by Admin | Feb 27, 2018 | Minister
We Are Building a New Way is our theme for our stewardship campaign for 2018-2019 is based on the hymn from Singing the Journey.
We are entering a critical time in the financial life of the church. By several measures, UUCV is the most financially stable church I have ever been a part of. Experts recommend that churches carry operating reserves of two months of expenses. UUCV is the first church I’ve ever seen that actually has that (and a little bit more). In addition we have even more in other reserve funds, most of it in the Legacy Fund. There is a rub, of course. Most of that money – particularly the Legacy Fund – is not intended for operating expenses.
For several years now this church has been living boldly, “staffing for growth.” Which means we have staffing levels to serve a larger church in order keep our doors open to all who seek a new way. We have been able to do this – while also calling a new minister – in large part due to generous members who contributed to a 3-year bridge fund which comes to something over $40,000 a year. We’re halfway through the bridge. We have one more fiscal year – 2018-2019 – before those funds go away.
And now the growth we have been staffing for is actually happening – and then some. The number of children and youth in our RE program has more than doubled. Our adult membership is growing between 15 and 20 percent. Wow. Just wow. The vision created over the last 5-10 years is coming to fruition.
A new life and energy is nearly palpable throughout the church, and the good news is that it is manifesting in a growth in giving – of every kind. We’re on our way to being able to “cover” the bridge pledges.
Our new challenge is that this growth may already be outstripping our staffing capacities. Don’t you wish life would just happening in a straight predictable line?
All this makes the next two years critical.
We have a fabulous staff who want to do even more to help UUCV come alive. We have a chance to grow in depth, in vision, in transforming lives and in transforming the community we serve.
As it should be, our reach still exceeds our grasp.
Our financial resources are one of many ways we are generous. This is an abundant community. We have so much to share. Now is the time, if you are able, to increase your annual pledge.
There is so much more that we can bring into the world. So many new things to build in our hearts and beyond.
With love and gratitude,
Rev. Dana
by Admin | Feb 27, 2018 | Justice Actions
The Beginning of Making Plans
“Want what you have.
Be who you are.
Do what you love.” – Rev. Dr. F. Forrester Church
The Rev. Dr. F. Forrester Church (1948-2009) served the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City as senior minister and as minister of public theology. He died September 24, 2009. A frequent contributor to UU World, he is the author of many books including A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism (with John Buehrens). His writings are worth exploring and can be found in our Bookstore.
This quote from Forrest Church resonates deeply with me. The simplicity of “Want what you have.” seems so reasonable and sensible. “Be who you are.” is probably the most difficult. And “Do what you love.” strikes me as a healthy act of self-discovery. Taken together the words of Forrest Church seem like a good plan for living fully. Yet making a good plan is not easy to do.
On Sunday March 18 the Board invites everyone to a Congregational Conversation following the Service and Coffee. We are going to talk about our 2013 Five-Year Plan that ends in June. This conversation is just one part of our process to develop a new Plan with goals that express the aspirations of the UUCV. It is important to review what the congregation was thinking in 2013 when the current plan was created and approved. Since then we have changed as a church. We have a new minister, all new staff, and many new members. This meeting marks the beginning of a process that will take 12-18 months to complete.
The 2013 Five-Year Plan is on our website www.uuventura.org. Type or paste the following link into your browser: http://www.uuventura.org/download/board-policies/2013_5_year_plan-v4kp_final.pdf. That will open the document and you can see the 2013 Plan to review.
You will find there is much that has been accomplished. We want to hold these achievements up and celebrate them. There are some ideas that are works in progress, and there are others that were put on hold that we want to be aware of. The idea of having a conversation with each other is not to go into every detail of the current Plan but to reflect on how it has helped our congregation be bold in living out our values.
The Board has authorized forming a Team to help the congregation develop a new Five-Year Plan to be approved in 2019. Rev. Dana and a Board Trustee, along with several others yet to be determined, will form the Team that will guide the process. This work is about our hopes and dreams. It is about articulating what we want to do, and who we want to be, as Unitarian Universalists. Please contact me if this opportunity speaks to you.
Living in Paradise,
Bryan Buck, President
by Admin | Feb 27, 2018 | Justice Actions
Dear UUCV Community,
This month’s theme is “what does it mean to be a people of balance?” There is an astronomical event March 20 relating to balance – the Spring Equinox. Equinox from ancient Latin, means day and night are equal length. Being in touch with the cycles of the Earth and moon relates to our program and our faith.
