Unity Palo Alto

The Game of Life (Online Class)
2026-05-19 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-26 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-02 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | On Zoom
Florence Scovel Shinn wrote “The Game of Life and How to Play It” nearly 100 years ago, but her teachings on spiritual law, the power of our words, and trusting the divine are just as relevant today. This 6-week online class takes those ideas and brings them into the present with modern, practical tools you can use in your everyday life.
Each week, we’ll explore a different theme from the book, including how your thoughts and words shape your experience, how to work with spiritual law around money, relationships, and purpose, and how to trust your intuition more fully. You’ll walk away each week with affirmations, journaling prompts, and simple practices you can put to work right away.
This class is a good fit if you’ve been feeling stuck, scattered, or like something just isn’t flowing the way you’d like. It’s also great for anyone who is simply ready to live with more faith, clarity, and ease.
Classes meet Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on Zoom, starting May 19th. Attendance is free, and donations are warmly welcomed. Please bring a copy of the book, a pen, and a journal or notebook.
Download a PDF of the Book (Public Domain)

Tuesday Night Kundalini Yoga
2026-05-19 19:00 - 20:15, 2026-05-26 19:00 - 20:15, 2026-06-02 19:00 - 20:15, 2026-06-09 19:00 - 20:15 | At the UPA Fireside Room, Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, United States

A Course in Miracles Weekly Zoom
2026-05-20 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-05-27 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-06-03 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-06-10 18:00 - 19:30 | On Zoom

Sacred Silence Meditation
2026-05-21 19:15 - 20:00, 2026-05-28 19:15 - 20:00 | At the UPA Fireside Room & on Zoom
Sacred Silence Meditation is a drop-in gathering that offers a gentle, intentional pause at the end of your week.
Join Dr. Holly Hopkins Shah on Thursdays to go into the silence. The 30-minute meditation begins at 7:30 pm (following 15 minutes of connection time at 7:15) and will include 20 minutes of silence. Open to anyone who wants to set down the noise of the week and rest in stillness for a while. Perfect for anyone who feels the pull toward the quiet or is curious about silent meditation vs. guided.
What to expect
– The evening begins with a few minutes of connection to help you release the busyness you carried in.
– From there, a brief reading rooted in universal spiritual principles settles the room before the group enters into shared silence together.
– This is not a guided meditation with prompts or instructions. The silence is open and spacious, giving you room to simply be present and allow your own awareness to deepen.
– The gathering closes with an affirmative prayer that brings a sense of grounded peace to carry with you into the rest of your evening.
If you have been feeling scattered, overstimulated, or disconnected from yourself, this is a space designed with you in mind!
Weekly on Thursdays
Time: 7:15 PM to 8:00 PM – connection time @7:15pm, meditation begins promptly at 7:30pm
With: Dr. Holly Hopkins Shah
Location: Unity Palo Alto (in person and online via Zoom)
Address: 3391 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: 650.849.1100
Email: connecting@unitypaloalto.org
Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85399362903?pwd=[REDACTED]
This event is open to everyone. No registration required. A suggested donation of $5-10 is warmly appreciated. Simply show up, in person or online, and bring yourself exactly as you are.

Sunday Morning Meditation
2026-05-24 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-05-31 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-06-07 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-06-14 09:00 - 09:30 | At the UPA Learning Center & on Zoom, Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, United States
Begin your week centered, focused, and empowered at our Sunday Morning Meditation.
Join us Sunday Morning in the Fireside Room or Register for the Zoom. Our meditation leaders alternate between Moj Rasmi and Sue Skalina, and Rev. John on the 4th Sunday of the month.

