by Kitty Merrill | Sep 1, 2016 | Minister
I write to you having just led my first official service as the called
and settled minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of
Ventura. I had a simply wonderful time Sunday morning. And
then you threw a magnificent potluck to welcome me.
My initial impression – that you are a strong church committed
to one another and to what Unitarian Universalism can mean and
accomplish in the world – continues to grow and deepen. Each day
I am finding more and more to love about this congregation and
about Ventura County. My dog Scout and I have already found
a couple of favorite beaches, and I continue to delight getting to
know the many people of the church and learn more about the
good work you are about. We’re going to have fun together, even
as we take on serious, thoughtful work both within and beyond
the congregation.
My aim these first weeks and months is not to leap into getting
lots and lots done. I was raised with a strong Protestant work ethic,
and I need to resist being led into that particular temptation. I
know also I represent change just by being here. Yet this time
around – different from the interim work – the change isn’t about
stirring things up so you see new ways of doing things. Rather it is
about how we will come to do things newly – together. Ultimately
we’ll find the way to discovering how we do things together in
ways that last. So, I am taking things slowly, finding out how you
are used to doing things, considering in the light of what I have
found works, and talking with folks about it all.
All that said, you will note some changes right away, most notably
in the worship services and in this very newsletter.
Your newsletter will not longer lead with sermon titles and
blurbs. I find it difficult to know what I want to preach about up
to six weeks ahead of time. Part of this, no doubt arises from my
early training on a daily newspaper. I will be discussing services
with Worship Associates, Music Director Carolyn Howard and
Director of Religious Education Joyce Faber. We will be letting
folks know about upcoming services – especially in ways that are
welcoming to newcomers. Yet we will also be leaving room to let
the “spirit move,” so to speak. And that means no more blurbs!
On September 11, the service will be an All Generations Water
Communion, my favorite way to begin the program year. So please
bring a small sample of water from a place that has meaning for
you – perhaps a place of spiritual refreshment or sustenance. Mine
will be from the coast of Oregon. Also bring a small stone or rock
to add to the waterfall we will create for the service. The stones
will become the ones we use for Joys and Sorrows, the water will
become the ‘holy water” of the church.
It is so wonderful already to be among you.
With love,
Dana
by Kitty Merrill | Aug 1, 2016 | Justice Actions
General Assembly 2016 by Jim Merrill, Association District Representative
If you attended the July 24 “Nuggets from General Assembly” service led by Beverly Jordan, you will have heard many interesting impressions and details about this year’s General Assembly (GA) of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Vel Linden-Akseven and Kitty and Jim Merrill represented UUCV as delegates, and Tanner Akseven participated in the Youth Caucus and carried our banner in the traditional banner parade.
A few major themes ran throughout this year’s GA: Interconnectedness, Covenant, and the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalists movement. We were joined in two services by the Rev. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ; by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism; and by the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, whose energetic evangelical style lit up the halls during worship and a witness service that was moved indoors because of the threat of thunderstorms.
These faith leaders’ interfaith participation reinforced the theme of interconnectedness that we are better together when we collaborate for social justice. The theme of covenant permeated several discussions of our polity, at the congregational and the associational levels. Topics ranging from pledging and fair share offerings to how we conduct business at our assemblies were framed by the precept of covenant as more than a promise or a contract, but a commitment to walk with one another in mutual support, when that is easy and especially when that is hard.
At the 2015 GA, the delegates adopted an Action of Immediate Witness supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This year, GA participants were called to examine whether the association and its congregations have committed action more than lip-service. A Responsive Resolution calling the Association and congregations to accountability – the “Reaffirmation of the Commitment to Racial Justice” – was the final order of business taken up by the delegates.
