Chalice Unitarian Universalist Inspiration

Two Years Ago, the Camarillo Mountain fire burned Tim Snowber’s family home. On the same day, Donald Trump was reelected. Tim had started seminary to become a chaplain the day before. Little did he know that the Universe had the same sort of ground-shaking changes in mind for him as he progressed through school. In this service, Tim will share reflections on the transformation he has gone through as a result of opening the door to his call to ministry.

Who do we want to be as a congregation, what do we value, and how might our building serve that vision? At a recent retreat, the Board and COSM explored four possibilities. This service will share what emerged from the retreat, introduce the options that were considered, and invite all of us into a deeper discernment about who we are, what we value, and who we are called to become in our next steps together. This service will be followed by a Congregational Conversation, open to all.

From the luminous blue Earth seen from space to the hidden networks of mycelium beneath our feet, life reveals a sacred truth: we belong to one another. This service explores Interdependence, one of our core Unitarian Universalist values, and introduces Woven Faith, a new approach to bringing faith formation into every part of congregational life. We will explore how our unique gifts help us weave together into a more resilient tapestry of faith, care, courage, and justice. We also invite you to wear purple as Chalice celebrates Spirit Day!

To kick off LGBTQ+ history month, we'll talk about some champions of queer rights - some you've probably heard of, and others you may not be as familiar with. The fight for LGBTQ+ rights is far from over, but neither is it hopeless. Come and be inspired by courageous people from the past and the present who knew that their efforts, no matter how big or how small, mattered.

This week we honor the United Nations’ International Day of Peace by exploring what it means to become peacemakers in a world that so desperately needs them. Through the story and creation of Peace Poles, Rev. Nica and Susan Seats invite us to consider how peace begins within us, takes root in our relationships and communities, and ripples outward into our world. How might each of us become an instrument of peace?

Come home to Chalice for our annual Ingathering celebration and Water Communion as we begin a new congregational year together. We’ll explore what it means to be fully alive. Come celebrate this one precious life, the waters that connect us, and the joy of being together again, and join us for a community picnic at Borchard Park after service.

Core values are something most people have. This service will allow 3 of our members - Katie Sachs, David Jackson, and Matt Chapa to share theirs with the congregation and give all those attending an opportunity to reflect on their own.

What does it take to see a new world before others can imagine it? Through the lives of 3 women visionaries: Malala Yousafzai, Joan of Arc, and Lee Miller, we will explore the courage to trust our vision, speak when silence feels safer, and act on behalf of a future still waiting to be born.

A quote by Albert Einstein says: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” What could it mean to us as UUs if we believed in the possibility of miracles in our current social justice climate? We are not talking about supernatural intervention, but beloved community in action. And that could change everything!

On August 16, we mark ten years to the day since Rev. Nica began her ministry at Chalice. Together, we will honor all we have accomplished and weathered, and celebrate the thriving community we have become.