Simi Valley United Church of Christ

I was quoted in this article - https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/trump-california-jesus-19729095.php?fbclid=IwY2xjawFAszBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWpINrgZgLK4lmGcCe0bE_R92W71kz2JIwHNR-6Fd78wfpz2JTZStlURNg_aem_kla_nVqDlh9cSDiPmFhrXQ

‘Jesus doesn’t pick kings’: California Christian leaders sound alarm over Trump voting comments Christian leaders in California called former President Donald Trump’s claim invoking Jesus Christ in his electoral aspirations “ridiculous” and “appalling.”

https://youtu.be/5ixWR4EYbcc
The Message: “Let Our Yes Be Yes” –
On Sunday 8/25, Jim Burklo will get us thinking about how to be decisive, when the time is right, in making choices in our lives. We get in all sorts of trouble when we’re wishy-washy about important decisions. How can we make up our hearts so we can make up our minds so we can take the steps we need to take, for the sake of ourselves and the sake of others?

www.youtube.com

https://youtu.be/YuV-Q5G68_E
Rachael Pryor, our new Conference Minister for the S.
CA/Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. After worship, we’ll have a time for conversation with her. Rachael and her family recently moved from Kansas to Ventura – so we can count her as our neighbor!

Rachael Pryor UCC Simi 8/18/24: Rachael Pryor, our new Conference Minister for the S.CA/Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. After worship, we’ll have a time for conve...

https://youtu.be/PG2k-6ftcEs
How have you expressed your gender and s*xual
identity in different ways, over your lifetime?- Rev. Jim Burklo

Femininity, Masculinity, and Infinity How have you expressed your gender and s*xualidentity in different ways, over your lifetime?- Rev. Jim Burklo

What have been the “stops” along your journey of spiritual growth?- Rev. Jim Burklo

Spiritual Itineraries

This guy is the man. James Talarico, Texas state senator and crystal-clear interpreter of progressive Christianity. Wow's the word. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10161380983065279&id=504635278&mibextid=O563ZM&rdid=2Jqoq1jkdyxJRNq6

“Simplicity” – Jim Burklo
Life hurls complexity at us daily. How can we respond with simplicity? – for the sake of our
sanity, and also for the sake of our spirituality? Jim will explore this (simply) in worship July 21!
Mustard Seed for the week of 7/21-27: What do you need to simplify in your outer and your inner life?

Simplicity “Simplicity” – Jim BurkloLife hurls complexity at us daily. How can we respond with simplicity? – for the sake of oursanity, and also for the sake of our spi...

https://youtu.be/_R9t-lBcUOI
"From Fundamentalism to Christian Agnosticism."
by guest speaker Calvin Smith

Calvin Smith 7 13 24 "From Fundamentalism to Christian Agnosticism."by guest speaker Calvin Smith

In the French Alps last week, I entered a little stone chapel and went into a reverie of contemplation: https://tcpc.blogs.com/musings/2024/07/la-ch.html

Worship Preview

July 7: “Simplicity” – Jim Burklo


Life hurls complexity at us daily. How can we respond with simplicity? – for the sake of our sanity, and also for the sake of our spirituality? Jim will explore this (simply) in worship July 7!


Mustard Seed for the week of 7/7-13: What do you need to simplify in your outer and your inner life?

https://youtu.be/WfpdA4sL8kw
“But-And, Against-Through, For-With” – Jim Burklo
How can we get from “but” to “and”, from “against” to “through”, from “for” to “with” – in our
souls and in our relationships? Jim’s sermon will explore these questions on 6/30.

“But-And, Against-Through, For-With” “But-And, Against-Through, For-With” – Jim BurkloHow can we get from “but” to “and”, from “against” to “through”, from “for” to “with” – in our souls and in ...

https://youtu.be/p4qJUNhZeOQ
“Finding Meaning in Work”

Given how much of our lives are spent making a living, it is no wonder that many of us seek meaning in our work – especially if it seems elusive. Rev. Jim Burklo will explore this quest in his Sunday message.

Making Meaning in Work “Finding Meaning in Work” Given how much of our lives are spent making a living, it is no wonder that many of us seek meaning in our work – especially if it...

Ventura County’s 33rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration is this Saturday, June 15th, from 10am to 5pm at Plaza Park, 500 South C Street in Oxnard. Free event commemorates Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, marking the June 19, 1865 announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. Event to feature live music, local artists, great food, and more. Visit www.juneteenthoxnard.org for more information.

