O What a Day!

Dear Friends,

How grand to see the sanctuary full, dancing in the aisles, and general rejoicing in the land. It was a celebration indeed this past Sunday, and for that I am eager to thank all the volunteers who made it possible.

The highlight was certainly the naming of the candidate nominated to be your settled senior minister, my respected and admired colleague, the Reverend Dr. Daniel O’Connell. For the painstaking work that led to this nomination, I salute Ministerial Search Committee members Mary Koch, chair; Lucy Anderson, Carol Burrus, Peter Durkin, Liz Gilbert, Evan Michaelides, and Sheila Whitford.

For all the effort that went into transforming the church into a Mediterranean-Marvel-With-Moonwalk, including hours of setup and cleanup and weeks of preparation, let us place laurel wreaths upon the heads of the members of the Stewardship Team: Sue Prochazka; chair, Joyce Ambler, Thorpe Butler, Caroline Brooks, Evelyn Carlson, Joe Lach, and Leonora Montgomery.

And then there were the singers of the Sanctuary Choir and those who lovingly worked with the choirs of children and youth—to the ultimate delight of us all.
I am inspired by the dedication of these volunteers—the number of hours they devote, the care with which they do their work, and the high standards they set and maintain for themselves. It is such shared ministry that makes for a thriving and worthy church community.

From one glad to be a part of it for another couple of months…

Best,
David

Top Ten Reasons

Dear Friends,

Here’s hoping you appreciate straight talk and candor. If so, read on.

Rev. Dave’s top ten reasons to increase your pledge to First Church during the current Stewardship Drive:

1. You’re concerned that church income from non-pledge sources is certain to decrease this year while expenses will of course increase. You know that if your pledge stays the same, you are in effect voting for cuts in staff, program, and outreach. (Increasing your pledge by at least twenty percent will help First Church move forward.)

2. You want to get your new shared ministry off on the right foot, welcoming your new senior minister and family into a community of generosity.

3. You want to see the new social justice and community outreach initiatives funded.

4. Fear of recession limited your giving last year; now you feel more confident about the economy.

5. You are a lover of beauty and nature, and want to see landscaping and ‘curb appeal’ improvements around your church home.

6. You love the church staff members, and want to make sure they are fairly compensated.

7. You think it’s time to resume repayment of the Endowment loan.

8. You are inspired to know that some leading givers are actually doubling their pledge, giving five percent or more of income, and that experience proves most could do the same, never miss the money, and feel really good about it.

9. You’ve finally found out what that big red heart sculpture is doing in the Sanctuary, and want to provide the modest funds needed to permanently install it at SEARCH Homeless Services headquarters as a sign of our partnership.

10. You know that your own big heart will benefit considerably.

Of course, I could go on and list dozens more needs and wishes: funds for a richer R.E. program, scholarships to leadership development opportunities, special guests who will help grow your soul…but I think you probably get it. Now you can give it. By heart.

A final note to those whose finances may make this a less than welcome list: If you are having trouble putting food on the table, buying school supplies for your kids, or paying the rent, let me know. There is a special fund at First Church to help meet such needs. Most of us have been through rough times at one time or another. Don’t hesitate to ask for help; chances are it will be gladly given in complete confidence.

See you in four days at Celebration Sunday.

Best,
David

Icebergs Afloat

Dear Friends,

It is said that nine-tenths of an iceberg is underwater, unseen. So it is with the dedicated people on your church staff. Tom Cowen especially comes to mind. Tom volunteered hundreds of hours (really) to create our evening with crusading journalist Ellen Goodman. What a gift she has been through decades of syndicating good sense about the role of women, gay rights, and a woman’s right to choose. And what a gift Tom gave us, along with his team of volunteers and generous sponsors of a grand evening. And didn’t Natalie Browne do us proud in her welcoming remarks?

Tom works for you full-time as facilities manager, tending to the countless details of managing a complex, maintenance-intense building. A portion of his time is devoted to administrative support, including production of the weekly Sunday service bulletin and the Blast. And then…he volunteers time directing fundraising projects and leading the Nature & Spirituality Chalice Circle.

