JANUARY

January 2
Paul Harrison: Using Nature and the Universe as your Spiritual Path
CVUUF member Paul Harrison will examine how deepening our connection with Nature and opening our awareness to the Universe can help us embrace life, support us in times of trouble, inspire our quest for knowledge and beauty, and guide our ethics-without recourse to spirits, gods, or afterlives. Paul is an international award-winning environmental writer, founder and president of World Pantheism (www.pantheism.net), and author of a handbook of pantheist history, theory, and practice.

January 9
Rev. Betty Stapleford: Pastoral Care as a Shared Ministry
During my time away from our congregation doing research for my dissertation, I have found significant evidence to support many things that I believe about the way we can take care of each other in a church community. I am convinced, more than ever, that pastoral care is alive and well in our congregation and that you are its greatest assets. I look forward to sharing some of my struggles and insights with you and to pursuing our continued journey together.

January 16
Chalice Players: The Dining Room
This comic drama by A. R. Gurney is a humorous and compassionate portrayal of middle-class family traditions, tensions, and heartfelt memories.

January 23
A Chinese New Year Celebration:
This intergenerational service celebrates the Chinese New Year in a rollicking service for all ages. Join us as we share the experiences of four young Chinese dragons paying homage to their ancestors. Come prepared to make noise and expect a few surprises. In keeping with the holiday, red attire is suggested.

January 30
Rev. Betty Stapleford: An Experience of Mystery and Wonder
This sermon will begin a series of Sunday morning services that will explore the sources of our Unitarian Universalist tradition as it has evolved through the last two decades. Throughout the year ahead, I will be looking at the six sources, illuminated by John Buehrens and Forrest Church in their book, A Chosen Faith, as they influence what we believe and how we live our lives. A Child Dedication will also be a part of this service. Choir sings.

FEBRUARY

February 6
Ace of CUUPS: Imbolc
Now we see the first stirrings of spring from the depths of winter. The rain absorbed by the land engenders new growth and buds can be seen on trees; the days are visibly longer than they were around Yule; and we feel days of warmer temperatures. As the Wheel of the Year turns from Yule when we expressed our hopes and dreams now to the Celtic holiday Imbolc, we are challenged to make our first steps toward fulfilling those hopes and dreams. Join in meditation, casting our intentions into Brighid´s well, striking Brighid´s anvil in commitment, and seeking strength and help from the Universe by dancing a Spiral Dance!

February 13
Frances Pardee: Singing the Blues!
A recent survey found that the three favorite types of music for educated people are classical, jazz, and...blues! Why is blues music so appealing? We´ll explore this question and learn about the characteristics and history of the blues. And, of course, we´ll have plenty of blues music performed by our CVUUF musicians. We promise you won´t go home "blue"!

This year´s Fellowship Sweetheart will be announced during the service.

February 20
Rev. Betty Stapleford : Was Doubting Thomas a UU?
Many people believe that only the books included in the present-day New Testament are legitimate expressions of Christian beliefs. However, we now know that other writings by those in early Christian communities also existed and that the Gospel of Thomas was one of those writings. The subject of this Sunday´s sermon will be an exploration of this book and its possible implications for us as Unitarian Universalists today.

February 27
Rev. Betty Stapleford: World Religions as a Legitimate Source of Our Shared Tradition
We Unitarian Universalists pride ourselves on being a theologically diverse community, and we enjoy celebrating a variety of religious holidays. This sermon, the second in a series exploring our Unitarian Universalist sources, will look at how we can honor a wide variety of religious customs and beliefs without simply appropriating the traditions of others as our own in a superficial way.

