A Progressive Christian Community



An Open & Affirming Congregation

September 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.

Becoming a Just Peace Congregation

In her article in this newsletter, Rev. Jen Zechlin chronicles the journey our congregation has been on to discern if we are ready to declare ourselves a Just Peace Congregation. Actually, 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. UCV already is a Just Peace church. So, the study and discussion we will be engaged in during Sept., culminating in a congregational vote on Oct. 6, is just the formality of our officially covenanting to be a Just Peace Congregation. So, our worship on September 8 – 29 will be devoted to taking those final steps. 

Sunday Sept. 15 is proclaimed by the United Church of Christ as Just Peace Sunday and the theme is “Things That Make for Just Peace.” That is precisely the theme we will be exploring throughout September. Each week will consider “Things That Make for Just Peace” through the lens of each of four “spheres” of Just Peace (In our Community, With the Earth, In the Marketplace, and Among Nations).  The format for each of these Sundays will include a time for sharing ideas. Each week, after a slightly briefer message, we as a congregation will brainstorm what Just Peace in that sphere could/should look like here at UCV. For example, on Sept. 8 the topic is Just Peace in the Community: so that all may live free from fear. Our discussion (brainstorming) will consider what things we already do and what additional ways we as UCV and as individuals can do to support just peace here in our communities. We’ll follow the same format for the ensuing Sundays. We hope everyone can be present each Sunday in September! Oh, and yes, we still are in the liturgical Common Time of Pentecost, with its liturgical color of green. 

On The Road to Just Peace

On Sunday, January 14^th, 2024 we embarked on the journey to becoming a Just Peace Church using the Radical Resilience series from The Center for Action and Contemplation. Each Sunday we began with a few minutes of centering and contemplation before reading together Sunday’s Meditation and sharing our thoughts.

With its focus on individual resilience in a difficult world, this was the perfect preparation for our next two books which together make up UCV’s formal study of what is means to become and be a Just Peace Church.

We then began Valerie Kuar’s seminal work, See No Stranger. This book – and Valerie’s experience of being a Sikh-American in the culture that fostered discrimination and violence against Muslims and those mistakenly presumed to be Muslim in the wake of 911 – taught us, in a very Thomas Mertonian way, that every person we meet is simple a part of us we don’t yet know and that there are no strangers. Valerie 10 different points, of stages necessary to the work of social justice beginning with the simple, yet sometimes difficult, notion that when we take the time to wonder about another (not an “other”!) This leads to the desire to listen to who they are and what their experiences have been, which in turn leads to empathy. We may never come to agreement with someone, but we should always work towards and from a place of empathy.

Two weeks ago, the congregation was asked to begin reading the book, Just Peacemaking: Ten Practices for Abolishing War as our final guide for this journey we’ve been on together for nearly a year now. This book gives specific and concreate ways we, as individuals and as a faith community, can do to make this world of ours a more peaceful and just place. It is my hope that everyone is following along with the weekly e-mailed study guides.

In September, there will be a focus all month on Just Peace. Lynne has put together a fantastic month-long program leading up to the congregational vote directly following the service on October 6^th. Make sure to read the article from the Worship Committee for more information.

Of course, this is simply for the formality of being designated as being a Just Peace Church within the UCC, something that signals to others what we stand for and what we work for – and work we will! In fact, that is what this past year has been about; equipping UCV to do the work of the Kin-dom and what an honor it is to have been on this journey with you all!

Rev. Jen

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

Accessibility to All (A2A) 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. We are so very close to achieving this prestigious designation. It could very well happen in the next month or two. Stay Tuned.

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

There’s a lot going on this fall, so stay tuned for information soon about rehearsal for choir and handbells through fall and the advent/Christmas seasons.

Adult Education

There is exciting news from the Christian Education dept! For adults we are debuting a new class format as we move into our last leg of the learning about what it means to be a Just Peace church. The Kids have new curriculum and lots of crafts, games, and activities lined up to keep our learning fun! Continue reading below for all the details.

We will be reading our final book in our Just Peace studies, and we are asking EVERYONE to get a copy to read. The book is, Just Peacemaking: The New Paradigm for the Ethics of Peace and War by Glen H. Stassen, ISBN # 082981793X. You can find it on Amazon or your preferred book seller. This is the newest edition (2008) but if you happen to have the 2004 edition, there’s no need to get the newer.

The reason we’re asking everyone to read this book is simple – this study will be followed by the congregational vote on whether or not we want to commit to being an officially designated Just Peace Church. Because of this, we’re also making this study as accessible as possible. Here’s how it will work –

Each week you’ll read a chapter or two. An email will be sent to you that will have a few questions and/or points of consideration to help guide your reading. That can be the end of your commitment to this “class”, but, we hope it’s not.

