Minister's Musings, Rev. Betty

Each year about this time, I find myself under a lot of stress trying to get everything done for the holidays. You too?

But one of the things that I really look forward to is receiving cards and letters from people all over the country and the world whose paths have crossed mine over the years. Nor is this year an exception. Some of those people are family and friends, former students and colleagues. And each card or letter brings back memories of some of the experiences that we have shared and provides opportunities to catch up on more recent developments.

Now, the downside of all of this is that I have to send out cards or letters in order to receive them - addressing envelopes, attaching stamps, writing notes, folding letters, inserting them in envelopes, sealing them, and putting them all in the mail box.

So why am I sharing this information in my newsletter column? It is because I want to thank all the wonderful people in this congregation who have sent and will send holiday cards and letters to Tom and me and to apologize for not responding individually to all the wonderful greetings and kind wishes.

The fact is that I would love to send a card or letter to each person in the congregation, but I realized early in my ministry that such a task would be far too time consuming. Nor would I want to respond to only a few in our community - leaving out the vast majority.

What to do?  Well, let me share my greetings and hopes for great joy with all of the folks in our congregation who are reading this newsletter. You feed my soul and make my heart sing. And I feel honored to be serving as your minister. So this message sends to all of you the warmest of wishes for a glorious holiday season and a new year bright with promise.

Blessings,

Rev. Betty