Sunday Services Music: 9:45am Service: 10am

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1 December 2018 Number 12 Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 5654 Ralston Street Ventura, CA 805/ Dec. 2 Christmas Past: The Good Old Days Never Were Rev. Dana Worsnop and Worship Associate Maura Raffensperger. Dec. 8 Calm on the Listening Ear Rev. Maddie Sifantus, UU Church of Santa Paula and Worship Associates Sue Brinkmeyer and Joe Hutchins. Rev. Maddie Sifantus from the UU Church of Santa Paula and Rev. Dana revive the age-old practice of the pulpit exchange. Rev. Maddie will come to us as Rev. Dana speaks there. Rev. Maddie will sing! Dec. 15 A Bluesy Christmas Rev. Dana Worsnop and Worship Associate Krista Mendelsohn. We ll acknowledge the blues that can accompany us through the holiday season, bringing a sense of mystery and light. Dec. 23 Something Solstice This Way Comes Rev. Dana Worsnop and Worship Associate Maura Raffensperger. Sunday Services Music: 9:45am Service: 10am December's Theme is Mystery In this darkest time of the year, think back to moments when life suddenly and mysteriously lit up and reminded you of the marvel and preciousness of being alive. Perhaps even moments when you had a feeling of dancing with the sacred. We UUs do love puzzles and questions and mysteries to be solved. Yet what if some mysteries are there to figure out, simply to be listened to and experienced? This holiday season at UUCV we will look back to the history of our modern Christmas, find time for lots of singing to bring calm and comfort to what is too often a season fraught with an anxiety which defies the mysterious. We ll welcome the Solstice and the mysteries of Christmas Eve in services at 5:30pm and 9:30pm Dec. 24 5:30pm Bring the whole family to The Gift and Mysteries of Giving a service led by Rev. Dana, DRE Emily Carroll and Worship Associate Chris Chalquest. Youth and Adult Choirs will sing, folks of all ages will don animal costumes, we ll sing lots of carols as we await Christmas Day and its many gifts. 9:30pm We will be Sitting with Mystery at a quieter and more contemplative service with Rev. Dana, and Worship Associate Jim Merrill. Dec Back to Jr. High Michael Eselun with Worship Associates Celia Ortenberg and Joe Hutchins Oncology chaplain and popular guest speaker, Michael Eselun will share some deeply personal reflections about junior high school, a pivotal and often painful time that leaves indelible memories for many of us. In dialogue with some of those 13-year-old s perceptions, what might be discovered about inherent worth, dignity and compassion? 13th Annual Memorial Service for our Homeless Neighbors 3pm Saturday Dec 15, 2018 Plaza Park, Ventura, CA beautiful service to affirm the A inherent worth and dignity of every person and remember those who have died homeless this year in Ventura. County. Sponsored by Lift Up Your Voice Committee. Contact: Ruth-groventura@roadrunner.com arts & crafts fair December 1 & 2 9am - 2pm Berg Hall Jewelry Fine Art Wearables Decor 20% of proceeds go to church Contact: pimandjam@roadrunner.com Inside Ministry News...2 Notes from President's Desk...3 Social Action...4 Religious Education News...5 UU Things to Do Committee News...8 December Calendar...9 Focus on Cheryl Gilbert Like the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura on Facebook. It s one more way to stay connected. We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, united by our liberal religious tradition, seek truths, and meaning, and commit to right action. We will nurture our congregation and carry our principles forth to better ourselves, our community, and our planet. To these purposes, we pledge our hearts and hands, our minds and means.

