by Kitty Merrill | Apr 27, 2017 | Justice Actions
by Jim Merrill
Wow, do we have a lot to celebrate, despite unsettling times at the UUA!
Our own Tanner Akseven, aka Tanner Linden, has been elected Youth Observer to the UUA Board! His term begins at the close of this year’s General Assembly, at which time he will serve alongside the current Youth Observer, Bailey Saddlemire, during the final year of her term. Tanner is the second of the last four Youth Observers to come from the PSWD.
The PSWD Justice District Assembly in southern Arizona was an inspiring, moving, and motivating success. Attendees participated in immersion excursions to learn about the services that dozens of organizations throughout Arizona and in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, provide to support the justice, well-being, and very lives of migrants making their way across our border in the Sonoran desert. The business meeting, held together among three sites by the Internet, baling wire, and chewing gum, proceeded smoothly. Following the business meeting, attendees at all three sites heard reports from Camp de Benneville Pines about an exciting capital campaign to make much-needed improvements.
The weekend’s activities concluded with an experiential Sunday service at the border “wall” between Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora. Participants were challenged to consider how their own experiences related to migrants’ experiences. Participants were moved to deep reflection, and sometimes to tears. Nine of us from UUCV attended Justice DA and are planning how to share our experiences with the congregation.
With all the introspection, grief, resignations, and ongoing dialogue about concerns regarding the history of and inherent systems in our association’s practices, the Congregational Life Staff – those professionals who provide services to our congregations in crisis, in collaboration, and in transition – continue to provide those services on a daily basis.
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 | Justice Actions
When I had been in my old church in Oregon for a couple of months, I remember people asking me, hopefully, “So, are you all settled in now?”
The process of moving to a new place and starting up in my very first church was still just a little overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure how to answer at first. I knew they meant to be positive and encouraging. So I learned to breathe and say, “Yes, I am settling in.” I’m not sure when I actually felt truly settled.
So, I’ve been ready for a similar process here in Ventura, and I have not been disappointed. I am still settling into my new condo and even into my office at church. Over a recent weekend, I actually sorted through accumulated files, some more than 10 years old. I culled and resorted, and I recycled some ancient documents. I still have furniture to acquire and pictures to get up on the walls. At some point, my office will feel comfortable and familiar to us all.
I suspect the settling in process is happening for us all. And it’s not yet done. This summer will bring us a new office administrator and a new Director of Religious Education. More settling for individuals and for the institution.
This kind of staff turnover is part of the natural rhythm of the church and often happens when a new minister arrives. I will remain eternally grateful for Becky Burnham who delayed her retirement for a year or two to help with the transition from settled-to-interim-to settled ministry. My gratitude extends to Joyce Faber who stepped in as a volunteer DRE to cover the transition in that position as well.
In the next months when we have both positions newly filled, the longest serving staff member will be Beverly Jordan who has been at UUCV for almost 3 years.
This may seem like a whole lot of change for folks who’ve been around for a while. Yet it is also another fresh start in a congregation that has seen more than a few transitions in its near 60 years.
I hope we do feel more settled in before too long, though never entirely settled. We need to keep learning and growing, challenging ourselves as individuals and as a community.
I am so very glad to be in this settling process with you.
Rev. Dana
by Kitty Merrill | Apr 7, 2017 | Justice Actions
Looking for ways to practice and strengthen your faith? Hoping to meet others in meaningful service? We have many avenues of connection to offer you.
Stop by the Adult Programs table in Berg Hall, check out the monthly newsletter online or pick up a copy at the church.
You can find out about social justice opportunities at the Social Action Table, chat with a Member at the Visitors Table and/or email Beverly Jordan, the Membership Manager: Beverly@uuventura.org, 805/644-3898 ext 102.
by Kitty Merrill | Apr 7, 2017 | Justice Actions
Belonging
Belonging was the theme woven through the UUA Membership Professional Conference I attended in March. What does belonging mean to you? How do you know that you belong? This is certainly a relevant topic in today’s world. For many, their sense of belonging is being shattered. My thoughts and feelings of personal belonging include the knowledge that this is currently a sensitive and hard place for many.
Unitarian Universalism is a religion of belonging. All are welcome into this faith. Our doors are open to each person as we offer Beloved Community. We offer a place of belonging. Where did that start for you? Perhaps being asked to volunteer for something or seeing a task to be done and doing it? Maybe it was more of a gradual commitment to the values and mission of UUCV. For many people, committing to Membership was a catalyst to becoming integrated in the church community or was the byproduct of a growing sense of belonging.
Belonging includes responsibility. It is about staying at the table in a crisis. It is about being accountable to one another. It is so much more than feeling “at home.” It is recognizing that each and every one of us has value and dignity, we all deserve equity and compassion, and we are foundationally connected not only to each other, but to every part of the web of all of existence.
What does belonging at UUCV require of you? How do you live out the values of Beloved Community in our local community and beyond? May we deepen in our trust of one another, practice loving accountability and take risks that result in both success and failure. May we cultivate, tend and share this gift of belonging.
— by Beverly Jordan, Membership Manager
by Kitty Merrill | Apr 7, 2017 | Justice Actions
Volunteers Needed
To fulfill a years’ long need, the City of Ventura has installed storage units on Front Street (behind the Vagabond restaurant) for homeless people to store their belongings during the day. The storage units will be open during a window of time in the morning and in the afternoon for folks to drop off and retrieve their belongings. Volunteers are needed to be at the storage units. Peter Brown, Community Services Manager of City of Ventura, said the park ambassadors and police cadets will staff this for the most part and he needs volunteers. If interested, contact Kathy Powell, Park Outreach coordinator, at kathypurpleprincess@gmail.com. She will forward your information to Peter. He will have an orientation meeting soon.
UUCV Members At Work
We want to recognize and thank UUCV members working for social justice.
• The AIDS Walk Ventura 2017 on March 4, to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS was organized by the Diversity Collective Ventura County and Ventura County Public Health with many volunteers and sponsors like Macy’s, Starbucks, and H&R Block. UUCV participants included Kathy Powell and Darryl Marquez, volunteer coordinator and assistant, respectively, and Chris Chalquest and Beth Potts-Mee, volunteers.
• Under the direction of a social worker, Cindy Camillucci, Kathy Powell and Beth Potts-Mee helped a homeless man obtain a small apartment which involved months of work.
• A group of rotating volunteers from UUCV went weekly for the past four months to Food Share and shopped for 400-600 pounds of food for the winter warming shelter.
• Over 600 people attended the 2nd Justice for All meeting, including many UUCV members. The meeting broke into smaller groups with people joining the cause they felt most committed to. The groups will continue to meet and focus on their issues to keep these things in the public’s eye during these turbulent times.
You Are Invited!
The Social Action Coordinating Committee (SACC) invites church members interested in pursuing social justice endeavors to form Action Groups. Join us on Monday, April 24 at UUCV, at 6:30pm. Come at 6 and bring food to share to participate in a potluck.
by Lety Ball, Chair of SACC