I'd say that I'm an agapetheist, but.... that would be presumptuous. Watch how I treat others, and come to your own conclusion... https://tcpc.blogs.com/musings/2024/06/agapetheism-for-beginners.html

If God is no less and no more than love, what about God isn't there to believe in?

This is why I'm an agnatheist: someone who is agnostic about whether or not there is really such a thing as an atheist. https://tcpc.blogs.com/musings/2024/06/ag.html

Come on Sunday for Worship- Stay for the fun of Souljourning after Worship. Art for All Ages!
Everyone is Welcome!

Everyone is Welcome at UCC Simi Valley!

https://youtu.be/Ov2T4qCzRLU
Holding on to resentments against others is like putting
your trash in a big pack on your back and
carrying it with you everywhere, instead of just putting
it in the garbage can. Yet we all find
ourselves schlepping heavy loads of grudges with us,
wherever we go. Come to church this
Sunday and leave those resentments in the church dumpster,
once and for all! In his message,
Rev. Jim Burklo will invite us to leave these loads behind.

Release of Resentments- Rev. Jim Burklo Holding on to resentments against others is like puttingyour trash in a big pack on your back andcarrying it with you everywhere, instead of just puttingit i...

https://youtu.be/OSXz9A8nuPU
Grief = love. Usually we expect love to feel happy, joyful. But love can also take the form of the ache and pain that is grief. Jim Burklo will explore the layers and stages of grief in his message on Sunday – starting with reflection on the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept.”

The Gift of Grief- Rev. Jim Burklo Grief = love. Usually we expect love to feel happy, joyful. But love can also take the form of the ache and pain that is grief. Jim Burklo will explore th...

https://youtu.be/1Gq11o3MjvI
Rev. Jim on the Mosaic of Life.

Making Life's Mosaic- Rev. Jim Burklo Our lives accumulate pieces of our brokenness – shards of experience that can poke us with pain. What would happen if we took those pieces and re-arranged t...

Our Libraries have been restocked!

Front of the church I serve, United Church of Christ, Simi Valley -- Biden is blocking military aid to Israel, finally - very late, but very good news - I emailed him and my CA Senators to urge no aid to Israel until there is a cease-fire and no more attacks by settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank. It has taken way too long, but our voices are finally being heard. Let's keep the heat on our politicians to stay the course and work relentlessly for a lasting peace in Palestine/Israel....

"Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience"

New words for an old gospel song... WWMD - what would Moses do?

Go down Moses
Way down in Gaza land
Tell Netanyahu
To let my people go!
Hey IDF in Gaza land
Let my people go!
Oppressed so hard, they could not stand
Let my people go!
So the Lord said, go down Moses
Way down in Gaza land
Tell Netanyahu
To let my people go
Palestine and Israel
Let your killing cease!
Today what word would Moses tell?
Bring all people peace!
Yes the Lord said, go down Moses
Way down in Gaza land
Tell Netanyahu
To bring all people peace
Thus spoke the Lord, bold Moses said
Let my people go!
Too many of my people dead
Let my people go!
God the Lord said, go down Moses
Way down in Gaza land
Tell Netanyahu
Let a cease-fire stand!
Way down in Gaza land
Tell Netanyahu
To let a cease-fire stand!

https://youtu.be/22OMIC8T3Vs
LISTENING: A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
Jim Burklo’s message will invite us into the deeper dimensions of the spiritual practice of listening. What is the “still small voice” within you saying? If you can listen to it, can you also listen to the “still small voices” in the voices of others?

Listening- Rev. Jim Burklo LISTENING: A SPIRITUAL PRACTICEJim Burklo’s message will invite us into the deeper dimensions of the spiritual practice of listening. What is the “still sma...

In the 12th century, the Spanish Jewish philosopher Maimonides wrote “The Guide for the Perplexed” in order to help the intellectually-oriented to find meaning in the Hebrew scriptures deeper than a literal reading could yield. “God After Deconstruction” is a guide for perplexed evangelical and fundamentalist Christians who seek a kinder, saner understanding and practice of the faith. Its authors themselves have “deconstructed” from supernaturalist, exclusivist, and triumphalist Christianity. Read my review of this new book: https://tcpc.blogs.com/musings/2024/04/god-.html