MARCH

March 6
Rev. John T. Morehouse: Buying Green Bananas
Rev. Morehouse the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick, MD, will explore the means by which we garner hope in our lives and our world. A life-long UU, he has served churches in Indiana, Ohio, and Maryland. His spiritual journey has taken him through Buddhism, Christianity, and mysticism. He has worked with many other congregations in helping them grow numerically, institutionally, and spiritually, and he has served the Frederick congregation since 1994, helping them to grow from a Fellowship of 90 to a multi-staff Congregation of almost 300. The congregation has just dedicated its completely new church building last year. He and his wife Frances have five daughters.

March 13
Rev. William Sinkford:
On this Sunday, we will have the honor of welcoming Rev. Bill Sinkford, the continental president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, to out pulpit. As the spokesperson for Unitarian Universalists all over the United States, Bill has been a prophetic voice on many topics and in many arenas. We look forward to his sharing his inspiring message with us, and we hope to have a large turnout for this important event. So come and bring a friend. Choir sings.

March 20
Rev. Betty Stapleford : Our Jewish and Christian Heritage
Many of us grew up in either the Christian or Jewish tradition but, at least partially, left the religion of our childhood to become Unitarian Universalists. This Palm Sunday marks the third in our sermon series on the Unitarian Universalist sources - a Sunday on which we will honor both of these faith traditions and their continued influences on our lives. Choir sings.

March 27
: Spring Holidays and Celebrations
Join us Easter Sunday for an intergenerational service. Our heroine will be enlightened by the many holiday traditions that are celebrated this time of year. We will also be sharing flowers during our annual flower communion. Please bring a flower to share. Vases will be provided for all flowers prior to the service. Children who wish to participate in the flower processional (preferably 7 and older) must be at Goebel Center by 9:50 a.m. Choir sings.

APRIL

April 3
Chalice Players: Humor and the Meaning of Life
We often think of humor as a lighthearted means of escape from reality. But in this service our congregation´s intrepid thespians, under the direction of Rev. Betty Stapleford, will be encouraging us to go deeper in our understanding of ourselves and our relationships. The Chalice Players will both entertain and challenge us this morning with their presentations of short scenes from the work of Jules Feiffer and Mary Miller. This service is at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 West Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks.

April 10
Rev. Helen Carroll: Standing on the Side of Love
October 2004, Rev. Helen Carroll joined 44 other riders on a cross-country journey speaking out for the right of everyone to marry. Travelers shared personal stories and worked to change the hearts and minds of those they met along the way. Civil marriage as a civil right is one of the issues that UUs across California and across the nation have committed to work for in the coming months. Join Rev. Carroll as she shares her experiences from the marriage express.

April 17
Rev. Silvio Nardoni: Gratitude: Platitude or Attitude?
The fundamentals of religion are not found in ideas or beliefs, but in the approach we take to life as it presents itself to us on a daily basis. The choices we make about those approaches spell the difference between joy and despair. The sermon will examine why the unlikely fact of our existence is cause for celebration, and out of that celebration, what kind of acts will reflect the way we feel about life.

April 24
Rev. Betty Stapleford: Prophetic Women and Men
The sermon this morning will be the fourth in a series that has explored the sources of Unitarian Universalism. The whole statement of this source is that the prophetic words of women and men "challenge us to confront structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love." Being prophetic, then, is the calling to speak the truth about both the present and the future, even when that truth is one that may not be welcomed. Unitarians like Dorothea Dix and Norbert Capek have been such prophets, and we might do well to follow their example - if we dare. Perhaps there is still room for a few more prophetic voices in our world today. Are we up to the challenge? Choir sings.

MAY

May 1
Jim Scott: “Earth and Spirit”
Jim Scott intersperses original songs and readings in a celebration of earth and reflections on the diversity, abundance and relative health of life systems that we might say comprises the "spirit" of our small planet. Jim´s uplifting songs provide the balance to the wake up call, leaving participants with a vision and inspiration to take the healing into our own hands.

Three of Jim´s songs are included in the UU hymnbook, "Singing the Living Tradition" and his music is sung from church choirs to campfires. His hymn "Gather the Spirit" has become especially well known across the denomination.

