Meet HEART!
At Orange Coast UU, we believe that growth is a spiritual practice. That’s why we created HEART, our Healthy Expansion And Research Team. As we step into the new chapter our sanctuary represents, HEART is helping us ask the deeper questions: What does it look like to welcome more people into our community without losing the soul of who we are? How do thriving congregations create real belonging in an age of loneliness? And what would it mean to grow…
Democracy at Work
From Your Board… We talk about democracy being an important practice within the UU church, and it certainly came into play this past week. For those of you who attended the Annual Congregational Meeting on June 14, 2026, you saw that there was some dispute about a specific $75,000 that was disbursed from the Endowment Fund to the Sanctuary Fund to help with expenses. Rather than get into all the details with the entire congregation at that meeting, we used…
July Themes and Events
This July, our Religious Exploration travelers will continue their Passport to Spirituality adventure as they explore different faiths and cultures from around the world! Through stories, games, crafts, and meaningful discussions, children will discover the beliefs, traditions, and values that make each religion unique while celebrating curiosity, respect, and our shared humanity. July Schedule July 5: JudaismJuly 12: Nepal: Spiritual Traditions & CultureJuly 19: TaoismJuly 26: Passport Review – We’ll revisit the religions we’ve explored this month through fun activities,…
The Sacred Practice of Rest
“You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect.” Tricia Hersey, Rest is Resistance. This summer, from June through August, I’ll be on a short sabbatical. A sabbatical is a type of rest. As Hersey says it’s a way “to heal, to grow, to be of…
Annual Congregational Meeting
As we come to the close of our fiscal year, it is OCUUC’s tradition to hold an Annual Congregational Meeting. At this meeting we will review key highlights of the past year, acknowledge long-standing members of the congregation, approve our operating budget for 2026-27 and elect new officers. Needless to say, this meeting is important for a smooth transition into the 2026-27 year and reflects our commitment to a democratic process. And so, I encourage everyone who is a member…
Flourishing Together
The Soul Matters Theme for June is “Flourishing Together”. Soul Matters is a monthly theme-based ministry used by many Unitarian Universalist Association congregations. We encourage you to flourish with us by participating in one of our summer music opportunities. 🎶 POP-UP CHOIR! 🎶Ever wanted to sing with the choir… without joining the choir? Now’s your chance! Here’s how it works:- Show up Sunday morning- Practice a simple song together a couple of times- Sing during the service for the congregation…
Themes and Events
This month, the Religious Exploration classes will come together to celebrate and review the 7 UU values we explored throughout the spring! Through games, discussion, and shared activities, our kids will reflect on the many ways they’ve practiced love, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, transformation, and equity in their everyday lives. We’re excited to celebrate all they’ve learned together as a community! To celebrate the hard work of our elementary and middle school classes, we will also be having a pizza…
Religious Exploration in May
As Religious Exploration classes enter the month of May, our elementary class will be learning about the UU value of Pluralism, exploring how we can honor many beliefs, perspectives, and ways of being in the world. Through stories, activities, and discussion, they will learn how our differences can help us grow stronger together. Our middle school class will be learning about the important themes of courage and empathy, and how these qualities help us lead with kindness and confidence. On…
Curiosity as a Spiritual Practice
The Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki once said, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.” The world is lonely, dogma is doing harm, and people are hungry for a place where they can bring their whole, questioning selves and be loved exactly as they are. And OCUUC offers this world such a place of healing and acceptance. The question is: how do we open the door wider without losing what makes this…
Events & Gatherings in May
Excitement is building as several important events will be occurring in May. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival Committee, led by Peggy Hepler, is pulling together all the details to create a wonderful event on Saturday, May 16th. Because we’re unable at this time to black-out the sanctuary, the movies will be shown in Daniels Hall but we’ll be hosting local organizations concerned about the environment to share information and recruit volunteers. Our purpose is to inspire activism! So be…
Congregational Singing: Sing Lustily and With a Good Courage
Many churches have hymnals, but perhaps the Methodist Hymnal is unique for including its “Directions for Singing”–a list of 7 principles regarding how to sing during worship services. Before becoming Unitarian Universalists, Susan and Steve were each members of the United Methodist Church for over 20 years, and so we appreciate that both the United Methodist church that we attended and our UU church emphasize active engagement in congregational singing as a vital part of the worship service. In the…
Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection
Sign Up For:Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection Let’s join in the UUA common read! This year’s selection is: Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection by Deepa Iyer. Iyer presents a practical workbook for individuals and organizations seeking to deepen their commitment to social justice through an “ecosystems framework” (think enneagram) that identifies ten roles in social change. Learn to identify your role and bring your best gifts as we lean into social change,…