Follow us on:

Minister's Monthly Column: August 2011 August 2011: Discernment in the midst of changes... by Rev. Alison Farnum As August, approaches, perhaps the last weeks of summer may offer some quiet moments to take pause. In my work at this church, opportunities abound for such discernment. I am fortunate to be in a profession in which congregations across our nation have created a healthy norm that the minister have time off- both for study and for vacation. As such, I will be away after the first Sunday of August, to prepare for the coming year and go on retreat. I also look forward to time with family on a canoe and camping trip in Ontario for a week as well as time to play with area friends. I will return to the office at the beginning of September, Wednesday the 7th.   This reflection time gives me space to discern again my call to ministry in this community (both as minister to the church and in the larger role as a minister in the community of Lee County). Part of this time will also be spent trying, as best I can, to discern when I am to take the furlough times for the coming year that are a result of the reduced budget voted upon by UUCFM members last annual meeting. The furlough times, including Sundays, will each be one week, occurring in the fall, winter, and spring, respectively. These furlough times are outside of my study leave and vacation time, so, on the whole, the congregation will be seeing just a little less of me next year. I might not be able to offer as much in terms of programming, but I will do my best to discern how to spend the time I have serving UUCFM and Lee County as best I can while staying true to my call. My best response to those who are anxious is, “Hey, it is what it is. Perhaps this need not happen again next year.” More changes approach with the staffing, and I look forward to beginning with a new staff team in the fall with a new Office Manager, new Member Services Coordinator, our Director of Children's Religious Education, Music Director, and Buildings Supervisor. We will find a day of retreat for covenanting together as a new staff, for team-building and for fellowship. So, true to Life’s fashion, changes abound, and may this church bless itself with forbearance and humor as we all adjust. Forget not the power of changing and growing together, hand in hand, with humility and grace. We have much good work still to do, more connections to be made. In faith, Rev. Allison

---

Search the web with GoodSearch.com and each time you do a search, GoodSearch will donate about a penny to our church.
Shop online at GoodShop.com and a percentage of each purchase will be donated to our cause!

---

Shopping? Help support the church at the same time!
The church receives a commission on everything you buy from Amazon.com when you click the link below.
Remember, in order for the church to benefit, you must click through to Amazon.com from this link each time you shop.

---