The countdown begins (but who’s counting?). It is hard to imagine, yet I have only two more sermons to write and deliver for the rest of my entire life before I retire on June 30, 2025! On May 4, I’ll talk about the practice of imagination, the power of play, the history of this congregation, and how things have come into being that our ancestors in the faith never imagined were possible. Simone Ferro will lead us in a mindful movement meditation during the service.
On June 1, we’ll celebrate our multi-generational Flower Ceremony, listen to great music from our Chancel Choir and House Band, and engage in a retirement ritual of blessing and release – kind of like a de-installation ceremony. Our music directors have fondly named my last worship service at First Church the “Dena-Palooza.” Please come–you don’t want to miss it!
And I don’t want to miss seeing you! I hope you can come to my retirement party on Friday, May 30 at 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. off-site at an accessible location (to be announced soon). Come and go as you can. It’s a great excuse to party with your fellow First Church friends. We’ll nosh on snacks, enjoy music and memories, and generally have some relaxed time together.
There will be a blank scrapbook available during coffee hours at some point leading up to the party. Please write me some messages, stories, memories, advice for retirement, draw some pictures, or paste some photos in the book. I don’t have many photos of my sixteen years serving First Church. Please print and bring some photos of yourselves to paste in the scrapbook, the old-fashioned way. I will treasure seeing your faces in future years as I look through the book and reminisce about the wild and precious times we have shared.
I could not have imagined all we would experience and go through together when we first met in the spring of 2009. What a journey we’ve had! I am truly blessed. Let’s end this era with gratitude and joy.
Yours,
Dena
Rev. Dena McPhetres, Associate Minister