Dear Members and Friends,
Last Saturday, we hosted a stunning concert in celebration of our Minister of Music, the Rev. Dr. Edward Thompson. Choral Chameleon presented works composed by Rev. Ed and one piece commissioned by UU Westport and composed by their artistic director Vince Peterson, in Rev. Ed’s honor. It was a joyful evening, full of beauty, poignancy and gratitude.
Rev. Ed’s long tenure with UU Westport is in its final weeks and there are several opportunities to celebrate with him:
- our 10:00 AM Holiday Music Service on Sunday, December 8
- a Carol Sing-Along at 7:00 PM and potluck at 6:00 PM on December 14
- our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 9:00 AM December 24
- Rev. Ed’s last service with us on Sunday, December 29 at 10:00 AM. It will be a low-key service with music, many candles lit, expressions of gratitude, stories told and, no doubt, plenty of laughter and probably some tears. If you’re in town, plan to be there.
How do we say goodbye to someone who has been such a big part of our congregation and our lives for decades? Each of us need to find our unique way to find peace with the change, the loss. As a congregation, we will say thank you in multiple ways. There will be a Parting Gift, the details of which will come soon. You may send cards and letters with your expressions of gratitude and good wishes. These will be assembled into a book that we will present to Rev. Ed.
The Board has passed a resolution recommending that the Congregation honors Rev. Ed with Emeritus status and I am in full support. You will have opportunities to learn more about this in a town hall on December 1 after the service and via a Zoom meeting on December 4. There will also be information about the Emeritus status in Soundings. A Congregational Meeting will be called by the Board, likely in early January, and all members will have the opportunity to vote for the conferring of the Emeritus title.
Conferring Emeritus status is a profound way to honor someone who has dedicated a lifetime of service and artistry to a congregation. For someone with over 46 years with this Congregation, the Minister of Music Emeritus status signifies not just a title, but an enduring legacy of faith, leadership, and musical excellence. It recognizes a lifetime of commitment to guiding worship, inspiring others, and elevating the spiritual experience of the entire community. By granting this honor, the congregation affirms Rev. Ed’s invaluable impact and assures that his contributions will be cherished and remembered for generations to come.
Many of you may wonder what will be Rev. Ed’s relationship with the Congregation once he retires at the end of December. Rev. Ed and I, with the support of the Board, have talked this over and we have decided on a set of guidelines for us all. For the Congregation, it’s important for there to be a clean break so we can learn to embrace the changes that are inevitable with a new Director of Music and an evolving Music Program. For Ed, we need to give him the space to settle into his new phase, retiring from his role with us but eager to explore his many creative interests.
To these ends, we have some boundaries to support us all. Rev. Ed won’t attend Sunday services after December 29, for a period of time. Outside of worship, Rev. Ed is welcome to attend any activity at UU Westport, including memorial services. When he does, I ask that you avoid talking with him about our Music Program. That would put Rev. Ed in a very awkward position. And, remember, he is no longer a Minister of the Congregation, so for pastoral care or planning rites of passage services, please confer with me or the future Senior Minister. If you have any questions now or in the future, just reach out to me. If we all respect these guidelines, we will help to make this a healthy transition.
Over these last weeks of 2024 let’s continue to celebrate having Rev. Ed in our congregation, and in our lives, and send him into his next phase with gratitude, love and support.
Warmly,
Alan
