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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October 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. On October 18th we will be live in the UCV parking lot. Please join us. |
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Church Family, More Important than Ever Right Now |
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We are entering the final month of this this tense, angry, fearful political season. We are about to be bombarded with negative campaign ads and political propaganda on every media platform. It can all get to be so overwhelming! It is imperative that we take care of ourselves and one another. Take regular breaks from the news. Seek the truth from trusted resources. Cling to the hope and faith which has seen you through life's challenges. Meditate and pray to restore your peace of mind. Reach out to your church family. Seek conversation with someone you trust. Call or video chat someone and vent your frustrations. Engage face to face with someone in your bubble (with masks, 6 feet apart ). Hold each other in a spirit of love and prayer. And above all, vote – being guided by your heart, your head, and your faith to make the choices that you feel will bring more love, justice, equity and peace to our world.
May God bless you all!
Sandy Selby
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Just about anyone over the age of 20 can remember the US Army’s slogan “Be All You Can Be”. Some of you just read those words and the catchy jingle is in your head right now… “Be…al that you can be… in the ARRRRRRMMMMMMYYY!”
That slogan was so good the Army didn’t change it for 21 years!
If your life had a slogan… what would it be?
If your work had a slogan… what would THAT be?
Are they different? Should they be different?
I haven’t been around long enough to answer these questions definitively. In truth, I believe there are as many answers to these questions as there are people under the sun.
But let’s presume everyone’s life slogan was that old Army slogan: “Be All You Can Be”.
How different would your life be?
How different would the world be?
Imagine living to your fullest potential… without the handicap of fear. You display courage despite your insecurities. You pursue your dreams with relentless fervor. Now don’t get me wrong… fear is still there, but it doesn’t stop you in your tracks. Your insecurities exist, but they don’t dampen your spirit or devour your motivation.
To be all that you can be means you stop settling for less, and yet accept what is in the present moment at the same time. You are not adversarial with the present moment; you are accepting the past for it has brought you to this place, and you begin to create right from where you are standing. Do you run toward something everyone else is running away from in order to stand out in the crowd?
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Welcome to 2020, the decade, I mean year of “WTH?!?!?!” We are six months into a social distancing pandemic that asks each of us to think more about others than ourselves. Like so many things it has been a matter of perception. How do we decide to look at what is right in front of us? Are your friends or family struggling with food scarcity, social isolation or even struggling to stay in their homes because of job loss due to COVID? Is there anything we can do to help even in the smallest way when all the hurt and loss seem just so BIG?! The answer is yes. Always, always, always yes.
What about something so simple as carrying a couple extra bottles of water in your car and offering a homeless person fresh water? What about giving your perfectly good umbrella to someone who seems to be pushing everything they own in a shopping cart when it’s pouring outside? What about treating someone sleeping in a park with respect enough to say “hello” and look into their eyes… SEE them.
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We all have something we can contribute. Whether it’s time, talent or treasure. These are unprecedented times and they are calling for unprecedented responses. What if you offer someone a ride to go vote (of course wearing a mask)? What about sharing a homecooked meal with someone who is one of the most vulnerable and scared to go in public? What about committing to a regular pledge amount to support our church, which in turn supports so many in our community?
For congregations everywhere, 2020 has been a year of turmoil and reinvention. We cannot let fear diminish our present or our future. We cannot let fear diminish our faith or confidence in a God who has promised to provide for us. Because that spirit of fear and anxiety can cripple ministry, cripple our spiritual lives and cripple generosity, especially when we are busy just coping and surviving. I know this is really hard to hear when people’s lives have been shattered by the day to day living. When we are frightened of losing our jobs, when we are genuinely anxious about our families, when we can no longer meet debts which we thought were manageable.
In the end, we don’t get to ignore the difficulties; we don’t get to pretend they are not real. Instead, we look for the opportunities to minister to those who are struggling. The current social and political climate poses a lot of important questions: What does it mean for us to be faithful stewards in the context of recession? What are the day-to-day implications for us in living generously as a hallmark of what it means to be faithful stewards?
Begin where you are, but don’t stay there. Take inventory of the blessings in your own life so there is greater awareness of what to be thankful for. As you pray for God to open your eyes to those most in need, look for the goodness and grace of a perfect love and cultivate an attitude of gratitude within your community. Connect the opportunity to give as a response to God’s own generosity.
