Congratulations on your new settled minister
Rev. Lissa Gundlach will become your minister on August 1
I will continue as your Interim Ministry through June 30

Work of the next month
Close the books on this fiscal year.
Prepare a budget for fiscal year that begins June 1
Re-start the paused Stewardship Campaign
Look for an email from Stewardship in your Inbox
Congregational Meeting on May 31.
Elect new Trustees for the Board, etc.
Vote on a couple of amendments to the Bylaws

In worship we have a lot of “ending the church year” business
Coming of Age culmination (May 31)
Our Music Sunday (June 7)
Our RE Sunday (June 14)
My last preaching day (June 21)

Calendar items
Budget Hearing, Saturday, May 9, 11am
Memorial for Jack Graham, Sunday, May 10 1pm

Saying Goodbye

I want you to know that I am still your minister
I know you’re making plans for next year
It’s not appropriate to ask Lissa to be involved in those plans
You either need to work with me
Or work on your own.

So why is it important that we not try to include Lissa at this point
In our plans for next year?

For one thing, Lissa has her own church to deal with right now
And Lissa is not being paid to be your minister until August 1.

But there is also the principle involved of “one minister at a time.”
Which has consequences both for Lissa in this transition period
And for me, after Lissa starts.

There are two relevant sections of the UUMA Ethical Standards from our Code of Conduct here.

The first applies to Lissa, at this time…

“If I am not a settled, interim or consulting minister of a congregation served by a colleague, I will not offer, and will not accept requests for, ministerial services or public leadership from members of that congregation, or in that congregational context, unless I have a covenant with or until I have consulted with the minister serving there.”

The second applies to me, after June 30…

“When my ministry to a congregation has ended, I will refrain from offering or performing ministerial services for members of that congregation, except at the invitation of my incumbent successor colleague(s). “

Both of these could be summarized as “one minister at a time.”
The goal is that the relationship between a congregation and a minister not be confused.  
The congregation needs to be unified around one vision of ministry. 
 If two ministers get involved the congregation can start to fracture, ministers can undermine each other with long-term consequences for our professional careers, and congregations can become confused and lose confidence in their leadership.

I will be your minister until June 30.
And although we know Lissa is coming she is not here yet
And we must be patient
That is Lissa’s gift to me and to you

And after June 30 we will have said our goodbyes
I will have completed my ministry with you
And I will cease to have ministerial contact with you
At least for some period agreed between Lissa and me
That is my gift to Lissa
And also to you.

2)  Message

The news from the pandemic is kind of crazy to me right now.
states are opening back up
Even here in Los Angeles County some businesses are being allowed to open in very limited ways starting on Friday

I understand that this crisis has always been a multiple crisis
The virus
The disruption of society
The mental hardship of physical distancing and isolation
And the economic crises of closed businesses and lost jobs.

So I understand that there needs to be balancing in our strategy
in order to address these conflicting needs.
But the science has not changed
The virus continues to be a series threat.
We do not have the testing, 
the contact tracing, 
effective treatments, 
or a vaccine
That address the danger of the virus directly

So in the absence of those things
Our current best strategy continues to be
Physical distancing
And good hygiene

And so for my message today
I just want to remind you
And encourage you
To continue to practice physical distancing and good hygiene
Wash hands frequently
Sanitize high-touch areas in your home
Stay home
Avoid physical contact with anyone except those you live with
Maintain at least 6 feet distance between yourself and others
Don’t touch your face
If you go outside
Wear a mask
Don’t touch your mask
Throw away or wash your mask when you return home

Let’s continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones in the best way possible
And let’s help our hospitals and front-line health responders
Maintain the capacity they need
To care for those who do get sick.

I’ll see you tomorrow 1pm