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1 February 2018 Number 2 Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 5654 Ralston Street Ventura, CA 805/ Weaving a Tapestry of Love and Belonging by Beverly Jordan, Community Life Coordinator When you see this Newsletter issue we will have welcomed several new members to the UUCV congregation. Stop by the New Members bulletin board, read their BIO s and seek them out to introduce yourself. They want to hear your stories and share their journey to membership stories with you. Feb 11 is New Member Sunday - come and celebrate their step into membership and then join us for a celebration luncheon after church. Regional Assembly The four districts of the UUA s Pacific Western Region will gather April in Portland, OR for the 2018 Regional Assembly. Speakers include civil rights activist, the Rev. Dr. William Barber; Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, advocate for human rights; and the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, newly elected UUA president. Discount lodging is available at the Portland DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, site of the Regional Assembly. Childcare and youth programming will be available. See the PWR website (www. uua.org/pwr) for full details. Sunday Services Music: 9:45am Service: 10am Our February Theme is Perseverance We ask What does it mean to be a people of Perseverance? How do we carry on even when it all feels like too much? How do we find sustenance to persevere. The answer comes, at least in part, from a story: A boy and his father were walking along a road when they came across a large stone. Do you think if I use all of my strength, I can move this rock? the child asked. His father answered, If you use all of your strength, I am sure you can do it. The boy began to push the rock. Exerting himself as much as he could, he pushed and pushed. The rock did not move. Discouraged, he said to his father, You were wrong. I can t do it. His father put his arm around the boy s shoulder and said, No son. You didn t use all your strength you didn t ask me to help. Feb. 4 Persistence is Necessary Rev. Dana Worsnop and Worship Associate Andy Edgar-Beltran Feb. 11 Dismantling Patriarchy Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle and Worship Associates Joe Hutchins and Maura Raffensperger. Rev. Dr. Owen-Towle served the First Unitarian Church of San Diego for many years. He is the author of two dozen books on personal growth and progressive spirituality and will have some for sale. Feb. 18 Practice or the Real Thing Rev. Dana Worsnop and Worship Associate Celia Ortenberg Feb. 25 We Are Building a New Way, Stewardship Sunday Rev. Dana Worsnop and Worship Associate Maura Raffensperger Community Building Pasta & Salad Lunch Sunday February 11 11am Berg Hall $5 per person kids under 12 free First time visitors free and first as we celebrate new members joining our community Contact Michael makseven@ yahoo.com with your donations. Remember to bring your own dish & tableware Inside Ministry News... 2 Notes from President's Desk... 3 Social Action... 4 Religious Education News... 5 UU Things to Do Committee News... 8 February Calendar... 9 Seven Principles...10 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 Have you noticed yourself start to date things from before and after the fire? Such happens when we ve been through such a major and collective trauma. I also have realized that somewhere in there I lost December. So now we get to pick up and carry on. Sometime Before the Fire, the Board of Trustees held a Congregational Conversation to hear from folks about how things are going in church. The question we posed was: What ways do we want the church to grow? The point was not to dwell on numerical growth, but to consider all the aspects of growth within the church. Folks responded with all sort of ideas about how we can grow in spiritual depth, in being a congregation of many diversities and generations. There were ideas for worship and religious education and for how we might improve our sanctuary s aesthetics and acoustics. Have you noticed, in the mean time, we are growing like gangbusters? Some Sundays we are filling up nearly every seat. We now are singing We Hold You In Our Love three times through before all our kids make it through the Bridge of Love. People have been finding their way through our doors. We will welcome new members in just four months. Our RE program is close to doubling in size in 6 months. It could just be that what we offer in a free church with progressive values and an openness to spirit and possibility resonates more profoundly in our times. Perhaps the fires served as a powerful reminder of the