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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April 2020 Vol 27 Issue 7
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"Taking all I have and now I'm laying it at Your feet
You have every failure God, and You'll have every victory
"
{Lauren Daigle - You Say}
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The Moderators Corner
Sabbath: A Time to Rest
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For the past two weeks, as the world has been throttling down it's activities, I have been thinking more and more about sabbath. Sabbath is a time of rest given to God. In Exodus, God decrees that one day out of seven was to be a day of rest when no work could be done. Not only were people to rest, but they could not require work to be done by anyone else. Some religious leaders became very legalistic about it, so Jesus had to correct them in Mark 2:27 saying, “The Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath.” Rest was so important, that God even had laws regarding resting the earth. Agricultural laws stated that fields must lie fallow one year out of every seven.
While the order to remain Safe at Home has it's drawbacks, it has given us permission to rest. Rest from a week overloaded with scheduled activities. Rest from a long commute two and from work. Rest from the obligations we put upon ourselves to keep busy. Our wallets get a rest from all but the most necessary spending. The earth gets a rest from all but the most necessary human activity. I invite you to take advantage of this lull in activity to take a deep breath and relax every chance you get. This is your sabbath. May it be a time of peace and restoration for you and your family.
And for those of you working even harder during this time to keep us safe, healthy and fed, know that the entire world is sending you gratitude. Accept our prayers for your health and well-being during this stressful time. Know that you need only reach out to your church family, and we will do whatever we can to meet your needs at this time. Let us know who you are, so that we may show you our gratitude.
Love and blessings to all,
Sandy
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Be on the Lookout for the New Moderator Monday's Email
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Since we cannot meet in person, other forms of communication become even more important. For this reason, UCV's Council Moderator, Sandy Selby, will be sending you a note each Monday with words of encouragement and any pertinent news since the previous Thursday Thoughts.
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Our Easter Cross Will Still Bloom!
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Even though it is looking likely that we will be unable to gather in person for Easter, our Easter cross will still bloom! The cross will be set outside 41685 Date Street on Easter Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm. Stop by anytime to place your flowers, always allowing a safe distance between you and others.
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Would you like to rock a chair, roll a chair, play musical chairs or maybe you dreamed of being a chairperson? Whichever it may be, we can help. As we prepare to move in to our new permanent home on Date St. in Murrieta, we are in need of assistance. We need chairs so that everyone can share in a comfortable Sunday service. A donation of $50 provides a chair for our sanctuary. Honor a friend or family member; maybe it would be in memory of a friend or family member. Click on the button below to donate. Thank you for your consideration. God's Peace.
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In Japanese tradition, it is said that if one makes 1000 origami cranes, their dreams and wishes will come true. The origami crane is a symbol of peace and prayer. More recently, they have become a symbol of hope and healing during a time of crisis.
We want to invite members and friends to join in creating 1000 cranes (called a shenbazuru) to be displayed in our new sanctuary. We thought this would be a beautiful way for our church members to work together and feel connected during this challenging time. We ask people to write their feelings (prayers, dreams, hopes, fears etc. -) on paper and fold it into a crane. We also have an easier option of making hearts that doesn’t involve folding. Please email Lynne (
lbradley93168@gmail.com
) or Sandy (selbys@yahoo.com) if you’d like to join in this project. We can tell you how to get paper or deliver it to you. There are a ton of videos on the internet that give instructions for folding cranes. Lynne will provide a pattern for hearts. If you can’t fold cranes, just send us your prayers or poems and we will see that they are included.
The plan is to create a temporary installation of the cranes in our new church sanctuary to be in place when we are cleared for worship there. Please let us know if you want to help.
