March Notes
Do you remember the first time you came to this church? Take a moment and think of why you came and your first impressions… Now, consider what was it about the church that made you want to come back? Jot down a few more things…. Chances are it was more than one thing. People come for different reasons – to find community, to explore spiritual questions, to get support during life transitions and tragedies, to build a better world, to…
Upcoming in Religious Education
Look for a special snack after the first service on Sunday. Our PreK-Kindergarten class will be creating something special during class time. The lesson in Chalice Children is about creating community through sharing. Look for their special offering at the tables in the courtyard. We look forward to a good time hosted by our youngest RE class! After discussing the nature of Love last week, our OCUUC youth will be looking at Truth and Lies using a middle eastern folk…
The Turning of the Wheel
In the turning of the Pagan Wheel of the Year, we have just passed Imbolc, where winter makes way for springtime. At this time many Pagans will set their intentions for the coming year, stating what they would like to create in their lives. What would you like to see manifest in the coming year for yourself? for your family? for our Religious Education and larger OCUUC community? I would love to see every family introduce one new family to…
A New Year at OCUUC
There are times in our lives when we are forced to step out of the day-to-day. Some of these events can be joyful, some can be more challenging. It is with great joy that I return from a leave of absence to OCUUC after a challenging absence. Some new ideas have been percolating with me during my time off, and I can see that the congregation has been busy putting together all kinds of programs this year. Our church is…
January Notes
Welcome to the New Year! 2015 is shaping up to be an interesting one. And by “interesting,” I mean I have no idea what is in store. The field is wide open! You can make of this year what you want of it. It’s also that time of resolutions – to make a positive change in your life. Yet, as the popular theory goes, most people give up on their resolutions before the month is out. So here’s a thought.…
December Notes
Minister’s Discretionary Fund Have you ever found yourself in a stressful financial situation? Most people have at some point in their life. Yet many people are not aware that the minister has a “Ministerial Discretionary Fund.” These funds are collected from the offertory on Christmas Eve (sometimes more often if funds run out). These funds are used to help those in need, usually, but not always, people right here in the congregation. People who need a little extra help with medical bills…
Acting Director of Religious Education
Karen Magoon Pearson will serve as Acting Director of Religious Education (DRE), while Rayna Hamre, our current DRE, takes a sabbatical.
September Notes
What a difference a year can make! This last year has been a whirlwind for me. I moved across country and began as your minister last August. I’ve been learning to adapt to everything from the weather to the drivers here in southern California. The former being so much easier than the latter! And we’ve been getting to know one another. From meals to classes to Sunday morning, each of you is now more than a beautiful face I recognize,…
August notes
To transform our lives and communities by living our Principles. We have a new mission statement! At our June annual meeting, the congregation approved a new Mission Statement as shown above. It may seem kind of awkward to see it at first glance – after all, what does it mean? How do we do this? What communities? What part of our lives? Great questions! The Worship Committee and I are going to be exploring those questions all year…
We Are Blessed
This summer I am having a different kind of experience than any previous summer trip or vacation. I am working as a chaplain intern at one of our local hospitals. My respect for our health care professionals has been expanded beyond bounds. Day and night, we have people trained and on-duty in our hospitals to take care of our bodies when illness or accident strike. Chaplains and Spiritual Care volunteers tend to our deeper selves during these times of duress.…
June notes
Summer is here! Here at church, it’s going to be a wonderful summer. We are continuing two services to keep momentum going and although the choir is taking a break, we’ve got planned some wonderful musicians and music for you! Summer is a fun time to experiment with worship and try new ideas. For example, Rayna, our Director of Religious Education, is going to be hosting Dr. Who classes for our youth and any adults who would like to join…
May Notes
Our worship theme this month is Transcendence. It’s not a very easy word to define. Yet, we all have felt it: Sometimes it’s felt as a sense of awe or wonder – like when you are in the Grand Canyon or looking at the night sky; or when we feel a deep sense of gratitude for all those around us and feel a sense of deep connection; and other times it comes when we use our imagination to transport us…