May 8
Rev. Betty Stapleford: “Who is My Mother?”
On this Mother´s Day morning, the service will be inspired by a book entitled Who Will Remember Me? written by Barbara Hamilton Holloway. We will spend time remembering, grieving, honoring, forgiving, and celebrating our mothers and ourselves. There will be a Child Dedication ceremony, and the choir will sing.

May 15
Coming Of Age:

May 22
Rev. Betty Stapleford: “What Is A Humanist, Anyway?”
If asked, many Unitarian Universalists might characterize themselves as humanists. The rub is that their beliefs are not all the same. This morning we will look at the origin of this, often misunderstood, philosophy and the ways that it can give meaning to the lives of its adherents. We will also have a testimonial from at least one avowed humanist from our congregation.

May 29
Karen Stoyanoff: “The moment when everything is possible!”
There are times in our lives when everything seems to come together just right and nothing is impossible. This service will explore how these special moments occur and what we can do the rest of the time when our limitations are all too evident and we feel only a few things are possible.

Rev. Karen Stoyanoff is the minister at the Orange Coast UU Church in Costa Mesa, and she is doing this service as a pulpit exchange with Rev. Betty, who will be going to Costa Mesa to complete the exchange in July.

JUNE

June 5
Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford: “Honoring the Earth”
This Sunday morning we will investigate the sixth of our Unitarian Universalist sources in a way that values and celebrates “the sacred circle of life” and honors the spiritual traditions though which we can “live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.” Bring something with you that reminds you of your connection to the earth. The choir will sing

June 12
The Chalice Players: “Views From the Front”
The Chalice Players will present the many faces of war and its effects on the participants and the larger world. Come prepared to laugh and cry and ponder the historical and current forces that are a part of war, both in the abstract and the concrete. You will be encouraged to form your own opinions about this seemingly inevitable experience of humankind.

June 19
Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford and a panel of experts: “Fatherhood”
On this Father´s Day, members of our congregation will share their experiences of fatherhood and being fathered. It will be a rich opportunity for us to hear and share stories and discover the complexities of this greatly misunderstood profession. We will also honor both our high school graduates and one among us who has received her Girl Scout Religion in Life award for her work in our congregation.

June 26
Glenn Hening: “My Life as an Unrepentant Social Manipulator”
Lecturer, author, founder of both the Surfrider Foundation and the Groundswell Society. How do we react to the degradation of our own personal universe? This morning we will taste one man´s struggle against ´bacteria, big bucks and bad guys.´ Glenn´s writings will be available after the service. The collection plate this morning will benefit The Groundswell Society.

JULY

July 3
Rev. Glenn: Forget Your Troubles, C´mon Get Happy
Our guest minister will talk about the sickness we all suffer from and how Dr. Sid´s prescription can make us well. The sickness is called dukkha and Dr. Sid is better known as Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. The Dalai Lama calls it “the art of happiness.”; Thich Nhat Hanh calls it “a clever way to have a happy life.” No matter what it´s called, following Dr. Sid´s advice can help us find happiness in what seems to be an unhappy world. Rev Glenn is a minister and dharma teacher in the Mahayana tradition.

July 10
Maricela Morales: My Children, Your Children, or ALL of OUR Children?
Everyone is for children, right? Well, maybe for some children. The Children´s Healthcare Initiative (CHI) in Ventura County has met with considerable resistance. But the CHI has also has also inspired the activism of people of Faith and Spirit through the Ventura County Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE). Our own congregation voted to issue a letter in support of this initiative. Join us today to learn how people from many different religious traditions are joining forces to put faith into action through Ventura County CLUE. Maricela Morales is a Program Manager with the Central Coastal Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), and a leader of VC CLUE.

