Good, Good People, Our country and the world are in a continuing chaotic swirl, and we all want to Do Something! about it. The frustration and sense of urgency...
Between Sundays Listening Circles
Dear Members & Friends,
I want to take a moment to update you about the work of this church. We’ve completed the Listening Circles & survey. We’ve also assembled a team to Synthesize from the Listening Circles to evaluate these findings & make proposals to the Board by mid-October.
I’d like to thank everyone who came to the Listening Circles, completed the survey and especially the Synthesizers who are taking on a difficult task. I’d especially like to thank Carolyn Briggs, Janette Daniel-Whitney & David Henkel for their time & expertise as Listening Circle facilitators & helping us all through this process.
I’d also like to thank another group of volunteers who’s charge went far beyond what we initially expected. Thank you to Francesca Ferrera, Susan Franzblau, Don Henniger & Yukio Okano for giving up time with family & activities to work on the Interim turned Contract Minister search. Your work creating an extensive Congregational Record, interviewing, listening to many sermons & checking references was one that I greatly appreciate.
We’ve worked hard for 6 months on this task & now it is complete. Based on their recommendation, the Board has hired Contract Minister Pastor Erik Halseth to begin October 1st. Pastor Erik comes to us with rich experience since graduating from Starr King School for the Ministry, having served the UU congregations in Livermore and Canoga Park, where he provided vibrant worship, pastoral care, and nurtured community life. Beyond the pulpit, Erik has also walked alongside families in times of transition as a hospice chaplain with a Jewish hospice, bringing compassion and presence to some of life’s most tender moments. While in seminary at Starr King, he served as Coordinator of Religious Education at the Santa Paula church.
In addition to his Master of Divinity, Erik also holds an MBA—a combination that, as he likes to joke, means he can both preach about the meaning of life and balance a budget. He sees this as more than a quip: he believes that the skills of strategic thinking, stewardship, and organizational care can serve a congregation’s spiritual health just as much as its financial well-being.
With warmth, humor, and a deep sense of calling, Pastor Erik is excited to join the Ventura UU community as together we imagine new ways of living our faith in service to one another and the world. You can meet Erik & his family at the Auction October 4th, just another good reason to come. He’ll be in attendance at church on October 5th & his first day in the pulpit is October 12th. However, he is already jumping in & has attended a Worship committee meeting & is getting up to speed on the Board processes.
I know you will all provide him a warm welcome.
In Peace,
Gina Norstedt, Board President
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