United Church of the Valley
A Partnership Church
United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ
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A Progressive Christian Community |
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Words of Wisdom from our Moderator |
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This has been a year with challenges like no other, but there is still so much for which we can give thanks. Thanks for a church that is still "open" - worshiping together in new and creative ways. Thanks for a faith community that still offers support to one another. Thanks for new opportunities to reach a caring hand out to our larger community. Thanks for a welcome that continues to draw the circle wider to include those beyond our doors, beyond our city, as far as the internet can reach. I, for one, am very thankful for the many ways United Church of the Valley has helped me through this difficult time.
Share God's Love
Sandy Selby, Moderator
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This Sunday is the beginning of Advent. As we enter this season of giving, we have several ways we can give to our community:
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Prayers & Squares Christmas Boutique: Our Christmas Boutique is still open, even though the web page is currently unavailable. We have tree skirts, t-shirts, vests, bags, scarves, bookmarks, pot holders, soup bowl cozys, table runners, placemats, and more! Please contact Anne DiPardo at dipardo.anne8@gmail.com to arrange a personal shopping experience. Proceeds will be used to purchase supplies to make prayer quilts for those in need of our prayer support.
- Candy Rolls for the Food Pantry: Our candy rolls are a big hit with clients of the Murrieta Food Pantry! We are hoping to once again provide 200 candy rolls for the kids. We need 40 more toilet paper rolls, lots more candy, and volunteers to stuff and tie each roll.
Contact Sandy Selby at moderator@ucvchurch.org if you would like to participate.
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This Christmas, UCV has adopted a single mom and her three lovely boys, ages 12, 11, and 5 mos. We thought it would be fun to buy presents for the kids this Christmas, so we encouraged Mom to send us a wish list with lots of items so lots of us can participate! If you wish to join in, please send a list of what you want to purchase in an email to Sandy Selby at moderator@ucvchurch.org, or you can donate money for shopping by indicating Angel Tree in your payment memo. The boys have the same wish list: Legos, Rubix cube, Mine Craft or Fortnite related items, Spiderman, Board game, Roblox gift card, Sonic the Hedgehog figures, Nerf blaster, Kinetic sand, Watch. For the baby: Diapers size 5, Wipes, Xylophone, Wagon, Blues Clues, Fisher Price, Leap Frog, Learning table. Gifts are due back by Dec. 14th.
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UCV is a Beloved Community, But Who Else Knows |
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During this stewardship moment (video below), we were called a Beloved Community - a safe place for people to go where they aren't judged, just welcomed with open arms. We've heard this before, quite a few times actually, so why is it that most people don't know about us? It seems that is a question that we need to answer, and we need to come up with a strategy to make it happen. We have brainstormed a couple of call to action items. Perhaps you have interest or expertise in an area that you would like to share with the congregation.
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Look at services that would be of interest to the community. This would not be a UCV Sell - it would be a way to connect with the community.
- Formulate and implement a solid social media strategy that would encompass Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to start.
To accomplish these, we will need the help of our congregation. Do you have a passion for meeting the needs of this community? Do you or someone you know have an interest in social media? This would be a great opportunity for a college student to intern for college credit. We understand that your time is a treasure, please share it with us.
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December services will be live on Zoom at 10 am on Sundays. The live service will be recorded and available on the UCV website, Facebook and YouTube later in the day. |
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Do You Want to Pledge for 2021 But Not Sure How
Given the Pandemic?
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In the past you would grab a pledge card and pencil and fill it out then put it in the offering plate. Since that isn't an option right now we have come up with three new options.
- Click the button below which will take you to the online pledge card, you fill it out and hit submit.
- You request a hard copy pledge card at admin@ucvchurch.org, fill it out and mail it back.
- You call Deb Hudson at 951-698-1520 and provide Deb with the information and she will fill out your card.
UCV's ability to provide Sunday Service as well as our programs and services are dependant upon pledges and offerings. We can't thank you enough for your continued support of our mission.
Thanks from your Church Council
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Worship in December will be on Zoom, but even though we can’t yet worship in our beautiful new sanctuary, Sandy and I are doing our zooming from church. By the time you read this newsletter, we will have already observed the first Sunday of Advent.
As we continue to monitor COVID, we still have not made any final plans for Christmas Eve. Watch for more information as we get closer to the 24th. We are thinking of a brief service, maybe in our cars. Stay tuned!
Our worship during Advent through the 1st Sunday after Christmas is based on a series designed by the creative Dr. Marcia McFee. Below, you can read more about the theme of this series.
“I Believe Even When…
Filling the Night with Music and Light”
An Introduction to Advent 2020,
edited from Dr. Marcia McFee
Our Advent/Christmas season is designed, in light of this year’s unique challenges, around the symbol of the luminary––a pathway lit with soft candlelight that enlightens our way, one step at a time.