Other business included a forum for the three candidates for UUA President. Our first female UUA President will be elected next year at GA in New Orleans! The delegates also took the following actions, in addition to the Responsive Resolution, trustee and other elections, and routine budget business:
- Adopted the Congregational Study/Action Issue “Escalating Inequality and the Corruption of our Democracy” (establishing a four-year study period)
- Adopted three Actions of Immediate Witness: “Build Solidarity with our Muslim Neighbors”; “Some Guns, All Guns: Legislating Appropriate Restrictions”; and “Stop theHate: Protect and Support our Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Family”
- Rejected a Business Resolution on investment screening of certain types of corporations doing business with Israel (The Association has already screened out all investments in types of corporations that the resolution addressed and has ongoing screens in place.)
- Adopted a Business Resolution on Reconsidering Thanksgiving
You can read about these topics in future issues of the UU World magazine or online at uua.org .
by Kitty Merrill | Aug 1, 2016 | Finance
Here is a simple test to help measure our attitudes regarding stewardship in our congregation It is a true/false format for easy use:
- I find it very difficult to talk candidly about money with almost everyone.
- It’s easy for me to think about the time and money I invest in church because it’s important for me to commit to what I think is important.
- It makes me defensive when you ask me to volunteer to give more time or money to support the church. We get this way too often during the year.
- I feel lucky and satisfied that my church work and financial contributions help sustain the people who work and donate to support each other and our common goals.
Our success in providing a vibrant social and spiritual gathering place seems like magic, but is evidence of successful behind the scenes work done by individuals connected by faith in each other and our future.
by David Henkel & David Smith, Stewardship Coordinators
by Kitty Merrill | Aug 1, 2016 | Stewardship Report
Here is a simple test to help measure our attitudes regarding stewardship in our congregation It is a true/false format for easy use:
- I find it very difficult to talk candidly about money with almost everyone.
- It’s easy for me to think about the time and money I invest in church because it’s important for me to commit to what I think is important.
- It makes me defensive when you ask me to volunteer to give more time or money to support the church. We get this way too often during the year.
- I feel lucky and satisfied that my church work and financial contributions help sustain the people who work and donate to support each other and our common goals.
Our success in providing a vibrant social and spiritual gathering place seems like magic, but is evidence of successful behind the scenes work done by individuals connected by faith in each other and our future.
by David Henkel & David Smith, Stewardship Coordinators
by Kitty Merrill | Aug 1, 2016 | Justice Actions
Our study of the Channel Islands continues this month with Mark and Krista Mendelsohn teaching about the National Park Service and their amazing programs to recover the life and habitat of our ocean. Then we’ll view the National Marine Sanctuary: the kelp forests, marine preserves and their essential role in the life of the ocean, including learning about how litter and trash destroy the life in the ocean and lead to weakening and disappearance of vital areas within our ocean. We will also be learning life sustaining ways to take care of our trash and litter.
We are thrilled with your response to our Teacher Recruitment Town Hall. Please save Saturday, August 27 for Teacher training that morning. We feel very fortunate that our newly arrived minister, Rev Dana will join us to lead our training along with experienced teachers and members of the RE Committee.
Please consider your volunteer teaching as an integral part of your spiritual work. Teaching Religious Education to our children can be as deepening for our spiritual life as attending our Worship service. In fact they both complement each other for most teachers. Our workable compromise is to provide for continuity with our children and at the same time to give our teachers two Sundays to attend the worship service – the best of “both worlds.” Our goal is to have two teaching teams for each class; each teaching two weeks per month. A substitute teacher will be a regular part of the team when needed.
In addition, our RE team has support for you: just give us a list of your materials, books, posters, music, charts, letters home, two weeks before you teach and we will have it all in your room before you arrive Sunday morning. We are ready to assist you in any detail of planning you need, questions you have about teaching children, using the curriculum, teaching songs, doing followup activities, dealing with special needs of children.
We welcome all your questions and will give you tours to acquaint you with our rooms, play yard, equipment, teachers library and children’s library. The sign up logs are on the table outside the RE Director’s office in Berg Hall. For more information please see Joyce Faber, Acting DRE
OWL Our Whole Lives Classes will begin in the fall for 3rd and 4th grade and Sr HS. See Vel Akseven, Coordinator, for info.
Children’s, Choir, led by Carolyn Howard, returns in the fall.
With Love and Faith, Joyce Faber, dre@uuventura.org
