Young Adult Group
2026-02-04 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-03-04 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-04-01 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Our Young Adult group is a dedicated space for those in their 20s and 30s to connect, learn together, and have fun! The group meets regularly on the first Wednesday of the month, and the third Sunday of the month. They also have a monthly social or volunteer opportunity! If you have any questions or want to join, please email group leaders Shannon (shan.herrmann@gmail.com), Ian (ian.bush96@gmail.com), or Jacob (jacobwilson858@gmail.com).

Tomato Seed Sunday
2026-02-08 12:00 - 14:00
Our local veteran farmer Angelie and resident tomato geek Mike invite you to our second annual crash course in growing your own tomatoes. This will get you ready for spring gardening, complete with sowing your own seeds to take home. Choose from Mike’s collection of over 200 varieties of tomato seeds to suit all skill levels of gardeners, even 8 inch tall micro-dwarf varieties you can grow on a window sill!

You can come blissfully unprepared 😊, we’ll have soil, cups, labels and seeds. Please donate $1 per planting to cover expenses, any extra left over will go toward the Normal Heights Community Fridge. If you don’t like getting your hands dirty, bring a pair of gloves. Also, if you want to grow a micro-dwarf indoors – you may want to bring your small pot to skip having to transplant your little friend later.

TYPES OF PLANTS
Red, orange, yellow, green, purple, striped, tie-dyed, metallic sheens, giant, saladette sized, cherry, sweet, smoky, tart, acidic – you name it, we’ve got it! We’ll have the following tomato seed varieties will be available…

Indeterminate Plants
(harder to care for)
Vines that can grow very long and require support, pruning and training of vines required (though that can be debated). Heirlooms are usually found in this category, more info on that at the below.

Determinate Plants
(less hard to care for)
Vines that grow to a determined length, but still require support.

Dwarf Plants (not necessarily dwarf fruits!)
(easier to care for)
Technically a determinate, but generally less than 5 feet tall and has a thicker trunk. Basically grows like a bush, needs minimal support and can also do well in planters. Many think dwarf tomatoes give small fruit, but they can easily grow tomatoes that are 1/2 a pound or greater!

Micro-dwarf
(easier to care for)

A dwarf tomato plant that is 2 feet tall or shorter, and can even be grown indoors. They still crave sunlight, regular watering and nutrients. Some varieties are only 8″ tall! Also, don’t expect them to give you anything larger than a cherry tomato.

“Do you have any heirlooms?”

Yes! But that might not mean what you think. Let’s clear up some misconceptions, but first remember this quick fact: tomato plants are self-fertile – they don’t need another tomato plant to pollinate them.
HEIRLOOM TOMATOES DEFINED
An heirloom tomato seed means that you can sow the seed from a fruit and the offspring will produce the same plant and fruit, and that this has been consistently done for over 50 years.
Size of fruit and size of plant aren’t a requirement for being an heirloom. However, many heirlooms are indeterminate vines (grow to an undetermined length, often 8+ feet). This is because that’s what mainly has been handed down, but that’s changed…
HYBRID TOMATOES DEFINED
Nope, these aren’t scary gene spliced seeds cooked up in a laboratory. They’re simply the specific cross-breeding between two different varieties of tomato. Think labradoodles, you know who the parents are and they came together to make something special and new. This is usually done to create a tomato that has special traits like disease resistance, desirable fruit taste or appearance, plant size or many other things.
If you had the patience, you could make your own Hybrid tomatoes by collecting pollen from one parent plant, then removing the pollen from the other parent’s self-fertile flower and adding the pollen in – boom you’ve just artificially inseminated a tomato.
Built-in copy protection: these hybrid plants will create specific fruit, but will not create specific seeds. If you plant the seeds from a hybrid fruit, it will produce random fruit and there is a very low likelihood that it will resemble its parent. You’ll see many hybrids sold at Home Depot for this reason. A company can find a great crossbreed tomato, keep the parents a secret and sell it over and over with a trademarked name. Sungold (a super sweet and delicious yellow/orange cherry tomato) and Earlygirl (a red tomato that gives fruit far earlier than most) are two popular examples.
NEW STABLE BREEDS (future heirlooms)
So say you took the extra time to take those hybrid offspring seeds and grew dozens (even hundreds) of tomato plants, then selected the offspring that most resembled its hybrid parent. Great, now do that over and over – year after year until you have a seed that can be grown and sewn forever and produce the same fruit. Yeah, that could take a while! There’s companies and hobbyists all over the world doing this right now and thanks to their work we have the most diversity in tomatoes in human history.
The Dwarf Tomato Project, for example, is an amazing collaboration between gardeners in America and Australia to crossbreed dwarf tomatoes with heirlooms and other exciting indeterminate tomatoes in half the time, because seeds would be sent between hemispheres as the other country’s spring was coming. This led to having more diversity in a compact plant that could be grown by those not rich in land. and free time, making gardening more equitable.
So heirlooms tomatoes are great, but they’ve just been around longer – that doesn’t necessarily make them better or more unique. Be sure to explore all the great varieties available!

