by Kitty Merrill | Apr 27, 2017 | News (home)
Dear Community of UUCV,
I could not be more excited to join you as DRE for Children and Youth! It is wonderful to continue this work of nurturing and celebrating our spiritual lives. To be involved in a trustworthy community who loves them and nurtures them in their growth is my vision for an RE program.
The first time I stepped into a Unitarian Universalist Sunday service, it was home. That was in college in 2008, when I had been “allergic” to church for several years. In the meantime, I practiced Buddhism in Thich Nhat Hanh’s tradition and returned to my Christian roots with the practice of centering prayer.
Most recently I have learned those who sit must also take a stand because social justice movement must be rooted in spiritual conviction. There is an inner light in every being and should be treated equally. I am grateful my spiritual journey has brought me to activism in a UU community where I can nurture my activist and contemplative sides.
By moving to Ventura, I’m returning home! I grew up in the 805 area code in Santa Maria, California, then studied at UC San Diego. I have served at UU churches in Studio City, Honolulu, San Jose, and Santa Fe, and am so ready to return to the central coast and plant roots!
My partner Neil and I are ready to build a life in Ventura. I am committed to work, learn, grow, and serve with you! I look forward to getting to know and practicing beloved community with each of you!
With Love & Light,
Emily Carroll
by Kitty Merrill | Apr 27, 2017 | Inreach/Outreach News
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.” Charles Dickens
Four local organizations have expressed appreciation to the congregation for generous hearts and donations during late March and early April.
The Winter Warming Shelter in Oxnard received a third consecutive offering from you, this time for $666. Our congregation has been helpful in making it possible for the shelter to remain open through the end of March.
We collected $770 for River Haven Transitional Housing Community to help with numerous urgent expenses including case management, food, site management, general repairs, and repair or replacement of the domes which house the community residents. River Haven provides a safe, stable, supportive environment for the homeless to heal and recover.
Camarillo Hospice received $609 which will help provide volunteer hospice and bereavement support services for approximately 600 Ventura County residents.
The offering of $411 went to California Coastal Horse Rescue to help support the cost of food, water and supplementation, as well as veterinary care for the abandoned, neglected, abused and slaughter-bound horses this volunteer organization cares for.
by Kitty Merrill | Apr 27, 2017 | News (home)
by Ray Vargas
In celebration of Earth Day and our church’s advocacy and commitment to a Green Sanctuary, new bicycle parking in the shape of “inverted-U’s” has been installed along the exterior east wall of the sanctuary.
Offering eight spaces, with additional parking located by the children’s playground, the bike parking allows members and visitors a convenient way to help heal our Earth and further the Seventh Principle of our Unitarian Universalist faith: The interdependent web of all existence.
Riding a bicycle or walking instead of using an automobile just once a week, reduces one’s CO2 emissions to the atmosphere by 20%!
The health benefits of riding a bike or walking are boundless, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, physical abilities, or athletic ambitions. Riders remark how they experience the world in a whole new way. Whether to help unburden, even liberate thought and spirit, cycling can be uplifting and healing.
The new bicycle parking station is from members Terry Spragg, in memory of his wife Gina, and Ray Vargas.
This project was made possible by the 7th Principle Environmental Action Team and the B & G Committee.
by Kitty Merrill | Apr 27, 2017 | Justice Actions
“Either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin
There are many groups of people to thank for their contributions on behalf of our congregation. This month there are four that I want to hold up and recognize.
April started with the Pacific Southwest “Justice” District Assembly in Tucson, Arizona. Several members made the journey and experienced life at the border. Jim and Kitty Merrill, Mike and Rena Pezzuto, Mary Kay Lambert, Harold Cartlidge and Dorothy Fasthorse, Michael Akseven, Rob March and Rev. Dana made the trip. They are a reflection of our congregation demonstrating that we show up and make a difference in the world. This Justice DA was a deeply moving experience and its closing circle, held outdoors in a parking lot, was as rich and meaningful as any Sunday Sermon held inside a building. It doesn’t matter where we gather together, what matters is why we gather to build the beloved community. In the case of DA being held at the Arizona border, it was to bring attention and bear witness to the injustice of our immigration system.
