I have always loved beginnings.
I am writing you these words on the first day of school here in Belmont. With some significant butterflies and mild outfit overthinking my children all flew the nest and a strange quiet descended. I have always loved this part of the school year.
I remember the unbridled possibility, of course, catalogs, of new semesters with new teachers, especially in seminary, learning whole new corners of this work I so cherished and into which I so longed to dive. And here at the church, every new year is a sweet new beginning. Schedules change and adjust, new configurations of committees, new leaders stepping into new roles, new classes, so much reconstituting, so much in bud.
And this year especially, it is my great joy to welcome Martha Durkee-Neuman, our new Assistant Minister for Lifespan Religious Education. She officially started this week and I can already feel her enthusiasm and energy, her vision for a thriving ministry for children youth, and families, and her excitement for FCB as a whole and all we can continue to build together. I look forward to you all meeting her. I am so excited to work with her and to grow and deepen our ministries together.
She will be with us at the Welcome Back event this Saturday at 7:30 at the church, to which you all are welcome. In addition, of course, lots of other wonderful people, too, new friends and old ones. And then the next day we have our Water Ingathering service and then Sandy Island, and wonderful worship services in Belmont for the non-Sandy Islanders.
This year, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for voting rights as we mobilize for this crucial election. Our journey of exploring our shared history will continue through the work of the Legacy of Slavery Task Force. We are excited to offer a rich array of classes and groups, from meditation and activism to beautiful music, all aimed at fostering deeper and more meaningful connections within our community.
As the church year begins, we are filled with a sense of possibility and excitement. While we embrace all that is new, we also take pride in honoring our rich and profound history—the firm foundation upon which we build our future. This year, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of our building expansion and have the pleasure of welcoming back Rev. Diane Miller, who served First Church many years ago. Stay tuned for more details as we celebrate these milestones together.
And welcome. Welcome if you are brand new, wondering if this place might be for you. Welcome back if you are just now emerging from a pandemic cavern. Welcome back if you have been coming for years and are returning sun-kissed with sand between your toes. Welcome back if you were one of the many summer regulars. Welcome back, everyone.
I am so grateful for this community we are building together. It is so sweet, so precious, and has all the potential in the world.
So much love to you all and see you soon,
Rev. Chris