Casual Comments January 3, 2012

By OCUUC posted Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 8:32 am

January is traditionally a month when people think about change – perhaps in the form of New Year’s resolutions or perhaps because a year has “ended” and a new year has “begun.” Additionally, OCUUC, as a church and an institution, is in a time of huge transition: a long and successful ministry has ended and not so long from now a new settled ministry will begin. The time in between – the time of an interim ministry – is a time of experimentation and exploration. So it is fitting that January’s “theme of the month” be about change. I will explore this theme from a variety of perspectives in a series of three sermons this month January 15, 22 and 29. Before that, however, this Sunday, January 8, we are delighted that our speaker will be the Rev. Bets Wienecke. Rev. Bets Wienecke is the Pacific Southwest District Ministerial Settlement Representative who advises and consults with this district’s UU congregations in the southern half of California, Nevada and Arizona about the ministerial search process.

In keeping with the January theme of change, Rev. Wienecke will speak on the subject of “Holding Tight and Letting Go.” Rev. Wienecke comments: “Transitions in life offer challenges and choices: Do we cling to what we know or do we venture forth into uncharted territory?” Also, of great importance to the congregation, Rev. Wienecke, as part of her remarks, will outline the search process recommended by the UUA for securing the best minister for the next chapter in the life of Orange Coast UU Church. She will also be available to answer questions after the service.

More about Rev. Bets Wienecke: she was honored as Minister Emerita of the Live Oak UU Congregation in Goleta after serving there for eighteen years. She has served on the UU Ministers Association Executive Committee, on the Board of Trustees of Meadville/Lombard Theological School, President of the PSWD UU Ministers Association chapter, and President of the Santa Barbara Clergy Association. She was awarded the Pacific Southwest District’s Distinguished Service Award in 1988. Bets’ spouse is Peter Haslund, who taught political science at Santa Barbara City College for 41 years and is now serving as President of their Board of Trustees. They proudly share four adult children and five “above average” (of course)  grandchildren.