Minister’s Letter — November 2006

I trust you have read Eddy Fried’s letter by now. I requested that his letter appear first in the Newsletter, because I think it so instructive, visionary and moving, particularly in regard to his quotes from Anne Sumers and Sandy Lewis. Each of them offered such poignant answers to Eddy’s question as to why they give so much to the Fellowship–as do so many others of you! I trust that most of you can relate to their answers. Part of Anne’s response was: “Because it makes me feel I am a part of something larger than myself.” And part of Sandy’s response was: “I consider the Fellowship my spiritual home, and as such it has special value to me.”

Those are very powerful statements about what the Fellowship means to each of them. In my opinion they speak for most of us.

I believe the sine qua non in our quest for meaning and spiritual development is feeling that you are involved in something greater than yourself. I also believe that no religious affiliation will bring depth and meaning without its members having a deeply felt-sense of the value it brings to their lives. The meaning of “value” is “a principle or standard regarded as worthwhile.” To the degree we feel that our Fellowship brings meaning and value to our lives, we in return will give of ourselves—not from coercion, but from love.

As far as I am concerned, the goal of a congregation is not necessarily to be a large congregation or even to be a great one. That doesn’t mean I am not in favor of growth. I am. We need to grow, in my opinion. But the desire for numerical growth never supersedes the desire to be a REAL congregation first. By “real” I mean a community of human beings who do all the things that Eddy mentions in his letter: welcoming, nurturing, empowering and serving. Through these efforts we deepen real connections and make a real difference in the world. But we do these because we choose to do them and we choose to do them because of the value they bring to our lives. This is our ministry.

And so, at the risk of being repetitive, I end with Eddy’s closing words, because I like them and they ring so true: The light is on, the door is open. Please come in. We have much warmth to share.

See you at the Fellowship.

Jim Covington