importance of community. It becomes clearer how much we need each other and the power we have when we come together. We are now growing in all the ways we spoke of in November and in numbers of people seeking a spiritual home. Such growth is simultaneously wonderful and challenging. We have bought more chairs for the sanctuary and more tables for Berg Hall, which will help. Yet more important is that we keep our hearts and arms open, that we remember the gracious art of hospitality. We offer a profound message of freedom, resistance, hope, possibility, and joy, even as the world swirls around us. We may, each of us, need this community. And we must keep the doors open behind us and offer to others the same sense of home we have found. So that we may ever say, Welcome home. We re so glad you re here. with love, Rev. Dana Exploring Unitarian Universalism and the UU Church of Ventura Newcomer Chat Sunday, March 11, 11:30AM - 12:30PM Getting to Know UU Sunday March 25, 11:30AM - 1PM Journey to Belonging Saturday April 21, 10AM - 2PM Find all the details at the Connecting Center! I d love to know how your journey at UUCV is going! Childcare provided with pre-registration Programs are facilitated by Beverly Jordan, Community Life Coordinator, Dana Worsnop, Senior Minister and the Membership Committee. Contact: Beverly@uuventura.org. Calling All Artists! We want to display your art! new exhibit is coming to the Green Room Gallery the last Sunday in February. We would love A to see your original paintings or photos or other 2 dimensional art on display. We want all the creative members of our congregation to show off their art. If you would like to be part of an exhibit, fill out the gallery application form (a separate form for each artwork) and read the guidelines. The information on the form is used to prepare exhibit description tags. You can pick up a paper copy of the form in Berg Hall on the Adult Programs table. your completed form to uucvgallery@yahoo.com along with an image of the artwork, or bring the completed paper form and image to the church. The Green Room Gallery has a mail cubby in the hall by the copy machine. The next exhibit will be hung on Sunday, February 25, and we need your applications no later than Monday, February 5. Applications received after that date will be deferred to a future exhibit. You can contact the Green Room Gallery Committee by at uucvgallery@yahoo.com or call Veronica Bear at 805/ February 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 February 18 at Noon Next issue is March 2018 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 Affiliate Minister - Rev. Carolyn Price uurevclprice@gmail.com Community Life Coordinator- Beverly Jordan 805/ , ext beverly@uuventura.org Director of Religious Education - Emily Carroll 805/ , ext emily@uuventura.org Office Administrator - Jennifer Luce Monday - Thusday: 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 Writers Block That s what it feels like for me this month. My guess is that the events of the last few months are having an effect all of us may share. The politics, lack of civility, poverty, the fires that took so much, and the rain, can leave one feeling over whelmed and numb. What s a person to do? Where s the life preserver? How about a rock to help stay grounded? What or who can lift me up? I believe the answer is Unitarian Universalism and the community that is the UU Church of Ventura. Our church is growing. You can see that on Sundays. The Sanctuary is filled with many new faces. Particularly evident are young parents and their children, and simply more folks of all ages. We are reaching people with our faith message of inclusiveness by drawing a wider circle. We are reaching people with our faith message of Justice for All, whether it be about uplifting the homeless or shining light on other human rights issues. We are reaching people through our efforts to improve lives and make a difference in the world. You may remember a few months ago being asked; What are the ways we want to grow? It is one of the questions the Board has been considering this year. It was not intended to be a question about numeric growth but more about personal and spiritual development. Yet what we are currently experiencing is dynamic growth in numbers as a response to not only who we are as Unitarian Universalists, but also because outside events are so very troubling to so many. It tells us that people are in search of community. Which means another, different question, should be asked: How do we accommodate the growth we are experiencing? At last month s Board meeting we found ourselves in a muddle. This arose over the Vision and Mission work the Board is beginning. Our church has not