One of the key things I want to encourage you to think about is to sincerely ask what do we believe about giving in our church, and not only what we believe but what we teach, what we exemplify by action, what we are modeling. What are we showing to the congregation about what we believe about generosity and stewardship?
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Remember that our amazing little church is first and foremost about the relationships that matter most. Those between each of us, our church and our community and God’s love for each of us no matter what station we are at presently. Generosity happens when there is trust and clear vision for the ministry of the church. Disaster and disease isolate. Financial recession and unemployment compound our crisis. Racial injustice and political conflict divide. The healing ministry role of the church has never been greater.
Today calls for the best of us, from each of us.
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Deb Hudson recently requested and delivered a quilt for Jennifer Smith Carter-Martinez, who’s been
fighting COVID-19 along with five family members. Deb sends along the wonderful news that all are
doing better – and this happy photo! Sandy Selby blessed the quilt during a Sunday Zoom service and
joined Donna and Anne in tying knots to signify our prayers.
There’s just something about quilts, you know? To receive one is to be wrapped in a loving hug, while the making is a blessing all its own. Those of us who’ve become a part of this maker team have discovered something we can actually do, right now in the present, beyond the discord and seeming helplessness of these times. And the best part: All are welcome, and you don’t need any special skills!
We’ll teach you to sew if you like, but we also need help with lots of non-sewing tasks. Meanwhile, in order to cover our expenses for the coming year, we’re continuing to upload new handmade items to our online boutique (https://ucvchurch.org/boutique/prayers-and-squares-ministry/). We’ll be spreading word to the wider community as the holiday shopping season
approaches, so have a look early on for best selection! If you have questions or would like to request a custom item, contact Anne DiPardo (dipardo.anne8@gmail.com).
And, as always, let us know anytime you’d like to request a quilt for someone going through tough times. This is an outreach ministry, and our quilts are available free of charge to anyone!
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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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Worship for October and Beyond |
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On September 20, when we celebrated UCV’s 27th anniversary, we tried a hybrid live outdoor/zoom service. For those who participated in the outdoor worship, it felt good to be oh so near to our new worship space. And, it was great to see the faces of many we had not seen in so long—and to know that, even wearing masks, we could recognize each other! Those who joined us on zoom were able to get the first look inside our new sanctuary. Our hopes are to be able to continue in-person/zoom services once it is safe (and the city has given their final approval) to do so. In the interim, we need to continue to figure out the technology and personnel needed to accomplish this vision. We also need to continue to find ways of connecting with those who aren’t able to manage online worship.
Until we are able to move inside, we hope to continue periodical worship together in our parking lot -- masked and social distanced, of course. Our first service exposed some problems we will be working on: improving sound quality (both live and on zoom), finding ways to more actively engage interaction between live and zoom participants, observing safe practices for person to person worship. (We were happy to discover that there is actually quite a bit of space in our parking lot to spread out). As always, we welcome suggestions.
October begins with World Wide Communion Sunday. It has always meant a lot to me to think that regardless the language we speak, the rituals we observe (or don’t) or the denominations we align with, Christians throughout the world can join around one large table to eat and drink together. Stewardship will be a thread running through much of the remainder of October.
My mind is on December. It’s always an exciting time preparing for worship (and music) during this special season. Obviously, this is not a “normal” year with so many questions, challenges and unknowns. Compounding the challenges is music. At UCV as well as, I’m sure, most churches, music always plays such an integral part during Advent and Christmas. Singing, of course, is a problem. We probably will have to rely on some virtual choir video presentations. Our handbells have been heard tinkling “use me, use me!” and I have assured them that they will indeed have a prominent role in our December worship. So, please let me know (if I don’t already) that you might like to give ringing a try.
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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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Sharing the Gift of Music |
United Church of the Valley generously donated 50 of our 100 New Century Hymnals to Bloom in the Desert UCC in Palm Springs. The congregation was very appreciative! |
Behind the Virtual Pulpit in October |
During the month of October 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. October 18th will be live in the parking lot at UCV. |
Oct. 4th - Sandy Selby (zoom)
Oct. 11th - Lee Eddy (zoom)
Oct. 18th - Rev. Stephanie Toon (live parking lot)
Oct. 25th - Ruth Dunlop (zoom)
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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). |
Health, Travel and Thank You News
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Anne Crutchfield is doing well up in Anza.
- Sue Berry is doing good. She says many, many thanks for all the meals, birthday cards, and get-well cards. She likes your phone calls and visits.
