California Wildfires 2025
On January 7, 2025, wildfire activity began in Los Angeles County, California. Immediate reports indicate that this fire has caused substantial damage throughout LA County, making this event the largest fire disaster in the county's history. At the time of this writing, nearly 30,000 acres have been consumed by the blazes. One hundred eighty thousand people are currently displaced from their homes due to devastation or evacuation orders, and these fires continue to spread, causing additional destruction.
Since the onset of this disaster, the Global HOPE team has communicated with the Southern California and Nevada Conference Minister. The team will coordinate with ecumenical partners and a national network of voluntary organizations active in disasters (VOAD) as it shapes our long-term response.
We received confirmation that the fires destroyed the Altadena Community Church, United Church of Christ. They posted an update on their Facebook page.
The Global HOPE team is helping to connect Southern California and Nevada Conference staff, churches, and others affected by the wildfires with immediate resources while also preparing to support long-term recovery efforts.
UNITED CHURCH OF THE VALLEY
OUR TRUE CALLING
There’s a fresh wind blowing in the Murrieta/Temecula Valley. It is the wind of openness and inclusiveness, the fresh breeze of a community built upon an affirmation approach to life which respects the customs and integrity of all persons. This fresh wind is called United Church of the Valley. This church comes from a tradition of calling and gathering God’s people to respond to the world with new eyes and new hearts. It is a church of vision and involvement. We unashamedly work hand in hand with our God to dismantle the fences which have been erected between people. We follow God’s vision of a just world where all will live peacefully, growing in their concern for each other.
Mission Statement
We are an inclusive, accessible and affirming community practicing Jesus' radical love. We follow God's vision of a Just World where all live peacefully and in response we pursue the liberation of all living things from injustice and oppression.
Vision Statement
Stewardship 2025
As we move into 2025 and your church council puts together the strategic plan for the year, a plan that will, based on our stewardship drive, tell us how much we can impact our community, how much support we can provide to those in need. Please take a minute to consider the impact UCV has on your life and those around you, then with kindness in your heart, fill out your pledge card.
How We Minister
United Church of the Valley we don't utilize a full time minister, but rather a rotating group of ministers who are creative thinkers. During the course of a month you might see the Rev. Fred Schaeffer, Rev. Stephanie Toon, Lee Eddy, Sandy Selby or Darcie Dunlop behind the pulpit. We enjoy a different approach as seen through a different pair of eyes each week. Not only does it keep us on our toes, but it keeps our minds fresh and open to new ideas and a new way of seeing that, which we have looked at the same way for years.
April 17th - Rev. Stephanie Toon (Maundy Thursday)
April 20th - Sandy Selby (Easter Sunday)
Sandy Selby joined United Church of the Valley in 2017 when she and her family relocated to Murrieta, CA from Louisville, KY. She holds a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Lexington Theological Seminary, and previously served as Associate Minister for Senior Adults and Guest/Member Connections at First Christian Church of Louisville.
Sandy loves sharing her faith with others and helping them find their own spiritual path. In addition to sharing in the duties of preaching and pastoral care, Sandy serves as Coordinator for Ecumenism and Outreach. In her spare time, Sandy likes to hike and go to the beach with her husband, Paul, her mom, Mary, her son, Eric, and their rambunctious pug, Batman.
A new service is available every Sunday morning
New Designations for UCV in 2025
Open & Affirming
The United Church of the Valley holds an official designation of being Open & Affirming. O&A means a congregation has publicly declared that they welcome and fully include people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions in their church life and ministry, signifying a commitment to actively embrace the LGBTQ+ community within their congregation. We don't take this lightly, we are fully committed to truly be an Open & Affirming congregation.
Just Peace
Two years ago, UCV agreed that we wanted to go through the process of achieving the designation as a “Just Peace” church. The process is somewhat similar to that of becoming “Open and Affirming.” There was a time of study and then the congregation voted to proclaim a public identity as a justice-doing, peace-seeking church.
Accessible 2 All
Accessibility to All (A2A) is about becoming attitudinally welcoming to people with disabilities and mental health issues as well as working to make our buildings physically and programmatically accessible to persons with disability. UCV was recently awarded this designation by the UCC Disabilities Ministry.
Photographs and Memories
Roots
Chacraseca
Pride
Archie
What do we have here?
Christmas Celebration
John and Sharon
Showing each stop of our nomadic journey
Peaceful Protest
Pumpkin Glow 2023
Candlelight Vigil for Peace
