Guest Memo, April 9

Guest Memo Reflections of a Search Committee Member First Unitarian Church of Worcester, MA April 9, 2014

"We're Done, and She's All Yours":  Reflections of a Search Committee Member by Jane Beckwith  Perhaps the easiest part of the whole Ministerial Search process was the "sales" aspect.  We all felt confident that our Church would be attractive - very attractive - to the best Ministers from across the country currently in search.  Yes, I'm proud of the discernment work that the Search Committee did (the Listening Sessions and Survey), and the documents we developed - the Congregational Record and the very special Congregational Packet.  Several applicants told us that we were remarkably clear in describing our congregation - who we think we are, what's important to us, and what we're looking for in our next minister.  That is all thanks to your active participation at the very beginning of this process.    Based on all those things you told us were important to you, in terms of our past and our future, we believe we have found the very best minister for the task.    Reverend Sarah Stewart is gracious, mature and steady. She's smart. She has a warm and comforting presence. She tells us there is no greater spiritual practice than to prepare and deliver meaningful sermons. She believes in incorporating and integrating all the aspects of a worship service that we've said are important to us. In addition to preaching deep sermons and writing wonderful prayers, she is highly experienced in all the aspects of running a church (administration, budgeting, programming.). She is "tech savvy" and maintains an active blog. She recognizes and values the work of our extraordinary Faith Development Ministries (RE) and Music programs (she is a violist herself) and the leadership our Directors bring to them.  She understands that we are both a diverse and a demanding group.  And she is prepared to help enrich our understanding of both reality and mystery. She tells us that she intends to serve us deeply and well - both in the ways we've told her that we need now and in discovering what our future might be.  She has begun to understand where we've been and I believe she will move forward beside us and will help us discern where we might wish to go together, at a pace that is both comfortable and right. Yes, the Search Committee worked long hours, but any sense of hardship was outweighed by the privilege of trying to find that "right" Minister for our beloved Church.  We are fortunate that there were many capable ministers in search this year, and for being so attractive to so many of them.  I believe we've found the very best among them for our church, and that we have both a wonderful person and a very special Minister ready to be called as our Twelfth Minister. And you may as well know this now: When she was here during the interview weekend with us, we took her on an extensive tour of the church.  After seeing the choir loft and the organ, she asked if she might see the area in back which houses the organ pipes.  When she emerged, she asked about the nearby door and after seeking permission, proceeded to climb all of the ladders to the top of the steeple.  In a skirt.