- Archie Aitcheson is doing well. His residence is all in isolation and no one has the virus. He likes to have phone calls.
We all miss seeing each other. Send cards to your church family members. 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.
Other Happenings Around Our Church
- Conference News for the Southern association. Next meeting is Oct. 4th via Zoom. Donna is not able to participate this time. Call Sandy is you can attend meeting via Zoom. It starts at 2:30 pm. RSVP for registration as a voting member.
- Join our coffee hour on Sunday. Catch up with what is going on in our church family. Look for the zoom link on our website. Sandy and Lynne have helped me get on zoom and I enjoy the fellowship.
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Upcoming events can be seen on the camp web site at www.pilgrimpinescamp@gmail. Upcoming events are the Fall funfest Oct 9th-11. This is the fall fun for all intergenerational camp via Zoom. This includes Apple Pie Day. Lots of fun camp activities. There will be a silent online auction to help raise money for the campership fund. Dates are Oct. 3rd-9th with a live auction results on Oct 10th at 6pm. In November there is a Community Enrichment virtual session for kids, youth, and families. Session 1 is 11/2-11/20 and session 2 is from 11/30--12/18. It is $15 to $20. Registration at www.pilgrimpinescamp@gmail.
Pilgrim Pines is ok. The fire went around the camp. All buildings are ok. Thank you to all the firefighters and other support members. Watch for opportunities to help support camp. Connie continues working for the camp and is doing great PR for us. Camp committees are keeping the camp going with lots of activities. Families and individuals will soon be able to rent cabins or the cottage to stay at the camp. See the web site for details.
Loch Leven is under fire watch. This camp is near Bryant and Highway 38 below Forest Falls.
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Our Flocks of Cranes is Still Growing |
I actually don’t know exactly how many cranes we’ve folded, but I suspect we’re over the requisite 1000 that several of us have been folding for justice, peace and good luck for our new sanctuary. We are ready to start assembling them to be able to install them. Very simple sewing is all that is needed. Please let Sandy or me know if you can help. |
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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How can we help our brothers and sisters in Chacraseca
See Below
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Our Friends in Nicaragua Need Our Help |
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SPECIAL EVENT “Wine to Water” 2020
Thurs. Oct. 8 5:00-6:00pm (PDT)
JustHope has been collaborating with our Nicaraguan friends for 13 years. UCV’s association with Just Hope—and Chacraseca—goes back almost as far. Our trip in the spring of 2008 and UCV’s subsequent decision to become the very first partnership group from the US (and the first to build houses with cement floors!) has led to our raising funds to help bring clean, potable drinking water to all 49 square miles of this sprawling, rural community (and, this year, raising funds to pay the water bills to keep the water flowing), establishing and supporting a music program in the schools and, now, in the new cultural center which one of our groups help reconstruct, and making many dear friends.
Each year Just Hope holds a major fund-raiser called “Wine to Water” in Tulsa, OK. The name, obviously a play on Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine, came from the original project of raising funds to bring clean water to Chacraseca. Unfortunately, due to covid, this festive event cannot happen in person this year, but fortunately for us, it is happening online so that all of us with connections to JustHope can participate. Tickets are $13 (to get a code to attend on zoom). But, the even better news is that, because of the generous donations from UCV members for the water fund – and the matching donation from Dennis Wolfe—have qualified us for 10 free tickets.
Event planning is still ongoing, but here are some fun things that will be happening. There will be music from our friends Julio and Abi as well as some guest musicians including Emma’s Revolution, a dynamic female duo. You can check them out on YouTube. There will be reports from Nica, from US partners and a video updating what’s happening on the ground in Chacraseca and La Flor. There also are both live and online auctions. There are some lovely items available online to bid on. You can also bid live during the event on three great vacation opportunities.
So, the first 10 people who contact me will have “dibs” on our free tickets. Once those tickets are spoken form, tickets cost only $13. Be sure to contact me right away if you want a ticket (lbradley93168@gmail.com) or 760-505-8758.
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Construction is Complete!!! |
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Construction on our sanctuary is complete!
We have the green light to start moving things into the sanctuary side, so we set up 25 socially distanced chairs and relocated as much as possible. Thanks to Lynne Bradley for the pic! We are still waiting for the door to be retrofitted with a panic bar to allow for quick exiting in case of fire. Once that is completed, we can request our final inspection and occupancy certificate. Almost there!
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Sunday Service - Virtual on Zoom, Live in the parking lot on Oct. 18th
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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