by Kitty Merrill | Dec 28, 2016 | Justice Actions
Resolutions
Happy New Year Everyone! Are you ready for a fresh start? Do you dare to risk making any New Year resolutions? Are you willing to be bold? Was 2016 a year full of Joys and Sorrows, any less meaningful because it didn’t turn out as you hoped? Will 2017, with all its promise, be a disappointment if you slip up on your resolutions? It seems to me that Abe Lincoln got it right, attributed with the following quote; “Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Maybe the question to ask this year is: How will your faith, your search for truth and meaning, inform the decisions you make in 2017?
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura of which we are a part, is a community that helps us live a more full and meaningful life. All that is needed is our participation. In covenant, we agree to assume the best intentions of each other. In living our faith, we should give that same consideration to ourselves when making a resolution. We make them with the best of intentions.
The church year is based on the fiscal calendar July to June, and not on the calendar year January to December. Organizations generally function in this manner for regulatory reporting and tax reasons. So, we respect the calendar year but arrange our church activities around the fiscal. The summer months are typically less busy and we conclude our year in June with the annual meeting, approval of our budget, and election of our slate of candidates. In addition, our committees determine who will be Chair for the coming year. In as much as we are celebrating the beginning of 2017 we are only halfway through our church year. In reflecting on the past six months much has been accomplished. The most important to me is that we have formed a new relationship with Rev. Dana and that she is settling in nicely as our minister. The next six months will be full of activity and likely feel as if they are passing quickly. There is much to do and a lot to be excited about with plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved.
The following poem is “Our Deepest Fear” by Marianne Williamson. I think it suggests an idea for a New Year resolution that is not about fixing oneself and doesn’t involve guilt as some resolutions do. This poem is about giving yourself permission to be you and that is a resolution worth making.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Living in Paradise,
Bryan Buck, President
by Kitty Merrill | Dec 28, 2016 | Justice Actions
As part of my Membership Manager profile we are including the role of Coordinator of Adult and Spiritual Growth Programs. A task force is currently forming to collaborate with me in supporting the current groups and bringing in other inspirational programs as well. See the information in this newsletter on the Building Your Own Theology class facilitated by Reverend Carolyn Price coming in February 2017. This congregation does a great job of offering a variety of groups that people can connect with. As the church grows, these small groups are vital for individual growth and community connection. Pick up a Spiritual Growth and Adult Programs booklet on the Adult Programs Table in Berg Hall for details about most of these programs. Thank you to Silvia Hutchins, Steve Jacobson and Celia Ortenberg for the work they have done in recent years to support and inspire small group programming!
The small circles where we meet help us to know who we are and who we want to be in the world.
by Beverly Jordan, Membership Manager
by Kitty Merrill | Dec 28, 2016 | Justice Actions
Happy New Year.
So we enter a new year together. I’ve been around now just long enough to have gotten to know a few of you pretty well, many enough to want to know more, and some hardly or not at all.
There is a 60-year-old piece called “When to Call the Minister.” Some of it is pretty dated, so here is my updated and revised version.
When to Call the Minister?
Here are a few suggestions:
✓ When you haven’t met me yet, but would like to
✓ When you are worried about your teenagers … or your aging parents.
✓ When you’re going in the hospital or know someone else in the congregation who is.
✓ When you have lost a loved one or an animal companion.
✓ When you’re pregnant (but don’t want to be).
✓ When you have a child to be dedicated.
✓ When you’ve been arrested (or ought to be).
✓ When you are having a spiritual crisis or life crisis.
✓ When you have a friend or neighbor who would like more information about Unitarian Universalism.
✓ When you’d like to show us what a good cook you are!
✓ When you have suggestions to make about programs for the church, sermons or Sunday services.
✓ When you’d like help with committee work or with other congregational activities.
✓ When you’re mad at me.
✓ When you’d like to talk religion with me. (That one is my favorite!)
This is a serious (and sometimes really fun!) part of the work I do among you. I share it gratefully with the Caring Team and the newly forming Pastoral Associates – a trained cadre of folks who reach out and coordinate our pastoral efforts.
I have no set office hours, and am generally available Monday through Thursday. I will happily arrange a time that works for us best. Fridays are my Sabbath, and I will only respond to the most urgent of matters or outright emergencies. Saturday is mostly reserved as a writing day.
Some people are reluctant to call my cell phone, though I have become completely unhooked from a landline. So please call or text on my cell phone. It’s really the fastest way to reach me. 503/312-0401.
With love,
Rev. Dana
by Kitty Merrill | Dec 1, 2016 | Justice Actions
I invite you to read Gudrun Eastham’s Membership article in this issue describing the Pathway to Membership Workshop held on November 15. What a joy to join together with these attendees as they discern their next steps towards membership at UUCV. I welcome their fresh perspective, the personal skills, gifts and opinions they bring into this congregation. If you missed this first workshop and are interested to know about the steps to membership, please contact me and let’s talk!