done this work for many years. On many levels it seems this should be simple. But it turns out that it s not. To me it feels like trying to hold vapor. So, what are we doing to move past our muddle? The Board recognized we needed help and decided to reach out to our contact at the Pacific Western Region, the Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong. On January 20 the Board met with Rev. Kwong for five hours to get clarity on how to proceed. It was a very successful meeting. We learned Vision/ Mission work will take many months to accomplish and it involves strategic planning. That led us to reviewing our current 5-year plan which comes to an end this year. The current plan is on our website and available for review. There has been much progress made and it presents a worthy vision. But it also means it is time to develop a new 5-year plan. When we do, it will be a formal process that involves everyone. In the months ahead, the Board will determine how that work will begin. In the meantime, as we move forward, please consider what you hold dear and love about the UUCV and what your hopes are for the future of this congregation. Feel free to let me know those dreams with an to bryanabuck@hotmail.com. Living in Paradise, Bryan Buck, President February On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

4 Social Action Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. Seneca Lift Up Your Voice (LUYV) To End Homelessness by Kathy Powell Lift Up Your Voice Lift is as always weaving a tapestry in our community supporting our homeless neighbors. Our esteemed Chair Sue Brinkmeyer has handed the baton over after she stepped up for our past esteemed Chair Harold Dale Cartlidge. Many thanks and blessings sent to them both. Our group monthly serves a big meal at Family to Family to over 100 people, brings dinner to Riverhaven, assists at the Winter Warming Shelter, volunteers weekly at One Stop and we have members in Oxnard and Ventura working with policy issues for both cities. Please contact me, Kathy Powell if you want to talk about where you might fit in. kathypurpleprincess@gmail.com or 805/ Sometimes just going out for one time with our Park Outreach Inreach/Outreach News Love only grows by sharing. Brian Tracy Your generosity toward those who ask for our help continues to be amazing. Dec 17: UU Justice Ministry of California - $ Dec 24: Turning Point Foundation - $544 Dec 24: Motel rooms for Safe Steep guests at Xmas - $981 Dec. 31: LUYV Family to Family - $ Jan 7: No More Deaths (UU Church of Tucson) - $913 Jan 14: UUCV Inreach/Outreach - $1,292,26 Jan 21: Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County - $ February Inreach/Outreach Recipients Feb. 4: Family Promise of West Ventura County to provide temporary housing for homeless children and their families at area churches as well as case management leading to a return to housing. Feb. 11: Southern Poverty Law Center to fight hate and bigotry and seek justice for the most vulnerable members of our society, using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, Feb. 18: LUYV: Safe Sleep program to help people whose cars are their only homes with insurance, registration, or maintenance so that they don t lose their only home through impounds and tickets. Feb. 25: Camp de Benneville Pines to offer a scholarship to a youth or an adult who is unable to afford the cost of attending camp. The scholarship would be available for an individual to attend a youth camp, or an adult music, drama or family camp. Thanks for all your donations! Team helps you dip your toe in the water and we laugh and talk and could help direct you where you may fit in best. Lift Up Your Voice has two boxes in Berg Hall for donations to our homeless outreaches. We need freshly laundered clothes, jackets, shoes, blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks or luggage. These things are so valuable as we go out into the community. Please remember our folks live outside, they don t have access to electricity or devices we consider common in our houses. Lately we have been getting donations of dvds, electronics and other things they wouldn t be able to use. I will speak for myself that as I get older my energy level isn t what it used to be so trying to find good places for those things is a bit difficult. Please keep this in mind and perhaps contact a thrift store or a shelter that can use those precious things. Coffee Cups: Time to Make Room It is wonderful to see new members join our church, and we want to be sure there is room for them to bring in their own coffee cups and make themselves at home and part of our Green Sanctuary. At present, there are more cups than we have room. Before we add more shelves, we are taking steps to ensure all current cups have an owner and a name. After coffee hour on February 18, we ll move unclaimed cups to a storage room. If no one requests them by April 15, we will find them a new home. Contact Sue Brinkmeyer (818/ , suebrinkmeyer@earthlink.net) for questions or concerns. Thanks for your help. February On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