The author, Dr. Marcia McFee, began with the image of an empty and dark sanctuary (the way most of our nation’s sanctuaries have been most of this year) but with luminaries lining the aisles––a reminder that Advent is the season when we proclaim that the light enters the dimly-lit places of our lives––enlightening us with liberating and comforting messages.
Luminaries are fun and easy things for you to create at home, use at home, and then perhaps (if COVID allows) bring to the new church lot to use on Christmas Eve.
Each Sunday in worship, we’ll experience one of the familiar Advent themes: Hope, Joy, Peace, Love.
We will discover “carols of resistance” written in times of oppression that can help us “raise our voices” against injustice today.
Together–we can experience many ways to mark this Advent season as special, even and especially in the midst of challenging times. We need your voice, we need our church, we need your presence. Welcome to Advent 2020!
Each of you have THREE assignments to help us prepare for advent and Christmas this year:
1. If you have an advent candle wreath, have it ready to use each week as we zoom together for worship. If you don’t have one, have at least one candle to light. Or you might want to try to make an advent wreath.
2. As mentioned above, be creative and make some (or one) luminaries that are uniquely meaningful and/or fun. Be prepared to bring them on Christmas Eve (covid -willing) to light up the dark sky.
3. We haven’t had any slides shows recently, but let’s try for one that features nativity sets. Take a picture of your beloved nativity sets, creches, nacimientos or any other special Christmas decorations. And also, if you decorate a tree, send a picture or two, maybe spotlighting a special ornament or tradition. We could even do special food traditions of the holidays. Maybe, this sounds like more than one slide show? Great, we’ll spread them out over the season. But, specifically, I’d love to use the nativities for Christmas Eve.
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Want help in whittling down that gift list? Our holiday Boutique is back online! As before, all proceeds will go to UCV’s Prayers and Squares ministry, which provides free quilts to anyone in need of comfort.
We’re also pleased to offer private opportunities to view what’s available or place custom orders. We’ve everything from stocking stuffers to large throw quilts, and we’d love to show you!
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PLEASE send in any pictures, new or old, so we can continue to see everyone’s smiling faces throughout the month of August...any road trips? |
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We Need Your Help to Update Our UCV Church Directory |
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Our very own Deb Hudson is working on an update for the UCV Church Directory. If you would be so kind as to help her out by clicking on the button below and filling out the short form and then hitting send. Thank you for helping, this will be ever so helpful to us all. |
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Bringing our tithes and offerings to God is an important spiritual practice that cultivates gratitude and generosity. While we cannot physically pass the offering plate, we can continue to bring our gifts to God through online or mail-in donations. |
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To send a check, please use:
United Church of the Valley
41685 Date Street Suite 100
Murrieta, CA 92562
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Or donate online:
(3.5% fee)
Venmo: @ucvchurch (free)
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UCV Birthday Bank - a Timeless Tradition |
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The Birthday Bank has been a tradition at the United Church of the Valley for many a year. When your birthday comes around you get to put $1 for every year into the birthday bank (the $1 per year is only a suggestion). Of course we would love to celebrate with you during our social after the Sunday Service, we'll even provide the cake. Is your name on this list?
- Damaris Eddy
- Debbie Hudson
- David French
- Katie MacLean
- Jeremy Hamilton-Arnold
- Susan Miyamoto
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We have added a time of Joys & Concerns to our online Sunday service. Please email any joys & concerns you would like read aloud to Sandy Selby at moderator@ucvchurch.org. You can also send confidential prayer requests. Just indicate as such and let Sandy know if you want it shared with any of the other spiritual counselors.
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Behind the Virtual Pulpit in December |
During the month of November our Sunday service will be live on our Zoom channel. The recording of the service will be available online later that day on Facebook, YouTube and on our Website. November will be live in the parking lot at UCV. |
Dec. 6th - Lee Eddy (2nd Sunday in Advent PEACE)
Dec. 13th - Rev. Stephanie Toon (3rd Sunday in Advent JOY)
Dec. 20th -Sandy Selby (4th Sunday in Advent LOVE)
Dec. 24th - TBA
Dec. 27th - Darcie Dunlop (1st Sunday after Christmas
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You can find our Sermons, past and present, on our YouTube channel (click the video) as well as our website (click the button). |
We’ve all been very concerned about our friends in Nicaragua, dealing first with political unrest, then COVID and then TWO category 4/5 hurricanes in less than two weeks. Initial reports were that they suffered some crop damage but nothing too severe. However, it sounds like things are much worse than we originally heard—a high percentage of crops are destroyed, roads are damaged and quite a few houses along with latrines are in bad shape. Extreme poverty will certainly drive many to leave the country in search of work, leaving the weak and elderly to remain. I expect we’ll hear more details soon about ways we might be able to help. Meanwhile, our prayers are definitely needed. |
Anne Cruchfield celebrated her 90th birthday on Nov. 3rd. She had a good Thanksgiving with Debbie (her caregiver).
