United Church of the Valley
A Partnership Church
United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ
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A Progressive Christian Community
A Just Peace Congregation
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Jamie Barnett
Acting Moderator
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In Awesome Wonder
The James Webb telescope launched into space on a rocket Christmas morning. It is a remarkable piece of equipment that folded up like origami art to fit into the rocket. It is now in the process of unfolding in space. It will take a month or so to fully unfold and about six months before it is useful (if all goes well).
When I listen to the physicists and astronomers talk about the project and what they hope to see, I hear the same “awesome wonder” sung about in the hymn “How Great Thou Art.” This wonder and curiosity are contagious. The scientists talk about being able to look back in time to the earliest galaxies formed in the universe. Looking back in time! That is hard to wrap my mind around. I have to start close to home and work my way out. Light from the sun takes about 8 minutes to reach us so when we see the sun, we are really seeing the sun about 8 minutes ago. The light from Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky, takes about 9 years to reach us so we are looking back in time 9 years when we see it. The closest galaxy to ours is 2.5 million light-years away, and there are trillions of galaxies. At this point my mind is blown and I am in a state of “awesome wonder.” Whether I am looking at insects in my garden or galaxies far, far away, it is the same awesome wonder. Some lines from a James Taylor song put it this way:
The planets spinning in space
The smile upon your face
Welcome to the human race
Isn’t it a lovely ride
Another bright star shining in our universe has been Bishop Desmond Tutu who died the day after Christmas. After tirelessly working for an end to apartheid in South Africa, he headed up the commission for “truth and reconciliation.” Victims and perpetrators of horrible violence were given the opportunity to sit together in the truth of what had occurred. Often there was forgiveness and great healing. This level of forgiveness is as difficult to fathom as looking back in time to the beginnings of the universe. Again, awesome wonder.
It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve on Church Council for the past couple of years. My last “Moderator Monday” will be next Monday, Jan 3rd. Next month we will vote on a new slate of council members. I hope to see you at the Annual Congregational Meeting after church on January 9th. At that time there will be some adjustments offered to the By-Laws, the 2022 Operating Budget & that new slate of Council Officers to vote on. It is important that your voice be heard so please plan on attending. Kathryn and I wish you all love and joy in the new year.
Jamie
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Our Peace Pole has been refreshed and relocated, it now sits in front of the United Church of the Valley building, a totem of peace and hope for all people. A place to come and sit and reflect on life.
Thanks Ruth, Sherian and everyone who made this happen.
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Archie Aitcheson
A True American Hero (1924 - 2021)
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Looking at this image of the bomber with signatures all around the frame |
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Celebrating Archies Birthday |
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Archie with hugs from Sherian and Ruth and I have to say that Archie is wearing the perfect shirt, he was a long time Boston Red Sox fan. |
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It’s sad to have to write this but for those of you who haven’t heard yet we lost our long-time friend and member Archie Aitcheson who was an incredibly youthful 97 years young (though born on February 29th, Leap Day, he was really 28). There are so very many adjectives we could use to describe him, but I think my favorites are hero and friend.
Archie was one of the very first people to welcome Ruth and I to UCV. He taught me to make coffee for after service. He probably made more coffee than any barista on the planet and was so disappointed when he got to the point where he was unable to continue doing it because of his vision. I always looked forward to his hugs and gentle strength and his unwavering commitment to doing what he thought was right, regardless of whether it was the popular choice or not.
I will never forget his broad smile and hearty laugh. Nor will I forget the moments when his eyes danced with delight at the yearly Christmas Cantata or over someone else’s happiness or great accomplishment. I will not forget the times when he would tell “HIS story” on his Liberation Day or on Veteran’s Day. His eyes would well up, his voice would crack, and he would have to take a minute to compose himself as he was flooded with memories of his time in the service. Just like his emotion was visible when he spoke of the loves in his life… kids, grandkids, great and great-great grandkids, and especially Lois, his wife. And I sincerely feel none of us will forget how much he enjoyed a good story, whether it was one of his own or someone else’s.
Duty, decency, reliability, honor, dignity, respect: these are all qualities my friend not only held in high esteem but practiced every day during his time on this earth. He was a serious and disciplined man but could never resist the opportunity to have a laugh with friends and loved ones, given half the chance.
Carrying on your friend’s legacy is a dutiful task. Trying to live a lesson they taught through their way of life is the best way to honor them. The prayer by Theodore Parker Ferris says so much about what Archie wanted me to learn.
“Teach me, O Lord, not to hold on to life too tightly. Teach me to hold it lightly; not carelessly, but lightly, easily. Teach me to take is as a gift, to enjoy and cherish while I have it, and let it go gracefully and thankfully when the time comes. The gift is great, but the Giver is greater still. Thou, O God, art the Giver and in thee is the Life that never dies.”