Young Adult Group
2026-02-15 12:30 - 14:00, 2026-03-15 12:30 - 14:00, 2026-04-19 12:30 - 14:00 | Contact us for location

Ash Wednesday
2026-02-18 19:00 - 20:00
Ash Wednesday is an ancient church observance that, for centuries, has invited us to consider the inescapable reality of our mortality. It is a service that each year takes its name from the ritual where we place ashes on our foreheads and are reminded that “from dust we come and to dust we shall return.”
This year we invite you to a reflective service called “Conversations with Death,” an evening of meeting your mortality with sacred curiosity instead of fear or despair. This service will offer you tangible ways to enter that conversation, allowing mortality to be your teacher, and wondering what the reality of mortality changes for your faith today. This service is an introspective time, and we look forward to worshiping and reflecting with you.

Queer Small Group
2026-02-19 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-03-19 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-04-16 19:00 - 21:00
This care group brings together LGBTQ+ folks of all genders and journeys for twice-monthly gatherings (1st & 3rd Thurs) centered on friendship, spiritual reflection, and community care. Reach out to Cameron Byrd to learn more Cameron@CameronByrd.me

Church Cleanup Day
2026-03-07 09:00 - 12:00
Let’s have a party, a cleaning party! We’ll be gathering from 9am – noon to do some cleaning and fixing up to the front of the church. Afterward we’ll be going over to Blind Lady Ale House for some food and drinks. Some of the things we’re planning include…

Painting
Power Washing
Planting / Plant Care
Community Fridge and Pantry Cleanup
Various Handy Work

We’ll provide tools and equipment, so don’t feel like you need to prepare to volunteer – but we are always open to any resources you have to offer. Please reach out to Brent@NHUnited.org to volunteer or have any questions or comments.

Immigrant Defense Resources Sunday
2026-03-15 12:00 - 14:00
Learn tangible ways you can take action to defend immigrants in our community from those making an impact locally, in this open forum.
Our staff and other members of the congregation have been attending
City Heights Defense Committee meetings and looking for opportunities to help and collaborate with their organization. With our large social hall available to help, we’re excited to be planning with CHDC this event where we can discuss how to protect immigrants and then break into interest groups to learn more on the area you’d like to get involved.

San Diego Seals play at Pechanga Arena
2026-03-21 19:00
For March the Young Adult group is planning on attending a San Diego Seals game on Saturday March 21st. Someone in the group has a connection and we can get tickets at $18 each for groups of 10+. If anyone is interested in attending they should let one of the group members know by Monday afternoon as we plan to purchase the tickets that evening.
Key details:
March 21st, game time is 7 pm
San Diego Seals play at Pechanga Arena
Tickets at $18
Reach out to any Young Adult leader if you have questions or to RSVP by Monday afternoon…
Shannon (shan.herrmann@gmail.com)
Ian (ian.bush96@gmail.com)
Jacob (jacobwilson858@gmail.com).

Songwriter Sanctuary
2026-03-27 19:00 - 21:00
Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm
The last Friday of each month we host a concert with three local musicians that perform in our 100 year old acoustically blessed sanctuary. Each artist takes a turn performing their original song and a story to go with it, before passing the torch to the next musician. Some artists are old friends, others are meeting for the first time. With seating in the round, and musical stories about all the highs and lows of life – It’s a beautifully intimate night with all the feels.
To be candid, this is completely “secular music.” We don’t really subscribe to that terminology, and think all expressions of art are blessed and should be celebrated. Still, being hosted at a church there’s bound to be assumptions – and we want you to know there’s no clergy or even church staff involved in the selection of artists or content for the evening. All choices for the artist lineup are made by Lindsay White, a wonderful friend who isn’t a member of our church – who finds community and fellowship among local musicians. Whatever talent, stories and expression our musical guests have to share is theirs to put into the world – and that’s their sacred right. All that said… these are all ages shows, but please note that we do not censor the musicians.
We hope you come out and discover new talent and share in what many musicians have dubbed “the best sounding room in San Diego.” The suggested $10 donation at the door goes 100% to the musicians that are so vital to the culture and spirit of our city.
2026 Season Lineup remaining shows (lineups subject to change)
May 29
Tim Flannery
Jackson Wagner
Gayle Skidmore
June 26
Pride Edition – presented by Raspberry Management
The Dimes
Saint Misty
Daddy
July 31 (ASL provided!)
Disability Pride Edition
Sumn Trop
Jay Walkr
Claire King
Aug 28 – Ramona Edition! (No Show at Normal Heights!)
Nate Donnis
The Beard and The Bird
Haywire
​
September 25
Hispanic Heritage Month presented by Julia Sage
Stanton Street Duo
Nathan & Jessie
Juan Carlos Castellon
Oct 30
Samantha Franz
Ms. Connie
Deidre
Dec 4 – Holiday Extravaganza Writers Round Collab!
Isaac Cheong
Lilia Rose
KISUI
Calabio Twins
John and Eileen Schnarr
Ryan Sheker
Danielle Angeloni
Omar Musisko