As you may have noticed, the number of first-time visitors has increased since the presidential election and I believe it will continue. I urge all to be attentive to these seeking guests. Like you, they want to be with people who stand up for the high values reflected in the UU 7 principles. If you are interested in knowing more about participating in the Membership Committee please contact Gudrun Eastham, chair of Membership: 805/479-4852. With the influx of visitors the work of the committee has suddenly increased. We appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this exciting and fulfilling opportunity.
Unitarian Universalism was made for this time called NOW. I encourage and urge you to take time after church to greet a newcomer, escort them into Berg Hall and to the coffee pot, listen to their story and perhaps share yours. Point out the Visitor Table (which is usually staffed), the Adult & Spiritual Growth Programs Table and the Social Action area. The UUCV Bookstore is a place to connect with others with resources they may find of interest. Thank you for reaching out to help others feel welcome and oriented to this energetic and sometimes overwhelming community gathering in Berg Hall.
With openness to the new,
Beverly
by Kitty Merrill | Dec 1, 2016 | Justice Actions
We enter our first holiday season together in this year of firsts for us, congregation and minister together (including our first presidential election). I am learning so many of your stories and traditions, and look forward to sharing my own – things like a Thanksgiving Bread Communion, and Fire Communion at the New Year, which is really cool. So it’s been a strong collaboration with the Board of Trustees, staff, Worship Associates, newly formed Committee on Ministry and Pastoral Associates (who will share the pastoral ministry of the church with me).
Last month the board hosted a Start-Up Workshop with consultant Rev. Anne Hines for me and church leaders. This is a UUA program, scheduled for 3-4 months into a new ministry, when we know each other a little, yet are still getting comfortable with new rhythms and styles.
My favorite was the anthropological exercise. I played Margaret Mead(!) while four small groups convened to explain:
The “unwritten rules” of the congregation Past stories that still influence the present The “sacred cows” of UUCV
The “truths that “everybody” knows yet are rarely if ever spoken.
This was done with a combination of good humor and affection, self-awareness and honesty. So I learned to “stay out of the kitchen!” and men are “supposed” to come to church in Hawaiian shirts. Also that sermons should be 20 minutes and you prefer them on non-Christian traditions. I learned more about the challenges of moving from the Terry House to Ralston St. and the still-strong nostalgia for the Terry House days among some.
I happily report that I am unlikely to violate many sacred cows because they are largely in alignment with my own preferences – things like giving away the offering, men’s and women’s groups, and Joys and Sorrows written in the book. I know we still need to tweak the hand-holding at the end of the service. I know I am tweaking some things and changing others, and I so appreciate folks’ willingness to try new ways. I do want to hear which tweaks feel mostly OK and which changes feel really uncomfortable. As I get to know you better, my heart is expanding with love and affection for such kind, patient and passionate people.
With love, Dana
by Kitty Merrill | Dec 1, 2016 | Justice Actions
Getting a Good Start
On November 5 the Board, Committee Chairs, and others from the UUCV were invited to participate in a workshop offered by the Pacific Western Region (PWR). The UU Association consultant, Rev. Anne Hines, facilitated. Attending were 28 members of our congregation in support of a process welcoming our new minister, Rev. Dana Worsnop. The purpose of this workshop, as Rev. Hines writes, “is to set the tone for a new beginning and lay the groundwork for a successful shared ministry.” Start-Up Workshops have long been part of our best practices in the PWR. We know that there is nothing like a good beginning to help things go right during a ministry. The morning session introduced the culture of the UUCV to Rev. Dana and began as a place to state the expectations that the congregation and Rev. Dana have of each other. A significant part of the morning session involved breaking up into four groups, each exploring a specific question and then sharing that question’s answers.
• What are the unwritten rules of the congregation?
• What are the stories of the UUCV that influence the present?
• What are the traditions and sacred cows of the UUCV?
• What are the truths of the UUCV everyone knows but no one speaks?
The afternoon session focused on clarifying which of the major aspects of ministry belong to the congregation, to the minister, and to staff, and setting priorities for this first year of shared ministry together. Of these priorities three stood out:
1. Hire a new Director of Religious Education
2. Successful resolution of the Homeless/Safe Sleep Task Group
3. Budget – Long-Range Planning
Rev. Hines commented about the results of the Workshop: “I thought the workshop garnered some good communication between those present and Rev. Dana, and a real desire to ensure her ministry with you gets off to a good start. Rev. Dana probably learned some important things about the church, especially through the anthropological study exercise. I think it’s important for the congregation to know the leadership and Rev. Dana had a good conversation clarifying roles and responsibilities – one that will continue; and that you were able to do some goal-setting for the year, with a stated awareness of the need to not take on too much.” A full, more detailed report on the workshop, may be found on our website and any questions you have may be directed to members of the Board. Finally, Happy Holidays to Everyone! Thank you also to our Staff, to Rev. Dana Worsnop, Becky Burnham, Carolyn Howard, Rev. Carolyn Price, Brian Fortune, Joyce Faber and all the RE Aides. We have much for which to be grateful and may peace and joy be yours this season.
Living in Paradise, Bryan Buck, President