As mentioned in an article recently shared by Meaghan Lawrence to UUCV’s Facebook group, Sharon Hwang Colligan writes: “UUism, at least in the form it takes in our camps, conferences, and Sunday Schools—which I believe are the heart of our spiritual community—is in my perception a Pagan religion. It is circle-based, earth-honoring, and present rather than distant in spirit. It honors human sexuality, and female leadership. It seeks harmony rather than domination. In a Cross-cultural perspective, that is pretty much the definition of Paganism.”
As we turn toward Spring, there is much to celebrate and partake in within our walls and beyond. From the high school walk out for gun control, district-wide youth conference hosted at UUCV, to Coming of Age program with mentors in full swing for teens! In the children’s program, we’ll send a petition to Hershey to stop using child labor (we’ll let you know if we get a response!), discuss death of loved ones and animals, and await the reveal of the beautiful new Outdoor Sanctuary space! Our balance comes from justice work, growth, beauty, and gratitude.
All are invited to join the Easter canned food drive! Bring in small canned goods every Sunday in March to the regular Sunday food collection for Project Understanding. Then on Easter, April 1, rather than plastic eggs filled with candy, the cans will be labeled with a particular shape and hidden! The children will be assigned in teams to a particular shape, and will hunt for cans with their team shape! All children receive a potted flower and tasty treat! We hope to see you after church to join the festivities and appreciate your support.
“Very little grows on jagged rock. Be ground. Be crumbled, so wildflowers will come up where you are.” Rumi
Emily Carroll, Director of Religious Education emily@uuventura.org
by Admin | Feb 27, 2018 | Building and Grounds
by Linda Pietzak
It is amazing how the monthly Work Parties can be so different. The February Work Party had three of our members off camping for the long weekend. We still had a good group of volunteers show up. Several of the people were new to our Work Party. Their work is really appreciated.
We also had members of a Covenant Group come to present a project idea to make the entry to the church more visible. It is the second or third group to volunteer their time. What a good idea someone had for the Groups to volunteer to help at the church. The group that came consisted of Susan Franzblau, Phoebe Higgins, and Diane Walmsey. The group’s co-facilitator is Veronica Bear. Watch for the implementations they have in mind.
There were two points of focus for the February Work Party; (1) pulling weeds along the front of the church and (2) sweeping the parking lot.
Kitty Merrill, Georges Naugles, and Geoff Dann tackled the weeds. The parking lot was swept by Haibiba Peterson, Geoff Dann, Ted Lombard, Jean Skinner, and Phil Wiseman. Merle Oberg and Wil Devine worked on the front sprinkler system.
Linda Pietrzak worked on training the ants in the kitchen to go in to the ant traps. In another month or so they may learn. Wil and Geoff worked on a sticking restroom door. Geoff checked the lights. We all wear many hats each Work Party day.
Everyone worked so long and diligently that they forgot my favorite part, “Kickback, socialize, relax, and eat snacks.” We’d love to see more of you come out for that part of the morning. Contact Linda Pietrzak: linda.w.pietrzak@gmail.com
by Admin | Feb 27, 2018 | Justice Actions
Lift Up Your Voice (LUYV) To End Homelessness
by Kathy Powell
Last month we held the Annual Homeless Neighbor Memorial. I always look to that day with admittedly some dread but also anticipation. It is a time for so many in this community to honor and grieve for the folks who died in our county. We had a full house this year and people who weren’t able to have a proper funeral for their loved ones were able to memorialize their people. Many thanks to all the clergy who celebrated this day, to the volunteers who organized this and made the day happen and the people who came just to bear witness and honor our holy souls who left us this year.
There are many of our congregation assisting at the warming shelter this year as volunteers. We have people working night shifts setting up, serving food and helping with showers. We also have a team who weekly go to Food Share and collect a week’s worth of food to give out for dessert and breakfast as people leave. Our teams are having a bit of friendly competition as we only can use the food that is free at Food Share and I think Yukio, Madeline, Kent and Sue may be winning with 800+ pounds one week they gathered and delivered.
Lift Up Your Voice has two boxes in Berg Hall for donations to our homeless outreaches. We need freshly laundered clothes, jackets, shoes, blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks or luggage. These things are so valuable as we go out into the community.
Please remember our folks live outside with no access to electricity. Lately we have been getting donations of dvds, electronics and other things they wouldn’t be able to use. I will speak for myself that as I get older my energy level isn’t what it used to be so trying to find good places for those things is a bit difficult. Please keep this in mind and perhaps contact a thrift store or a shelter that can use those precious things.
For anyone interested in seeing how they may help with our homeless efforts in our community please contact Kathy Powell at kathypurpleprincess@gmail.com.
