United Church of the Valley

Our Church Home

United Church of the Valley owns property on Clinton Keith Road, at the intersection of Greer Road, in Murrieta. Although we currently worship in a school multipurpose room, we know that no matter where we gather together, our church is “the people.” Until four walls give us a home base, members and friends of UCV still reach out in many ways to our community and beyond.

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Outreach & Mission - some of the ways we serve...

The Community House, across from the Post Office in Historic Downtown Murrieta, has offered us a venue to serve our neighbors in the Murrieta area.

Alcoholics Anonymous - We currently house four different AA groups:

Weekday Mornings (Mon-Fri) from 7-8 am (Closed Group)
Saturday Morning 8-9 am (NEW) STEP Program
Wednesday Evening Men's Group from 7-8 pm
Sunday Evening 7:30-8:30 pm

Homework Assistance Program - During the school year, we offer an after-school program to assist children with their homework. This program is offered free of charge to anyone who desires assistance.

Language Acquisition (English Learners Class) - Monday nights, the Community House rocks! Well…, not exactly, but some pretty exciting things are happening. We have over a dozen eager students and several dedicated tutors to help them. Classes are open to anyone who wishes to learn the English language. For more information, contact Corina at 951-302-0036 (se habla espanol).

TransDiversity a new off-shoot of PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Gays and Lesbians), this support group for Transgenders meets on the second Friday of the month at 6:00 pm.

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Our Church's Wider Mission - United Church of the Valley pledges to send monetary support to the United Church of Christ each year to help support the denomination and it's programs. In the United Church of Christ, we affirm that, although the congregation is the fundamental unit of mission, mission is not just local. We are connected to one another, across boundaries of neighborhood, class, race, and national border. Our Church’s Wider Mission is the name we use to describe the work we do as the United Church of Christ beyond the local church–through our Conferences, national ministries, and UCC-related institutions. Our Church’s Wider Mission is also the name we give to the financial support given by UCC members and congregations that makes this broader mission possible. The gifts from United Church of the Valley are sent to our Southern California Nevada Conference, who decides what percentage of those gifts to keep for the work of the Conference, and what percentage it will send to the national setting of the UCC. Some of the National Basic Support money is used for ministries to Conferences, local churches and members, as well as for ecumenical, prophetic and missionary ministries on behalf of the UCC.

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Special Mission Offerings - are collected from our congregation five times during the year to support different missions through the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. These are:

* WEEK OF COMPASSION - the relief, refugee, and development ministry fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) responding around the world around the year on behalf of congregations and individuals of the church.

* EASTER – for general ministries implementation of Disciples Imperative to strengthen congregational life.

* PENTECOST – for new church development, divided equally between the region in which the offering is received and general new church ministry.

* THANKSGIVING – for higher education institutions who are responsible for the theological education of the church’s leaders, and for regional ministries in the region where the funds are contributed for implementation of the church’s imperative: “To strengthen congregational life for this mission.”

Additional offerings are accepted for special missions throughout the year, such as the Reconciliation Mission offering in October.

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Hopi Holidays: Christmas gifts are provided each year for students (K-6) at the Hopi Day School in Kykotsmovi, Arizona, through Hopi Holidays . Located in the Second Mesa of the Hopi nation, Kykotsmovi is a village of families who have blended their Native American traditions with the Christian faith. Originally Project Love - an outreach program of The Project Love Foundation, administered by the Boeing Corporation, the program continues under this new name through the participation of United Church of the Valley, Seaside Community Church in Torrance and Mahattan Beach Community Church. Members from our church have visited with the children on several occasions, delivering the Christmas gifts and school supplies. UCV families provide gifts for 35-50 children each year.

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Murrieta Food Pantry: The first Sunday of every month is "Food Pantry" Sunday, when we make a special appeal for donations of food and monetary contributions. However, donations are accepted every Sunday to be delivered to the Food Pantry at Murrieta Methodist Church. A current challenge is for everyone to bring a food item or donate $1 each week. 25 bags were filled with Thanksgiving "feasts" by members this year.

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Habitat for Humanity: United Church of the Valley is a Partner Church with Habitat for Humanity, Inland Valley. We send financial support and encourage members to participate in Habitat Build projects in Temecula.

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Mission to Chacraseca, Nicaragua: United Church of the Valley is an ongoing supporter of the community of Chacraseca in Nicaragua. 2010 marks the third year that representatives of UCV have traveled there as a Partner Church of this 49 square mile area through JustHope. Support of our church family, friends, our SCNC-UCC Conference and the Sun City UCC helped them to to build four homes while there, as well as provide tools and much-needed supplies for this impoverished community. Our homes were among the first to have concrete floors. A set of handchimes and musical recorders were given to a school. We have sent funds to aid in rebuilding roofs lost in a hurricane, and are participating in the drive to bring fresh water to every home in the community.

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Support to Fire Victims: In the fall of 2007, we partnered with St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fallbrook to help those who slip through the cracks of the system — helping them to get some relief from losing their homes, belongings, and the items that enable them to make a livelihood.

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Global Ministries -
The common witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ responsible for nurturing relationships with international partners on behalf of Disciples and the UCC is the Board of Global Ministries. Jeffrey Mensendiek, our missionary in Japan, spoke to our congregation in 2008.