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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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What crazy times! Two weeks ago when we made the decision to move to virtual church mode just hours before Sunday worship, we made that decision via email. Now we are experts (well, almost!) in Zoom. We’ve gone from Lee’s wonderful message to a wonderful video last Sunday that included most of the parts of the service but which took Lee hours to put together. So, the plan for this Sunday, March 29, will again feature most of the normal parts of worship, but in a “playlist” format, meaning that each segment of worship will appear in separate videos that (we hope!) will flow smoothly from one to the next. The videos won’t be live, but they will be uploaded to the internet in time for watching at our normal 10am Sunday time. They should be found on both UCV’s Facebook pages, on YouTube and on UCV’s webpage. We will also be hosting a Zoom Virtual Coffee Hour at 11am on Sunday. Details about how to connect should be available in the Thursday Thoughts each week.
Videoing our services, live or otherwise, has been something we’ve been intending to explore. In fact, we had just begun recording our services using Facebook Live a couple of weeks before we were suddenly thrust into full-technological mode. If you are on our closed UCV & Friends page (if you need help getting that set up, let any of us know and we can help), you have seen the precious video of Martinez family taking communion while watching the UCV’s service. We encourage everyone to participate as fully as you can. Perhaps you might want to light a candle before you begin to watch the service. Thursday Thoughts will give everyone a chance to submit Joys and Concerns to be lifted up on the Sunday video. Have some bread and a beverage ready to share during communion.
For those of you who need a little help figuring out how to get up to speed in this brave new world of technology, don’t hesitate to send an email or give us a call. We can be so grateful that these tools are allowing us to stay connected.
Today (3/24) I participated in two (!) Webinars (I still haven’t found time to start cleaning out my closets and pantry). The first one shared some very creative ideas about how to do Lent and Easter virtually. More on that in a moment. The second webinar was with conference UCC pastors and lay worship leaders for everyone to share how their churches were handling worship. Every church is trying to find ways to keep us connected in this time of social separation, and I was pleased that UCV was right on target with what everyone else was doing.
As we approach Holy Week and Easter, there are, of course lots of things up in the air. We had, of course, hoped to not only be able to worship together on Easter, but to be worshipping in our very own Sanctuary on Date St. So, it is disappointing that appears highly unlikely. But, we
will
be back together and it what a celebration it will be!!!
Meanwhile, as we are still trying to figure out what we can do for Holy Week and Easter, you’ll just have to stay tuned.
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This Sunday we are adding 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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The ACTS 2 Fund is a special fund designated to help members of United Church of the Valley who find themselves in financial need. It is based on the model of the early church in the second chapter of Acts:
COVID-19
is having an economic impact on our community, and our church family might be impacted as well. If you find yourself in financial need, please reach out to one of our Spiritual Counselors - Darcie Dunlop, Lee Eddy, Steve Falgout, Kerry Keester-Wellman, or Sandy Selby. If you are financially secure, perhaps you will consider contributing to our ACTS2 Fund to help a fellow member in need. Simply note ACTS2 on your donation.
To send a check, please use:
United Church of the Valley
41685 Date Street Suite 100
Murrieta, CA 92562
Or donate online:
Venmo: @ucvchurch (free)
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Behind the Virtual Pulpit in April
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We will continue providing our Sunday services online. The worship team has special services planned for Holy Week. These services will be available online on
Facebook
and
YouTube
by
Sunday morning
, and on our
Website.
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April 5th - Rev. Sharon Graff
April 12th - Easter, The UCV Team
April 19th - Rev. Stephanie Toon
April 26th - Lee Eddy
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Lori and Sandy are still under the weather. What are you doing while sheltering at home? Xsolai is reading stories to her siblings, Lynne is working and planning worship services and Ann Crutchfield is doing the same old, same old up in Anza,
Keep those who may be under the weather in your prayers.
Donna and Anne DiPardo have started Prayers and Squares--The prayer quilt ministry. We are now members of a larger organization. We are sewing quilts that will go to those that need prayers for almost any reason. Church members and friends will always ask the person if they want a prayer quilt and what do they want the people to prayer for. Then that church person or friend will tie the yarn or cord as they say a prayer for the special person. We can use more people in this group. Don't know how to sew. Well we can teach you to sew these special quilts. Prayer request forms will be available after we are in the new building. For more information call
Donna at 951-217-0735 or Anne at 319-331-1515.
