Hope is on the Horizon
Here we are in December of 2020, a year like no other in our lifetimes. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on so many things we all used to take for granted, like family and friends gathering for the holidays and celebrating the season together at our church services. Thanks to our wonderful minister, music director, RE director, and our volunteer geek squad we can all still see each other through Zoom services and meetings. However, it sure will be nice…
Strengthening Your Mind, Body and Spirit
Did you know that there is a difference between “healing” and “curing?” Curing implies that whatever was bothering you—an ache, a pain, an illness, or a heartache—is gone. But healing is different. Healing is about not allowing the ache, pain, illness or heartache to rule your life. It’s about strengthening your mind, body and spirit when a cure isn’t possible and it allows you to live in peace, despite the issue. We’ve all seen it happen—or know stories. The person…
What Helps You Heal?
Our church-wide theme this month is Healing. I can think of no better area of life to focus on post-election in our country, in the midst of a pandemic, and continuously for our Earth. Not to mention the personal work of healing from trauma, abuse or everyday bumps and bruises. Contemplating healing in my own life, various spiritual practices like meditation and dream work have helped. I just learned with Youth Group a couple of Sundays ago that, not only…
Transgender Day of Resilience and Remembrance
OCUUC Music Ministries are preparing two big events for our community in November. Both annual events have been re-designed to work on Zoom this year. Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual event on November 20 that honors the memory of transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. This is the third year that OCUUC has observed this day with a ceremony, and the second year that we have produced it in collaboration with Resurrection Beach…
A Positive Difference
I am only oneBut still I am one.I cannot do everything,But still I can do something.And because I cannot do everything,I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. Edward Everett Hale, 1822 – 1909 This quote made me think of all the people at OCUUC who, with all of our contributions and working together, can and do make a positive difference for ourselves and community. One of the ways OCUUC made a positive difference this last…
Listen to your body, mind, and spirit
The theme in worship this October is “Deep Listening.” It’s a good thing, then, that I spent a lot of time listening to myself this last summer. I listened to what my mind needed, what my body needed, and my spirit needed. Unfortunately, what they needed is not always what they want! It’s often hard to tell the difference. And sometimes they are often in conflict. My body might need to move, but my mind wants to just sit on…
A People of Deep Listening
There is guidance for each of us, and by lowly listening we shall hear the right word. Place yourself in the middle of the stream of power and wisdom which flows into your life. Then without effort, you are impelled to truth and perfect contentment Ralph Waldo Emerson October is Deep Listening month. Let’s consider becoming, “A people of Deep Listening.” The Emerson quote is one of my favorites. Emerson was a Unitarian and leader of the Transcendentalist movement, the…
Some Interesting Connections
I would like to share some interesting connections that the Music Ministries have made through our new paradigm of recording collaborative videos remotely. First, our own Steve Morihiro and friends recorded “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Unitarian” back in June, and it now has over 3,000 YouTube views! I think it’s gone through the UU grapevine. That’s by far our church’s most widely viewed video of all time. And I have had many lovely conversations with composers.…
This is the world of light and speech
I like not only to be loved, but also to be told that I am loved. I am not sure that you are of the same mind. But the realm of silence is large enough beyond the grave. This is the world of light and speech, and I shall take leave to tell you that you are very dear. George Eliot/Mary Ann Evans Cross, 1819-1880 This quote really resonated with me. I received it as one of the First Light…
Rev. Sian Returns
Rev. Sian returns from her sabbatical this month. Her first service back in the pulpit will be September 13th. This sabbatical provided Rev. Sian with a time for reflection, renewal and recharging, all of which was much needed after the incredible effort shepherdessing our Beloved community into the virtual world that we now inhabit.
Soul Matters: Renewal
Many thanks to all our summer teachers who brought Chalice Camp: Identity, Race and Justice to our PreK-Middle schoolers. We were introduced to some difficult history, some complex concepts like racism, prejudice, discrimination and resistance. We learned that we can talk about these topics at our church and with our families. The good news is that we will have the opportunity, with our Soul Matters lessons, to reinforce what we’ve learned in the coming program year. As we transition to…
Playlist on OCUUC YouTube channel
Thank you to all the musicians, slideshow creators, Zoom MCs, editors and designers, computer technicians, and slideshow operators who have helped create meaningful music experiences in our Zoom worship these last few months. It takes a village! Did you know that we have a YouTube channel with a playlist that includes many of the videos you’ve seen at church services lately. Here’s how to access the videos: Go to YouTube.com. Then type in “OrangeCoastUU” (all one word) in YouTube’s search…