Natalie, who has years and years of experience directing a religious education program in another church, guides our growing Sunday School for children and youth, and supports the expanding adult program offerings and special events. She commands the confidence of all ages.

The Reverend Adam Robinson supports the pastoral care program, the Welcome Team, Reverend Dr. Thandeka’s “What Moves Us” launch, serves as liaison to community groups like SEARCH and HATCH, and works with me to plan and lead worship. I notice that Adam is loved and trusted here, and for good reason.

Director of Administration Peggy Harvey could well be called the executive director of this outfit. She holds in care not only finance and administration, but the total program, mission and ministry of the church as well. Peggy does what in some congregations would be two or three jobs (bookkeeper, controller, newsletter editor, staff supervisor, executive assistant to the senior minister, and person-who-cares-about-everything-and-everybody.)

I’ve written here recently about the music staff, and will heap no more praise upon their heads now, except to say that Jason Oby’s high profile in the Houston music community stands us in good stead, and that Bob Fazakerly has given extra effort and virtuosity to this congregation for many, many years.

And we should not overlook the reliability and hard work of sextons Hillman and Aaron Laws, nor the ever-improving child care and nursery directed by Maria Nieto.
They all do much more than I will take space to tell you about. They all do more than is expected, and most likely more than you ever imagined.

They are the warmest icebergs ever.

Of course, the mission of the staff is to support and empower the congregation. We can accomplish very little on our own. The work of the church is done by the members and friends of the church, but there is so much to be done to make your ministry possible and effective.

To support the staff, keeping it at the current level of time commitment and excellence, will require a successful Stewardship Drive, now underway.

Please consider giving the ‘gold standard’ of five percent or more of income.

And because cold hard facts indicate that a twenty percent increase in giving will be needed this coming fiscal year, beginning in July, please consider increasing your pledge over last year by at least twenty percent.

The Stewardship Drive theme is “Giving by Heart.” There can be no doubt that your staff members give much from their hearts to serve you.

Best,
David

Stained Glass Ceilings

Dear Friends,

It is always good to see anyone who has been disenfranchised break through. Such is the case with Laurel Hallman, the delightful minister who ascended from volunteer R.E. teacher at a Midwestern congregation to become the first woman to shatter the stained glass ceiling and become senior minister of a large Unitarian congregation—Dallas.

During the twenty years that followed, she broke through a number of other ceilings and barriers, including initiating a spiritual practice beautifully-suited to the intellectual and spiritual diversity of our religious movement. I’ve offered “Living by Heart” retreats here and at a score of other churches, but have never had the joy of actually learning the practice with Laurel herself. Now that rare privilege is ours as she joins us on March 27 for a day of meditation, contemplation, poetry, song, and study. Not to mention lunch. Please, please pre-register as soon as possible so we’ll know how many to plan for.

Speaking of the disenfranchisement of women, if at all convenient, do see the excellent film Creation now playing at the Angelica downtown, and apparently nowhere else in Houston. (A call to your local theatre might help.) This well-made biopic humanizes the often demonized Charles Darwin. (You might even take a couple of thoughtful Evangelicals with you to see it.)

But do know that, for all its strengths, the film does make Emma Wedgewood Darwin into a sort of villain, portraying her as a somber, uptight, conservative Christian who blocks the publication of The Origin of Species. Truth is, the Darwin and Wedgewood families were steeped in rebellious Unitarianism; Emma would actually make her children join her in literally turning their backs on their Anglican parish priest when too orthodox a message was being delivered. Emma was also apparently a lot more fun than the unsmiling actress who portrays her in the film; she and Charles enjoyed each other greatly, and had several more children than are portrayed in the movie. But then, since Eve and the serpent, women have made handy villains.

Eloquently crusading against such injustice for many years has been Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman. She deserves our thanks and rapt attention when she speaks at a fundraiser for First Church on March 12 at the Ensemble Theatre. I love the title she has just sent us: “The Political is (too) Personal: The Media, The Scandals, and Food Fight Politics.”

Hope to see you there.

Best,
David