Where I’ll Be

Dear Friends,

Away—during Candidating Week, April 9-18. Out of sight, out of mind. Please do give your full attention to the candidate for settled senior minister, the Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell. Take advantage of the multitude of opportunities to get to know the candidate, to ask questions, listen intently, and extend hospitality.

And please, please do be present at worship and immediately following on Sunday, April 18, to cast your ballot.

Remember that Candidating Week is a time for you to get to know the candidate and to decide whether you wish to affirm the recommendation of your Search Committee. They have worked very hard, traveled far, sacrificed evenings and weekends, thought carefully and consulted you fully. Now you can reciprocate by participating on April 18.

Remember as well that Candidating Week is a time for the candidate to get to know the congregation. If you vote to call Daniel, he must likewise decide whether or not to accept your call. It’s a little like dating, but far from blind. Much intentionality and planning have gone into this process. I predict the outcome will be stellar.
And, oh yes, during Candidating Week, as it happens, I will be up the road a few miles at Camp Allen near Navasota where the annual national conference of the UUA accredited interim ministry program will take place. About 40 of us will be put through our paces by an Alban Institute expert on church governance. Then we’ll review the applications received from churches needing interim ministers starting in the fall. After vetting the requests, we’ll decide who should apply where, and off we’ll go. I hope to come to agreement with a congregation by mid-May.

If all goes according to plan, my last Sunday and last day of active service here will be May 23. There should be plenty of opportunity for fond farewells. A little bird tells me an event is being planned for Saturday, May 22, and I’ll want to schedule a time for an informal conversation over coffee and tea for reflections and ruminations on our nearly two years together.

It is not easy for me to leave, but it would be far harder had this congregation not given me such wonderful support, and accomplished so much.

Best,
David

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