Thank you! Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as your minister for the past ten years. And thank you for marking this time with a lovely program and reception. If you weren’t able to attend, you missed deeply meaningful sharing from members and ministers, enchanting music from Marla Bacina, as well as a song from o u r delightful Starr King Singers.

We wandered around our nearly completed space and ate goodies in the fellowship hall actually being able to feel what it will be like when this project is complete. Earlier on Sunday morning, we had our annual water communion, the return to our spiritual home that recognizes our real and symbolic journeys away from a regular Sunday gathering. The collection we took during the offering that morning, to help provide for the expenses incurred when I attend the Ministers’ Convocation in November to be held in Ottawa, raised nearly $750. I am grateful to those who contributed and would like to let you know a little more what those expenses will go for. Registration costs $550 and my half of the hotel room will cost over $500. Plane fares fluctuate, but right now the cheapest fare is hovering at $518. I have a yearly expense budget but it doesn’t allow for this convocation that only occurs once every seven years.

So if you were absent on the 13 th of September and would like to contribute to this fund, I would be very grateful. You can send your checks made out to SKUUC and in the memo line write “Convo.” I’ll be using up this budget soon so that I can make my flight reservations and pay the hotel when the U.S. dollar gets the best conversion rate. I promise to return home with my well re-filled to an optimum level. I’m certain there will be much to share with you.

Again, I thank you for your generosity in making it possible for me to attend. Finally, I’m still basking in the glow of love. At the very beginning of last month, Ron and I celebrated our marriage—the ceremony, officiated by Rev. John Wichman, was held right here in our sanctuary. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your cards and well-wishes. I feel happy and grateful for so many blessings in my life, looking forward to autumn days with you.