2 Minister s Column December is upon us, and with it the holidays that we love and we dread and we do our best to get into the spirit of. And this year, with December comes the first anniversary of the Thomas Fire and all those memories. Yet so much has happened since then, for me the memories are already fading. It s all a part of a new normal or, as our soon-to-be twice ex-governor has called it, the new abnormal. Part of this new reality is a deep reminder that we are in this together. After the shootings and the Woolsey Fire, it was so heartening to see how people stepped up to offer help and hospitality. We can t know what s next, though we can know that there will be people offering help and comfort, support and celebration as each is called for. The theme for December is Mystery, which is my favorite part of this season. Lights twinkling in the darkness, the turning of the year, a spirit that can still catch us unawares. Even as these are holidays that can make us feel even more lonely, with them can also come reminders that We are not alone. You are not alone. So I offer you one of my favorite poems for this time of year by Rebecca Parker. May it carry you into and through all that this December brings you. Perhaps for a moment the keyboards will stop clicking, the wheels stop rolling, the computers desist from computing, and a hush will fall over the city. For an instant, in the stillness, the chiming of celestial spheres will be heard as earth hangs poised in the crystalline darkness, and then gracefully tilts. Let there be a season when holiness is heard, and the splendor of living is revealed. Stunned to stillness by beauty we remember who we are and why we are here. Let this be the time we wake to life, like spring wakes, in the moment of winter solstice. Happy Hannukah! Blessed Solstice! Merry Christmas! Happy and Hopeful Holidays! With love, Rev. Dana Action Team forming for Immigrants Rights (ATIR) About 25 UUVC members met on Oct. 15 and Nov. 12 to begin the formation of a committee in support of Immigrants Rights and decide on its name. A coordination committee was formed by Silvia Hutchins as a liaison to the Social Service Action Committee (SSAC) and CLUE. Susan Franzblau will develop an Immediate Emergency Response Team. Ruth Capelle will participate in coalition building with other organizations and communicate action and volunteer opportunities to ATIR and send out information and analyses from other sources and UUSC. Ray Vargas joined us as well and has begun to lead the development of a mission statement and also initiated a fund raising effort. Susan defines her task: I am coordinating an effort to help undocumented immigrant families find a place to stay, food to eat, childcare and transportation when they are in our area for legal services or are clients of other agencies and organizations. She hopes for volunteers to expand the network of people who can provide some of the services that will only involve a few days at a time. Ruth intends to develop a more effective means of communication than frequent s which will be reserved for immediate action alerts. She hopes volunteers will participate in outreach and inform us on activities in support of the immigrant community being planned by other groups in the West County. Please let me know if you d like your name to be added to our list for action alerts. We plan to hold regular meetings on the 2nd Monday of the month beginning at 6pm for a potluck dinner and convene at 6:30pm; we expect to be done no later than 8pm. The goals and efforts of this new committee are aligned with the UU principles and purposes, especially: We are in covenant to affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; and The goal of a world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. With love and the fervent hope that together we can make the world a better place for the most afflicted, December On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

3 Newsletter Submittals We value your contributions and very much appreciate submittals. Send submissions for On Common Ground to Next Newsletter Deadline December 16 at Noon Next issue is January 2019 On Common Ground is a monthly publication of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 5654 Ralston Street, Ventura, CA Minister - Rev. Dana Worsnop Office Hours: by Appointment 503/ rev.dana.worsnop@uuventura.org Director of Religious Education Emily Carroll 805/ , ext emily@uuventura.org Congregational Administrator - Jennifer Luce Monday - Thursday: 9am - 3pm, Friday 9am - 12pm Phone: 805/ , ext 100 administrator@uuventura.org Call first to ensure Jennifer is onsite. Church Office Phone: 805/ FAX: 805/ administrator@uuventura.org Music Director - Carolyn Bjerke carolyn@uuventura.org