The President's Perspective

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…

As the Annual Congregational Meeting approaches on Sunday, June 8th, I’ve been working to complete my report which will be included in the informational booklet. This task caused me to review the past year and all the Board has accomplished – certainly not alone, but with the help of many others in the church. But I wonder how many of our members are truly aware of the Board’s work and how it impacts our community here at OCUUC? I was…

On March 26th, our Board approved a motion to suspend publication of The Reach. Although there is a small minority of members for whom The Reach remains important, we found that most people are utilizing other ways of staying connected to church activities. Also, no one stepped up to accept the role of editor for the publication. Please know that the Communication Committee is committed to enhancing our messaging and finding more effective ways to connect with all members of…

In these times of rapid change and turmoil, many of us feel unclear about what steps we can take that could make a difference. One avenue to consider would be to support the LGBTQ+ community. Our Board Treasurer, Jamie Pendarvis, is working to re-establish our LGBTQ+ Action Group. Below is her brief overview of the situation. — Kathleen McFarlin On June 26, 2015, marriage equality became reality with a landmark 5-4 decision in the Obergefell v. Hodges case at the…

Have you seen our new addition? No, I don’t mean the Sanctuary construction. I’m referring to the new plaques that are going up at Daniels Hall and the Pat Robitaille Room which acknowledge these church members who gave to the OCUUC Endowment Fund. We’ve had numerous donors to OCUUC over the years and we appreciate everyone’s generosity. In the past few weeks, the Stewards have been focusing on Legacy Giving and developed a brochure to help explain how your contribution…

One of my favorite parts of the New Year are those quick retrospectives that encapsulate all that has happened in recent months. So, in that vein, here is a brief review of all the Board has been working on: So this is a lengthy list of where we’ve been, and rest assured that Long-Range Planning will be a focus in the coming months. We’ll keep you posted as we make progress in 2025.

As I am writing this in advance of December 1st, I am anticipating my trip to the Antarctica Peninsula and Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil. My Thanksgiving Day dinner may or may not happen on a United Airlines flight returning from Buenos Aires – so not expecting any memorable Thanksgiving feast. But there will be some amazing memories (good or bad) from this adventure. And I’ll be able to say that I’ve visited all 7 continents…