We’d Love to Hear Your Song!
Every month, we share a bit about the music in our worship or something about our music programs. This month, we’d like to turn the microphone around. Instead of us telling you about music, we’d love for you to tell us. Tell us your favorite. Is there a hymn that makes you think, ‘Oh good, I love this one!’ when the slide comes up? A choir anthem that moved you? A song shared by a soloist, a small group, or…
November Theme: Camp RE
Hello, RE Families! November is here, and we’re excited to kick off a month of adventure with Camp RE! This month, our classroom is transforming into a camp-inspired space where children can explore important values through stories, creative projects, teamwork, and hands-on activities. November Theme: Camp RE Throughout November, our young explorers will learn about the importance of community, kindness, cooperation, and caring for one another. Our activities will include: Campfire Stories: Meaningful stories that encourage thoughtful discussions about our…
Healing
I am writing this a few days before Election day, November 3rd, and I don’t know how this election will turn out. You may be reading this relieved, heartbroken, or simply exhausted from refreshing the news to see where the votes have landed. But whatever the results, we are going to need healing. The question is what kind of healing. Does healing mean we go back to the way things were, or create something new? I understand the longing for…
It’s All About Belonging
The highlight of October was the Board’s Annual Retreat , entitled It’s All About Belonging! The Board was joined by Rev. Sian and 25 other church leaders for a 4-hour discussion on what specifically promotes the feeling of belonging and what actions each of us can take to nurture that sense of belonging in others. The list that was generated included: Personally greet new people – look for the visitor badge; ask- What brings you here?- What would you like…
Wizard School: Second Semester
The magic continues throughout October as Wizard School gets a fun twist! Our young wizards will continue their training with bubbling potions, magical creatures, mysteries, experiments, spellbinding games, and Halloween-inspired adventures. Each week will bring a new magical challenge that encourages creativity, teamwork, courage, and curiosity while continuing to explore our UU values. We’ll finish our time at Wizard School with some extra Halloween fun and celebrate everything our wizards have learned during their magical semester. Wizard School Journey Week…
Sing Out Love Beyond Our Sanctuary: An Update
Back in August, we shared our vision for an Outreach Music Ministry—a way for us to take the joy of singing beyond our sanctuary and into the wider community. We imagined gathering a group of singers and musicians to visit senior living communities, share familiar songs, and create moments of connection and joy through music. That vision is beginning to become a reality! Making Connections With Seniors Music has a remarkable way of reaching places that words alone cannot. A…
The Courage to Hope
I recently learned a new word: “hopium.” It’s internet slang, and it names the kind of hope that works like a drug. Hopium is the voice that says someone else will fix it, the next headline will make it all go away, and if we just don’t look too closely, everything will turn out fine. I’ll confess I’ve taken a hit or two myself. It feels good for a moment. But like any drug, it wears off, and it leaves…
From Your Board – October
Another busy month has come and gone – but certainly the highlight was the Ordination of Wendy Diane Karn. OCUUC had been so fortunate to have Wendy as our Intern for two years and then we had to say good-bye to her. But after completing all her seminary duties, we were so pleased to have her return so that our congregation could officially ordain her into the UU ministry. It was a joyous occasion on September 26th! I wish to…
“Give Your Age”
At each Annual Meeting in June, our congregation always votes in at least one new Steward. We have a Steward Committee of three people and each person serves for three years; currently this is Valerie Armstrong, Peggy Priver and Nancy Loughrey. Valerie has served the longest and so she is currently serving as Chair. The Stewards are not overseen by the Board or by the Minister; they are designed to be an independent group so that they can make decisions…
Welcome to Wizard School!
This September, the doors to RE Wizard School are officially opening! Our young witches and wizards will receive their magical training as they explore what it means to use their own special gifts to make the world a better place. Each Sunday will bring a new adventure filled with wand-making, magical classes, games, creative crafts, mysterious challenges, and plenty of surprises. Along the way, we’ll connect our magical adventures to our UU values, discovering that some of the strongest “magic”…
Shall We Gather At the River?
On September 13th, we will celebrate our annual Water Communion Sunday. This is a Unitarian Universalist ritual that marks the beginning of the new church year. Appropriately, this will also be the first service when the Choir will sing together for the first time since June, when we went on our summer break. During this ceremony, we will each bring water to the service, say a few words about the source of the water or what the water symbolizes, and…
Sing Out Love Beyond Our Sanctuary
Love is the spirit of this church, and service is its law. This fall, we are creating an Outreach Music Ministry—a group of singers who will visit local retirement communities, assisted living residences, and nursing homes to share the gift of music. We are looking for people who enjoy singing or playing an instrument, and would like to brighten someone’s day. Music has a remarkable way of reaching places that words alone cannot. A familiar hymn, a beloved folk song,…