Introducing Our Membership Executive Team
At Orange Coast UU, we believe belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It’s practiced and sustained by everyone. But we also need to have clear pathways for people to integrate into the life of the congregation. That’s why we’ve created the Membership Executive Team, or MET, a group of staff and lay leaders working together to make sure that every person who walks through our doors, whether for the first time or the fiftieth, has a clear and warm pathway into…
August Themes for Religious Exploration
This month, our students will continue their exciting Passport to Spirituality journey as they explore different religions and cultures from around the world. Through engaging lessons, discussions, stories, and hands-on activities, students will learn about the beliefs, traditions, and values of diverse communities while developing respect and appreciation for people of all backgrounds. August 9 – China: TaoismStudents will “travel” to China to learn about Taoism, a philosophy and religion that teaches the importance of living in harmony with nature,…
From Your Board
OCUUC is a member of the larger Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA); the national offices are in Boston, Massachusetts. Each year the UUA organizes a gathering of all UUs and this annual gathering is called General Assembly (GA) where participants gather to worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy decisions for the Association through a democratic process. This year’s theme was Meet the Moment, emphasizing our commitment to build a more flexible UUA and stronger engagement with youth. Valerie Armstrong, Peggy…
Summertime, Rest, Peace, and Other Musical Musings
Rest is not a reward for being productive – it is an essential part of being human. Rest can serve as a form of survival. Summer is a great time to rest! Summer often encourages us to slow down, so slow down you move too fast… Wendell Berry’s poem “The Peace of Wild Things” encourages us to take our spiritual renewal outside into nature. Take a moment to enjoy this musical composition by Joan Szymko. Then go for a walk!…
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…