5 Religious Education February 2018 February 4 February 11 February 18 February 25 Babies & Toddlers Loving, engaging, and Safe Childcare from our professional nursery caregivers! Preschool- Mindfulness Based Kindness Pre-K- 2nd Free to Believe Grades 3-5 Harry and UU Social Action Grades 6-12 Coming of Age Quiet emotions on the inside Is there a God? Fighting the child slavery horcrux I can notice things when I m quiet on the inside What are different images of God? Care of magical creatures Different emotions feel differently on the inside Why do people and animals die? Fighting the sickness horcrux Emotions on the inside show on the outside Where do people and animals go when they die? Double herbology This group offers its members a safe place to share their lives and find support and friendship among open minded and loving peers. The group engages in discussions about issues relevant to youth s lives and communities. Exploring values Transitioning from childhood No Coming of Age Your Own 10 Commandments For information, latest news, and dates, contact Emily with questions and to be added to the weekly, family newsletter list! NEWS from Religious Education Emily Carroll, DRE Dear UUCV Community, At my first religious education committee meeting at UUCV, Rev. Dana asked us to share our hopes, dreams, and fondest wishes for the program, and a lot of us envisioned full classrooms of engaged kids at all age levels. Voila! We are truly filling our classrooms, with thanks to each of you for coming back Sunday after Sunday, bringing friends, and to the ever-expanding team of volunteers who give their time, energy, and resources to be with our children and youth. We are delighted to have opened a new preschool classroom and parents voted for a mindfulness-based kindness curriculum. Our three and four year olds are learning kindness, compassion, paying attention to their emotions, and more. What if we all took steps to improve well-being in our lives and communities? We also launched a Coming of Age program for year olds, a rite of passage as they transition into their adolescence by developing their beliefs and culminating in a camping trip and leading a Sunday service in June. May we continue to hold in our hearts every child and youth, parent, grandparent, teacher, and congregant who walks through our doors and beyond! All are invited to visit the RE bulletin board in the back of Berg Hall to write a name of someone they hold in their heart and post it! Let perseverance be your engine and hope your fuel. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Emily Carroll, Director of Religious Education emily@uuventura.org February Birthdays Feb 5- Nico & Blake Feb 8 - Abigail Feb 12 - Audrey H. Feb 17 - Leo & Luna Feb 22 - Dannika Feb 24 - Brigid February Events Saturday, Feb PM Childcare Co-Op Saturday, Feb 10 Coming of Age Channel Islands Day Trip Sunday, Feb 11 Tree Blessing Ceremony Sunday, Feb 27 RE Committee Meeting February 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 Every Monday, 7pm. In the church sanctuary includes sitting and walking meditation, a dharma reading and dharma sharing. All are welcome. meditation Intro to Meditation Monday, February 12 at 6:30pm in Sanctuary. Information: FriendshipSangha@gmail.com All are welcome. org/meditation/intro 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 Bookgroup 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 similarly wide-ranging and tend to be lively... never boring, never contentious. Both congregation members and non-members are invited. Check us out. You will be warmly welcomed. Contact: Marcy Burns, mburns4430@roadrunner.com. T ai Chi Chih classes Monday 5:30-6:30PM Sanctuary gentle, moving meditation A practice that promotes balance, physical fitness, and inner calm. The 19 movements and one pose are easy to learn and fun to practice. Beginners are welcome. The 1st & 5th Monday are silent, group practice (no instruction). Donation: $10 per class (cash or check made out to UUCV) First class is FREE! More info at the Adult Programs table in Berg Hall or contact: Lisa Otero 805/ Men s Discussion Tuesday 9:30AM Conference Room. We discusses political and social issues and current events. All men welcome. Contact: Bill Peltola 805/ or 805/ Fun Book Club February 18 Sunday 11:30am Conference Room This