You’ll be able to reply to the email sent out with thoughts, questions, conversation. Ideally, everyone would add to the discussion, on their own schedule.

And if that’s not exciting enough, for those who may want to delve deeper into any or all of the chapters the Zoom Class will be available every week via Zoom and 8am on Sundays. Feel free to come to any week’s class that interests you or come to them all!

The following are dates you will need:

August 18 (Week of) – The week of Aug. 18 the first email will reach you. This email will also be posted to the UCV Facebook page. You can begin replying/discussing immediately.

August 25 – Zoom Class Begins at 8am.

October 6 – World Wide Communion Sunday, which can only be enhanced by our understanding of Peace and Justice. The Congregational Vote will take place immediately following the service. Voting will happen in person and on Zoom for all UCV Members.

I hope you all are looking forward to this opportunity to learn more about how we as individuals and as a church can be peacemakers and justice seekers as much as I am!

Wonder Kids!

Children’s Christian Education

There are exciting things happening for UCV kids!

Beginning September 8^th, the Children’s class will meet EVERY WEEK. Children in grades Pre-K through 5^th will now be escorted to the classroom every Sunday during the main service. Children will return in time to join their families for communion.

We have a FULL year of fun and learning planned and I am especially thrilled to announce that we’ll begin by learning about Revolutionary Love.

For those who studied Valerie Kuar’s book, See No Stranger with the adult class – or even if you just follow along with the happenings of the Adult Ed. Dept. – you’ll know how pivotal this book was to our exploration into becoming a designated Just Peace Church. Along with the book, Ms. Kuar’s Revolutionary Love Project also published an Educator’s Guide which I leaned on heavily to create each chapter’s study guides.

I was THRILLED when Valerie’s JUST PUBLISHED children’s book, World of Wonder, was released in time to begin our church school year with. World of Wonder invites us on a journey with Wonder Baby. We wonder about the earth and discover the awe that inspires care. We wonder about people suffering injustice and find that listening to stories inspires courage. We wonder about someone who inflicts cruelty—and discover the power of repair and connection. Wonder Baby wonders about their own emotions, even when tears come pouring down: “You are a part of me I don’t yet know.” Wonder becomes the conduit to love: it creates the conditions for kindness, care, and courage.

World of Wonder also comes with access to an Early Childhood Educator’s Guide which will provide me with lots of ideas of things to incorporate into the children’s class to make it even more fun and dynamic. This book and accompanying guide will serve as the spine for a full, age-appropriate, exploration into social justice, peacemaking, awe-finding, and deep listening. This series is expected to take us up to Advent.

Kid’s Church, will now be known as Wonder Kids!

Volunteer Opportunities

We could not have a children’s program without the small, but mighty, group of volunteers that have dedicated their time. As you can imagine, meeting with the kids weekly will stretch everyone even more thinly. We are seeking 2 or 3 folks who believe in the future of UCV enough to give 1 hour a month to help in the classroom. This does not include any direct teaching or lesson prep (unless you’d like to!). If we could enlist 3 people for ONE HOUR a month, everyone would be able to rotate and have a break on their weeks off. Let Rev. Jen know at deeprootsacademy@hotmail.com or speak with Sandy Selby. Full training and support provided.

A small snack is usually provided during class, because who doesn’t remember the joy of a cookie and cup of juice in Sunday School? We have two types of snacks – the cookie and juice type offered most weeks and the occasional themed snacks that are specific and are a part of the lesson plan (for instance when we learn about the life of Jesus, I’ll be looking for foods he may have eaten such as dates, figs, flat breads, etc.). If you can provide either of these let us know! For themed snacks I will usually put out a request a week or two before they are needed in my Thursday Thoughts and in the Facebook group.

In the same vein as snacks, sometimes we need special items such as craft supplies and kits, books, games, and other supplies necessary to keep our learning fun. In order to stretch our very small budget as far as possible we are always VERY appreciative of those able to donate these items. Again, watch the Thursday Thoughts and Facebook group for ways you can help. It truly does take a village, or in this case, a whole-church community!

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

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

WAYS YOU CAN HELP EMILY’S SPACE:

Confidentiality Please respect the confidentiality of our Youth that attend. They may not feel comfortable being identified as an attendee. Also, we are cautious about posting our address, as we know this part of the Inland Empire might attract aggressive attention. We encourage folks to text us or direct message us to get the address. 

