Dear Ones,
This is my last full week working as your minister before I depart for vacation on July 16th. The last six years that I have spent as your minister have truly been a joy. Sharing your lives with you has been a profound experience, and I will carry all of you in my heart forever.
Even though you will always have a place in my heart, it is standard practice in our denomination that when a minister leaves a congregation, they stop all contact with members of that congregation. For those of you who are my Facebook friends, that means I will be “unfriending” you. This will give you the necessary time and space to develop a meaningful relationship with your next minister.
There is not a lot for me to say at this point. I have said a lot in the six years that I have been with you. But I do want to leave you with the words of Rev. Frederic J. Muir. Each year just before the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly is something called Ministry Days. It is essentially the annual conference of the members of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association. During Ministry Days, something called the Berry Street Essay takes place. It consists of an examination of a topic of importance to our faith. In 2012, Rev. Muir gave the essay. The title was “From iChurch to Beloved Community: Ecclesiology and Justice.” It was required reading in the seminary I attended. It should be required reading for everyone who considers themselves a Unitarian Universalist. It is so important to the future of our faith that we have a firm grasp of what he is talking about. His words are as true now as they were when they were first spoken fourteen years ago. You can see the video or read the full text here: https://uuma.org/berry-street-essay/2012-berry-street-essay-the-reverend-fredric-j-muir/. A much shorter adaptation of his essay is at https://www.uuworld.org/articles/end-ichurch. My last request to you is that you take the time to read (or see) at least one of these.
I close this week and forever with “I Hope You Dance,” as sung by Gladys Knight. https://youtu.be/K-goFIdcF2g?si=-cJYAzzb-gpilBQc
In peace and love, always,
Rev. Viola
Rev. Viola Abbitt will be ending her ministry at CVUU in July. Until July 15th, she can be reached at the church at 1-757-627-5371×3. After that, she ends her time with us.