Parish Minister Rev. Mary Katherine Morn

The end of the congregational year is always filled with transitions. This year at UUCF we have more than most. I want to share where we are with some of the endings and beginnings and answer some questions I have been hearing.

• Mark's last Sunday with us is Jun. 1. The services that weekend (Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.) will feature some special music and a homily about our theme for June - rhythm. After the service on Sun., Jun. 1, we will honor Mark's ministry with a party in the Program Building.
• The Music Director Search Committee will be presenting a candidate to the Board at their meeting this week. I've heard the committee members rave about the wonderful applications they received and the great fit they found with the candidate who is their first choice. As soon as things are finalized, we will make an announcement to introduce our new Music Director.
• Our last service on our campus (before work on the parking lot begins) will be Jun. 8. That is also the last weekend for our Saturday service this summer. Our Annual Meeting is also on Jun. 8, immediately after the Sunday 10 a.m. service. In addition to our regular annual business, the congregation will elect a Parish Minister Search Team from the slate of candidates the board will present.
• Starting on Sun., Jun. 15, at 10 a.m., we will hold services at Oakton Elementary School, 3000 Chain Bridge Road, between Hunter Mill Road and Jermantown Road. We will hold services and religious exploration there through at least the middle of August. When the parking lot is completed, we will dance right back to our campus and celebrate all that has been accomplished.
• My last service with you will be on Sun., Jun. 22. The next day I will head out to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly where I will represent UUCF as a delegate and dip my toe into the UUA Stewardship and Development work that I will officially be taking on in the middle of August.
• Ministerial Intern Eve Stevens officially begins her summer ministry Jul. 5 and 6.
• Your new Interim Parish Minister Rev. Jennifer Brooks will start working with the lay leadership and staff around Aug. 1, and will be introduced to the congregation in mid-August. 

Our lay leadership and staff are carrying quite a load right now in the midst of all of these transitions. I hope you will find opportunities to thank them and maybe even ask if there are ways you can help.  

Change takes a lot of work. It can create anxiety and stress. And it always opens doors to something new we had not dared to imagine. During a recent service, one of our graduating seniors, Amani Greene, offered this reading from Helen Keller:

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

May we all face the transitions in our lives and in the life of our community with courage and curiosity, open to what we have not yet imagined for ourselves.

Yours,
Mary Katherine