As Shakespeare said, parting is such sweet sorrow. I have been humbled by all the love and gratitude (and gifts!) given over the past few weeks. The Celebration Party last week was simply wonderful fun. I can not thank you enough: Wendy Shusterman and Susan Haugen for their excellent organizing, and everyone who contributed and came for the good food and company. My heart is full with appreciation for this thriving chalice community. I leave knowing we worked well together, did many good things and made a difference in the larger world. I will miss you all.
I also want to thank the staff of UCM: Tisa, Caitlyn, Abigail and Brigitte. You have a wonderful group of women enabling the good work of this community! They made my job a pleasure.
This Sunday at 10:30am we come to the parting of the ways. What comes next for all of us is full of possibility, life calling us on. The dancers change but the dance continues. The service will end with a short ritual, led by Co-Presidents Alex Ferworn and Larry Jeffrey, where I will be released from the covenant we made at my installation service in 2014.
Sunday is my final day with you, I will spend part of next week making sure I’ve left behind all the necessary documents, sending out many expressions of gratitude and I will unfriend UCM folks on social media. I need time away to let go of my role as your minister and you need time to adjust to UCM without me. We will find each other again in the years to come.
I continue to believe that blessings are everywhere, if we have eyes to see and hearts to hold them.
With love and gratitude,
Fiona
P.S. Don’t forget to read the whole Shining Chalice, each week the last items highlight special events in the community which include some UCM folks. Check them out!
YouTube
The YouTube livestream of the Service will be available to subscribers to the UCM channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD8jh9eDfIPsl51oMKSpqPw?view_as=subscriber
To subscribe, find the Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga on YouTube, and hit the subscribe button. The livestream will appear on the main page when it begins. Live Streaming without a Zoom gathering is an experiment so please let us know what you think at admin@uucm.ca.
Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88155648070
Meeting ID: 881 5564 8070
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