Dear In Care In Covenant,
I hope this email finds you well!! Although I haven't been in touch on this list for awhile, I've seen many of you and have followed your lives with curiosity and loving admiration for all you do for our world and our faith. With the springing forth of the "Occupy" movement for economic justice, I've been especially proud of how Metro NY seminarians have been involved in the movement in creative and meaningful ways.
As we move into December, I know it is a very busy time in the year! In seminary, I know your thoughts are turning towards the hard work of the semester's ending and the tasks of a life in ministry. Some are thinking towards finals, putting a finishing touch on projects, delivering sermons and preparing for papers and exams. In church, I know some are looking towards the winter holidays with a fair amount of both joy and stress!
Some members of In Care are preparing for major milestones in their ministry journey right now and I want to offer a special word of prayer and blessing. At this very moment, we hold several former Metro New York In Care ministry candidates in our thoughts and prayers as they prepare to go before the Ministerial Fellowship Committee. We send them our loving thoughts and prayers as they carry the flame of faith into their interviews and offer our denomination the blessing of their ministry. We hold several current In Care in our thoughts and prayers as they apply and interview for ministerial internships. To imagine a future in ministry is a challenging thing in itself, and to seek and find a meaningful place to begin that future after seminary is no small feat. We also hold members in our thoughts and prayers who are preparing CPE applications and going before career assessments.
At any moment in time, it is important to recognize and honor each of the hundreds if not thousands of small and large moments that compose a path to ministry. Each of you walk a path of particularities to your call and your life experience, but each of you too shares a common journey. At each step and each milestone, let's together honor the joy and struggle of this rich and meaningful journey we share.
I have met with many of you about your process and so enjoy getting to know you- your story and background, your hopes and gifts. These meetings are also helpful to stay accountable to your goals and help plan your seminary and field education opportunities appropriately. This December, I invite you to come check in with me about your process, whether by phone or in person. I also invite you to my home in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn on December 12th at 6 pm for a little holiday cheer.
In January, we'll start up with monthly In Care programming with worship, fellowship and guests. Beginning in February, I'll be teaching a UU history and theology class here at All Souls on Thursday evenings that you are welcome to attend. The spring will bring guest speakers on a number of different relevant topics in ministry as well as many milestones.
Last, if you're looking for a little Unitarian Universalist worship around the holidays, I'd like to welcome you again to All Souls for the holidays, especially these events:
Advent Guided Meditation series: Dec. 8 and 15th 6:00 pm in the sanctuary (I'm leading)
"The Readiness is All" Spiritual Values of Advent: Dec. 4, 11, and 18 (Rev. David Robb leads)
Christmas Eve Services (4, 7, 9, 11) and Christmas Day Services (11:15 am)
Be well and be in touch!
With gratitude to serve,
Lissa
Rev. Lissa Anne Gundlach
Assistant Minister
All Souls Church
A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1157 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10075
No comments:
Post a Comment