Grace Notes

Ah, summer! -- the season of long days, high temperatures and a slower pace around the Fellowship. I am in the midst of my vacation /study leave month, but also aware that for anyone involved in agriculture, this season is the busiest! This makes me especially appreciative of the opportunity to take a break from my regular duties, do some traveling, connect with family and read as much as possible for ideas, sermon material and enrichment. I hope that the season offers each of you some time for relaxation and renewal - or that your chance is coming up once the summer ends!

"Leave" or no, it seems that some UUFSC matters always call. No one can schedule their health issues or some other needs, and some planning just has to be done. The end of the fiscal year has its own demands. So a few days of work get sandwiched in - maybe I'll manage some extra "down time" later. I am grateful for the flexibility and responsiveness we have developed in our shared ministry. We seem to continue to find ways to enrich each other and our community.

And this year we're finally seeing construction progressing on our new building! It's pretty darn exciting! This morning I took pictures of the concrete crew hard at work on foundations and Pacific Mobile says they are ready to ship the sections from the manufacturer. Wow! I hope you have been checking out the progress reports and pictures on our website and on the bulletin board at the entrance of the Block Building. I will likely be away when they assemble the sections. I hope someone pays close attention and can describe the process to me. I am very curious - it seems like an impossible task!

For now - I wish you some slower times, chances for reflection and the opportunity to stretch and let your mind wander. I wish you the freshness of early mornings in our Valley and a variety of ways to stay cool in the blazing afternoons. I recommend the fine Sunday services organized by our Worship Committee and offer thanks and praise to Aynslie Frederickson and her committee. And don't forget to check out the progress on our no-longer-empty lot!

I'll be back in the pulpit on August 1st and getting started on plans for the coming year. See you then!

Ever in hope,
Grace

[Ed. Note: This is the current version of "Grace Notes", a column our minister writes for the newsletter. It is more pastoral and less formal than her sermons.]