From Lily Rappaport, Developmental Director of Family Ministries
One of my favorite quotes is by Helen Keller, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” Transitions often end up being about doors opening to a new phase of life, but are we willing and ready to enter a door to a room filled with unknown and unexpected experiences?
Transition is more about the “how” than the “what”. The response and process you proceed with is important. As transition, a good practice is to slow down, take it one step at a time. The transition process isn’t linear. There is no beginning or end, but a swirling and interconnecting with the parts as we move forward step by step through periods of transition. It can be a long journey, but I believe that the journey is more of a gift than the finished change. Some of my favorite parts are the messy “I can’t believe that happened, but it will be fun to tell it later” stories.
Reverend Scott and I will be putting together a Family Ministries Transition Team. We hope to have this team established and working by the end of this month. The team will be engaging in reflective consideration of how we minister to families and children and what do we want to be (or not be) moving into the future. Your voice matters and we hope you will join us in open conversations to discuss issues that are pertinent to the future of our congregation. Stay tuned.
February 2—MNY YAC meeting @ UUCM
February 8-9 – 8th Grade OWL Overnight
February 10 – RE Children’s Chapel – UU History
February 13—Sen Youth Mesh Night
February 16-17 – High School Con at All Souls
March 10 – K-1 OWL Parent Interest Meeting, 12:30-1:30