As I write this, our minister, Jim McKinley, is preparing to go to Atlanta for minimally- invasive, robotic-assisted heart surgery. Jim wants you to know that he greatly appreciates and enjoys the notes and emails he is receiving from members of the congregation. He has been given a Care Shawl from the UUFH Knitters and is taking it with him to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta. This is a very comforting reminder that he has the best wishes and hopes from his congregation. Pat and I each received a shawl when we were recuperating from knee replacement surgery and we can attest to the supportive sentiments it generates.
Jim will be recuperating at home with the care of his family and a few close friends. I know we all are eager to see his rapid recovery, and you will receive updates through our Office Manager Sandy McGlashan.
Chris Lacy is retiring from the post of Bookkeeper at the end of September. She has been with us for eleven years and we are going to miss her smiling, calm,and confident presence. Chris has brought Bill Elder up to speed as her replacement so we can all be assured of a smooth transition. As a Friend of UUFH, Chris will still be among us and hopefully can relax in her retirement.
I will be convening the Task Force on Visibility in October. This group will work to execute a communications plan and devise ways to get our message out to the larger community. The new solar installation will be completed in a couple of months and that communicates a great deal about our stewardship of the earth. Although it will not stop Duke Energy from erecting more transmission lines, it will send a message that we are doing our part to lessen the burden on the power grid. With Pope Francis coming to the United States and his encyclical on the environment, it will demonstrate that faith communities do have a role to play in helping our “Blue boat home” sail on with cleaner air.
Keith Dalbec,
President