Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Weaving the Web

June 2, 2006
Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern

[Continued from Amy’s May 19 column where she is relating her activities for a typical week. – ed]

Thursday (continued)
Most Thursdays, I have set meetings around lunchtime: monthly gatherings with PIA clergy, the Palo Alto Ministerial Association, or today, my monthly meeting with Darcey and Ed Zebroski, followed immediately by the “Care Core.” Caring Network coordinators Ila and Sara, Darcey, and I go over the pastoral concerns of UUCPA, raising up names for each other’s attention, checking in on who needs a call or a card. After the meeting, I write cards and make a few of the calls to people whose names came up. Then I plan out the program for the Family Chapel I’ll be leading a week from Sunday. Before the member arrives for her 5 pm pastoral appointment, I leave time to lock the door, light my chalice, and sit in loving kindness meditation, letting go of the other busyness of the day and making room in my heart for whatever she may bring. The Committee on Ministry meets tonight, and over dinner I reflect on what’s going on around the church and jot down notes for what I want to share during my check-in. We meet from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, my third evening meeting of the week. I try never to have more than three per week or ten per month, though I break this self-care rule as often as I keep it.

Friday
No meetings tonight! I can work 9–5, and take my bike and Caltrain. I love starting the day this way, with a pleasant bike ride and time on the train to contemplate the life along the tracks. This morning, after catching up on phone calls and emails, I put together the order of service for next week. It isn’t due until Monday, but on Sunday afternoon I’ll be too tired. Last Sunday on the patio, I asked a man who’s recently started coming to UUCPA if he’s considering joining — it seemed like he’d found what he was looking for — for him and his son here. He had a few questions about UUism and the congregation, so we made an appointment to talk today. Strolling over to Peet’s and back, we have a long conversation, part information, part pastoral care. The newsletter deadline is Sunday, and this issue I’m writing a column and two service descriptions. I just finish those before meeting with the Rev. Diana Gibson, chair of the Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice steering committee on which I serve. The two of us are the anti-torture subcommittee, and we’re brainstorming plans for a teach-in or forum for later this year. We generate a list of people for each of us to call, so I make those calls before leaving at 5:30 pm.

Sunday

Sundays tend to be my shortest and busiest days. My sermon is ready and I don’t need to be at church until a little after 9 am, but I’m up at 6 am as always, so I read and respond to email for a couple of hours before heading to church. Services (two people bring up concerns at Caring and Sharing that I note down on my order of service for calls later today), chatting at coffee hour. At 1 pm, I meet with a couple who are getting married in a few months. It’s our first meeting, and I’m learning about how they met and what they envision for their wedding ceremony. A little after 2 pm, it’s time to go home. I make those pastoral phone calls. I check over the Order of Service for next week. On Friday I couldn’t find a quote that was on the tip of my tongue. With a little internet research, I find it, paste it in, and send the Order of Service copy off.

A busy week, blessed with many of those bright-lit moments of meeting between people, moments of deep connection and shared love for our congregation.

— Blessings,
Amy