Sian's Shenanigans (Page 9)
Reverend Sian Wiltshire, Minister
By all means reach out and say hello! I can be reached by email, revsian@ocuuc.org, or by church phone at (714) 556-2882 (x302). Mondays are my day off, but I’m generally at the church during normal business hours T-Th and happy to meet with people at a time that is convenient to both of us during other times of the week.
~Rev. Sian
Sian’s Shenanigans
Evil. *shudder* I don’t like to talk about evil, our worship theme this month. I prefer to talk about hope, love, compassion, or justice. I prefer to see the best in people – their inner beauty, their capacity for love, their “best self.” In fact, I pride myself on being able to do just that. I live with a pretty Pollyanna view of the world and that gets me through the tough days. But it also can keep me blind…
The Care and Feeding of your Staff
It may come as a surprise to you that your minister is not “staff.” Well, not technically. I’m “called” by the congregation (voted in). Today I want to talk to you about your true staff – the ones who were hired by you all. They are fabulous! I can’t tell you how many complaints I get from other ministers about their staff. Ours rock. But while I may be their supervisor, you, in fact, are their employer. Not you, specifically,…
Getting Cozy
It’s getting awfully cozy in our sanctuary! Now that we are at one service, here are some tips that will help everyone get a good seat: Get there early. This last Sunday I noticed we were about 1/3 full 15 minutes prior to the service! People are there to see friends and to get a good seat. Come on down! Reserve the back seats against the wall for those with strollers, walkers, etc. But don’t block the aisles! We need…
Summer Notes
Welcome to the glorious summer season! We will offer only one service on Sundays, beginning at 10:30 am. As usual, we’ll meet for coffee and conversation on the patio after the service at about 11:30am. Stay cool, and see you soon! Rev. Sian
April Notes
“To be a member means to be a host. To be a host means that you come to serve, not to be served. In other words, you take off the bib and put on an apron.” – Michael Piazza, Director, Center for Church Renewal Each one of us is a host on Sunday morning. We are here to invite people into the life of the church. You know all the ins and outs, how to get what you need from…
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…
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…
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…
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…