Archie celebrated Thanksgiving with family at his home. He is doing alright.
Heather is anxiously awaiting for her husband to return from service on Dec.15th. Her family will be here with them for a pre-Christmas celebration. She is doing alright.
Thank you to everyone that gave toilet tissue rolls and time to wrap, stuff with candy and tie the ends. We have about 200 rolls. Sandy will take the rolls to the Murrieta food bank on the Friday before Christmas and they will give the rolls to the children.
Thanks to all who helped with the food bags for the food pantry for Thanksgiving. Thank you, Jamie, for helping with the bags and delivering them. They were much appreciated.
Please call your church family or send cards. Let Donna know what is going on with our friends so we can share the news and prayers with each other. Email her at donnalouise1rn@aol.com
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Pilgrim Pines News--Pilgrim Pies has had several workdays this past month. Donna participated at both days. Because the fire stripped the hill side of vegetation, we had to place K rails, logs and sandbags near the pool, the buildings, and the houses to hopefully keep the mud from ruining the area. It snowed several weeks ago but no rain yet. If you have a desire to go camping, then Pilgrim Pines would be a great place to go. Pilgrim Pines is located in Oak Glen which is up the mountain from Beaumont. Cabins and leadership lodge are available for family pods to rent. If 20 or more people are in the family pod then meals will be served in the dining room. Money would go to the general fund to help keep the camp running. There is also the Cottage. It is a self-contained house and the money from that house would go to the campership fund. Check out all the information at pilgrimpinescamp@gmail.com or pilgrimpinescamp on Facebook. PilgrimPines needs our help because they are unable to have groups use the camp like they did before this health crisis. Our camp was opened all year for use. Also watch for camp activities online. |
Our Flocks of Cranes is Still Growing |
We have a crew lined up to string our cranes together and get them installed. With luck, we should have some of our cranes installed in our new sanctuary very soon. Watch for pictures. Soon, we HOPE! |
September services will all be live on Zoom at 10 am on Sundays. The live service will be recorded and available on the UCV website, Facebook and You Tube later in the day. |
Even fellowship can be online, thanks to the innovative minds at Zoom! Join us Sunday’s at 9am for Book Study and 11am for Fellowship Coffee Hour. UCV has its own Zoom meeting room at https://zoom.us/j/9516981520
You can join from your Zoom app using meeting number 9516981520
Or you can join by phone:
One tap mobile
+16699006833,9516981520# US (San Jose)
or dial
+1-669-900-6833
and then enter
9516981520#
You can start your own online fellowship, too! Just email Sandy Selby at moderator@ucvchurch.org to get on the meeting schedule.
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What's Happening Inside our UCV Building?
Christmas is happening, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
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O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree. This beautiful Christmas tree is sitting comfortably at UCV |
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Santa’s elves have been busy at church! Thank you to the Llamas-Martinez family for bringing the Christmas cheer! |
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Sunday Service - Virtual on Zoom,
Fellowship - Virtual on Zoom, Every Sunday at 11am
Monthly Game Night -SUSPENDED until further notice. Every 3rd Saturday of the month from 6:30 - 8:30 at The Community House
Monthly Potluck - SUSPENDED until further notice
Book Club - We are meeting online every Sunday at 9 am Zoom Meeting Room
AA Meeting - Virtual Only Monday - Friday 7am
Voices of the Valley Youth Choir - SUSPENDED until further notice
UCV Council Meeting - 1st Monday of the month 6pm Zoom Meeting Room
AA Meeting - Virtual Only Every Monday 7pm
Women's Al-Anon Meeting - Virtual Only Every Wednesday 5:30pm
Men's AA Meeting - Virtual Only Every Wednesday 7pm
TVP Board Meeting - 2nd and 4th Thursday 6pm at The Community House
AA Big Book Study - Virtual Only Every Friday 7pm
AA Step Meeting - Virtual Only Every Saturday 8am
Trans Family Support - 1st Saturday of the month 4pm
Citizens Climate Lobby Meeting - Virtual Only 2nd Saturday of the month 9:30am
C.O.D.A.Meeting - Virtual Only Every Sunday 5:30pm
AA Meeting - Virtual Only Every Sunday 7:30pm at The Community House
The Community House is located at
41685 Date Street, Murrieta 92562
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United Church of the Valley is a Partnership Church
United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ
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951-698-1520 admin@ucvchurch.org
www.ucvchurch.org
41685 Date St. Murrieta
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