A Progressive Christian Community



An Open & Affirming Congregation

November 2024

Our Sunday service is live and on our Zoom channel. The recording of the service will be available online later that day on Facebook, YouTube and on our Website.

If you are planning on attending a United Church of the Valley Sunday Service or other event and require a ASL interpreter, please email admin@ucvchurch.org so that we can meet your specific needs.

From Our Beloved Moderator

Hello my Fellow UCV'ers:

I wanted to let you all know I will be stepping down from my Moderator position for next year. There have been so many changes in my life in the last 18 months and the changes aren't over as I will be moving back to Albuquerque in early spring. 

I have so much love and friendship for everyone at UCV and have greatly enjoyed my time on the Council and my various positions held. There is no way I could have gotten through the past year without the support and care of all of you and I GREATLY appreciate Rick Hayden for sliding into the leadership role so seamlessly. The entire Council needs to be commended on their fortitude and dedication while I was MIA for so long. UCV is unbelievably lucky to have the Council members it does as they truly have the church's best interests at heart.

I will definitely keep everyone posted on my plans for the next few months and am truly grateful for the years I have spent at UCV.

With love, admiration, and a little bit of reluctance...

Sherian

Worship

In October we continued to envision how we can grow as a church community. We wrapped up the exploration of what it could mean to claim the name of a “Just Peace” Congregation and then learned about our efforts to become an “Accessible to All” Congregation. We dreamed about what UCV could do and be. And, we welcomed Rev. Joe Zarro back to the pulpit to preach and baptize children from three of our families. Moving on to November, we begin by remembering our saints. Here in southern CA we have learned to appreciate the custom of El Dia de los Muertos which

celebrates this day as a time to joyfully remember those who are no longer physically with us but who live on in spirit. The tradition includes creating an Ofrenda where pictures, flowers, favorite food and other items can be placed. We are grateful for the Martinez family who help us celebrate this special day each year.

Becoming a Just Peace Congregation

UCV’s interest and involvement in Just Peace issues goes way back in UCV’s history. For example, during the first Gulf War, a faithful group from UCV and the local UU church gathered every Fri. afternoon to quietly stand for peace, not war. We stood with our Muslim brothers and sisters when they were experiencing hateful protests. Over the years, UCV has been found at the Duck Pond, in marches and rallies for an abundance of justice issues. Our long-time partnership with the poor rural community of Chacraseca, Nicaragua has been an opportunity not only to help make a difference there but also to learn firsthand about poverty and sustainable ways to help. Currently our support for Emily’s Space and our voice for inclusion and diversity are clearly what just peace looks like at the local level.

Just Peace Survey

WHAT IS JUST PEACE? Grounded in UCC polity and covenantal theology, the Just Peace Pronouncement and resulting church movement has at its core a call to alleviate systemic injustice of all kinds using non-violence, challenging us to explore the intersections between peace and justice, offering to the world the prophetic message, grounded in the hope of reconciliation in Jesus, that “Peace is possible!" - Just Peace Church Handbook, published by United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries, 2015

What UCV will Become in 2024

A Just Peace Church

A couple of years ago, UCV agreed that we wanted to go through the process of being able to be designated as a “Just Peace” church. The process is somewhat similar to that of becoming “Open and Affirming.” We are well along the process of achieving the Just Peace designation. September's sermons will focus on Just Peace, stay tuned.

An Accessibility to All Church

We have received word that we have been designated officially as an Accessibility to All (A2A) congregation. This is about becoming attitudinally welcoming to people with disabilities and mental health issues as well as working to make our buildings physically and programmatically accessible to persons with disability.

Pastoral Care Ministry

Even though we don’t have a paid pastor at UCV, we have a number of lay pastors who want to be there for you as you travel down life’s sometimes difficult road. Please contact Sandy Selby at (502) 930-2199 to receive a confidential referral. 

Music News

Choir will be rehearsing each Sunday in November (except Nov. 17) to present special music on Dec. 1, the first Sunday of Advent. If you’d like to join us, see Lynne right away.