On Common Ground Editors: Shelah Wilgus / preblest@mac.com Tessa Weeks...805/ tessaweeks@mac.com Notes from the President s Desk December 2018 As I write this month s column the November election results are known to us all. My own level of anxiousness concerning politics has been somewhat reduced. Time once again to move forward even though there will be continued drama in Washington. At least this time around I have a sense of Hope that the moral arc of the universe is again bending towards justice. Hope for a better, more peaceful world is what I believe the promise of the holiday season is about. At the UUCV we save lives. We do that every day of the year with our Lift Up Your Voice advocacy, with our Safe Sleep overnight parking, and with our Inreach Outreach sharing of the Sunday Plate to other non-profits. Unitarian Universalism offers Hope to people through the ministry of liberal religion. Holding up as our first principal that we affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. That is a message for all seasons. And then the county experienced the shooting in Thousand Oaks followed by terrible fires. Memories of last December are still fresh in my mind when fires swept through our county only to be followed by devasting flooding in Santa Barbara. So much suffering has happened in twelve months. Yet I still hold onto hope. The audacity of hope, as stated by Barack Obama. It is reflected in the stories of the bright star in the eastern sky, of the burning flame for the Maccabees, and in the little light that shines within each of us. A metaphor for UU s is the Lighthouse shining its beacon of light on darkness, giving aid to those in most need. Amen. Following up on the September Congregational Conversation we discerned a list of 26 questions. Paraphrased, and in no particular order, they consolidated into six specific questions. 1. How can I learn more about our deficit and the projected budget? 2. Do we need to hire another staff person or can volunteers do the work? 3. What can we do to be a more diverse congregation? 4. Instead of giving away the Sunday Plate can some of it be used to help the congregation? 5. What are money making activities? 6. How can I help more? The first question is easy to answer. Attend the next Congregational Conversation on January 27. You can also read the Newsletter for information from the Finance Committee, attend a Finance Committee meeting, or talk to David Smith who is the Chair of the committee. The rest of the questions require deeper thought and conversation. Please take time to reflect upon them. Finally, on behalf of the Board of Trustee s, Happy Holidays to Everyone! Thank you especially to our Staff, to Rev. Dana Worsnop, Office Administrator Jennifer Luce, Music Director Carolyn Bjerke, A/V Technician Brian Fortune, DRE Emily Carroll, and all of the RE Aides for all that you do in support of the UUCV. We have much for which to be grateful. May peace and joy be yours this season. Living in Paradise, Bryan Buck, UUCV Board President December On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

4 Christmas For Riverhaven Residents Social Action and More Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. Seneca Again this year we will be collecting new SOCKS and warm HATS for Christmas gifts for the Riverhaven residents. You can drop off your donations in the bin marked RIVERHAVEN in the UUCV Bookstore. Donations will be collected through Dec. 23rd. We will also be providing Christmas Eve dinner for our Riverhaven friends. Please sign up to donate a dish at the Social Action Table. We want to make this a special holiday meal! Thank you for your continued support of Riverhaven. If you have any questions please contact Pam Waldron at 805/ Lift Up Your Voice (LUYV) by Kathy Powell Lift Up Your Voice sponsored a showing of the documentary on homelessness "No Room in Paradise." Sue and Kent Brinkmeyer made all the arrangements and we had about 35 people watch the movie and had an incredible round table discussion afterward. The community people include social workers, the new sergeant in charge of the homeless task force, clergy, current and formerly homeless, concerned citizens and people from churches as far away as Camarillo. It was an amazing beginning to what hopefully will be new interest in assisting with this issue. Join us Saturday December 15 at 3pm at Plaza Park for our 13th annual Memorial Service for Our Homeless Neighbors. We currently have noted about 65 people who have died this year and we will gather as a community to honor those souls we lost. December 2: Social Justice Fund of Ventura County The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County promotes fairness, equality and human rights as a grantmaking organization