Song & Sound Meditation (12pm)
2026-05-26 12:00 - 12:30, 2026-06-02 12:00 - 12:30, 2026-06-09 12:00 - 12:30 | At the UPA Fireside Room & on Zoom
There’s a reason a song can change your whole mood in 30 seconds. In this 30-minute Song & Sound Meditation, we lean all the way into that.
Margo LeDuc will guide the room through a set of communal chants, where the vibrations of voice and sound work together to reduce stress, ease anxiety, and settle you into a real sense of peace and balance. The outside world falls away, and for 30 minutes you just bathe in the healing power of collective sound. The kind of reset that only sound can give you.
In the Unity Palo Alto Fireside Room and on Zoom
Zoom:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Q2r7Lt7WRsy3L-PmrDWPgw
Cost: Love offering, suggested $10

Song & Sound Meditation (7pm)
2026-05-26 19:00 - 19:30, 2026-06-02 19:00 - 19:30, 2026-06-09 19:00 - 19:30 | At the UPA Sanctuary & on Zoom
There’s a reason a song can change your whole mood in 30 seconds. In this 30-minute Song & Sound Meditation, we lean all the way into that.
Margo LeDuc will guide the room through a set of communal chants, where the vibrations of voice and sound work together to reduce stress, ease anxiety, and settle you into a real sense of peace and balance. The outside world falls away, and for 45 minutes you just bathe in the healing power of collective sound. The kind of reset that only sound can give you.
In the Unity Palo Alto Sanctuary and on Zoom
Cost: love offering, suggested $10
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Q2r7Lt7WRsy3L-PmrDWPgw

Lunch With Friends
2026-05-31 11:15 - 12:30 | At the UPA Courtyard, Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, United States
You are invited to lunch! Celebrate our spiritual community. Whether a long-time member or a first-time visitor, you are welcome as we celebrate our spiritual community. Chef Paul Wcislo is dreaming up a delicious menu! Love offerings will go to support our Center.
Cost: Free
Please RSVP below to help us plan how much food we need!
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The Singing Collective
2026-06-03 19:00 - 20:00 | At the UPA Fireside Room, Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, United States
The Singing Collective is a new monthly event for anyone who has ever belted out a song in the car, jumped in when the chorus hits at a concert, or gone all in at a wedding (or UPA) when “We Are Family” comes on.
This is an hour of collective singing as a group to songs you already know, and some you don’t! Think road trip playlist, group karaoke, family party.
Our goal – a feel-good night where change our own vibration and the vibration of the world through song. And who doesn’t need that on a Wednesday night!
Margo LeDuc, pro singer and vocal coach, leads the room and shares a few easy vocal tips along the way, so you’ll also leave feeling more confident in your singing!
All music will be family-friendly, so bring the whole crew!
If you want to keep the vibe going, join us for karaoke the following Friday.
Sign up to let us know you’re coming, or just show up!

Sacred Silence Meditation
2026-06-04 19:30 - 20:00, 2026-06-11 19:30 - 20:00 | At the UPA Learning Center & on Zoom, Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, United States
Sacred Silence Meditation is a drop-in gathering that offers a gentle, intentional pause at the end of your week.
Join Dr. Holly Hopkins Shah on Thursdays to go into the silence. The 30-minute meditation begins at 7:30 pm (following 15 minutes of connection time at 7:15) and will include 20 minutes of silence. Open to anyone who wants to set down the noise of the week and rest in stillness for a while. Perfect for anyone who feels the pull toward the quiet or is curious about silent meditation vs. guided.
What to expect
– The evening begins with a few minutes of connection to help you release the busyness you carried in.
– From there, a brief reading rooted in universal spiritual principles settles the room before the group enters into shared silence together.
– This is not a guided meditation with prompts or instructions. The silence is open and spacious, giving you room to simply be present and allow your own awareness to deepen.
– The gathering closes with an affirmative prayer that brings a sense of grounded peace to carry with you into the rest of your evening.
If you have been feeling scattered, overstimulated, or disconnected from yourself, this is a space designed with you in mind!
Weekly on Thursdays
Time: 7:30 PM to 8:00 PM – feel free to arrive a little early for some connection time, meditation begins promptly at 7:30pm
With: Dr. Holly Hopkins Shah
Location: Unity Palo Alto (in person and online via Zoom)
Address: 3391 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: 650.849.1100
Email: connecting@unitypaloalto.org
Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85399362903?pwd=[REDACTED]
This event is open to everyone. No registration required. A suggested donation of $5-10 is warmly appreciated. Simply show up, in person or online, and bring yourself exactly as you are.