Meal Prep and Delivery Please reach out to us- call/text 951-249-3255 if you are able to deliver a meal at 5:15p on a Tuesday. We have a few gluten free and vegetarian students. We can give you ideas. Or you can donate money or gift cards - Domino’s, Panda Express, Taco Bell, Subway, Stater Bros. 

Marketing Materials We’d love to represent Emily’s Space with some logo’d T-shirts, a Banner, and table clothes. We believe a gift of $500 would cover these marketing materials. Please reach out to Helen Ortega, 951-901-0884, if you want to help with this special project. 

Time and Talent If you have a fun organization, field trip idea, or know a speaker for our group, please share with us! If you are awesome at organizing, community outreach, fundraising, legal advice on how to become a non profit organization, or bookkeeping, - we could use your time and talents!



If you'd like, you can Donate through UCV, please note it’s for Emily’s Space.

News from Nicaragua

There is a little good new amidst a lot of continuing challenges in Nicaragua. First, the good news. In 2009, the second year a group of UCV went to Chacraseca to build a house and lead a music camp, I met Ricardo Garcia. At the music camp, we had a big group of elementary and high school kids who were enthusiastic but had very little experience singing or probably even hearing music (this was before cell phones got to

this rural community). We were trying everything we knew to help the kids match pitch. It was (as it always is) especially difficult to get the boys with changed voices to find their ”masculine” voice. Ricardo was among about 10 guys whose voices had changed (or were in the process of changing). I was working with this group, going around and trying to help each of the guys with not much success—until I came to Ri cardo. With just a little help, he was able to find his male voice—and it was a great voice! For the

rest of the camp, Ricardo was a leader helping others. On the last day, I asked everyone to share one thing they had learned during the week. Ricardo raised his hand and said “I learned how to sing and I discovered I really like to sing.” Of course, that melted my heart. Ricardo participated in several more music camps and was always a great leader and talented singer. So, you can imagine that my buttons popped this week when I got the news that Roberto is now Dr. Garcia! He has finished medical

school (thanks to Just Hope scholarships) and has begun to practice medicine.

The bad news (or lack of good news) continues with a government that is making it virtually impossible for foreign NGO’s (non-government organizations) to function in Nicaragua. Just Hope, the NGO UCV has worked with for 16 years, has been forced to suspend their physical presence in Nicaragua because of this new policy . Mujeres

Unidas, the very successful Chacraseca women’s group that has provided life-changing micro loans, has applied for legal, official status as a government-recognized non-profit. This process has being going on for two years. Every time their lawyer thinks they are nearing the finish line, another hurdle surfaces. No one knows when –or if—they will finally will achieve that status which would allow Just Hope to function thru them. It’s very frustrating and disappointing to say the least.

Prayers and Concerns for:

• Edna
• Laurie for her son Jason who is having treatments for cancer.
• Lorian
• Sherian
• Fran and her sister Gina
• Irene and Rocio-they are missing Xsolai who is now in college in Santa Barbara

Joys:

• Xsolai and Ruth are away at college. 
• Becky S.
• Becky Hawkins has a new caregiver during the week.

• Save the pop tops off of the aluminum cans and give them to Donna. She will donate them to the Ronald McDonald house.
• Please bring aluminum cans and recyclable bottles to church. Money goes to the general found.
• Start saving the toilet tissue rolls for the candy give out at the Food Pantry in Dec. Please give them to Donna.

So Calif/Nevada Conference UCC

Go to scncucc.org for all kind of happenings in our conference. There is a calendar of events for our conference minister and other events that are happening in our conference. We are a busy and exciting conference in the Southern/Nevada area.

Christian Church (DOC) Pacific Southwest Region News

The Regional Assembly for 2024 is on Friday and Saturday Oct. 18th and 19th. It will be held at the Disciples Ministry Center in Fullerton, CA. 

 Go to docpswr.org for more info and registration and for many more activities and programs going on in the DOC church in our area.

Apple Pie Day will be on Saturday Oct. 12th. There will be events all day long. There will be a luncheon with apple pie. Reservations will be needed for lunch.  There will be a family camp on the same weekend.  

Go to pilgrimpinescamp.org for more information.

Ask Donna about the camp. that is located in Oak Glen which is above the town of Beaumont.                                                                                              

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

The farm workers and their families can use your help with just obtaining the basics. Please help if you can. You can see a full list of the most needed items and how to help with a check or Venmo donation by clicking the link below. This is an ongoing need in this area and your help would be appreciated. A UCV regular visitor, 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

2024 Church Council

September Birthdays

• John Preble - 5th
• Danielle Turner - 12th
• Lorian Dunlop - 20th
• Sherian Spencer - 20th
• Celeste Preble - 21st

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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