and convener of similarly minded non-profits in Ventura County to strengthen social justice by creating change, not charity. The thematic focus of The Social Justice Fund s 2018 grantmaking is Immigrant Empowerment, working with partners to conduct immigrant rights workshops, citizenship classes, advancing the education of undocumented students through peer advocacy and building the leadership skills to raise consciousness for social change. December 9: Buddy Nation We help homeless people keep their beloved pets by providing food and supplies (toys, beds, harnesses, collars, leashes, dishes), veterinary care (both routine and expensive surgeries), vaccinations, spaying/neutering, micro chipping, licenses whatever it takes to keep pet and person together. We work with private and public agencies to help find housing because people will not give up their pets. We work to stabilize the people in our program by being available just to talk over the phone or at One Stop. December Inreach/Outreach December 16: Soap Box The SoapBox is a non profit (501 (c3) in process) homeless advocacy group. Privately funded, 100% volunteer staff. Our current focus is a mobile shower, but our long-term mission is to affect change in public policy and public perceptions. We do this both as a group and individually discovering gaps in care and need. Our values are dignity, compassion, community, shared responsibility, integrity, transparency, authenticity and Joy. We are not affiliated with any religious group or organizations. December 23: Smart Recovery The mission of SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) is to help people recover from all types of addictive behaviors, be that drinking, taking drugs, overeating, overworking or any other habitual action that is harmful to one s health or life balance. December 24: Safe Sleep Guests In cooperation with The Salvation Army of Ventura, UUCV parking lot is used for people who are experiencing homelessness so they may sleep in their cars without fear of being ticketed or harassed. Dedicated UUCV volunteers monitor the lot and oversee the Safe Sleep Program at UUCV. December 30: UUCV Inreach/Outreach helps those in our own congregation or someone in the wider community who is in need of assistance. Inreach/Outreach Recipients Your generosity toward those who ask for our help continues to be amazing. October 14 - LUYV Park Outreach Team - $ October 21: Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund- $836 October 28: Step Up Ventura - $993 November 4 : West County Temporary Emgergency Shelter- $871 Thanks so much for all your generous donations! December On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

5 Religious Education December 2018 December 2 December 9 December 16 December 23 December 30 Nursery Pre-K Rainbow Connection Grades K-2 Picture Book UU Grades 3-5 Spirit of Adventure Grades 6-8 Jedi Academy Grades 9+ We provide a caring environment for our toddlers and infants to nurture their emotional and intellectual growth with planned activities and routines Christmas and Hanukkah Henry Hikes to Fitchburg Winter Holidays -- Hanukkah Use Your Manners to Show Respect Stone Soup Winter Holidays -- A Visitor Be Kind to Each Other If I Were President Winter Holidays -- Winter Solstice The Sense of Sound The Sense of Sight The Sense of Smell Teens discuss a topic relevant to their lives. We hope they find friendship and support among their peers. Special RE Sunday! So near to a holiday, children and youth combine classes for special festive activities and a service project all together Children s Chapel & Quidditch! Worship service for children and youth followed by a cooperative, magical game of Quidditch with broomsticks! In the back parking lot after the service! NEWS from Religious Education Emily Carroll, DRE Dear UUCV Community, One thing I love about our faith is our willingness to embrace the mystery! We can gather and sing to the spirit of life and have spiritual conviction in our 7 principles without needing to know all of the answers. Embracing mystery is also encouraged in this Buddhist parable: a man is shot with a poisonous arrow and his friends gather around him. He asks, From what village was the man who shot me? What type of arrow is this? His friends encouraged him to let them remove the arrow before he asked such questions. In Buddhism, they recommend ending the suffering in our lives that comes from attachment and hatred before asking such questions about the afterlife. In what ways can we sweeten the lives of each other to improve the world we are in now? Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. Arundhati Roy One way to bring that world into being is Chalica, a weeklong UU holiday that celebrates the seven UU principles. Starting on the first Monday in December, spend a day with each of the Principles, reflecting on their meaning and doing a good deed focused on each one. Families are invited to see Emily or RE aides for a Chalica packet. If you celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas, we re delighted to enjoy the holidays with you on Friday, December 7 for the RE Holiday Party with Hanukkah crafts and Christmas Eve for a play called the Parable of Givers about miracles! Please be in touch if you d like to play a part! With overflowing love, Emily Carroll, Director of Religious Education emily@uuventura.org December Birthdays 4- Atticus and Damian, 11-Anderson, 24-Malia, 31-Amber December Events Sunday, December 2 Hanukkah begins Monday, December 3 Chalica begins Friday, December 7 5:30pm All Church Holiday Party Hosted by Religious Education Committee Saturday, December 8 4-7pm Parents Night Out! Free Childcare Drop Off Saturday, December 15 3pm Annual Homeless Memorial Service Friday, December 21 First day of Winter Monday, December 24 5:30pm Christmas Eve Service for Children & Youth December On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

6 UU Things To Do Adult Programs Adult Programs is bursting with opportunities for connection, reflection and growth. Check the newsletter and Adult Programs Board for info about additional classes. For information on ongoing programs, pick up an Adult Programs brochure at the AP Bulletin Board in Berg Hall. Programs are open to all unless otherwise indicated. Meditation and Buddhist Practice with Friendship Sangha of the Heart Monday 7pm Church Sanctuary Evening of Mindfulness includes sitting and walking meditation, a dharma reading and dharma sharing. All are welcome. Intro to Meditation Monday, December 10 at 6:30pm in Sanctuary. Information: FriendshipSangha@gmail.com Contact: Neal Ortenberg 805/ or FriendshipSangha@gmail.com. Website FriendshipSangha.org Sponsored by the Friendship Sangha of the Heart, a UUCV Adult Program UU Thursday Book Group Thursday 10-11:15am Green Room We read non-fiction and meet weekly. Books with wide-ranging topics are recommended by members and are chosen by consensus. Discussions are wide-ranging and lively. Both congregation members and non-members are warmly welcomed. Contact: Marcy Burns, mburns4430@ roadrunner.com. Fun Book Club December 16 Sunday 11:45am Conference Room This fiction book group meets for minutes after services. All are welcome. We read in December: The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani, January: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Contact: Kappy Paulson 805/ kmp160@sbcglobal.net. Women's Voices: Discussion and Support Group A1st & 3rd Tues 11-1pm Green Room drop-in women s group explores women s roles and issues. Open to all women. Contacts: Suzanne Olsen, 805/ , suzth2@charter.net. Men s Breakfast Bunch Saturday December 1 9am Marie Callenders in Ventura Join us for food and conversation. We are better together. All men welcome. Contact: Ray Escobedo, 805/ ray.escobedo@sbcglobal.net. Drop In Men s Discussion Group Tuesday 9:30am Conference Room. We discuss political and social issues and current events. All men welcome. Contact: Bill Peltola 805/ or 805/ Open Men s Support Group 1st & 3rd Thursdays 7-9pm Garage Enjoy fellowship, camaraderie and personal sharing. Contact: Dale Condra, 805/ , dale15roie@gmail.com Women's Support Group Opening If you are a member or pledging friend looking for support and friendship, there are openings in one of the recently formed women s groups. It meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from Contact Xenia Young at 801/ or xeniabyoung@yahoo.com. T ai Chi Chih class Monday 5:30-6:30pm Sanctuary gentle, moving meditation practice A promoting balance, physical fitness, and inner calm. Beginners welcome. The 1st & 5th Monday are silent, group practice (no instruction). Donation: $10 per class (check to UUCV) First class is FREE! Info at Adult Programs table. Contact: Lisa Otero 805/ New Publicity Team Is your UU group planning an event? Good news the new Publicity Team can help get the word out to the wider community. We can assist with press releases, set up events on Facebook and Meetup.com, design effective flyers, and brainstorm low and no cost strategies you can use to bring people in. Give us at least a month s lead time for best results! Talk to us, call, or UUCVPublicity@uuventura.org. Team members: Kitty Merrill, Silvia Hutchins, Joe Osborne, Gretchen Buck, Kate Higgins, and Jennifer Luce. UUniques 50+ December Eventsl There will not be a Pot-Luck in December. The next pot-luck will be in January We are planning to have a pre-christmas lunch gettogether the third week in December. Detailed information will be available soon. For information Merle or Pat 805/ or 3723emlo@gmail.com The Watercolor Group Wednesday Noon-2:30pm Berg Hall Everyone is welcome. No experience necessary. We offer informal instruction, encouragement, and interesting conversation. Contact Veronica Bear veronicabear2000@yahoo.com. Strong Bones 1 (Beginning) Monday 1:30pm Sanctuary Wednesday 1:30pm Sanctuary Strong Bones 2 (Intermediate) Monday 2:30pm Sanctuary OWednesday 2:30pm Sanctuary pen to all and work at your own pace. $4/class, bring light weights, and stretch bands if you have them. Contact: Suzi Axtell, instructor, suzi@axtell.com December On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

