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
Just Peace Survey
WHAT IS JUST PEACE? Grounded in UCC polity and covenantal theology, the Just Peace Pronouncement and resulting church movement has at its core a call to alleviate systemic injustice of all kinds using non-violence, challenging us to explore the intersections between peace and justice, offering to the world the prophetic message, grounded in the hope of reconciliation in Jesus, that “Peace is possible!" - Just Peace Church Handbook, published by United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries, 2015
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.
December 8th - Rev. Stephanie Toon
Stephanie was a United Methodist minister for 18 years serving churches in Dallas, Costa Mesa, Orange and Murrieta. Her passion in ministry is social justice. She has gone on over 30 mission trips in her life. Her current ministry is teaching history at a Title 1 high school in Perris. She’s married to Adriana and has two kids; Jordan and Lincoln.
A new service is available every Sunday morning
New Designations for UCV in 2024
Just Peace
A couple of years ago, UCV agreed that we wanted to go through the process of being able to be designated 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