July 17
Rev. Eniko Ferenczi: Healing the Memories- Empowering the Victims
Our guest minister this morning will talk about the situation in her country, Transylvania, and that part of the world - about the women, their connection to each other and to us, and especially why she is here. She is attending the UUA General Assembly in Texas this year, and is continuing her fundraising efforts in Southern California for her ministerial association, their programs and plans. A special collection, sponsored by our Faith in Action group, will be taken this morning to support her work.

July 24
The Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford: What To Do When the World is Flat
In Christopher Columbus´ day, most people thought that the world was flat. Thomas Friedman´s book The World is Flat points out that, whatever we may want to believe, globalization in the 21st. century has turned the world flat once again. The sermon this Sunday will explore the implications of that reality for us as individuals, Americans, and Unitarian Universalists. Rather than bemoaning the terrible results of globalization, this sermon suggests that we can turn its effects toward a positive future for ourselves and the larger world.

July 31
An Intergenerational Service: It´s not easy being green…or is it?
Join us for an intergenerational style service. Our lead character learns the importance of respecting the earth, people he encounters and how enlightenment can be a good thing.

AUGUST

August 7
The Rev. Nancy Holden: Peacework in the Culture War
The present polarization of opinion in the U.S. is being called a culture war. Rev. Nancy Holden of River Falls WI has studied the theological basis behind the rhetoric, and concludes that it is not really about the "moral issues" that get so much attention in the news. She believes the real cause is a clash of visions for the future of our society--one vision looks back to an earlier social time, and the other looks forward to a new, multi-cultural nation.

August 14
Michael Eselun: Coming Out: It's Everybody's Business
Our guest speaker is a chaplain at UCLA Medical Center and a member of the UU Community Church of Santa Monica. Drawing on his experiences as a hospital chaplain, as a speaker with GLIDE (Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality, which he helped co-found) and a gay man, he will explore the many dimensions of coming out -- something heterosexuals, too, must do -- and will invite us all to investigate the opportunities on both sides of the closet door.

August 21
Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford: Unitarian Universalist Evangelism
We Unitarian Universalists often seem to shy away from the idea of sharing our "good news," perhaps from the fear that we might be accused of being overly passionate about our inherited and/or chosen faith. This Sunday we will join together to celebrate the joy that we have found in Unitarian Universalism through words and music. But beware! You might just feel the spirit.

August 28
Tom Powers: The Three Julies Sing More Kurt Weill
After an absence of two years, our talented sopranos, Julie Crooks, Julie Land and Julie Tillinghast team up again for an end-of-summer musical service featuring the legacy of Kurt Weill. They will be joined by the CVUUF Mostly Men's Chorus and the Musical Ensemble for a spiritually uplifting and entertaining program. Tom Powers will discuss his journey into the eternal issues of beauty, meaning and enjoyment of music.

SEPTEMBER

September 4
Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford: “Labor and Fulfillment”
On this Sunday before Labor Day, our service will explore the importance of labor for our society and ourselves. Our society depends on the labor of its citizens. What does it mean to labor and what is the payoff, both financial and otherwise? And do we have an obligation to see that those benefits are fairly distributed? These are big questions for people of faith and no faith.

September 11
“Ingathering Sunday”:
Join us for Ingathering Sunday, September 11, 2005. We will be celebrating the beginning of a new church year and the element of water. Please bring water collected from summer travels, home or a sacred place to which you have journeyed. We will be holding a glorified coffee hour. Please bring a finger food to share. This will be an intergenerational service with multiple sea creatures to entertain and inform us. You will not want to miss Rev. Betty as a purple octopus.

September 18
Rev. Lindi Ramsden: “Spiritual Center & Civic Circumference”
Unitarian Universalism has been described as a religion with a spiritual center and a civic circumference - a circle in which each is an essential part of the whole. Without access to a spiritual center, civic life can leave one weary and cynical. However a privatized spirituality is a recipe for cultivated blindness. What is the role of faith in matters of public policy? How do we stay in the circle as we seek to make a meaningful difference? What is on the public policy horizon, and how might we engage? What can we do together that we cannot do alone?