fiction book group meets for minutes after services. All are welcome. Feb: Coyote Blue by Christopher Moore and March: 1984 by George Orwell. Contact: Kappy Paulson 805/ kmp160@sbcglobal.net. UUniques 50+ Thursday February 22 6:30pm Berg Hall Please join us for an evening of conversation and good food. Bring your own table service and a dish to share. We will host the UU Hikers, who will describe their adventures and show photos of their recent climb of Mt. Whitney. We will be scheduling a tour for Thursday February 18. Tour details soon. Contact Merle or Pat at 805/ or 3723emlo@gmail.com or 1636wpso@ gmail.com. Men s Breakfast Bunch Saturday February 3 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. Women's Voices: Discussion and Support 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. Like the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura on Facebook. It s one more way to stay connected. UU Hikers February 3 (1st Sat) 8am February s Hike is to Danielson Monument, cabin site and Sycamore Canyon Falls in Point Mugu State Park. The trailhead is the Satwiwa Culture Center in Newbury Park. The hike is six miles with a challenging elevation gain of nearly Experience great views, a beautiful rocky waterfall and the monument and cabin site. Be sure you are on Mike s list to receive additional information a week before the hike. We leave the church parking lot 8am sharp. Contact: Mike Sixbey, 805/ The Watercolor Wednesday 12:30-2:30pm C Berg Hall ome and play with us. Good conversation, inspiration, camaraderie, and occasional instruction. Bring your own supplies. Beginners are welcome. Contact Veronica Bear 805/ or veronicabear2000@yahoo.com. Open Men s Support 1st & 3rd Thursdays 7-9pm Garage Meeting Room Enjoy fellowship, camaraderie and personal sharing. Contact: Dale Condra, 805/ , dale15roie@ gmail.com Charlas Contemporaneas Feburary 25 12:30pm La Parrilla 100 N. Ashwood Ventura Durante la hora y media de la junta tendremos bastante tiempo para explorar varias ideas y temas contemporaneas. Aunque los temas serán interesantes, el propósito de la junta es siempre él de hablar en español. Para informacion, vea a Janette Daniel-Whitney janettedw@charter.net y Silvia Garcia Hutchins silviahutchins190@gmail.com February On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

7 UU Things To Do Adult Programs Strong Bones 1 and 2 Strong Bones 1 (Beginning Class): Monday 1:30pm Sanctuary Wednesday 1:30pm Sanctuary Strong Bones 2 (Intermediate class): Monday 2:30PM Sanctuary Wednesday 2:30PM Sanctuary Designed to build strength, flexibility, and balance while having fun! Exercises are performed in chairs and standing, using hand weights and stretch bands. Open to men and women, Work at your own pace. $4/class, bring light weights, and stretch bands if you have them. Contact: Suzi Axtell, Adult Ed certified exercise instructor, suzi@axtell. com New Classes at UUCV The Gifts of Years A Program for UUCV Women series of monthly workshops, A which will begin March 23, will consider a woman s transition from the young and middle years into elderhood and the end years of life. With a focus on dispelling myth and misunderstanding, participants will engage in dialogue, journaling, small group discussion, and the telling of one s own stories about aging. The sessions will be facilitated by Silvia Hutchins and Marcy Burns with enrichment by guest speakers and panels. A preview on March 11 at 11:30AM in the Green Room will provide more details about the program. Contacts: Silvia Hutchins, silviahutchins190@gmail.com & Marcy Burns mburns4430@roadrunner.com. Circle Dinner The first Circle Dinner of 2018 is scheduled for Saturday, March 24. (A second dinner will occur during the Fall.) These dinners are a great way to spend a Saturday evening with long-time UUCV friends and to make new friends. We especially invite the participation of those who are new among us. Beginning February 18 and continuing each Sunday through March 4, sign up at the table with a yellow Circle Dinner sign during coffee hour in Berg Hall and/or learn more about the dinners and perhaps decide to participate as either a guest or a host. First timers might choose to first be a guest, then a host another time. It s your choice. Either way, there is a very good chance you will have a fun evening. Marcy Burns mburns4430@ roadrunner.com. WhaleCoast Alaska 2018 Have you ever dreamed of visiting Alaska? Then WhaleCoast Alaska 2018 is for you! Four Alaska UU fellowships invite you to experience our ecocultural and spiritual program this summer. See Alaska through the eyes of local UUs, with friendly homestays and unique tour activities. See wildlife, including moose, bears, caribou, whales, bald eagles, seals, and