by Kitty Merrill | Nov 4, 2015 | Women's Groups
The Mini Retreat serves as a day for women to relax and leave everyday life behind. It is a time to bond with the women of our church and to learn new things. It also serves as a fundraiser for scholarships to the Annual Women’s Retreat in the Spring. It gives a one day experience of what the weekend retreat is like.
It has workshops in the morning and afternoon as well as an opening and closing program. Massage is available for an extra fee. To sign up or to volunteer to provide a workshop please contact Dorothy Fast Horse Typically scheduled in October from 9:00-4:00
Location: A member’s lovely hillside home in Camarillo
Contact: Dorothy Fast Horse, Donation: $35.00
by Kitty Merrill | Nov 4, 2015 | Women's Groups
The Women’s Retreat has been an annual event for close to 30 years. It remains one of the favorite events of the year. It is held in a beautiful old mansion that has been converted to a retreat house and is owned and run by the brothers of Mr. Calvary. With a combination of nicely decorated single and double rooms we are able to accommodate up to 24 women. The property is centrally located between the Mission and the Natural Science Museum in Santa Barbara. It has a serene feeling due to the large private grounds bordering the creek. There are beautiful mountain views and lovely trails on the property for some private meditative walks. The food is lovingly prepared by a talented chef with homemade bread and plenty of vegetarian options. Facials and massages are extra fees. Typically scheduled in April, from 4:00 pm Friday—2:00 pm Sunday Location: Mt. Calvary, Santa Barbara
Contact: Dorothy Fast Horse. Donation: $250 for the weekend with scholarships available
by Kitty Merrill | Nov 1, 2015 | Justice Actions
Settled Ministerial Search Committee Report – November
The Settled Minister Search Committee (SMSC) continues to meet regularly to plan our work and evaluate how the process is going. Thanks to all who participated in the focus groups and took the time to fill out the survey. The information gathered from both of them is an important part of our congregational “packet” that candidates will use to get a picture of who we are. Although the search committee itself may not fully represent the congregation demographically, it was selected by getting recommendations from as broad a spectrum of members and pledging friends as possible, and was finalized by a vote of the entire congregation.
The information gathered in the surveys and focus groups, along with the upcoming Beyond Categorical Thinking service and workshop, will help to broaden the committee’s perspective and ability to look at many points of view with regard to selecting our new minister. Next up on our calendar is the completion of the Congregational Record, which is a major part of our packet. This record includes congregational history, information on clergy and staff, budgeting, congregational life, lay leadership, committees, and more.
by Kitty Merrill | Oct 11, 2015 | Justice Actions
Settled Ministerial Search Committee Report – October
The Settled Minister Search Committee (SMSC) continues to meet regularly. The Congregational Survey is available to take online or as a paper copy. We hope all members and friends take the survey to let us know what you value about UUCV and what qualities you want in a new settled minister. Another way to have input and hear others’ ideas is to come to a focus group held at church and in members’ homes.
Sign up at the bulletin board in Berg Hall or contact Silvia Hutchins silviahutchins190@gmail.com. Once the surveys and focus groups are completed, the information will go into our “packet” to be viewed by ministers interested in serving our church. The packet will have information and pictures about all aspects of church life and the various activities, both serious and fun.
by Kitty Merrill | Oct 1, 2015 | Justice Actions
Think of a Minister. Don’t Think of an Elephant
Chances are you thought of both. And perhaps distinct images came to mind in terms of what a minister should look like. This Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop is a key part of the new minister search process. In finding the person who would be the best match for us, we could potentially overlook or even let biases keep us from recognizing a particular person would be that best match. Ministers in our faith who are people of color, bisexual, gay, lesbian, female, transgender, differently-abled, young, old, ethnically different, or of a different class—all of these credentialed ministers still face discrimination as part of the ministerial search process.
In our efforts to find the best match, the search committee has arranged for a presenter from the Unitarian Universalist Association to join us on Sunday, November 1. The presenter will meet with the search committee, lead the Sunday service, and facilitate a 3-hour conversation where we will have a chance to examine how we can avoid letting prejudice become a part of our search process. The program will thus help us to explore our hopes and concerns for a new minister, learn more about the search process, and see how our own history (both personal and congregational) might interfere with our efforts in this search. The program is now 20 years running and has proved very useful and valuable to congregations in the search process.
Save Sunday Nov 1 for a special service, potluck and afternoon program!