Palm Sunday …and a cross is built.
2026-03-29 10:43 - 12:00

Icon Reflection & Response
2026-03-29 12:00 - 13:30
Please join us after church for a time to discuss, reflect, and collaboratively respond to our current icon prayer station.
We would love to process together the ways in which this artwork has complicated, enlivened, and/or deepened your worship and spiritual formation during this lenton season.
Bring your thoughts and questions!
The reflection and discussion will be led by Karah Lain and Heather Ross.

Holy Thursday Dinner
2026-04-02 18:30 - 20:00
Holy Thursday marks the day Jesus ate with his disciples and in so doing, asked them to keep celebrating communion as they “loved one another as they had been loved.” Holy Thursday is a night when we set aside time for a meal together, and to celebrate communion at a dinner table. You are invited to join us in the Social Hall for our meal and time of gratitude for one another.
Please sign up below to bring a dish and let us know you’re coming! If you can’t bring a dish, you are still welcome to come, the more the merrier!
If you’re bringing a dish, please make sure it can feed 4-6 people.
If you have any questions, you can email Pastor Molly at Molly@NHUnited.org.

Good Friday Service
2026-04-03 19:00 - 20:00
On the Friday evening before Easter, we invite you into a quiet, reflective worship experience in the Sanctuary as we recall Jesus’ final hours before his death. Using the last seven sayings of Jesus to guide us through the story, members of the community will reflect on them through original pieces of art, poetry, and music. The evening will follow the Tenebrae style, which means “darkening.” As the story is told through the service, the Sanctuary will gradually darken in observation of Christ’s death.

Easter Sunday Celebration
2026-04-05 10:42 - 14:00
⛪️
WORSHIP AT 10:42 AM
Join us for an absolutely joyful service as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! We’ll set the celebratory Easter mood in our Sunday service with music, prayer, preaching, and of course, dancing as we celebrate Communion while a New Orleans style brass jazz band fills up our 100 year old Sanctuary.
🎉
PARADE AT NOON
At the end of the service, the Euphoria Brass Band will lead us in an Easter celebration parade around the block that ends in the park across the street!
🎷 🍽️ 🎺
PICNIC AT 12:15 PM
Join us immediately after for a picnic in the park, right across the street from church! We’ll provide the Easter hams and drinks, and invite you to bring a side or dessert to share. All are welcome to attend (even if you don’t bring something). There will be shade canopies, tables and chairs, and a new picnic seating area so bring your blankets and beach chairs if you want! Plus, we’ll get to enjoy a continued performance with Euphoria Brass Band – dancing is sure to continue! We will also have an egg hunt for the kids!
We’re so glad you’ll be joining us for Easter Sunday!
It takes many hands to make our Easter celebration so wonderful, so we hope you’ll consider signing up for one of our many volunteer opportunities below.
We have volunteer opportunities on Saturday to help decorate the church, before or after service on Sunday, as well as to sign up to bring a dish to the potluck.
If you have any questions, you can email Pastor Molly at molly@nhunited.org. Thanks, and we look forward to celebrating the resurrection with you this Easter!

Youth Group Night
2026-04-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Normal Heights United, 4650 Mansfield Street, San Diego, CA, 92116, United States
Our SD United youth group meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 6-8 in our Social Hall. Anyone in 6-12th grade is invited to hang with this seriously awesome group of teens and leaders!
We’d love for the teens in your life to be a part of this community dedicated to seeking justice, loving God and neighbor, and having fun! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the SDUnited Executive Director Melissa Tucker, at Melissa@SDUnited.org
Check out the SDUnited website for more information.

Our People Preaching: Jazmyn Collins
2026-04-12 10:42 - 12:00
This year we are really excited about a new preaching series at Normal Heights United Church that we are affectionately calling “Our People Preaching!” This series will have 3 to 4 folks each year from our congregation giving a sermon on a Sunday and sharing with us how they see God showing up in our lives and the Scripture passage for the week.

