The President's Perspective

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 and this 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’s theme was Meet the Moment, emphasizing our commitment to build a more flexible UUA and stronger engagement with youth. Valerie Armstrong, Peggy…

From Your Board… We talk about democracy being an important practice within the UU church, and it certainly came into play this past week. For those of you who attended the Annual Congregational Meeting on June 14, 2026, you saw that there was some dispute about a specific $75,000 that was disbursed from the Endowment Fund to the Sanctuary Fund to help with expenses. Rather than get into all the details with the entire congregation at that meeting, we used…

As we come to the close of our fiscal year, it is OCUUC’s tradition to hold an Annual Congregational Meeting. At this meeting we will review key highlights of the past year, acknowledge long-standing members of the congregation, approve our operating budget for 2026-27 and elect new officers. Needless to say, this meeting is important for a smooth transition into the 2026-27 year and reflects our commitment to a democratic process. And so, I encourage everyone who is a member…

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…