This Sunday, November 30, Rev Deborah Bond-Upson will be in the pulpit for the first time since her Nov 1 hire date. I encourage you to come in person to hear her message and spend some time afterwards with her in a talkback.

In my role as President, I am gaining new information about Rev Deborah. I have watched her eagerly meet congregants, determined to understand how we function as a religious community. I have learned that she thrives upon connection; she makes accessibility a priority. She has embraced the Worship team, expressed enthusiasm for the creativity of the children’s religious education program, Spirit Play, met with the music team and attended to the needs of the choir director, assistant choir director, pianist, and choir to promote continuity and cohesion.

She has given full support to the Gallery on the Pali, to bring art back into our church home, identified volunteers to help improve the website and newsletter, and is working collegially with Reverends Sam, Sarah, and Sunshine to launch Hope for Us Year 2. All of this within a mere three weeks. Her latest focus, which is technically complex, involves the audio-visual online experience of our church service.

I recognize how her energy, ingenuity, and perspicacity, coupled with her positivity, can have the potential for transformation. What kind of community can we become, and who might we attract if we breathe new life into the values of compassion, justice, and joy with Rev. Deborah? Just imagine!

Susan Yamane-Carpenter
President