The President's Perspective

Excitement is building as several important events will be occurring in May. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival Committee, led by Peggy Hepler, is pulling together all the details to create a wonderful event on Saturday, May 16th. Because we’re unable at this time to black-out the sanctuary, the movies will be shown in Daniels Hall but we’ll be hosting local organizations concerned about the environment to share information and recruit volunteers. Our purpose is to inspire activism! So be…

Spring is a very busy time at OCUUC. The Pledge Drive is going on, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival is coming up, and many groups are meeting on campus and on Zoom. As VP of Programs, I am available to help get groups started, resolve problems and help connect new members. If you want to know more about how to get involved in a group or to volunteer to help with an event, come to the new Programs table…

From Your Board… Our church calendar tells us that the coming of March means it is time for the Pledge Drive. This is a crucial time each year when it’s essential that each of our Members – and even those who attend as Friends – think about their finances and make a commitment to OCUUC for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Here are some FAQs from our VP of Finance, Jamie Pendarvis: What Is the Pledge Drive? The Pledge Drive is…

We’ve had a change in one of our leadership positions in the past month which I wanted you to be aware of; Jennifer T. needed to step down as Building & Grounds Chair and Carol R. stepped up to fill the role. So please thank Jennifer for all she did during her term; OCUUC kept her VERY busy. And, welcome Carol; she’s already jumped in with both feet and working to accomplish many tasks on our campus. Speaking of which……

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…

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…

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…

This month, we’re featuring a post from Katherine Martin, OCUUC’s VP, Programs. I invited her to share her perspective with us. Kathleen McFarlinPresident, Board of Trustees Take a look at the Church Calendar and you’ll see that OCUUC is a vibrant community, full of activities, interest groups, and events that make it an exciting place to belong. From lively book discussions to the collective artistry of Rhythm of the Soul, there truly is something for everyone. To learn more about…

After years of planning, endless hours of committees, miles of email threads and stacks of spreadsheets, we’ve made it! Our new sanctuary will be officially dedicated this coming Saturday, September 6th and our Open House worship service will be conducted on Sunday, September 7th. We’re putting all the last touches in place – Rev. Sian is crafting her message, the musicians are tuning up, the flowers are being arranged – we’re getting ready to party. So be sure to join…

Good News! We’ve been somewhat stuck in limbo waiting to get an Occupancy Permit from the City of Costa Mesa, but we’ve just been informed that the city inspector is prepared to sign off on a temporary permit because the building is completely safe and ready for occupancy. There will be further discussions between the city and the contractor about the southernmost driveway and potential drainage problems but this issue will hopefully be resolved in the coming month. So onward…

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 moving the location to differing areas within the United States. The 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, the 64th GA was held from June 18–22 as a multi-platform event, with…

This past Sunday, our congregation held its Annual Congregational Meeting – a time to vote in new Board Members, approve the 2025-26 budget and to acknowledge many of our own members and staff who have worked hard to accomplish OCUUC’s goals over the past year. Dolly Duran was recognized as a congregant who has now been a member for 25 years; although she wasn’t able to attend the meeting, we’ll make sure she receives her pin to commemorate her many…