continue reading “Border Crossing, Personal Reflections”, Worship Services at 9:20 and 11:20.

“The Deep Well of Welcome, Water Communion”, One Service ONLY at 10:20

September 10, 2017, “The Deep Well of Welcome, Water Communion”.  Members, friends, allies and guest of First Unitarian Church of Oakland welcome to the opening/ welcoming ritual of our 2017-2018 program church year.  Each program church year begins with our annual Water Communion. The ritual reminds us of our covenant to constantly be about the … Continue reading “The Deep Well of Welcome, Water Communion”, One Service ONLY at 10:20

Flower Communion

One of our most cherished and festive Sundays of the year. Bring a flower to church to help make a symbolic representation of the beautiful diversity of our congregation and the many faith-filled acts we make possible together. On this day, we also say goodbye to our choir director, Trente Morant, and bless as he goes on to what is next. Crescendo Choir will sing Psalms 131 and 133 from Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein and Dialogue by Trente Morant. One service only at 10:20. This is an intergenerational service and our children will be worshipping with us for the whole hour. Nursery care is available for children 5 and under.