Category: Settled Ministry

Installation Service

On March 10, 2019, I was installed as the 28th settled minister of FCU since its founding in 1714. It was an incredible and joyful day! There is a video here if you’d like to see for yourself. The Rev. John Gibbons preached (“Getting the Hell out of Paradise”), and there were other wonderful speakers and lovely musical performances as well. There are so many people to thank… you will see them named at the end of the video.

The photo to the left is of the Act of Installation, the heart of the service, when the congregation and I shared our covenant. Leading the way were our Standing Committee Co-Chairs, Alison Bentley and Lezli Whitehouse. It was one of my favorite moments in the service.

I feel so lucky and grateful to be sharing ministry with the wonderful people of First Church Unitarian in Littleton.

I will never forget the day… I hope that this shared ministry lasts for many, many years to come.

Below are some more photos from the day, with captions.

Choir Lord
The Church Choir performed twice, and beautifully.
Artemis 2
The Artemis Singers performed a lovely offertory piece.
John installation
The Rev. John Gibbons preaching a thought-provoking sermon with surprises.
uu ukes
The UU Ukes delighted us and made us smile, as they always do!
lay on hands lara
The Laying on of Hands, detail.
lay on hands crowd
The Laying on of Hands.

Another welcome article, and…

Recently, the Littleton Independent welcomed me to town, which I very much appreciated. You can read that article here.

So much has been happening in the world. I have been all-consumed (in a good way!) with getting up to speed here at my new, wonderful congregation. But this week, the outside world really came screaming in with the Kavanaugh hearings. That is very much on my mind today.

believeThe UUA President, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, is in D.C. today with other clergy to try to #StopKavanaugh. She will deliver a petition that UUs were invited to sign onto here.

My heart goes out today to all those people who have been triggered by this recent discussion. There are many of us. May our nation find the wisdom and strength to overcome rape culture and our larger culture of violence.

 

Milestones

Click image to enlarge it… page from UU World.

Well, the start of my “settled ministry” is listed in the UU World‘s “milestones” page, so it must be true… May the settlement be long and good.

It’s been a great month so far at First Church Unitarian. My office is pretty well set up now, and I even get visitors. I love the activity in the church. There’s always someone here up to something good. The staff is awesome, and so are the members.

The summer services were well attended. This coming Sunday, being Labor Day weekend, there will be no service. Then on Sunday, September 9, we all join together in the sanctuary for our ingathering and the Water Ceremony! I can’t wait!

Before that, on Saturday, September 8, there is the Littleton Town Fair. It’s at Fay Park from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss it!