June will be a very busy month at the UU Church of Ventura.
Lo many years ago, many Unitarian and Universalist churches would actually close down for the summer. UU Ventura has always been a ‘year-round’ church, yet every church year has its rhythms.
Summer does tend to be a slower time for many programs and positions in our community, even as others – like our Finance Folks and Administrator – are even harder at work. Given that one fiscal year ends on June 30, and the next begins July 1, there is a flurry of financial accounting (mostly done quietly in the background).
Our theme for June is Celebrating Blessing, of which there will be many throughout the month. So, hold onto your hat, here are the blessings that June will bring, in chronological order.
June 5
Our service this Sunday – Blooming and Growing and Blooming Some More – will include our Flower Communion, a Baby Dedication, and our Bridging Ceremony as we send off our graduating seniors to the next phase of their lives, complete with singing Joni Mitchell’s Circle Game. Following the service will be our annual All Church Picnic at Arroyo Verde Park.
What to Bring
For Flower Communion bring a flower (or two or three) for the ritual. Expect to take with you the gift of a flower brought by someone else.
For the Picnic bring something to grill and grilling utensils, a dish to share, and your own re-useable plates and such. Provided for everyone will be a grill fired up, drinks, and condiments.
June 12
Our service will be about Counting Blessings, which is something our human selves need to actively practice given that our inherited wiring tends to have us scanning the horizon for all that could go wrong. After the service we will hold our Annual Church Meeting, in which the members of the church will vote on the budget and next year’s incoming officers.
What to Bring
For the service, bring your wounded, brave, and/or joyful heart.
For the annual meeting, bring an open mind and heart, and willingness to engage in participatory democracy.
June 19
The service will be celebrating Juneteenth, our most recently designated federal holiday, which recognizes the day that the last enslaved people in the United States learned that they were free. This is a particularly full time as it is also Pride Weekend and Father’s Day.
What to Bring
An open mind and heart, willing to learn and grow.
June 26 – Join thousands of fellow UUs in worship beginning at 9:30 am!!
For the service, we’ll be joining the live stream of the service from General Assembly in Portland – The Deal on Those Days lead by Rev. Gretchen Haley, Rev. Shari Halliday-Quan, Rev. Sean Neil-Barron, Lea Morris, Adam Podd, Joseph and Aimee Santos-Lyons, and Allison King with the GA Choir.
This promises to be a stirring service about the future of this faith. For more detail on the service, see this link: June 19: GA Worship
PLEASE NOTE: This service will be live-streamed beginning at 9:30 am!!!
Church will host a watch party or you can join in from home. With any luck you might be able to see Carolyn Bjerke, Fidelity Ballmer, Cindy Piester, or me (our UUCV contingent at GA) when the camera pans across the GA congregation.
DON’T FORGET: This service will be live-streamed beginning at 9:30 am!!!
Whew! How’s that for a month of Blessings?
With love,
Rev. Dana
Did I mention that worship for June 26 begins at 9:30!!
