by Kitty Merrill | Dec 1, 2016 | Minister
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 | Nov 1, 2016 | Minister
When I was serving a church in Canada in the fall of 2000, the Liberal Party Prime Minister called an election, likely to stem a rising conservative movement. Just 6 to 8 weeks later there was a new parliament, though the PM remained the same. I was stunned at how quickly the whole thing happened. Especially as it came just weeks after the U.S. presidential election, when we still didn’t know whether Bush or Gore had won. I became expert at explaining the Electoral College to bewildered Canadians.
After watching the months unto years of presidential campaigning in the U.S., the parliamentary system was so zippy I blinked and almost missed it. Sixteen years later I am still envious of my friends to the north. Especially in this particular election cycle.
This one will actually be over in a week. I encourage you to vote, fill out your ballots from the top of the ticket down through all the state and local seats and all those ballot initiatives. In some ways, those down ballot races are the most significant and are the ones where our votes can make the most difference. Democracy is about far more than voting though exercising our franchise is the central and essential right and ritual. The democratic process is one of our core principles as Unitarian Universalists.
Vote your values, vote your conscience, and vote with a discerning mind and caring heart. Try not to despise or disdain those who disagree with you. As disheartening as this election season has been, I still have a deep confidence and faith in our democratic institutions. Whatever the outcome, I believe what is good and strong and true (and self-corrective) about our form of government will out. Democracy is messy, which may have been what prompted Winston Churchill to say, “Democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others.”
And as I said above, democracy is about far more than voting. Whatever the outcome on Tuesday, we will have our work cut out for us. There will be much healing and action needed. I am so glad that I will get to be part of that and that we’ll be holding onto one another through it all.
So vote on Tuesday, and come to church on Sunday.
Together is the way we will make a difference.
With love and hope, Dana
by Kitty Merrill | Oct 2, 2016 | Minister
Two months in, and I’m still having a grand time with you all here at UUCV. I appreciate all your help, the warmth of your welcome, your responsiveness in worship … and your patience. I have graduated from drinking from a fire hose to feeling just a step or two behind in all sorts of tasks and conversations. This is actually progress.
I have three top priorities, then a list of about five significant matters/ issues/tasks just below that. There are at least two more shelves worth of priorities below that. This framework is helping me prioritize and resist the tug to take on too much, too fast. I appreciate those of you have encouraged me in resisting the temptation of over-functioning.
The top three are:
- Leading meaningful and engaging worship
- Supporting the Religious Education program through a(nother) time of transition,
- Being part of the Safe Sleep and Homelessness Task Group.
I’ve also been doing things like meeting with the board and finance committee and establishing weekly staff meetings.
Places you can help on the next shelf:
Pastoral Care
Beverly Jordan has done a wonderful job holding the pastoral care of the congregation during your time of transition. She has been indispensable in helping me get up to speed on pastoral needs. I have been happy to be invited into your lives and to feel like I have offered support and care. Beverly is now able to give more attention to her work as Membership Manager. Please now refer pastoral needs – your own or others you know about – to me.
In the next few weeks I’d also like to get underway creating a Pastoral Care Team to share this ministry. Please share with me people you think would be good at this – folks you trust, who listen well, who have the tenderness and strength to accompany others through challenging times.
Worship
We need a couple more “magical” people to help with MAGIC – Media and Graphics in the Congregation. These are the folks who create the slide shows that accompany worship services. Familiarity with technology as well as good visual sensibilities would be handy. One Magical Someone says that PowerPoint can be both ministry and art form.
Installation
My installation service as your minister will be on Sunday evening, Feb. 19, 2017. An installation is a recognition and celebration of the covenant between a newly settled minister and the congregation. There is some pomp, circumstance and ceremony. Clergy are invited, as are people from the wider community. The last time UUCV had such an event was when you ordained and installed Rev. Jan Christian. It would be great to have a team of 3-4 to help plan the event, which should be a good time for all. If you can help in any of these areas (or volunteer some likely suspects) I would be grateful.
Blessings and love, Dana
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
