This July concludes four years of a wonderful ministry with UUCP. I want you all to know how much I enjoyed my time with you, and I hope the work we did together will continue to serve you into the future. While I came as a consulting transitional minister for you, we never could have imagined the kinds of transitions we would end up navigating together. It was certainly not a clear path, and we had to constantly adapt and invent the way. We did some amazing shared ministry, though, and I hope the experience has taught us all that we are creative and resilient people.

I know you are now having to make new choices. I see how you are pulling together and relying on one another for support and inspiration. I have learned that many congregations are doing the same. Numerous congregations are finding themselves without ministers this year, as many ministers are pulling back, taking a break, or retiring. Perhaps new energy will emerge after some rest and reflection. There is a lot of talk about how ministry and congregations will be forever changed. I’ll have more to say about this when I am with you this month.

I hoped to be with you on July 3rd, however, after two years of doing everything I could to avoid Covid, it somehow caught up with me. This week I am home recuperating and hoping to be well enough to be with you on July 10th.

Know that I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve with you, and I look forward to seeing how UUCP blooms in the future.

In Love and Hope,

Rev. Alice