It’s great to be back in community after a summer of being occasionally away. And it’s an honor to step into the role of president of the congregation! I’m grateful to follow Eileen McCormack, who provided amazing leadership over the last three years.
We are embarking on an intense and exciting time as we search for a settled minister. The search committee, which we elected in March, is working hard engaging in the early steps of the search process. We are fortunate to be part of the Unitarian Universalism Association, which has a robust process for helping congregations find ministers (as well as helping ministers find churches). Much of the process is confidential to respect the privacy of possible candidates, so there will be periods where we will not know exactly what is happening. The search committee will, however, make every attempt to share as much as possible and be as transparent as possible. The search committee cannot succeed without the support and trust of the congregation. As the process unfolds, we will be asked to provide feedback, to show up, and engage in healthy process. I hope that you can engage this process fully.
In the last year, I have participated in the children’s program in the cottage. It has been fun and gratifying. Each week, we have about ten children participating. I enjoy engaging with the littles and witnessing their wholehearted acceptance of our values and each other. Jessica TenHave-Place, our Director of Multigenerational Religious Education, has brought much joy and creativity to our children’s program. She has embraced our community and UUism and we are so lucky to have her!
There is much happening in our church community. I invite you to attend regularly and take advantage of the many activities that seek to build community. Church is where come to fill our hearts. We encourage you to participate in what brings you joy and helps you grow. Along with caring for ourselves, it’s key that we serve others. This is how we create a warm and embracing community. It is also how we brace ourselves to face the challenges in larger world. It’s tough out there, which means that we need other more than ever. The few times that I’ve been able to participate in local protests in the last months, I’ve seen many of you standing up for social justice. Thank you.