Our guest minister is Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, California, the first statewide UU public policy ministry in the US.

September 25
Rev. Dr. Lex Crane: “Youth, Time, and Aging”
An address by an ancient clergyman who has experienced life in all of its developmental stages, from beginning to near the end. He will compare and contrast the quality of life during both youth and old age. It will be a survey of the entire span of human life by an individual who has been there, and who has learned much from living among the people in several UU congregations over the years.

Our guest minister this morning is the Emeritus Minister of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara and a consulting minister at CVUUF before Rev. Betty’s tenure. Rev. Betty will be preaching in the Santa Barbara congregation today.

OCTOBER

October 2
Jim Berenholtz: Polytheism and Monotheism: The Hidden Story
Our guest speaker is an avid student of ancient civilizations and indigenous traditions, and a musical contributor to three big exhibitions of Egyptian antiquities currently touring California. His talk will explore the ways in which pagan traditions and ancient polytheistic religions, especially in the Near East, have shaped what are called the three great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Jim will also elaborate on the pitfalls of monotheism and the dysfunctionality of Abraham's god, and challenge us to consider how the current global atmosphere of fundamentalism and terrorism may be the direct result of a monotheistic mentality.

In addition to our service at the Goebel Center, those who are attending our fourth annual CVUUF Retreat will be sharing an intergenerational worship service at Camp DeBenneville Pines, led by Rev. Betty and CVUUF Lay Ministers. The theme of that service will be “Finding Retreat” and will challenge those attending to discover the many ways in which they can find comfort and transformation.

October 9
Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford and Covenant Group Facilitators: Living Our Covenant
On this Sunday morning, those attending the service will have the opportunity to share in the experience of being a part of a Unitarian Universalist Covenant Group. After some introductory information is presented, groups will gather and, under the leadership of trained facilitators, discuss the subject of “connections.” At a time in our country when connections seem hard to find, this may be just the opportunity we need.

October 16
Frances Pardee: Spirituality and Health
Research has shown that people who attend church are healthier. Why should this be true? Using concepts from the field of mind/body medicine, we'll explore just what might be going on in our bodies when we gather on Sunday mornings. Needless to say(!), the service will have plenty of music, including the CVUUF Choir singing a perennial favorite, “Rhythm of Life.”

October 23
Rev. Dr. Ken Collier: When Hope Gets Tarnished
We’ve all been there. Everything we’ve worked for, believed in, hoped for seems to be defeated. Why bother? The other side has prevailed. The most we can do is a holding action, a rear guard, as the rest hunker down and disappear into the woodwork. Perhaps I overstate things, but you know the feeling: hope is, at best, tarnished. What do we do then? How do we polish hope back to its appropriate sheen? And while we’re at it, just what is this thing we call hope, anyway?

Our guest speaker this morning is the minister of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara. This sermon is part of a pulpit exchange that Rev. Betty did in September, and she will be assisting her colleague as the Worship Associate this morning.

October 30
Darcey Lober: The Witches Speak
Make for yourself a power spot, bring you a spoon and a cooking pot. Bring air, bring fire, bring water, bring earth, and you a new universe will birth. Halloween is coming, and so are the witches. Keepers of the most ancient flame on this planet, they come as they have always come, since time out of mind, to stand witness to our lives and to share them with us in all our messiness and pain. They come honoring the Goddess in Her third aspect of the yearly cycle, the sacred hag, the destroyer of life, the crone; returning on this day to speak the wisdom of the ages. They come to protect, to avenge, to arbitrate disputes, and to soothe the wounds of despair. Casting a circle of divine protection, in story, ritual, and song we will weave together the sacred mantle of connection we all need too keep us safe and warm, through the chill of winter.