7 UU Things To Do Adult Programs Generosity Tree by Silvia Hutchins Generosity: the habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return. - Anonymous This Holiday season, UUCV will once again host a Generosity Tree filled with requests for children and adults who have recently made their way out of homelessness. By providing the holiday gifts for these families they cannot afford to buy for themselves, we will help these families enjoy the holidays while staying on track with their budgeting and remaining in their new homes. If you choose to participate, you may take a name tag off the Christmas Tree in Berg Hall, purchase the requested gift, and return it to church unwrapped along with the recipient s name tag. Help bring cheer with a gift of generosity. Holiday Shopping at the UUCV Bookstore Don t forget that by doing some of your holiday shopping at the UUCV Bookstore, you can also help your church! If there is something special you would like and you can t find it in the bookstore, we are happy to get it for you. Contact Pam Waldron at 805/ to place a special order. Happy Holidays from the UUCV Bookstore Volunteers! Guest at your Table Hopefully you got your Guest at Your Table box (or envelope) the Sunday before Thanksgiving. If not, pick it up at the social action table and feed it each day. Some suggest the amount of your meal. Return the box on Christmas Eve or before Jan 13. You can count the money and write a check or bring in the whole thing. Check out UUSCs web page at UUSC.ORG. Dont forget to note you are from UUCV Bonus: Shelter Rock UU Church also matches donations of $125 or more. UU Hikers December 8 (2nd Saturday this month only) 8am December s hike will be the Rice and Wills Canyon loop in the River-Rancho El Nido Preserve on the western side of Ojai Valley. It is about five miles long with an elevation gain of 400. Enjoy lush riparian habitat and views of surrounding mountains. To be added to the list or for details one week before the hike contact Mike Sixbey at 805/ Like the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura on Facebook. It s one more way to stay connected. FRIDAY MOVIE NIGHT 7pm Enter at back door December 7 The Kid With A Bike (Le Gamin au Vélo), 2011, PG-13. French with English subtitles. After being abandoned by his deadbeat dad, an 11-year-old Belgian boy is living in an orphanage. Through amazing luck, he meets a nurturing young woman a hairdresser who cares what happens to him. Directors Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne. December 14 The Man Who Invented Christmas, 2017, PG. Following a poor financial return from his most recent books, novelist Charles Dickens finds himself obliged to self-publish his startling and masterful fable, A Christmas Carol, which he hopes will revive his sagging career. Director Bharat Nalluri. December 21 The Ref, 1994, R. In this riotous holiday comedy, a burglar breaks into a posh home on Christmas Eve and takes its occupants hostage. But the situation continually reverses when the endlessly bickering couple requires his services as referee. Director Ted Demme. December 28 New Year s Eve, 2011, PG-13. In this star-studded romantic comedy, the fates of a diverse group of New Yorkers are wound together on New Year's Eve, including one expectant couple hoping their baby will be the first to be born in the Big Apple after midnight. Includes Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Hilary Swank. Director Garry Marshall. Contact: Julie Moore: werfamilyvideos@aol. com December On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

