This past year, Sunday Assembly chapters across the globe cultivated a vibrant secular community centered on our movement’s three core pillars: Live Better, Help Often, and Wonder More. Together, we explored the complexities of the human experience through a diverse array of guest speakers and collaborative projects, seeking practical ways to uplift ourselves and our neighbors.
To Live Better, our chapters explored ways to build emotional resilience and intentionally design fulfilling lives. Speakers delved into the nuances of mental health—specifically addressing trauma recovery and compassion fatigue—while promoting sustainable wellness through habits like sleep hygiene and digital detoxing. Creative expression remained a vital component of our growth, as chapters used mindful photography, group singing, and playful rituals to foster deep connections and find genuine joy. These reflections emerged across several common themes:
🧠 Mental Health & Resilience (Trauma recovery, men’s health, sobriety)
🧘 Mindfulness & Transformation (Meditation, photography, annual reflection)
🤝 Relationship & Connection (Conflict resolution, deep conversations, cohousing)
🏳️🌈 Identity & Inclusion (LGBTQ+ dignity, fatherhood, disability pride)
🎲 Play & Creativity (Board games, clowning, “Wuthering Heights” dance)
🌱 Life Transitions (End-of-life care, grief, celebrating milestones)
In our commitment to Help Often, we translated our shared values into tangible social and environmental impact. Service initiatives at our chapters ranged from immediate local aid, such as disaster relief for wildfire victims, to advocacy for systemic justice, including trans solidarity and reproductive healthcare access. Chapters embraced environmental stewardship through Assemblies on native gardening and tree equity, and we defended our community hubs by fighting censorship. Through these varied actions, we worked to leave a lasting legacy of compassion in our local areas. Our collective efforts were seen in these key service categories:
🐝 Environmental Stewardship (Bee conservation, climate resilience, native gardening)
🏠 Poverty & Essential Needs (Food security, disaster relief, housing support)
⚖️ Justice & Advocacy (Trans solidarity, fair pay, resisting systemic power)
🎓 Education & Mentorship (Youth mentoring, tuition support, literacy)
🚒 Community Safety (Home fire safety, mobile crisis teams)
📚 Anti-Censorship (Library advocacy, reading banned books)
To Wonder More, our chapters ignited collective curiosity by bridging the gap between scientific inquiry and cultural storytelling. We explored the frontiers of technology through deep dives into AI ethics and space exploration, while grounding ourselves in the natural world through the study of mycology and the biology of aging. History and social sciences provided context for our modern world, with talks on Chicano art and the evolution of myths. This pillar encouraged us to embrace a critical yet awe-filled perspective on everything from the “dark universe” to the intricate heritage of traditional embroidery. Our chapters expanded horizons by exploring these diverse fields:
🚀 Science & Technology (AI ethics, space exploration, biology of aging)
🍄 The Natural World (Mycology, bee intelligence, bird family structures)
🏛️ History & Heritage (Civil rights history, Chicano art, Palestinian embroidery)
🔍 Psychology & Belief (Memory fragility, anomalistic psychology, logic)
📖 Culture & Storytelling (Modern myths, folk songs, history of carols)
🗳️ Social Systems (Ranked choice voting, ancient equality, judicial philosophy)
Our journey through 2025 has shown us that while the world’s challenges are significant, our capacity for connection and action is even greater. The story of Sunday Assembly is written by those who show up. Whether you’re looking to find your tribe in our Live Better circles, lend a hand in our next Help Often project, or simply sit in awe of the universe during a Wonder More talk, there is a place for you here. We invite you to step into 2026 with us: bring your curiosity, your compassion, and your unique voice. Let’s continue to build a community that celebrates life in all its complexity and works to leave the world a little better than we found it.
More information on the Sunday Assembly movement, where we are so far, how to start your own assembly and more at http://sundayassembly.org.
Big thanks to Crista Alvey (SA Silicon Valley) for collating all this information from around the world and making the graphics!
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