When I am home in the frozen tundra of the Midwest, September is a season of preparation and change. As I begin to get ready for fall, my thoughts always turn to the deeper questions in my life.

Why am I here?

What does it all mean?

Am I doing well?

I usually put away the patio furniture, and I give the house a going over, and I ready my cooler weather recipes- it only seems natural that I should also trade out my lighter summer concerns for things which require time, and slower, more thoughtful consideration.

Things that I can mull over during a brisk walk in the leaves, or while wrapped in a warm blanket.

Here at UUCOV, life is a little different. I just painted the patio furniture and put it back out, warm blankets at 90 degrees sound nightmarish, and the leaves are filled with jumping lizards I don’t want to step on.

But the season is turning nevertheless, and the lovely grey skies and cooler nights remind me that it is still a perfect time to slow my thoughts and examine the big questions as we swing ever closer to the busy final months of Search.

Your Cottage meetings are about to begin, and these are questions to ponder:

• Who are we, and who will we be in the world?
• Are we doing well, and how can we fulfill our mission and vision?
• Who can we be?
• Who do we want our minister to be?

It is hard to believe that this is already my second fall here, the time seems to have flown so quickly, but these questions are pressing as we enter the last months before ministers will be able to examine your information packet and consider moving to Florida.

It’s all up to you now; it’s up to you to share your thoughts, and to participate in this exciting process. The more that the Search Committee knows, the better the chance of a good fit.

Enjoy the cooler nights and lovely days as our snowbirds fly home here to Venice. Take the time to examine the big questions. Help to move your congregation forward into an exciting 25th Anniversary Year.

See you in church!

Warmly,
Rev. Amy