Dear, dear UUCPA folks,
I can’t thank you enough for that wonderful send-off on the 15th. All the coordination by Rev. Cat and her great poem for the Time for All Ages (move over, Dr. Seuss!)–all the graceful participation from Mayo Tsuzuki and Rev. Melissa Thomson–Rev. Jen Dillinger’s inspiring sermon–Rev. Lucy Bunch’s very moving laying on of hands ritual–Matt Rosin, who brought me to tears with the chalice lighting from my own pen–Jane Chronis, who made me hear Walt Whitman’s “A Song for the Open Road” in a whole new way– Bruce, Veronika (playing some of my favorites), and the choir–the opportunity to sing with the choir and Mayo–so many beloved colleagues in attendance and my wife and daughter warmly welcomed–what a service! We had an overflow crowd, in person and online. Brooke Bishara, who was midair on the way back from a vacation and thus missed the day, took the lead on the whole celebration–thank you, Brooke! Chris Cassell and Jack Owicki took fabulous pictures. Elsa Schafer contributed gorgeous flowers, and she and I conspired in advance to make one of the bouquets a big-birthday gift to Glenda Jones. Lynn Grant’s scrapbook filled with beautiful cards and comments from many members was the perfect gift–I have been looking through it with smiles and tears, and my daughter says she is going to keep it for the rest of her life. I wore the pendant of UUCPA’s chalice (also a Lynn Grant design) throughout Ministry Days and General Assembly last week, of course. And the glasses are such a wonderful way to initiate Joy and my new stage of life, just the two of us with our little bird soon to fly across the ocean. Thank you to Mayo for arranging both of these thoughtful and beautiful remembrances of UUCPA.
I wish I could thank everyone by name who put on the great lunch afterwards! I saw Becky Holmes, Kerensa Fu, and Alan Pobanz, I assume Edie Keating was in the kitchen, and I know many others’ hands went into the celebration. Thank you all! We stayed and talked for a long time. It was such a gift.
My own gift to UUCPA was planted a month or so ago: a tiny western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) a few children helped me plant on the patio, in the space behind the benches near the Fireside Room and Room 6. Nancy Neff and Glenda advised me that it was on their native trees wish list. It is surrounded by a wire fence while it gets its start–have a look! With luck and TLC, it might even be putting forth beautiful pink flowers by the time I see you again.
That will be in a few years, after the new settled Parish Minister is settled in. When you and they feel like you’re solidly congregation and minister, it will be great to visit and see you all, and rejoin you on your social media if that’s how you roll. I will miss you, and be happy to know that the vital mission of this congregation is in such good hands: Rev. Cat’s, Rev. Peter’s, the as-yet-unknown next Parish Minister, all the staff’s and community ministers’, and your own.
Many people have asked what my plans are for this new stage of life. I will be working part-time (hence “semi-retirement”), but I didn’t know until very recently whether that would be pulpit supply or an actual position, and whether in ministry or teaching or something else. Now it is almost certain (the contract has yet to be finalized) that Rev. Tovis Page and I will be splitting a position at the UU congregation in Santa Rosa. I’m glad to contribute what I’ve learned at UUCPA while Santa Rosa seeks its next settled person, team up with another great colleague, and still have a spacious life with much more time for family and art. Ask Isabel will keep advising, my dissertation will take shape (mixed-media art inspired by the Tower of Babel story), we’ll explore places in this beautiful city and state of ours, I’ll give more attention to my garden, and Luna reminds me that lap time with the cat really ought to take precedence over all.
Before then, though, we have a substantial UU contingent at San Francisco Pride tomorrow, and I’ll be happy to be with folks from UUCPA and all over the Bay Area to show the world what welcoming congregations look like!
Thank you for changing me for the better and for good.
With much love,
Amy