Giving and Gratitude
They say December is a season for giving and gratitude. Here at OCUUC, supporting others is a year-round commitment. In November, we raised $1,700 through our plate share for Second Harvest—an amount notably larger than usual, benefiting a deserving organization at a time when the demand for their services is rising. Earlier in the fall, we took part in Stand with Costa Mesa Families to gather food for families affected by ICE. We followed up in December by once again…
May this New Year…
May this New Year offer a fresh start every day. May this new cycle of time bring you Peace.May your needs be met.May you find comfort wherever you are.May you never hunger. May this new year allow fresh starts.May your vision refresh as you evaluate yourself.May you hear anew the lessons placed in front of you.May your thoughts be fresh with new perspective as you move through the world. May each sunrise bring wonder and possibility.May each nightfall bring the…
January RE Programs
The OCUUC Religious Education Program invites you to join us for our upcoming events for the month of January! The RE classes will be welcoming in the new year on January 4th as the elementary and middle school class will combine together to get their creativity on! There will be loads of supplies for the children to create their own Picasso self portrait! This will be a fun time to let our creativity run wild! Snacks and group games will…
Choosing Hope
Hope has always been a difficult to explain. But I think Victoria Safford has it right: The Gates of Hope by Victoria Safford Our mission is to plant ourselves at the gates of Hope—Not the prudent gates of Optimism,Which are somewhat narrower.Not the stalwart, boring gates of Common Sense;Nor the strident gates of Self-Righteousness,Which creak on shrill and angry hinges(People cannot hear us there; they cannot pass through)Nor the cheerful, flimsy garden gate of“Everything is gonna’ be all right.”But a…
Music Ministry Opportunities
Greetings from Steve Morihiro and Susan Shaw, Co-Directors of Music at OCUUC. We thought you might be interested in how we choose new music for our services to recommend to Reverend Sian Wiltshire and our Intern Minister, Kellie Kinsman. Here is our general process:We look through the new songs in the virtual hymnal “Sing Out Love”. Some of these “New” songs have been in our “Singing the Living Tradition” and “Singing the Journey” hymnals but they are new to us.…
Religious Education in Dec
Hello Friends, The OCUUC Religious Education Program invites you to join us for our upcoming events for the month of December! If you are interested in sharing your talents with the RE classes such as creating a class art project, game ideas, or would like to volunteer in the middle school or elementary classes as an assistant teacher, please see Danielle on how you can help! December 21 the RE classes will be combining together to have a holiday party…
You are Loved
To anyone who struggles through the winter, for whatever reason, remember: You are seenYou are heardYou are importantYou matterYOU ARE LOVED And, You are not alone. In the dark and impossible moments, hours, days, lean into self-care when it feels like that’s all you’ve got. Honor the difficult feelings as you experience them. Acknowledge what hurts in you. Grieve. Rest. Meditate. Laugh. Hold your Self close. Nourish your body and your spirit. Love your sadness and your joy. Speak your…
Gratitude for All of You
Thanksgiving has come and gone leaving me with a great sense of gratitude for all of you who work to support the church in some way. Certainly, I applaud each of our Board Members as they slough through the administrative work of OCUUC – not very glamorous but definitely necessary. And there are all the committee heads and the programs chairs and the ushers and the RE teachers and all of you who chose to participate in the Auction and…
Season of Gratitude
The worship theme for the month of November is Nurturing Gratitude. For me, November is the beginning of a season of change. The weather changes, the value of the morning light is dim, and the days are short. I appreciate these natural changes as a chance to slow and manage my needs. I appreciate the quiet gathering around me. November changes are personal too – mostly managing how to show up for Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays, and all the…
Music of Community
“There are numerous strings in your lute,Let me add my own among them.” –Rabindranath Tagore Refrain from “There Are Numerous Strings” hymn Each of us has a note to offer–and together, we make the music of community. At OCUUC, you’re invited to find your string and play along! Drummers and Strummers – Feel the beat and strum your spirit! A joyful, informal group for percussionists, guitarists, ukulelists, and rhythm makers of all kinds. We read through several pieces of music…
Religious Education Events
As we enter the cool fall season, here are some upcoming events in the Religious Education (RE) elementary, OWL (Our Whole Lives) class, and the Nursery! If you are interested in sharing your talents with the RE classes such as creating a class art project, game ideas, or would like to volunteer in the middle school or elementary classes as an assistant teacher, please see Danielle on how you can help!
Staff Appreciation
Unfortunately, I learned at the very end of October that the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) designated that month as Pastor Appreciation Month. I did encourage the congregation to express to Rev. Sian Wiltshire how very much she means to each of us – but I did feel that we somewhat missed the boat! But November is the month of Thanksgiving. What better time than to express our gratitude for our wonderful staff at OCUUC?? We have a fabulous Administrator/Bookkeeper, Sarah…