Well, here we are–my last weekly column. I’m writing this on Tuesday the 22nd, my last regular work day at UUFM. I’m still your minister through the end of the month, but as of tomorrow (Wednesday), I am on vacation for the rest of that time, and only available in case of emergency. I will no longer be checking my UUFM email account, so if you do have a pastoral emergency, please text or call me.

Thank you all so much for the lovely good-bye on Sunday, for the card so many of you signed, and for all the hugs and kind words. I will definitely be carrying you in my heart.

Talking with my spiritual director today, I commented that it feels different, leaving a congregation without “handing you over” into the care of another minister. She reminded me that you are, as we all are, held by Love (or whatever name you use for the holy), and of course I already know that you are also in each other’s very capable hands, as well as those of the staff team, who will be with you as you move into the next chapter of the congregation’s life.

Many of you have been through ministerial transitions before, and know that it means the departing minister needs to remain at a distance for some time, to allow the new ministry to be healthy. This is true even without a new minister, though some of the details are a bit different. When I arrived, if there was a question I couldn’t find the answer to, I could reach out to Rev. Rita, my predecessor, for her insights. Without a minister following me, I am still going to be available the way Rev. Rita was to me–and the way that will happen is through Shelly, our Communications and Office Administrator. She knows how to reach me, so if you have an important question that you think only I can answer, ask her to send it to me, and I will send the reply through her. I’ve done my best to wrap things up and hand everything off to the appropriate person/team/committee, but it’s almost inevitable that something unforeseen will come up, or that I’ll have forgotten to share some detail.

As with any ministerial departure, if our paths do cross (after all, I will still be in Minnesota!) we do not have to avoid each other; we just won’t talk about UUFM business. I’ll ask about your kids, grandkids, garden, latest canoe trip, whatever it might be, and you can ask me similar things. We don’t have to pretend not to care about each other!

Logistics aside, I just want to say one more time how very grateful I am for the two years I was honored to serve as your minister. You are such a healthy, warm, loving congregation that it has been a delight to share ministry with you. I wish you all the very best, individually and collectively, as we go our separate ways.

 

In gratitude,

Rev. Diana