Minister’s Notes

As of the time of this writing, we are making plans to hold our first Sunday service in our new sanctuary at Sunnyhill on August 20. We are already in the process of moving furniture and equipment into our new and newly refurbished space, and it is fabulous!

Even though the move back into our building represents the fulfillment of many of our dreams, we may face some significant challenges in the coming weeks, including the following:

• The new space will feel very different from our old space. As I mentioned, the new sanctuary and other new spaces are fabulous. But this space will feel very different from our old space, and you may experience a sense of loss. That’s okay. Let yourself grieve the loss of the old and celebrate the possibilities of the new .
• There may be a sense of let-down. At the conclusion of any major building project, there is always a sense of “what now?” The building project has been the focus of much of our energy over the past several years or longer. Now that it is drawing to an end, it’s only natural to feel a bit of a let down.
• Not everything will be perfect. Even though the New Home Committee—along with our builders and architects—have done a truly wonderful job, not everything will be flawless, nor will everything suit everyone’s taste. Your patience and forbearance will be necessary and very much appreciated.
• Things will continue to change. Anytime we’re in the middle of a major upheaval, we long for a time when everything will be stable and without any major disruptions or changes. Unfortunately, such a time is mostly a fantasy. Any church (or other organization) that is alive and thriving will be in a state of continuous change—and that’s good.

I’m pointing out these things not to bring you down, but just to remind you that it’s fine to feel occasionally less than giddy as we move back into our wonderful new space at Sunnyhill. And the fact is that our new space will enable us to do many things that we have not been able to do before—to expand our mission in new ways to create more justice and compassion within our walls and beyond.

–Rev. Jim Magaw