Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Rev. K’s Kwerys

August 1, 2008
Rev. Kurt Kuhwald

Well … it’s come to this. It is time to say goodbye … again.

I am excited about the coming year … for you all at UUCPA, and for myself.

The Welcoming Congregation process is in good hands with a new task force committed to keep the momentum strong (Karen Skold, Susan Owicki, Jack Owicki and Dave Weber). There is an internet list for all those interested in knowing about and supporting this work; if you are not already on it, the e-mail address to sign up is: welcoming-request@uucpa.org. Rev. Amy will be offering her UU curriculum on Bi-Sexuality next year. Rev. Eva will continue to be vigilant in supporting your efforts to make UUCPA fully accessible to folks with particular mobility and physical challenges. The small, though mighty, group of about 15 people who hung in there for the Welcoming Congregation continue to maintain their support for one another through an e-mail list generated during the class. In addition, the new structure for Social Justice action will lend you practical leverage to bring a wider and deeper consciousness for the work of justice to the whole congregation.

As for myself … I will begin my half-time Visiting Faculty position at Starr King School for the Ministry officially on August 15, but, practically, on August 18 when there will be a Faculty Summit: An orientation session for the core (on which I will serve for the year) and adjunct faculty together to review the School’s new educational model and strategic goals. From there it looks like things will move swiftly into the teaching year. I will be lending my leadership to the program for student ministers in internships both semesters; and, additionally, in the fall I will teach a 1.5 unit course (half semester) on Pastoral Counseling, and, in the spring I will teach a 3 unit Preaching course (entitled “Preach It!”).

On September 2, I will begin my last year as the half-time Consulting Minister for the Berkeley Fellowship (this will be my fourth year at that Fellowship). It is time for the Fellowship to look to new ministerial leadership to lead them into the coming years … and at the end of that year it will be time for me to begin collecting my retirement monies so I can work from a more liberated space (e.g. continuing to volunteer on the Board of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice and in other juicy justice work I envision). I am contemplating developing a Community Ministry called Outrider Ministries that will be a ministry of spiritual deepening and justice making. (Cool name, hey!)

I will save my major goodbye words to you for my sermon on August 3, but I will say this: The deeper hope I see in the dark days ahead (no matter what the immediate outcome of the national elections, the times will be very difficult), the deeper hope lies with communities like UUCPA — small groups of individuals committed to mutual and self care, who are passionate about creating a just world, for themselves and for all people unto the seventh generation following them … and beyond.

Deep Blessings to you all, and may you be about that business with open minds, helping hands and welcoming hearts.

— Peace out, Rev. Kurt A. Kuhwald