Sack Lunch Sunday
2026-04-12 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-26 12:00 - 13:00
After service we get together in the church kitchen to prep sack lunches to fill our community fridge. All are invited to come and participate! If you can’t stay to help pack lunches, we invite you to drop off any donations before or after worship if you can. Here are a few of the items we are always in need of:

Granola Bars
Juice Boxes
Fruit
Cheese Sticks

Want more info about Sack Lunch Sunday or want to get involved? Contact Molly Rose Morgen, at MollyRose@nhunited.org

Spiritual Care Night for Activists
2026-04-17 18:30 - 20:00
To say that activism takes energy is an understatement. It takes emotional energy, physical energy, mental energy, and even spiritual energy. To stay hopeful as you work against systems that dehumanize people is a challenge. So if you’ve been feeling your energy drain as you work for your neighbor to build a better world, we’ve put together an evening for you. Come and find rest for your body, mind, and soul so that you find the energy you need to keep going. This event is open to everyone of all spiritual backgrounds, so invite your friends, colleagues, and neighbors!

Get To Know NHUnited!
2026-04-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Normal Heights United, 4650 Mansfield Street, San Diego, CA, 92116, United States
Interested in learning more about our church?
Trying to figure out how to get more involved and connected?
Please join us in the Social Hall for Get To Know NHUnited!
We’ll provide drinks and light refreshments while meeting each other, hearing from church staff, learning our core values and commitments, and sharing ways to be involved. RSVP is not required, but to help us prepare and to share any dietary restrictions, please contact Brent@NHUnited.org

Sexuality & Spirituality
2026-04-21 18:00 - 19:30
Our Sexuality & Spirituality group meets once a month in the Sanctuary to process the relationship between these two parts of our being that many of us were taught were not related. This space is for everyone, queer and straight, and each discussion group is guided by both ministers & a therapists. These are drop-in as you want, so we hope you’ll check it out!

Songwriter Sanctuary
2026-04-24 19:00 - 21:00
Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm
The last Friday of each month we host a concert with three local musicians that perform in our 100 year old acoustically blessed sanctuary. Each artist takes a turn performing their original song and a story to go with it, before passing the torch to the next musician. Some artists are old friends, others are meeting for the first time. With seating in the round, and musical stories about all the highs and lows of life – It’s a beautifully intimate night with all the feels.
To be candid, this is completely “secular music.” We don’t really subscribe to that terminology, and think all expressions of art are blessed and should be celebrated. Still, being hosted at a church there’s bound to be assumptions – and we want you to know there’s no clergy or even church staff involved in the selection of artists or content for the evening. All choices for the artist lineup are made by Lindsay White, a wonderful friend who isn’t a member of our church – who finds community and fellowship among local musicians. Whatever talent, stories and expression our musical guests have to share is theirs to put into the world – and that’s their sacred right. All that said… these are all ages shows, but please note that we do not censor the musicians.
We hope you come out and discover new talent and share in what many musicians have dubbed “the best sounding room in San Diego.” The suggested $10 donation at the door goes 100% to the musicians that are so vital to the culture and spirit of our city.
2026 Season Lineup remaining shows (lineups subject to change)
April 24
Whitney Shay & Aaron Lind
Jay Freed
Robin Henkel
May 29
Tim Flannery
Jackson Wagner
Gayle Skidmore
June 26
Pride Edition – presented by Raspberry Management
The Dimes
Saint Misty
Daddy
July 31 (ASL provided!)
Disability Pride Edition
Sumn Trop
Jay Walkr
Claire King
Aug 28 – Ramona Edition! (No Show at Normal Heights!)
Nate Donnis
The Beard and The Bird
Haywire
​
September 25
Hispanic Heritage Month presented by Julia Sage
Stanton Street Duo
Nathan & Jessie
Juan Carlos Castellon
Oct 30
Samantha Franz
Ms. Connie
Deidre
Dec 4 – Holiday Extravaganza Writers Round Collab!
Isaac Cheong
Lilia Rose
KISUI
Calabio Twins
John and Eileen Schnarr
Ryan Sheker
Danielle Angeloni
Omar Musisko

Adams Unplugged Mainstage
2026-04-25 12:00 - 23:30
It’s the neighborhood’s annual Adams Ave Unplugged Music Festival, and we’re the mainstage! You can walk up and down Adams and find lots of amazing live music – 90 Performances on 26 Stages in 1 Day from noon to midnight! The festival is FREE except for the headliner, Alejandro Escovedo, who will be performing at our church in the evening. Here’s the lineup in the sanctuary…

Bart Mendoza & David Fleminger
1:15pm – 2:30pm
FREE SHOW

Rey Wolf
3:00pm – 4:15pm
FREE SHOW

Deke Dickerson (solo)
4:45pm – 6:00pm
FREE SHOW

Alejandro Escovedo
7:00 – 8:15
TICKETS $40

See the full lineup at AdamsAvenueBusiness.com/event-info/adams-avenue-unplugged/