8 Committee News Buildings and Grounds by Linda Pietrzak At the November B & G Volunteer Day, participants had much to be thankful for. First, Mike Sixbey bought a strawberry cream pie Ruth Owens made at the church auction and he shared it with everyone. The second gift was from one of our Safe Sleep guests, he raked up all the pine needles and leaves around the church property. You probably noticed how clean the parking lot and the planting beds have been around the church property. His gifts were not only for all of us to see but it freed up our regular crew to tackle many more tasks. Mike Duffy, our AC specialist, came in during the week and fixed the AC so it won t be constantly running. The only people who will miss the cooling will be the Strong Bones Classes. Mike Sixbey and Jim Whitney put earthquake bracing on the bookcases in RE 5. They then repaired the West Alcove exterior door and the women s RE restroom door that weren t closing. Bill Peltola checked the lights in the sanctuary, and replaced the burned-out ones. Sherry Anderson watered the Olive Tree Garden, planted succulents near the church sign, and she worked with Kitty Merrill, George and Ruth Owens, and Geoff Dann with his grandson, weeding along the Ralston side of the church. Merle Oberg repaired a water sprinkler and then worked in the area on the east side of the driveway where he found a sprinkler head lost in the bushes! Sylvia and Joe Hutchins worked on finding a place out front to display banners. Linda Pietrzak cut up boxes that were just smashed and put in the recycle toters. It is amazing how much more space is available in the recycle toters when the boxes are cut into smaller flat pieces. Joyce Sattler straightened up the garage and worked on finding projects to keep the rest of us busy. Be sure and thank the volunteers who work to keep the church running smoothly and looking nice. Have a wonderful holiday season. December 2018 Finance News by David Smith, Finance Committee Chair Wake Now Our Vision Legacy Challenge, $5,000,000 will be given to congregations whose members and friends named them and other UUA institutions in their as beneficiaries in their wills, trusts, life insurance policies and IRA s. This matching grant program is now closed. We are aware of more than a dozen UUCV members and friends who completed the application process in time, and we expect to get a check next June for more than $28,000. Is a donation to this church or a charity tax deductible? Although donations to churches and qualified charities are allowed as itemized tax deductions, far fewer people will see them on their tax returns next year because of new standard deduction amounts. Standard deductions have been raised to $12,000 for a single filer and $24,000 for joint returns. This means that if you file a joint return and your tax-deductible expenses, including mortgage interest, charitable contributions and some others do not exceed your standard deduction, listing them has no tax benefit. To know if your own deductible expenses will exceed the new standard deduction amount for you, you will need to do some math or ask your tax professional for help. Fortunately, in most surveys taken about why people are generous to their churches and charities, tax deductibility is not high on their list. Contact: David Smith, davidpaseo001@gmail.com. Green Room Gallery News We are hanging the new exhibit in the Green Room Gallery on December 9. Be sure to check it out! Many of the artworks are for sale, with 30% going to the church as a donation. We want to see your art. If you would like to display your art in the next exhibit please read the instructions and fill out the application, either on paper or online at uuventura.org/about-us/location/uucv-green-room-art-gallery/. Application deadline to display your art in the next exhibit is Friday, February 1. You will receive confirmation of your application and instructions on when to bring your art to the gallery. If you have any questions or would like more information please contact Veronica Bear at veronicabear2000@yahoo.com. December On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

9 December 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2 Hanukah starts 9am - Meditation 10am - Worship Service 11am - Arts & Crafts Fair 11:30am - 7PEAT Environmental Action 11:30am - Youth Choir 3pm - Citizens for Peaceful Res 9 9am - Meditation 10am - Worship Service 11:30am - Gallery Set-Up 11:30am - Youth Choir Rehearsal 16 9am - Meditation 10am - Worship Service 11:30am - Fun Book Club 11:30am - Youth Choir Rehearsal 23 9:am - Meditation 10am - Worship Service 11:30am - Safety Team Meeting 11:30am - Youth Choir Rehearsal 5pm - Mom s Group 30 9am - Meditation 10am - Worship Service 3 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 5:30pm - Tai Chi Chih 7pm - Meditation 10 Human Rights Day 11:30am - Women s Group V 1pm - Covenant Group 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 5:30pm - Tai Chi Chih 6:30pm - Intro to Meditation 7pm - Meditation 17 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 5:30pm - Tai Chi Chih 6pm - Cov. Grp. Facilitator Mtg 7pm - Meditation 24 11:30am - Women s Grp V 1pm - Covenant Group 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 5:30pm - Christmas Eve Service 9pm - Christmas Eve Service 31 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 5:30pm - Tai Chi Chih 6pm - Silent Sangha Meal 7pm - Meditation 4 9:30am - Men s Discussion Group 11am - Women s Voices 11am - Staff Meeting 1:30pm - Publicity Meeting 6pm - Covenant Group 6:30pm - Men s Group II 6:45pm - Women s Group III 11 9:30am - Men s Discussion 11am - Staff Meeting 2pm - Connecting Committee 4pm - Women s Group VII 4:30pm - Caregivers Support Group 6:30pm - Finance Committee Meeting 7pm - Men s Group IV 18 9:30am - Men s Discussion 11pm - Women s Voices 11pm - Staff Meeting 1:30pm - Publicity Meeting 1:45pm - Volunteer Coor. Mtg 2pm - Many Paths 6pm - Cov. Grp. Facilitators 6pm - Covenant Group 6:30pm - Men s Group V 6:30pm - Men s Group II 6:45pm - Women s Group III 25 Christmas OFFice closed Winter Solstice 1World Aids Day 9am-Arts & Crafts Fair 9am - Men s Breakfast December On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura 5 11am - Women s Group IV 12pm - Watercolor 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 7pm - Men s Group 7pm - Choir 12 12pm - Watercolor 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2pm - Women s Group VIII 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 6pm - Leadership Comm. Mtg 7pm - Choir 19 11am - Women s Group IV 12pm - Watercolor 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 4pm - VHP Meeting 7pm - Men s Group 7pm - Choir 26 Kwanzaa 12:pm - Watercolor 1:30pm - StrongBones 1 2pm - Women s Group VIII 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 7pm - Choir 6 10am - Book Club 5:30pm - LUYV Pizza Party 6pm - Sangha Event 13 10am - Book Club 11am - Women s Group VI 2:30pm - Craft Group 6pm - LUYV 6:30pm - Climate Hub 6:30pm - B&G Meeting 20 10am - Book Club 3pm - Homes for All Meeting 6pm - Board of Trustees 6pm - Leadership Dev. Meeting 27 10pm - Book Club 11pm - Women s Group VI 2:30pm - Handicraft Group 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 5pm - RE Holiday Party 7pm - Movie Night 14 3pm - Scrapbooking 7pm - Movie Night 21 7pm - Movie Night 28 7pm - Movie Night 8 8am-UU Hikers 4pm - Childcare Co-op 15 9pm - All Church B&G Work Party 3pm - Homeless Memorial 22 2pm - RE WorkParty 29

10 Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 5654 Ralston Street, Ventura, CA Board of Trustees President Bryan Buck Vice President Janice Frank Secretary Vel Linden-Akseven Treasurer Jim Waldron Trustees at Large Ron Dallas Yukio Okano Kent Brinkmeyer Leadership Committee News Focus on Cheryl Gilbert by Gary Zinik I f there was ever an unsung hero in our church, it s Cheryl Gilbert. Cheryl is one of eight children born into a traditional Mormon family in Salt Lake City, Utah. Cheryl started to question Mormon doctrine in junior high school, and by high school she was just going through the motions to please her parents. Then she met her future husband Lowry (who occasionally attended a UU church in Salt Lake City) which propelled her out of Mormonism. They moved to Denver and attended the local UU church where Lowry had friends. They married in 1983 and moved to Lompoc for Lowry s job but didn t do church. In 1985 they moved to Ventura where Lizzy and Catherine were born. They wanted a liberal religious education for their children, so they visited the Terry House on Foothill Road. Several years later they joined as members. In the meantime a man knocked on Cheryl s door and announced, much to her surprise, that he was her new Mormon bishop! She was asked to attend a meeting of church elders (she didn t), and later got a letter informing her she was excommunicated. Actually it was a relief, she said, I had no interest, and they finally took me off their list and left me alone. Cheryl worked for a CPA firm as a bookkeeper for 30 years. In the mid-1990 s, the church needed a bookkeeper and Cheryl was recruited. She also served as treasurer. Prior to that, church finances were done old school (with paper and pencil and adding machine). During her tenure, Cheryl computerized the church s bookkeeping a daunting task that took may hours of working solo into the night at Terry House. When Lowry died suddenly 11 years ago, it was the outpouring of love and support from the church that kept her going. Since then her main devotion has been teaching RE every week for the past 9 years (preschool through 2nd grade). She also served as a mentor in the Coming of Age program. On the one hand, she wishes her RE students would attend class more consistently to have more continuity from the curriculum. Even so, she says, I love to see their curious little minds open and explore new ideas. Teaching RE gave me a new sense of purpose. It s a gift. December On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura