President’s Blog
The regular column by Mary Lundholm, OCUUC’s current President.
Reminders
The Congregational Meeting on June 11th at 3:00 pm is very important. We will be deciding our future in terms of congregational survey, ministerial search (2012), two year interim (change from 1 year) and setting our finances for the next two years. The board needs to hear your wishes and desires so that we can lead the congregation in the right direction. Please come and let your voice be heard.
- Faith in Action Agenda Item, which may be viewed here. Mike Harmanos will speak in support of this issue. Anyone wishing to speak in opposition please be prepared to speak at the congregational meeting. For more information about the bill from a UU perspective, please visit the UU Legislative Ministry Health Care Reform website and read the fact sheet in favor of the legislation.
- vote for the Proposed Slate of Officers 2011-2012; click this link to view the list of names
- vote for Emerita Status for Karen Stoyanoff
We will offer some snacks, so if you’d like to help bring some, they would be greatly appreciated.
Plan to attend and help shape our future! Childcare available with an RSVP to Mary Lundholm (president
ocuuc
org) .
General Assembly June 22-26
Are you going to Charlotte, North Carolina? OCUUC needs a representative. Contact Mary.
Ways and Means
Looking for grant writers to work on grant applications during the next fiscal year. We would be locating grants, writing, working with Program Council and other groups (like FIA or RE or Adult Programs) to find ways to improve our programs, have outreach to the community, and become a larger liberal voice in our community. An additional outcome would be improving our bottom line by bringing in outside funding. Please volunteer to help us in this endeavor. Many hands make light work. Contact Mary Lundholm (presidentocuucorg) or Christine Hernandez for more information.
Publicity
Looking for a group of people to write press releases and to send them out to the media. Also, if anyone has access to an email list of media contacts that would be helpful to me as I want to announce several new programs and staff to the community at large. Mary Lundholm (presidentocuucorg)
Thank you Minister Party July 16 at 5:00 pm
We will be thanking Rev. Dr. Karen Stoyanoff for all her years of service. Please plan to attend this wonderful event and watch for information about it to come privately to all members and friends…The date is public, the surprise part is a secret…sshhhh…contact Mary.
Big Sunday!
ocuucorg (presidentocuucorg) to volunteer to help host. Or find a project that appeals to you at http://my.bigsunday.org/index.cfm?x_x_=1Grant Funding Available
OCUUC needs your help to apply for this grant. It requires that we include a poem about our mission, works, or service. Can you help? Deadline for the poem would be March 21st because I have to have the application in by March 28th. Please send an original poem to Mary Lundholm.
Details:
Write a Poem About Your Mission
Registered nonprofits, charities and voluntary organizations are invited to celebrate and reflect upon their work in communities around the world. Gather your staff, clients or volunteers and write a short poem about your mission. The most inspiring poem will be selected by an international panel of independent artist and producers and turned into an original song.
Grant Awards:
1st Place: $10,000 USD and an original song inspired by your mission. The song will be produced by Jim Tullio of Butcher Boy Studios and performed by recording artist Bill Dillon, recently exonerated after 27 years in jail, thanks to the Innocence Project of Florida.
2nd Place: $5,000 USD
Blogger’s Choice Award: $1,000 USD
Two First Act guitars signed by Los Lonely Boys to be auctioned by a lucky nonprofit
20 Technology Grants for nonprofits that indicate a need
Exciting Times
We are entering and exciting time at OCUUC. The search for an Interim Minister has begun. Our team is preparing the information packet for the interested ministers.
An Interim Minister is specially trained by the UUA to assist congregations through a change in settled minister. Please view the video on Interim Ministry provided by the UUA. You can access the video through the link on our website. http://ocuuc.org/ministersearch.php It documents one congregations path through this process. I found it very interesting and informative.
As president, I am wanting to hear any concerns or questions that the congregation has about this process. Please talk with me.
I would encourage all of you to attend the meeting on March 6th after second service. I will be available for questions and our VP Finance will discuss the upcoming budget needs. Most importantly, we will hear from our Ministerial Settlement Representative about the steps our congregation will go through to find a new settled minister.
I am very pleased to be helping us through these changes. I look forward to the next few years with joy and expectation of new and good things happening at OCUUC. Be the change you want to see in the world.