June Women's Group Hike
2026-06-13 10:30 - 13:00
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains: Mother Tree & Turtle Rocks
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 10:30am – 1pm
Screenshot
In June, we are heading to “Turtle Rocks” and the “Mother Tree” on Long Ridge Trail in Midpeninsula Regional Open Space in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This easy, short trail has views to the ocean and beautiful, lush forest, with option for a longer hike or, no hike at all!
About the Hike

The hike is 0 or 2 or 4 miles
This trail is a short way from Frances Mann-Craik’s house – so we’ll meet up at her house and proceed to the trail head (or just stay at the house and sit in the sunshine!)
Easy, flowing hills
Sorry, No dogs allowed
Restrooms at Frances’ house
Men are welcome on the hike as guests of women’s group participants

What to Bring

Water
Around 50% of the hike is in the shade. As always, it is good to have a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, bug spray. It can be a bit windy, so pick a hat that will not blow off.
Lunch — Bring your lunch and after the hike we’ll sit on the deck and enjoy each other’s company.

Meeting Location

Meet at UPA at 9:45AM to self-create car pools.
Put the address – 11885 Skyline Blvd., Los Gatos, CA – into your Maps program before you leave – there is often no cell coverage here.
10:30 AM meet at Frances’ House (We will park at Frances’ house and carpool just 1/3 mile to the trail head.)
If you are interested in carpooling, you can mark that on the form.

Screenshot
Driving Directions
From Woodside and North / Highway 84:

Take Highway 84 (La Honda Road) West from Woodside.
At the TOP of the mountain, at Sky Londa, turn left (South) onto Skyline Blvd (Highway 35).
Drive South for about 11.8 miles – you’ll come around a corner with a big rock and lots of arrows, then a straight away. Go past the big rock. You’ll see signs for Jikoji Zen Center on the right. Our driveway is on the left, just before the Jikoji road. It has double white mailboxes. Take the driveway, then go left at the “Y” and park anywhere.

From Palo Alto – via Page Mill Road (OR Highway 9 – see below):

Start: Head west on Page Mill Road and drive to the top of the mountain.
At the top of the mountain there’s a stop sign. Turn left (South) onto Skyline Blvd (Highway 35).
Drive South for about 4.5 miles – you’ll come around a corner with a big rock and lots of arrows, then a straight away. Go past the big rock. You’ll see signs for Jikoji Zen Center on the right. Our driveway is on the left, just before the Jikoji road. It has double white mailboxes. Take the driveway, then go left at the “Y” and park anywhere.

From Palo Alto and South – via Highway 9 from Highway 85:

Start: Take Highway 85 to Saratoga Avenue and Head West (or South) on Highway 9 (Big Basin Way) – STAY ON THIS ROAD and go to the very top of the mountain to the four way stop at Skyline Blvd (Highway 35).
Turn right (North) onto Skyline Blvd (Highway 35).
Drive North for about 1.9 miles – there’s a straight away and you’ll see signs for Jikoji Zen Center on the left. Our driveway is hidden, it’s on the right with double mail boxes. Take the driveway, then go left at the “Y” and park anywhere.
Park at the Y in the driveway by the big white truck, or alongside the driveway (no one will tow you!)

Questions: Contact Frances: manncraik@gmail.com or 408-499-9098

Sing-a-Long Sunday
2026-06-14 11:00 - 12:00 | At the UPA Courtyard, Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, United States
Join your Spiritual songbirds in the Courtyard (or Fireside Room, depending on the weather) after the service for a community sing-a-long feature of your favorite Unity or folk song.