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SPENDING YOUR DASH
I READ OF A MAN WHO STOOD TO SPEAK,
AT THE FUNERAL OF A FRIEND.
HE REFERRED TO THE DATES ON HER TOMBSTONE,
FROM THE BEGINNING…TO THE END
HE NOTED THAT FIRST CAME THE DATE OF HER BIRTH,
AND SPOKE OF THE FOLLOWING DATE WITH TEARS.
BUT HE SAID WHAT MATTERED MOST OF ALL,
WAS THE DASH BETWEEN THOSE TWO DATES.
(1924 - 2021)
FOR THAT DASH REPRESENTS ALL THE TIME,
THAT SHE SPENT ALIVE ON THIS EARTH…
AND NOW ONLY THOSE WHO LOVED HER,
KNOW SWHAT THAT LITTLE LINE IS WORTH.
FOR IT MATTERS NOT, HOW MUCH WE OWN;
THE CARS…THE HOUSE…THE CASH.
WHAT MATTERS IS HOW WE LIVE AND LOVE,
AND HOW WE SPEND OUR DASH!
SO THINK ABOU THIS LONG AND HARD…
FOR YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH TIME IS LEFT,
THAT CAN STILL BE REARRANGED.
IF WE COULD JUST SLOW DOWN ENOUGH
TO CONSIDER WHAT’S TRUE AND REAL,
AND ALWAYS TRY TO UNDERSTAND
THE WAY OTHER PEOPLE FEEL.
AND BE LESS QUICK TO ANGER,
AND WHO APPRECIATION MORE.
AND LOVE THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES,
LIKE WE’VE NEVER LOVED BEFORE.
IF WE TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT,
AND MORE OFTEN WEAR A SMILE…
REMEMBERING THAT THIS SPECIAL DASH,
MIGHT ONLY LASAT A LITTLE WHILE.
SO, WHEN YOUR EULOGY’S BEING READ,
WITH YOUR LIFE’S ACTIONS TO REHASH…
WOULD YOU BE PROUD OF THE THINGS THEY SAY,
ABOUT HOW YOU SPENT YOUR DASH?
Rest in Peace Archie...You will be missed.
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Kid’s Church is Back Every
Sunday During the Service
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Words of gratitude from our Angel Tree Family
"Thank you so much for the many gifts,
the boys had the best Christmas ever."
God Bless
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What a Busy, Busy December! |
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Things were rockin’ and rollin’ at UCV in December for fun events used for fund raising! 😊 A sincere THANK YOU to everyone who participated whether by creating fun items for the Holiday Bazaar (and of course those who purchased items). We raised a much needed $700 for the general fund! WOO HOO!!
Also, THANK YOU to all the Prayers & Squares Quilters for the absolutely amazing work they did and displayed for sale! A special shout out to Edna Wright for the beautiful quilt she created to raffle off. The team raised $350 for their group and another $700 or so for the general fund. Their talent and generosity never cease to amaze me.
Finally, our Angel Tree family was eternally grateful for the gifts everyone provided. It is a great feeling to know we made someone’s holiday, especially at a time when things are still a bit out of the norm. Rumor has it, there were even some tears shed at Mom’s appreciation.
Thank you EVERYONE for what ended on a high note after a year of finally being able to use our building and come together to celebrate throughout 2021. Here’s to an even more exciting 2022 and be on the lookout for info on the rescheduling of our Building Dedication on Feb. 27,
2022. Happy New Year!
Sherian
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Congregational Meeting
January 9, 2022 11:30am
Live and on Zoom
Time to vote on the annual budget and your church council
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On Sunday January 9, 2022, right after Sunday Service, we will hold our annual congregational meeting. We will all have the opportunity to vote on the 2022 proposed budget, changes to By-Law's and a new church council.
You will receive an email next week that will have a copy of the proposed budget attached for you to review prior to the meeting. Once reviewed, you can vote using the online ballot (there will be a link provided) or you can wait and vote at the meeting.
You can also use this link to go to the website where you can access both the proposed budget and the online ballot (the links will be active once the proposed budget has been uploaded the beginning of this coming week. You must be a member to vote.
Thank you
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All services will be live and on Zoom beginning at 10am every Sunday. The live service will be recorded and available on the UCV website, Facebook and YouTube later in the day. |
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Behind the Pulpit in January |
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During the month of January 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.