Phone:951-249-3255 Website: www.emilysspace.org 

Instagram: @emilys_space_ Email: EmilysSpace.Murrieta@gmail.com

Joys and Concerns:

JOYS

• Sandy will be leaving for Kentucky this month to visit her granddaughter and her family.
• Laurie won a 1st place ribbon for her quilt and Donna also won a 1st place ribbon for her quilt and also a 4th place ribbon for another quilt. Buddy Richards won a 3rd place ribbon for his John Deere quilt. This happened at the Southern California Fair in Perris last month. Congratulations.
• The invitation to come swim at Jerry's place remains open. Pool is heated and he would love the company. Call him at 951-428-0827.
• The Baptism Sunday was great. Rev. Joe and Sarah Zarro and their children were there. Rev. Joe was our former pastor. He performed the baptism for River Hayden Garcia. Parents are Aimee Hayden and Richard Garcia. Grandparents are Rick and Karen Hayden. Also baptized was Evelyn Wolfe. Parents are Andrew and Carrie Wolfe. Grandparents are Dennis and Corina. Wolfe. Also baptized were Bella, John, and William, and Yasmine Llamas-Martinez. Parents are Irene and Rocio Liamas-Martinez. A reception was held after the church service. 
• The monthly lunch group met at the Sizzler for a great time.
• The Pumpkin Glow was a great success. Thanks to the Martinez family. We had a movie, dinner, pumpkin carving, and a costume contest. This was hosted by the Martinez family and the Youth from Emily's Place.  
• We will be collecting food bags for the Murrieta Food Pantry. Look for the list of suggested food items in this newsletter. The bags will be given out before Thanksgiving.
• We will need small wrapped candy to fit into the tissue rolls. We will put the rolls together at this month's pot luck. The rolls will be distributed just before Christmas at the Murrieta 
• Food Pantry. Thank you all for your support.  

 CONCERNS

• For Laurie's son Jason who continues fighting cancer.
• For Becky's sister.

So Calif/Nevada Conference UCC

Please mark your calendars for the ordination of Barbara Christensen on Feb. 2, 2025. It will be in the afternoon/evening with the exact time to be determined.

 We raised over $1500 at Apple Pie Day. Money will be used for the campership fund. The following people had a great day at camp: Laurie, Jerry, Becky, Fran and Donna. There was a dedication of the Health Center which is now called the Pond Lodge. It was remodeled and is A2A. Weather was great. We heard a little about what is going on at camp and had a great lunch. Some of us went hiking up the hill and were shown around the camp by Donna. Hope that you all can come up to camp sometime. It is an awesome place.  

Pilgrim Pines now has a guide to giving. Go to pilgrimpinescamp.org for information on how you can help with upgrading the camp. There has not been a major camp renovation campaign in years. Please help us with maintaining and repairing the camp.

UCV is now offering a change in our name badges. We are offering to put your requested pronouns (below your name). If this is a replacement name badge, there will be a charge of $12.00 otherwise there is no cost for your 1st one. If you are a member and don't have a name badge or want a replacement just let Deb Hudson know.

Farm Workers of Deluz

Becky Sulzmann, is one of the coordinators for this effort will be our 'point person' for this campaign. Her contact information is:

Becky Sulzmann

847-507-9305

becsulzmann@gmail.com

45002 Corte Zorita 

Temecula, Ca. 92592

See below for a full listing of needs

• all Soups, no boxed soups please
• breakfast cereals or anything breakfast related
• shelf-stable milk
• canned chicken, tuna, beef
• instant coffee
• powdered creamer
• water
• masa
• canned fruit
• top ramen
• apple sauce
• pasta
• canned stews
• pasta sauce
• peanut butter
• popcorn kernels
• quinoa
• rice
• chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• green pickled whole jalapeno peppers
• tortilla chips
• trail mix
• instant oatmeal/hot cereals
• can openers (sturdy)
• canned vegetables
• salt/pepper/spices
• chicken, beef, and vegetable broths and stock, not boxed
• dried fruits
• healthy snacks for kids
• honey
• juices for kids
• nuts, salted and unsalted
• canola oil or lard
• band aids
• paper towels
• soap-bath, dish detergent
• towels/wash cloths
• shampoo
• rubbing alcohol
• peroxide
• pain ointment or cream
• anti itch cream
• sunscreen
• toilet paper
• toothbrushes and toothpaste
• sanitizing wipes
• work gloves
• calamine lotion
• feminine hygiene supplies - no pads please

2024 Church Council

November Birthdays

• 7th - Helen Ortega
• 15th - Ruth Sharp
• 17th - Sean Barnett
• 23rd - Keira Eddy
• 28th - Kathryn Barnett
• 30th - Sherry Turner

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. 

Sunday Service - Live and on Zoom, 10AM

Book Club - We are meeting online every Sunday at 9am Zoom Meeting Room

UCV Council Meeting - 1st Sunday of the month 11:15am Zoom Meeting Room

AA Meeting - Every Monday 7pm

Women's Al-Anon Meeting - Every Wednesday 5:30pm

Men's AA Meeting - Every Wednesday 7pm

OA - 12 Step Program - Thursday 6:30pm - 7:30pm

A Big Book Study - Every Friday 7pm

C.O.D.A.Meeting - Every Sunday 5:30pm (Currently still on Zoom)

The Community House is located at

41685 Date Street, Murrieta 92562

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