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"Love is the spirit of this church, the quest for truth is its sacrament, and service is its prayer." 

These words, from an Affirmation we often recite in Sunday services, are a lived reality in this small and growing congregation.   The message of a Universal Love that will not let us go has been a core value since the founding of this church in 1854. 

It is the liberal religious spirit which holds together a group of people from different faith traditions with diverse beliefs.  Theists, humanists, mystics, Buddhists, Covenant of UU Pagans, Catholics, Jews, atheists and skeptics call this their congregation. 

Gay men, lesbian women, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons are welcome and participate fully in the life of the church.  Single people and couples, parents and childless, all find a place here.

Parents bring their children to learn from other caring adults the value of giving of oneself to bring more love, peace, and justice to the world.  We teach the importance of each individual to the web of creation, and express our caring for the environment in a variety of ways.

We sing, we dance, we laugh, we cry, and we enjoy each other's company in small groups.  It has been a continuing joy, even amid the inevitable losses and challenges, to serve this church since 1996. 

Faithfully,

Rev. Lucy

During the months of February and March, I am in various stages of saying goodbye. After more than thirteen years of ministry with this beloved congregation, it is time to be moving on.  There is much in my heart that seeks expression, and yet the speaking of these farewells does not come with as much feeling as I would like, because it is so hard to say goodbye.  The temptation to be philosophical or theological keeps all the sadness at bay.

For you who are visiting this page for the first time, I extend the same welcome as you will find below.  I recommend this congregation to you for all the reasons stated there.

Now is just as good a time as any to enter our doors, bringing whatever you bring--be it a search for meaning in your life, a time of uncertainty, anxiety, or sorrow, or simply a desire to be in community with other liberal religious travelers. 

During this time of transition, there will be an examination of the church's identity and its hopes for what a new minister will bring.  Your experience as a newcomer and the unique gifts you bring will be of value during this time of challenge and opportunity.

Should the meetinghouse become your home for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, you will find in it all the glories and glitches, fancies and frustrations, joys and sorrows you have found in other parts of your life.  You will be among people who understand, who have had similar experiences, and who aspire to be something more than they have been before.  This place is alive with opportunities to learn and grow, to give and to receive.

An interim minister will begin working with the congregation in August.  Interim ministers have the specific task of leading congregations through whatever stems from the departure of the previous minister.  Then they reorient the congregation to look to its future, perhaps encouraging needed change in some functional aspects of the church, and identifying the strengths that are here for the next settled minister to build upon.

As I am saying goodbye, I also bid you a warm hello and  . . .