What's Up This Month?

Last month we got the sad news that Taryn had decided to resign from her position as Director of Religious Education at the end of this church year. She has brought so much to our program, and we will miss her presence and energy. But life brings what it brings, and I keep learning that the only constant is change. So even as we prepare to say goodbye to Taryn as DRE, we are also preparing for next year by searching for a new DRE to start August 15. The last two weeks I have been delighted to work with some great folks on this project. The DRE Hiring Committee is led by Cathy Falwell, and includes Sonia Tonelli, Charley Mitchell, Tara Williams, Betsy Parsons, Sue Butler and I. We have received 12 applications so far, and will begin interviews next week. We'll let you know when we have some news.

In the meantime, we are doing something a little different this June, by going to one service at 10 a.m. on June 5, rather than waiting a few more weeks as we have in the past. This means that the whole congregation can participate in our Religious Education Sunday on June 5, being led by Taryn, and also in our Senior Youth Group led Sunday on June 12. So—mark your calendars 10 A.M. This decision involved the Worship Committee and the Religious Education Committee and the Board of Trustees—we are trying it out, and welcome any feedback. (You can send feedback to my email at revmyke@a2u2.org) We thought it would be an opportunity, during a month when attendance begins to wane a bit, for all of us from both services to have time to be together.

And now, I want to introduce you to our new ministry intern:

Israel Buffardi is delighted to be serving as the ministry intern at Allen Avenue starting this coming fall.  Israel was raised in an Italian-American community in Providence, Rhode Island, where community, celebration, and family were centered joyously around the table in his grandmother’s kitchen.  Israel has a diverse background in community outreach and nonprofit work as well as in the specialty food and sustainable agriculture communities in Maine.  He is also passionate about the local arts scene and can be seen writing for and performing in theatre productions throughout the Greater Portland area.  

Israel followed a call to the ministry after realizing that all of his various passions and pursuits were always leading him towards creating community spaces that fostered meaning-making and mutual support while also striving for justice.  Drawn to Unitarian Universalism because of its free and responsible search for truth and meaning as well as its commitment to justice work, Israel is currently pursuing his M.Div. at Meadville Lombard Theological School, one of the affiliate seminaries of the UUA.  Israel is very excited to continue to develop his heart-centered, embodied approach to ministry by serving the community at Allen Avenue. 

And I am excited to welcome Israel to A2U2. I have had a chance to get to know him by being his teaching pastor during this past year, and I look forward to his being a part of our ministry, even as he learns about ministry.

Affectionately, Rev. Myke

The Glass Is Already Broken

This week I am contemplating an old Zen saying, “The glass is already broken.” I believe it reminds us that all things are temporary, so we must not be too attached to things (including ourselves)—breakage is a part of the natural cycle of life. In our house, we are recently experiencing the breakage of our television set (during one of the electrical storms of August) and of our refrigerator, and just for good measure, my luggage was damaged during recent air travel. It has made things a bit chaotic during the past two weeks. I find that when one thing breaks I feel cranky. But when multiple things break, I start to get philosophical, and have to laugh again.

I have to remember that life is always a bit chaotic, and change is the nature of reality. This fall, we will have some change at church too. Happy change, but still a bit chaotic for everyone. We are welcoming a new Director of Religious Education, Taryn Walker. The search committee feels very excited about her experience and her potential, AND, it is all new for her. Taryn has a strong background working with kids, and she already loves our spiritual community, AND she has never been a DRE before. Just to make it a bit more challenging, her prior work commitments included two trips this fall—so, even though she has been hard at work during August, we won't get to welcome her at church until September 21^st. So please, help her to feel welcome in her new role, and offer a lot of patience and support as she learns the ropes. (And volunteer for RE!)

We are also welcoming a full-time Intern Minister for the 14-15 church year. Lyn Betz comes to us via the Concord, NH church, where she was a member for many years, and also did a two-year part-time internship. She recently graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School, and brings many gifts of ministry to our congregation, plus a wonderful chance to share a perspective from another UU church, as she learns about our A2U2 culture and community. Remember how it felt to be the new kid on the block? I know you all are great at helping people to feel at home. That will be her primary work this first month, and then we'll see how best her ministry can find some good purpose here, and she can learn the aspects of ministry that she still needs to learn.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone again after a fairly restful but full summer. I had a chance to visit my parents, who are both in their eighties now and living in West Virginia, where two of my sisters also reside. Mom and dad are slowing down, and dealing with some health issues so my sisters are helping out in significant ways. On the other side of our family, sadly, my partner Margy's mother died at the end of July, at the age of 96. Even after someone has lived a long and full life, we cannot help but grieve their passing. I always appreciated that Margy's mother purposefully let me know I was welcome in their family, and that she, as well as Margy's sister, came to my ordination ceremony fifteen years ago. Margy and I traveled to Rochester for her memorial service in mid-August, and had a good visit with all of her extended family, including three little ones—ages one and a half, two and a half and three and a half.

So I will see you in church on September 7^th, and look forward to hearing about your summers and the events of your lives since last we met. I also look forward to more work on our church's three year plan, and our environmental focus—this year we get to see more details about possible improvements to our building and land, and make some decisions about what we might like to pursue as a congregation.