The Religious Education Search Team comprised of Erica Duffy, Rev. Dana, Laurie Lemson, Bob Newman and Rena Pezzuto, completed its task with the announcement on Celebration Sunday that we have hired Emily Carroll as our new Director of Religious Education. Emily is highly qualified and will be joining us in August. This is a momentous event as the excitement of this new relationship bodes well for the growth of the RE program and for young families in our congregation. All the people who have made RE happen for the last several years, the teachers, the aides, and our interim directors, are to be congratulated for their hard work and steady commitment as they and all of us, have waited patiently for the process of time to unfold and bring a new partner in caring for our children.
The Stewardship Committee, made up of Maura Raffensperger, Yukio Okano and Kappy Paulson brought us Celebration Sunday. Quiche and Mimosa’s, strawberries and great conversation followed the Sunday sermon “For All That Is Our Life” about generosity. As has already been reported, the response to increase pledge income for the coming year exceeded expectations and represents how much everyone believes in the work that we all share in changing lives and supporting the prophetic voice of liberal religion that is the UU Church of Ventura. Thank you everyone for this most wonderful day!
The Budget Sub-committee: David Frank, David Smith, and Jim Waldron, have been working hard to bring us a Budget. This is difficult and deeply thoughtful work. Balancing priorities is always challenging. Our Budget is a moral document, one in which all of us can be proud. It is an expression of our values. Your generosity and the generosity of those who came before allows us the opportunity to live out our values and build a future for those who are yet to come.
Each of the above groups represent the kind of amazing work and fulfillment of dreams that happens here at the UUCV. Please take the time to thank all of these folks for their efforts on our behalf.
Living in Paradise,
Bryan Buck
by Kitty Merrill | Apr 27, 2017 | Notes from President's Desk
“Either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin
There are many groups of people to thank for their contributions on behalf of our congregation. This month there are four that I want to hold up and recognize.
April started with the Pacific Southwest “Justice” District Assembly in Tucson, Arizona. Several members made the journey and experienced life at the border. Jim and Kitty Merrill, Mike and Rena Pezzuto, Mary Kay Lambert, Harold Cartlidge and Dorothy Fasthorse, Michael Akseven, Rob March and Rev. Dana made the trip. They are a reflection of our congregation demonstrating that we show up and make a difference in the world. This Justice DA was a deeply moving experience and its closing circle, held outdoors in a parking lot, was as rich and meaningful as any Sunday Sermon held inside a building. It doesn’t matter where we gather together, what matters is why we gather to build the beloved community. In the case of DA being held at the Arizona border, it was to bring attention and bear witness to the injustice of our immigration system.
The Religious Education Search Team comprised of Erica Duffy, Rev. Dana, Laurie Lemson, Bob Newman and Rena Pezzuto, completed its task with the announcement on Celebration Sunday that we have hired Emily Carroll as our new Director of Religious Education. Emily is highly qualified and will be joining us in August. This is a momentous event as the excitement of this new relationship bodes well for the growth of the RE program and for young families in our congregation. All the people who have made RE happen for the last several years, the teachers, the aides, and our interim directors, are to be congratulated for their hard work and steady commitment as they and all of us, have waited patiently for the process of time to unfold and bring a new partner in caring for our children.
The Stewardship Committee, made up of Maura Raffensperger, Yukio Okano and Kappy Paulson brought us Celebration Sunday. Quiche and Mimosa’s, strawberries and great conversation followed the Sunday sermon “For All That Is Our Life” about generosity. As has already been reported, the response to increase pledge income for the coming year exceeded expectations and represents how much everyone believes in the work that we all share in changing lives and supporting the prophetic voice of liberal religion that is the UU Church of Ventura. Thank you everyone for this most wonderful day!
The Budget Sub-committee: David Frank, David Smith, and Jim Waldron, have been working hard to bring us a Budget. This is difficult and deeply thoughtful work. Balancing priorities is always challenging. Our Budget is a moral document, one in which all of us can be proud. It is an expression of our values. Your generosity and the generosity of those who came before allows us the opportunity to live out our values and build a future for those who are yet to come.
Each of the above groups represent the kind of amazing work and fulfillment of dreams that happens here at the UUCV. Please take the time to thank all of these folks for their efforts on our behalf.
Living in Paradise,
Bryan Buck
