President’s Letter June 2008
Dear Members and Friends,
Stepping down. It has been two very busy years. And I am ready to change roles. As I have indicated previously, I will be involved in some fairly intensive religious education starting in the Fall. Clare, Kathy Herron and I will be teaching Our Whole Lives, a Unitarian Universalist program of sex education for our 7th, 8th and 9th graders. Guiding our young people through these challenging topics is a real test of commitment to our UU principles and the development of our future adults, future leaders. So I will not be stepping away.
Rather than reflecting on the past, I prefer to look to our next challenge and opportunity. We have many. I want to use my last moment standing as your president to say that we have a wonderful opportunity before us. That is to launch a formal music ministry.
We have been blessed by superb contributions by volunteers. I hope that continues. Music ministry means more music for more members. First, we really need a church choir. For so many, singing deepens the spiritual experience. We have been blessed by the gifts of Spirits in Harmony. They are a “Select Choir” that is small and likely will stay that way. We need to open the doors to more singers through a church choir. A paid music director will organize choirs and conduct rehearsals as well as Sunday presentations and also concerts. We need an organized program for our children to be singing. And we need more musical events for our congregation. Let’s not leave out instrumental music, developing that form of musical expression can be encouraged, enhanced and coordinated. We could have hand bell and chime choirs.
There is a new hymn book. Is someone advocating that purchase?
And a few weeks back, Reverend Jim got a bunch of men around the piano singing between the services. Did I hear almost twenty guys raising the roof? They sounded great and their smiles would have warmed our sanctuary for a year. We need more of this and the opportunity is presented with our budget and a proposal to hire a music director. This is a risk that is worth taking.
Someone described paid ministry as three legs to a chair that will support our religious home: Minister, Religious Education, and Music. It is time to invest in the last leg of the chair. A deeper spiritual experience and stronger congregation will surely follow.
I may be stepping down from the role of president, but I will not be stepping away. Let us all renew our commitment to improving our spiritual experience and our community experience.
And one last time…
The light is on, the door is open;
Please come in, we have much warmth to share.
Eddy Fried
President of the Board of Trustees