Making Fond Memories

The Senior Warden thanks the departing priest

In his farewell sermon the interim priest thanked us for "saving" him. When he got the assignment two years ago, he was at a low point, both professionally and personally. Guiding the church along the sometimes-rocky path to finding a new rector--who starts tomorrow--was just the tonic he needed.

From the perspective of the congregation we were the ones who needed saving. Under normal circumstances finding a minister would have been job one, but keeping the church alive during the pandemic quickly became the paramount objective, as it was for nearly all religious organizations.

Some of the laity were forced to become streaming experts on the fly, and after purchasing the equipment, installing software, and setting up a control center, on-line services began during the summer of 2020.

The church re-opened in May, 2021, on Pentecost Sunday. In-person attendance was about 30% of the pre-COVID number and has still not recovered. We have also suffered disproportionate losses in the most active over-60 group because of death, infirmity, and/or moving away from the Bay Area.

But we have a lot to be thankful for. The new rector is much younger than the average member--he will actually know the people he will be honoring at their memorial services!--and the church finances are in decent shape.

As for our departing interim, his successful term in Foster City may have contributed to his next assignment at one of the toniest towns in the Bay Area. He leaves as our mutual fortunes are on the upswing, a circumstance which makes for fond memories.