otters. Visit Denali National Park. Experience Native Alaskan culture. Forget the cruise ships our program is the best way to visit Alaska! Tours led by Dave Frey, member of the Fairbanks UU congregation and Alaska travel expert. Find out more about this Alaskan trip of a lifetime. More info: dfrey@whalecoastak.org or call 907/ Discount for groups of 8 or more. We would love to share our Alaska with you! FRIDAY MOVIE NIGHT 7pm Enter at back door Febuary 2 Battle of the Sexes, 2017, PG-13. The 1973 celebrity tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs ignited a larger cultural gender war known as the Battle of the Sexes. Stars Emma Stone and Steve Carell. Directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Not closed captioned. Febuary 9 The Pentagon Papers, 2003, R. Few of us know the full story of Daniel Ellsberg s extraordinary political and moral journey during the Vietnam War from war zealot at the Pentagon to heroic anti-war leader. This absorbing film features great acting from James Spader, Alan Arkin &Clare Forlini. Director Rod Holcomb. Closed captioned. Febuary 16 The Waiting List (Lista de espera), 2004, Not Rated. Spanish with English subtitles. At a rundown bus station in rural Cuba, the line of passengers just keeps getting longer. The problem is that every bus that passes is already full. For a while, frustration and disorder reign, until the group begins to transform the old station into a home. The film includes humorous elements, with performances from many of Cuba s finest actors. Director Juan Carlos Tabío. Febuary 23 Madness of King George, 1994, PG-13. The intermittent mental health issues of King George III the English monarch who lost the war to keep the American Colonies ignite a flurry of political and familial treachery in this semi-comical, biographical drama that earned Oscar nominations for both Nigel Hawthorne and Helen Mirren. Co-stars Rupert Graves and Rupert Everett. Director Nicholas Hytner. Not closed captioned. Contact Julie Moore: werfamilyvideos@aol.com February On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

8 B&G Buildings and Grounds I by Linda Pietrzak t is amazing how much work can get done when you get seven B&G people focused on a single goal. The goal was to remove the dead bushes along the block wall on the west side of the property as well as the majority of the pine needles. We had a three-cubic yard (a small dumpster) dumpster delivered to the property for the Work Party. Mike Sixbey, Bill Peltola, George and Ruth Owens, Geoff Dann, Joyce Sattler, and Haibiba Peterson all pitched in and filled the dumpster including stomping down the pine needles, at least the same amount of debris was put into plastic bags, the three toters were also topped off. AND there is still one more bush at the very back of the property!! I hope you got a chance to notice the improvement when you do please thank them for their hard work. Geoff Dann checked the lighting in the sanctuary. Linda Pietrzak watered the olive tree by the entrance and cut up two large carboard boxes. Merle Oberg repaired one sprinkler out front. The second sprinkler got him before he could repair it. His coat got quite wet. Such dedication! Thank goodness the repairs on the gutters were completed before the big rain storm and didn t appear to leak. Without this work the damage could have been substantial. It was such a busy Saturday for our church family. Not only were there all the parades and demonstrations commemorating the Women s March last year, there was a new member orientation, and a UU Board retreat. What makes the B&G people so special is several people wanted to know when they could come and make up the time they missed. I love these people. Want to help? Conatct Linda Pietrzak: linda.w.pietrzak@gmail.com Committee News From the Stewardship Team Building a New Way We are Building a New Way using a new/old system for our Stewardship Drive, going back to what worked well many years ago. This year we will be talking face-to-face with you to hear your comments about what makes you grateful about your experiences with this church. These conversations allow you to share your feelings about your church involvement, and they help us all move into the future renewed and inspired. They are also times where we get to know each other better. Please respond when canvas volunteers calls you in March to ask for an appointment to meet with you for your conversation, and to determine your level of financial support for next year. Yes, these visits will be about your pledges for the operating funds, though they will also be about the church and how we create its mission together. Most people come away saying it was way more fun that they