Call Sandy or Donna if you need assistance with shopping or other care. We have church members willing to provide assistance. Call Chris Garcia at 760-814-7192 for assistance with grocery shopping. Don't forget to call our church friends and see how each other is doing. We are ramping up our phone ministry so people can reach out to our members and friends so we can stay connected. Please call or send your name and phone # to Donna at 951-9263871 or email
donnalouise1rn@aol.com.
Let Donna know if you would be willing to help make phone calls.
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Camp has NOT been cancelled
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Pilgrim Pines is still taking registration for summer camp in July. Conference/National camp board is waiting to see where this virus is going before making a final decision. All other camp activities have been cancelled at this time. Check status of camp at
www.pilgrimpinescamp.org
.
There will be a Unity camp on May 9th. It has not been cancelled as of now. It will be a work day. It Is a lot of fun. These work days help maintain the camp and keep cost down. Any question-ask Donna.
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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 9516891520
Or you can join by phone:
One tap mobile
or dial
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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We are so blessed that some of our talented musicians have stepped up to video music for our virtual worship. I had hoped that our UCV Choir and Bell Choir would be hard at work by now on special music for Easter. I’m still trying to figure out how to hold virtual choir rehearsals (no one I’ve talked to has any good ideas so far. Hopefully by next week, I can at least post some online listening tools to help learn some great new songs. Stay tuned.
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Although most of us are in “shelter at home” mode these days, our contractor Arnie Venti is being inventive as he manages our project. He and his son are only making occasional visits to our site, when the workers are gone, and then using Skype to coordinate the work. He has made stipulations as to how the work is to be done…only one sub-contractor at a time with the absolute minimum number of actual workers. So scheduling is becoming a little more challenging. Deb Hudson and Ruth Sharp are being updated daily, via text/email, on the progress. Deb snuck over on the 26
th
just to take a few pictures for you. Because we want you to feel as informed as possible, here is a list of the work that has been done during the month of March.
1) Framing, drywall & wall texturing of all the walls.
2) Audio/Visual wiring has been installed. All the equipment has been ordered.
3) All the remaining work for the HVAC system has been completed.
4) The emergency sprinkler system installation has been completed.
5) 80% of all the electrical has been completed and the light fixtures should be installed by end of the month.
6) The wood plank flooring has been ordered.
7) Interior painting has been scheduled.
8) Exterior building sign has been installed.
9) Double door, entrance, has been installed and the exterior landscaping has been altered to enlarge the entrance way.
There is still a lot to do but considering the major constraints that have been instituted over the past several weeks, we are pleasantly surprised with the progress that has been made.
We would like to offer our prayers and sincere thanks to not only our contractor & his family but all of the sub-contractor folks who are working efficiently and most important, safely.
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Inside this new room looking out
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New electrical behind the drywall
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New drywall and duct work
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New window letting God's light in
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Sunday Service - SUSPENDED
until further notice, we will have a Sunday online worship service.
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
AA Meeting - Monday - Friday 7am at The Community House
Voices of the Valley Youth Choir -
SUSPENDED until further notice
UCV Council Meeting - 1st Monday of the month 6pm Zoom Meeting Room
AA Meeting - Every Monday 7pm at The Community House
Women's Al-Anon Meeting - Every Wednesday 5:30pm at the Community House
Men's AA Meeting - Every Wednesday 7pm at The Community House
TVP Board Meeting - 2nd and 4th Thursday 6pm at The Community House
AA Big Book Study - Every Friday 7pm at The Community House
AA Step Meeting - Every Saturday 8am at The Community House
Trans Family Support - 1st Saturday of the month 4pm at The Community House
Citizens Climate Lobby Meeting - 2nd Saturday of the month 9:30am at The Community House
C.O.D.A.Meeting - Every Sunday 5:30pm at The Community House
AA Meeting - 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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