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The Musings of Reverend Catherine Harrington Last Friday evening when I took out the trash, I caught the sounds of the high school marching band in the distance. Football! My mind raced back to Wyoming High School in the 60’s, with the fall winds blowing. I detected a familiar stirring inside me. Before you know it, I had my sewing machine out and had started working on that flannel quilt I’ve been thinking about for years. I made a huge pot of soup and cleaned my house…well, started to clean my house. It’s hard to explain, but the familiar rhythm of the seasons are somehow comforting and invigorating all at the same time. The rhythms of our church year are comforting and invigorating, too. There is the feeling of returning to what is familiar and good, with a renewed sense of optimism and enthusiasm for the future. We at People’s Church have so much to look forward to and so much to be grateful for. Our church year started off with a burst of energy. We have so many plans and hopes for the coming year and beyond. Our Fix-up Committee has our church home looking polished and welcoming. Way to go! There have been anonymous donors to this project as well as generous hard workers. Our Hospitality Hall Committee has worked endless hours to give us the tools to practice “radical hospitality.” Our newly formed Community Outreach/Social Action Committee is enthusiastic and empowered. The music at People’s Church is warm, inviting, sacred, and joyful. Our website is being creatively updated by Deb Dila! Our new Religious Education Director, Lou Yock, brings many gifts to share with this community. AND, he’s really nice! Special thanks to Jennifer and Meryl for holding down the fort and to the RE Committee for their commitment and hard work. And our newsletter is wonderful (and so is our newsletter editor who has to put up with the minister’s late and last minute submissions and additions.) Many committed adults have volunteered to assist with the exciting Coming of Age Program. AND, Launa Jorgensen is busy making beautiful stoles to be given to the youth, the facilitators, and the mentors. Launa is donating her time as well as the cost of the materials! We had a wonderful potluck lunch after church on September 17th and many of you stayed after for a workshop with Nancy Combs Morgan, our District Lifespan Religious Education Coordinator. Nancy gave us many new ideas and constructive ways that we can make our church more inviting and accessible to young families with children. She also got us thinking about how we might make our space more comfortable to our older members, too. As Unitarian Universalists we are charged with creating a sacred space where ALL are welcome and this requires thoughtful intention. But, Nancy said we are already doing a lot of things right; she said that the evidence is all around us with warmth and love pouring from this place. Thanks to all of you who work together to make this church a home for all of us. The work you are doing is true ministry. Thanks for your smiles, your ideas, your hard work, your patience, your hospitality, for sharing your gifts, and for your presence. Thank you for being keepers of the dream! |