expected. (Miles better than, say, a call from the IRS about money...) We, as a congregation, are constantly building a new way based upon love and generosity. Our sanctuary and classrooms are overflowing with people who want and need what we offer. Help us build our community of inclusion, acceptance, and understanding. Please take the time to respond and meet with one of our volunteers during this year s member to member canvas. Your participation will remind you of how lucky we are to have each other and our shared vision of what each of us and the world needs. Contact: Maura Raffensperger: Maurapics@gmail.com 7PEAT Let the Sun Shine! by Jim Merrill The new year seemed like a great time to check in on our church s rooftop solar electric production. At the January 7 meeting of 7PEAT (Seventh Principle Environmental Action Team), we learned since the installation of our solar panels in 2015, our church rooftop generation plant has produced 74,750 kwh (kilowatt hours) of electricity. To put that figure, 74,750 kwh, in perspective, the average California home uses 6,684 kwh annually. So our rooftop panels have generated enough power for 11.2 California homes per year since If you are wondering if solar power is right for you, keep an eye open for a panel talk on solar power from 7PEAT group this spring. The 7PEAT team is glad to share how we as a congregation are reducing our carbon footprint through photovoltaic generation and through our many other sustainability initiatives. Contact: Jim Merrill: merrilly@verizon.net February On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura

9 February Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 Groundhog 3 10am - Book Club Day 8am - UU Hikers 10am - Worship Service 11:45am - Women s 12:15pm - Coming of Age 11 10am - Worship Service 10 - New Member Sunday 11:30am - Humanism Seminar 11:30am - Community Luncheon 12:15pm - Coming of Age 5pm - COA overnight 18 10am - Worship Service 11:30am - Fun Book Club 11:45am - Women s NOON NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 12:15pm - Coming of Age 25 10am - Worship Service 11:30am - Humanism Seminar 11:30am - Gallery Set-Up 12:15pm - Coming of Age 12:30pm - Charlas Contemporaneas 5 1pm - Women's 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 5:30pm - T ai Chi Chih 7pm - Meditation 12 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 5:30pm - T ai Chi Chih 6:30pm - Intro to Meditation 7pm - Meditation 19 OFFICE Closed 1pm - Women's 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 5:30pm - T ai Chi Chih 7pm - Meditation 26 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 5:30pm - T ai Chi Chih 6pm - Social Action Meeting 7pm - Meditation 6 9:30am - Men s Discussion 11am - Staff Meeting 11am - Women s Voices 2pm - Connecting Committee 6:30pm - Women s 6:30pm - Mens II 13 Mardi Gras 9:30am - Men s Discussion 10am - Staff Meeting 4pm - Women s s 6pm - Covenant 6:30pm - Finance Comm. Mtg. 6:30pm - VC Climate Hub 20 9:30am - Men s Discussion 10am - Staff Meeting 11am - Women s Voices 6:30pm - Leadership Committee 6:30pm - Men s V 6:30pm - Men s II 27 9:30am - Men s Discussion 11am - Staff Meeting 4pm - Women s s 5:30pm - RE Teacher Meeting 6pm - Covenant Grp. Mtg. 6:15pm - RE Committee Meeting 7 12:30pm - Watercolor 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 6:30pm - Pastoral Associates 7:30pm -Choir Rehearsal 14 Valentines 12:30pm-Watercolor 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 2pm - Women s 3:pm - Stewardship Comm. Meeting 6pm - Leadership Comm. Mtg 6:30pm - B&G 7:30pm - Choir Rehearsal 21 12:30pm-Watercolor 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones Coffee House Office Hours 4pm - VHP Board 6pm - Women s 7:30pm - Choir Rehearsal 28 11am - Newsletter Folding 12:30pm - Watercolor 1:30pm - Strong Bones 1 2:30pm - Strong Bones 2 2pm - Women s 7:30pm - Choir Rehearsal 2pm - Covenant 5pm - Worship Associates 5pm - Citizenship Training 7pm - Men s III 7pm - Movie Night 9am - Men s Breakfast Bunch February On Common Ground UU Church of Ventura 8 10am - Book Club 2:30pm - Handicraft 4pm - Caregiver Support 6pm - LUYV 15 10am - Book Club 2pm - Covenant Mtg. 6pm - Board of Trustees 6:30pm - Membership Committee 7pm - Men s III 22 10am - Book Club 2:30pm - Handicraft 6:15pm - Cov. Grp. Training 6:30pm - UUniques+50 Potluck 9 2pm - Scrapbooking 6:30pm - Game Night 7pm - Movie Night 16 7pm - Movie Night 23 7pm - Movie Night 10 9am - Canvas Training 5pm - Potluck and UUParenting 5pm - COA overnight 17 9am - All Church B&G Work Party 24

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 Mark Gale Katherine (Kassy) Erickson Unitarian Universalist Principles We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.