NOVEMBER

November 6
Chalice Players: Voices of the Working Poor
On this Sunday morning, the Chalice Players, under the direction of Rev. Betty, will present excerpts from the play version of Barbara Ehrenreich’s book Nickel and Dimed. It will be an opportunity for us to share the experience of the working poor in our society in a very personal way as it is portrayed by Pamela Lopez, Krystal McCauley, Bea Ornstein, Don Parker, and Kathy Sidla. There will be a discussion with cast after the service.

November 13
Intergenerational:
Join us for an Intergenerational Service focusing on the six sources of our Unitarian Universalist faith dramatized by members of our CVUUF community. Many times we talk only of our UU Principles. This service looks into the faith system that helps us to support them. The choir will sing.

November 20
Ric Masten and Rev. Betty: Let It Be A Dance
Many of us have enjoyed singing the song “Let It Be a Dance” from our hymnal for a number of years. This Sunday will provide the opportunity to meet its writer and to join this UU troubadour in words and music at our Sunday service. Ric is on his western tour and will share a dialogue with Rev. Betty on a variety of subjects from his most recent book Words and One Liners, Take 2. He promises to share “Let It Be A Dance” the way he originally wrote it. You won’t want to miss this one.

November 27
Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford: Moral Values in a Pluralistic Society
In a time in our country when we are seemingly being told that there is only one acceptable set of moral values, we need to look at what that means to us as Unitarian Universalists and to decide what action we will take as a denomination and a congregation. The subject of today’s service is the Study Action Issue that was chosen by delegates at this year’s Unitarian Universalist Association in Fort Worth, Texas, for study and action during the next two years. Our voices must be heard.

DECEMBER

December 4
Finding Sabbath: Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford
In our fastpaced world, the word “sabbath” connotes many things to different people — some positive and some negative. It can have meaning to us because of our past religious experiences or our family backgrounds. On this Sunday morning, we will be exploring the importance sabbath can have in our lives today through the work of Rabbi Abraham Heschel and our own experience.

December 11
Honoring Our Religious Diversity: Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford, moderator
We Unitarian Universalists are an incredibly diverse group in our beliefs about God, and yet we are committed to traveling together on a quest for truth and meaning. With that reality as a starting point, the topic for this service is a dialogue with some of our members on the many perspectives they have about this topic. Panel members are: Arlene Bloom, Hank Crooks, Paul Harrison, and David Wood.

December 18
The Songs and Symbols of Christmas:
The tradition of Christmas is made up of many practices, some dating back to before Roman times. But did you ever wonder where these practices came from? Why do we celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, have a tree, open gifts, hang mistletoe, or associate stars and bells with this season? Where did all those Christmas carols actually come from? Please join Julie Crooks, the CVUUF choir, and other talented musicians while we divulge, discuss, and of course sing about, those traditional symbols of Christmas.

December 24
6:00 pm Intergenerational Christmas Eve Service at the Goebel Center: Would You Like to Hold the Baby?
All ages will enjoy our presentation of a service created by UU musician Joyce Poley. She describes it as a "celebration of the spiritual truths and metaphorical beauty found in the Nativity story." There will be a real Christmas Pageant with Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, shepherds, kings, assorted animals, and lots of Christmas music. We'll close with our traditional candle-lighting ritual. Bring goodies to share for socializing afterwards.

December 24
Christmas Eve - Contemplative Service: Temple Etz Chaim
The theme of this service is “anticipation.” When we were children on Christmas Eve, we anticipated the arrival of Santa Claus and the opening of presents. On this night, we will look ahead to what we are anticipating today and the ways in which this night can have renewed meaning for us now.

December 25
Celebrating the Miracle of Hanukkah: CVUUF Lay Ministers
Through the concurrence of the Jewish and Christian calendars this year, the evening of Christmas day marks the beginning of Hanukkah. On this day, we will honor the miracle of Hanukkah through stories, music, and celebration. This intergenerational service will engage our community in the miracle of the season and the everyday miracles that are a part of all our lives.