As we roll into summer, our community is still doing its thing! On Thursday it was good to join some of you at the Duck Bridge stand-out and on Saturday at Andover’s celebration of Juneteenth; on Sunday we had a lovely Solstice service led by the Rev. Helen Cymbala with outdoor refreshments and Tuesday was a Peoples Food Pantry day. I recommend trying out “Summer Church” if you’ve never done so; it’s a great way to meet and learn about new folks as well as the hear something new from people you may have known for years. Thanks to our hard-working Worship Committee and ALL of our summer service leaders and participants!
This summer will be a different sort of summer for me. I will be using some of my July vacation and August study time to work on my D.Min. research project around various aspects of earth-centered UUism as it appears at North Parish. Thanks to all who responded to my survey and thanks in advance to folks willing to be interviewed over the next few weeks! During my study time, I will also be planning and preparing for the upcoming North Parish church year and attending team retreats. I will be on call for pastoral crises for much of the summer, however, I will not be checking email as regularly or holding normal office hours, so I can focus on this other work. If you are in crisis and in need of pastoral support, check the Enews and/or website or call the office for information on whom to call.
For some, the regular routine does not stop in summer; for others, it is disrupted. I hope this summer gives you chances to be proudly UU in public! I hope you find time and ways to connect with the North Parish community, with friends and strangers, with yourself, and with nature/your higher power/the divine. Don’t forget to keep your eyes out for small moments of beauty- and to collect a symbolic shell, rock or some water to bring back in September. I hope you bring back some stories, too.
Yours, well-blessed by the sun, the candles and St. John’s wort on Sunday,
Rev. Lee
P.S. I will be on study time and vacation from July 1st through August 17th. I will not be checking email as regularly. From July 1st – 10th I will be on call in case of pastoral emergency at Revlee@northparish.org or text; my phone # is in REALM or I can be reached through the office.