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January 2nd - Rev. Dr. Sharon Graff
January 9th - Lee Eddy
January 16th - Rev. Stephanie Toon
January 23rd - Sandy Selby
January 30th - Bil Aulenbach (brown bag lunch with Bill to talk about Progressive Christianity)
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Before turning the page to 2022, let’s take a minute to reflect on the past year. Certainly not without its great challenges, 2021 has had plenty of positives as well. Our Lenten season focused on the Prayer of St. Francis, focusing on different parts of the prayer each week. By the end of Lent, we were worshipping in the parking lot just outside our new sanctuary. And, after carefully studying covid protocols and how some of our sister churches were handling them, we moved inside beginning on Pentecost Sunday. We were disappointed to have to postpone the dedication of our church building in September, but we used the time around the 20th anniversary of 9/11 to focus on just peace and revolutionary love, moving outside for communion around our newly installed peace pole. And in December, during Advent, we pondered the Celtic understanding of God not as separate but intertwined within all beings—in earth, air, water and fire, looking at the Advent stories with new eyes, using the wisdom of John O’Donoghue to amplify traditional scriptures. A special shout out also to Ruth and Lorian Dunlop for the amazing Celtic music each week. And, while we’re in a reflective mood, may I extend gratitude to all who make our services meaningful each week. It truly takes a village!
Now, we begin 2022 with great hope. Dr. Sharon Graff will start us off with new Epiphany words as each of us will receive our own personal word. Sharon says, “these simple one-word angel cards are here to be our partners as we grow in Spirit in 2022.” We welcome Lee Eddy as speaker Jan. 9. On Jan. 16, Rev. Stephanie Toon will preach, and we’ll celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sandy Selby has a special message for us on Jan. 23 about sharing the “divine light” within ourselves. Finally, on Jan. 30 it will be good to again have Rev. Bil Aulenbach in the pulpit. Bil has offered to stay after church for a discussion about progressive Christianity. He’s suggesting we bring brown bag lunches for an informal chat. Watch for more details later in the month.
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Need Space for your Recovery Meeting?
3 Sizes of Rooms Available·
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3 Sizes of Rooms Available |
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Room A: up to 6 people (top)
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Library: 7 – 15 people (middle)
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Sanctuary: 16 – 50 people (bottom)
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Storage available for Recovery brochures and supplies (limited)
Coffee Pot and supplies available for use in Kitchen
TV screens available in Library and Sanctuary for presentations
Donations:
Room A - $15 / week based on one meeting per week
Library - $20 / week based on one meeting per week
Sanctuary - $25 / week based on one meeting per week
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**½ off first month’s cost while you establish your meeting
(During Covid we ask that all CDC guidelines are followed regarding masks, cleaning and chair spacing)
Who We Are… United Church of the Valley is a small United Church of Christ / Disciples of Christ located in the Temecula/Murrieta Valley. No matter where you are on your journey, you are welcome here.
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United church of the valley
41685 Date Street, Suite 100
Murrieta, CA 92562
Website: ucvchurch.org
Phone: 951.698.1520
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T'ai Chi with Paul Dallas |
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Prayers and Squares
The Prayer Quilt Ministry
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We blessed and presented 7 quilts in December. All have been gratefully received.
We will be meeting once again in January. Our schedule is flexible. Call Edna at 909-518-9978 if you are interested in joining us.
Edna delivered 3 more quilts to the Anchor facility in Lake Elsinore for those in transitional housing. The total quilts donated to them now stands at 17.
Congratulations to Kathryn Barnett who won the Christmas quilt.
We welcome fabric donations.
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What a great joy it was for our choir to again be able to sing! Our annual cantata, this one sparkling with delightful Celtic tunes, was presented on Dec. 5. Even though all the singers as well as our flutes and clarinet wore masks, it felt so good to sing! On Dec. 19, when we went outside for communion and to safely sing some carols together, everyone sang with special intensity and joy. We’ve missed singing together as a community! Let’s hope that, after covid settles down, we can safely begin to do more singing. |
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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
P.O. Box 1312
Murrieta, CA 92564
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Or donate online:
(3.5% fee)
Venmo: @ucvchurch (free)
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UCV Birthday Bank
January Birthdays
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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?
January Birthdays
- Aimee Hayden - 2nd
- Kyle Hayden - 2nd
- Joanne Skinner - 3rd
- Sarah Halverson - 9th
- Phoebe Eddy - 15th
- Michael Banks - 17th
- Dennis Wolfe - 23rd
- Becky Harris - 30th
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Please email any joys & concerns you would like read aloud to Sherian Spencer at sherianspencer@gmail.com. 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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You can find our Sermons, past and present, on our YouTube channel (click the video) as well as our website (click the button). |
It was good to have Rev. Leslie Penrose and her husband, Steve, worshipping with us a couple of weeks ago. Just Hope, the non-profit Leslie founded and that UCV has been active with since its inception, has been posting the success stories of several members of the Chacraseca community. The story this week is Claribel’s story about how the water project has changed her life. UCV was very much involved in that story as well. The community leaders of Chacraseca were so determined to bring potable running water to their community that they sought out a grant from the Austrian government to provide materials. And then men, women, and children in the Chacraseca dug trenches and laid the pipes. Some of the most remote areas were especially challenging, but the motto was “water for everyone, not just some”. When UCV made our first trip to Chacraseca in 2008, water was just beginning to be available, so when we returned home, we began many fund-raising projects to help bring “agua por todos”. We even bought cases of water and sold them at a high markup price to not only raise money but also to remind us all of what a gift we have to be able to open a tap and depend on safe water (sadly, we’re learning that even in the US, not everyone can depend on that to be true). And, a few years later, when a big storm took out one of the main pumps for the water project, UCV again dug deep to be able to help to restore clean water. So, this story about Claribel should especially resonate with us:
“My name is Claribel, and I am 33 years old. I have two children, a boy and a girl. I am from La Concepción Sector of Chacraseca.