Wintertime
Hello All,
This is my favorite season: Fall moving to Winter. We nestle in and come closer for warmth with our family and friends.
At OCUUC, we have a number of holiday traditions. Some are newer than others. First, we have the Winter Solstice Ritual. If you can, I encourage you to come to the evening service. There is something about all the candle light glowing in the darkness. It is a beautiful and moving service.
Then, more traditionally, we have the Christmas Eve service. It starts with a cookie eating feast with spiced cider made by our own Rev. Dr. Karen Stoyanoff. Bring some cookies and enjoy the warmth of community. After that is storytime for the children, followed by a visit from a special someone in a red suit…and our visitor has a REAL white beard!
This year’s evening service will be filled with music. Come and participate in the singing and joy. During this service, the offering is to replenish the minister’s discretionary fund for the coming year. This year was challenging for many of our members. If you can at all help the minister, please bring what you can to share with those in need.
Love and Light,
Mary
Fall Goods and Services Auction
On November 13th at 5 PM, we will be having our annual Fall Goods and Services Auction. Please mark your calendars and attend. It’s not too late to donate. Contact auctionocuucorg (auctionocuucorg) to donate. The advance catalogue will be available on November 6th for you to plan your bidding.
Each fall, we build our community by raising over 11% of our operating budget through donated auction items. Why did I say ‘build our community’? Well, it’s because we have fun together-during the auction and then through the auction events purchased. Hosting or attending auction events is a good way to meet people with similar interests. In addition, you get to spend more time with them than coffee on the patio after service allows.
The auction is a really fun evening. This year’s auction will have entertainment in addition to dinner ($8 in advance, $10 at the door) and auction. As usual, childcare and activities will be provided at no cost to you.
Come one and all to this festive night of activities. Fill up your social calendar and plan your donations for the Spring Goods and Services Auction….
Oh and if you can’t attend…proxy bidders are available to get you those must have items…email me (presidentocuucorg (presidentocuucorg) ) or auctionocuucorg (auctionocuucorg)
See you there!
Love and Light,
Mary
President’s Column – September 2010
On Sunday, August 15, 2010, our Youth (Senior High RE Class) presented a vision of the church of the future. The church when they will be in charge. They did a marvelous job. The service was interactive, used videos of members of the congregation, and very inspiring.
The message was to live our principles in community, but not just the church community-with the greater society. They envision a loving and large community within our web of existence. In order to facilitate this, they rewrote our Seven Principles to be more inclusive.
The sermon was amazing because it involved the whole congregation. We divided into seven groups to discuss each of the seven principles in small groups. Then a group spokesperson presented a summary of that principle. I enjoyed the discussion and listening to all the different groups’ ideas. It’s not very often that we actually think about what we believe.
I have listed the Youth’s Seven Principles so that those of you who missed this amazing service could share in the new vision for our future:
Youth’s Seven Principles
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person
- Justice, Equality and Compassion in human relations
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our fellowships and in society at large
- A Free, respectful and honest search for truth and meaning
- The right of own moral correctness and the use of a process where everyone has a voice within our fellowship and in society at large
- The goal of the world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
Let us live out our principles all day everyday.
Love and Light,
Mary
President’s Column – August 2010
I am very happy to be taking on the role of President of Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. We are such a vibrant and active community. I want to help us share our vision of a liberal community with Orange County. Part of that vision is to increase attendance at the Sunday services.
Every member of OCUUC can help us reach these goals by making an effort to attend services and events at Orange Coast. Also, the Board is encouraging member of the congregation to form interest groups. These groups will help us build our community outside of Sunday service.
In addition, we hope to retain more of our Sunday visitors. One way that we can do that is to engage the visitors in conversation. Find out what is interesting and important to them. Help them find it at OCUUC.
I’m very excited about the finalized budget. The budget includes replacement of staff salary cuts and increased money for programs. The year can only get better as we continue fund raising and improving our programs.
2010-11 Board Goals
The Board’s Goals for 2010-11 are
- To retain Sunday visitors
- To increase attendance by 5%
- To facilitate the congregation’s choice of a social action focus for 2011-12, and
- To prepare the infrastructure of the church for ministerial transition
