I blinked and it was suddenly mid-October. I do like to post something at the top of each month. Sometimes things slip.
On my mind is the interim startup workshop held last weekend. On Friday night we talked about our history, what we do well and what we want to do more of. We even dug some skeletons from the closet, which are powerful “teachers” that help us know ourselves better as we examine the resiliency of community.
One thing that struck me as different from other congregations I’ve served is that you don’t have many secrets that haven’t been uncovered. You seem to have faced your skeletons before and know where they’re located. You’ve done good work in this area. Part of my work as an interim is to work my way through a list of “health checks,” and then move on. Skeletons, check.
I’m always humbled at startup workshops. The longest I’ve ever been the member of a UU church, as we moved around for grad schools, jobs, churches, and military assignments was our 12 years at Unity Temple, the congregation that ordained me in 2006. It was in that community Cindy and I raised our son, renewed our vows for our “Sweet 16th” anniversary, and served as youth advisors for more than four years. I sang in the choir, played in the band, and was the publications coordinator in my last few years of seminary. But when I hear the stories of people being in a congregation for 30, 40, 50, even 60 years, I just cannot imagine that experience. Some of you are multi-generational Rockford UUs. That’s impressive.
It reminds me, also, that it’s never a minister’s church; it’s your church. You built it (some of you, literally), fund it, care for it, worry about it, and invest your hopes and dreams in it. That’s not just flowery sentiment. You hope your church will care for you as you advance in years, and wonder if it will mean as much for future generations as it did for yours. And in what ways. Together, we will explore these questions, and more.
I’m grateful to be on this amazing journey with you.