Before having potable water in our home, I had to draw water from the well. This involved waking up at 5 a.m. in order to set the oxen up with the rope to walk an 80-meter circle around the well to work the pump for two hours. I had to do this every two days to gather water for the seven people in our household.
Using this process, I filled seven barrels and the concrete pool where we would store water. The first water drawn was only used to wash our clothes, water the plants, and for the animals. The water I drew in the middle was what was good to drink, enough for just two days for the whole family.
Now it is good to have potable water coming through a tap at home. At the beginning of the project, we faced some problems getting water every day because ACOPADES (Chacraseca's community organization) did not have the equipment needed, and they have to provide water to the entire community. Thanks to the hard work of ACOPADES, the system has improved and now we have water every day. They have invested in new water wells and other equipment for a better service.
Sometimes we have no water because the electricity goes out or storms or other emergencies disrupt the pumps. But I always have barrels filled with water to drink and for other uses. I change the water periodically, so we are drinking good water.
We are so happy about the ways that potable water has improved our lives. Our community is healthier because of the water program. It is one of the most important community projects. In my sector everybody has running water, though some people still use their well water for the animals or to wash their clothes.”
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Thank you to all who helped with the 365 candy rolls that were handed out at the Murrieta food bank just before Christmas. Thank you to volunteers from the Temecula Kohls for filling the pre-wrapped tubes.
The Christmas Bazaar was a success as was the Prayers and Squares boutique. Congratulations to Kathryn Barnett for winning the Christmas Tree quilt that was made by Edna Wright.
This past month we lost our beloved Archie Aitchison. Cards can be sent to the family at 32162 Caminita Osuna Temecula, CA 92592. Services possibly will be in the spring of 2022.
Donna Richards' grandchildren lost their mother and Donna lost her brother in a car crash. Her sister-in-law survived.
It sure is good to be in our church facility with our friends. Please continue to send cards to our homebound members. They so very much appreciate your cards. For more information such as names and addresses, please contact Donna at 951-217-0735
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Winter camp is quickly approaching. This camps for 6th thru 12th graders. It will be on President's week-end--Feb. 18th-21st. We will probably have family pods again if we are still following Covid guidelines. Registration will be online at www.pilgrimpinescamp.org. Camperships are available. Register before Jan. 15th. Fees go up after Jan. 15th. Any questions--ask Donna at 951-217-0735.
The Outdoor Ministries Committee is also working on the 2022 summer camp program. We are hoping to have 2 weeks of summer camp at the camp and 1 week of in-home camp. Renovation to the Health Center will be starting soon. Camp is doing their best to make folks with disabilities more comfortable at camp
Apple Pie Day in Oct had over 100 people on Saturday with some families spending the weekend. Weather was great. There were all kinds of activities and programs as well as the chili and apple pie lunch. Camp items were on sale to help raise money for the campership fund. Rose, who works at the camp, won the tee shirt. Laurie and Sandy attended the camp for the 1st time. We had a fun day.
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Services will be live and on Zoom at 10am on Sundays. The live service will be recorded and available on the UCV website, Facebook and YouTube later in the day. |
Even fellowship can be online, thanks to the innovative minds at Zoom! Join us for Sunday Service live and on zoom beginning at 10am. 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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Sunday Service - Live and on Zoom, 10AM
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 - SUSPENDED further notice. We are meeting online every Sunday at 9am Zoom Meeting Room
AA Meeting - 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 - Every Monday 7pm
Women's Al-Anon Meeting - Every Wednesday 5:30pm
Men's AA Meeting - Every Wednesday 7pm
TVP Board Meeting - Currently on Zoom
AA Big Book Study - Every Friday 7pm
AA Step Meeting - Every Saturday 8am
Trans Family Support - 1st Saturday of the month 4pm
Citizens Climate Lobby Meeting - 2nd Saturday of the month 9:30am
C.O.D.A.Meeting - Every Sunday 5:30pm (Currently still on Zoom)
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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