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…
Importance of Heroes
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. George Washington Carver, 1864–1943 As a girl, I had access to a small library at my parochial school. One of my favorite books was a biography of George Washington Carver. Professor Carver was an African American who was born into…
Rev. Sian on Sabbatical
The Committee on Ministry and the Board of Trustees reminds the congregation that Rev. Sian began her sabbatical on June 30th. Originally scheduled to start May 30, this sabbatical provides Rev. Sian time for reflection, renewal and recharging, all of which is much needed after the incredible effort shepherdessing our Beloved community into the virtual world that we now inhabit. As was the case when Rev. Sian took a sabbatical in the summer of 2017, we have a plan for…
RE Summer Program
Chalice Camp: Identity, Race and Justice is going great! Thank you, Maria Goode, for creating our camp lessons with an emphasis on fun and learning. Last week we made our own tee shirts, played 20 Questions, distributed prizes and expressed our own identity. We learned why that is important for ourselves and that we need to create space where others, who are different from we are, can do the same. Our inherent worth and dignity. Over the course of the…
Relationship to Singing
What is your relationship to SINGING? Over the years, I’ve run into so many people who proclaim that they just aren’t singers, or that someone suggested that they shouldn’t sing in public. Many of us have shut down our voices, quite literally. It’s really unfortunate that in our culture, only “great” singers get to participate in singing. Before recorded music was invented, everyone sang—with their families, at special celebrations, and at worship. I’m sure not everyone was a “great” singer,…
A Busy Summer
Jennifer Abt has been the editor of this publication for many years. Effective this edition, Jennifer turned over the editor position to Linda Clough. Jennifer did an outstanding job as the REACH editor on top of her many duties as bookkeeper for OCUUC. We at OCUUC are all grateful to Jennifer for her generous gifts of time and talent. A big thank you also to Linda for volunteering to be the new editor. I hope you are all doing well…
Chalice Camp: Identity and Justice
I’m excited to share news of our 2020 RE Summer Program, Chalice Camp: Identity and Justice. So relevant for our time, we will talk about integrity and courage. Our Sunday morning camp will cover self-identity, difference, the historical and recent background of racism and resistance movements that fought and continue to work to dismantle oppression. What would camp be without arts and crafts? Decorate your own tee shirt, assemble your own identity mosaic, make your own Femo beads and embellish…
Music in the Zoom Era
Zooming our worship services has definitely been a challenge, but there are some really positive things that have benefited the Music Ministries because of the need to Zoom. Several of us have learned (or refined our use of) audio and video editing software. The only way to create ensemble music right now is to compile individual videos together, because Internet latency is too long and too inconsistent to be able to sing or play together live, even (or actually, especially)…
Beginning of a New Term
Here we are already in July and beginning our new fiscal church year. We are off to a great start thanks to all of you who pledged generously to our 2020/2021 operating budget demonstrating your love of our community and commitment to continuing the mission of OCUUC. July 1 marks the beginning of a new term of service for many elected positions including the Board of Trustees, Nominators, and Stewards. We are welcoming four new members to the Board this…