What if life is not a race to be won, or a destination to arrive at, but a pilgrimage to be walked with presence, courage, and wonder? Drawing on stories and insights from her sabbatical travels to pilgrimage sites across Europe, Rev. Nica explores what it means to live life as a pilgrimage, and how we might be transformed when we learn to walk through life with openness, intention, and awe.
Today, Rev. Nica returns to Chalice from her sabbatical. Please join us in welcoming her back and beginning to get a sense of her adventures.
Join us this Christmas Eve as we honor the love that continues to be born in us and among us. With story, music, fun for the kids, and our beloved candlelighting ritual, we gather in love and joy. Bring the whole family to this hope filled service and join us for cookies and merriment afterwards, and maybe even a visit from Santa!
On this Winter Solstice we honor the turning of the year, the shortest day and the longest night. Together we will journey to the neolithic tomb of Newgrange in Ireland, where once each year a single shaft of sunlight pierces the darkness, reminding us that even in our deepest shadows the light returns. Join us for this sacred morning of reflection and hope as we share a sabbatical send-off ritual for Rev. Nica. This is her final Sunday service before sabbatical, though she will also lead our Christmas Eve celebration.
In a time when society is becoming more secular and polarized, we may wonder why our faith matters? What gifts does Unitarian Universalism offer that make it worth showing up, belonging, and participating? This Sunday we’ll explore these questions as we joyfully welcome new members into our community and welcome back returning Chalice members from as far back as the 1970s. Together we’ll reflect on how our UU values, mission, and community create a place of light, love, justice, and deep connection, offering a home for the soul in challenging times.
As the season of gratitude arrives, how do we open our hearts to thankfulness when life feels uncertain or hard? This Sunday we’ll explore the practice of gratitude not as denial of struggle, but as a pathway to resilience and joy. Together we’ll share our annual Harvest Bread Celebration, breaking bread in community and giving thanks for the blessings that sustain us even in difficult times.
Many Unitarian Universalists feel a discomfort around the figure of Jesus, because his teachings have been distorted by dogma, politics, and fundamentalism. But what if we look beyond doctrine and politics to rediscover the heart of his message? Who was Jesus, really, and what did he stand for? And might his wisdom still speak to us as UUs today? Join us as we explore Jesus as mystic, rebel, wisdom-teacher, and activist.
How do we continue to get up each morning and face all the horrors the world offers, without being paralyzed by fear or despair? How do we hold onto our humanity, our joy, our love and peace amidst it all? How do we keep finding the light among all the darkness surrounding us? Join us for this deep dive into what it means to be human at this time.
It has been over 180 years since the Ventura Chumash community has built a tomol in Ventura. They are currently finishing their first tomol in over 180 years… “We are due!” writes Alan Salazar, Chumash elder, who will share this story with us for Indigenous People’s Day.
The poet, John O’Donohue, wrote: “May this house shelter your life. When you come home here.” This Ingathering Sunday we come home to Chalice and gather around a living fountain, reminding us of the source that nourishes and sustains our lives. Home is not only where we live, but where we are seen, loved, renewed and inspired. Today we come home to one another, for the new congregational year, celebrating this community and connections that sustain us.
