• Home
  • rainbow flagA Welcoming Congregation
  • Safe Congregation SealKeeping Safe
  • Capital Campaign
    • Contact: Capital Campaign
  • DONATE/REALM
  • TUCWomen
    • About TUCWomen
    • Join Us
    • Events
    • Contact
  • Contact
  • Instagram

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport

10 Lyons Plains Rd., Westport, CT 06880 - Ph: (203)227-7205 Sunday Services: 10:00 AM

Unitarian Universalist Association
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
    • SOUNDINGS
    • Communications Guidelines
    • ZOOM Instructions
    • Tips For Making Videos
    • Event & Space Reservations
    • TUUCWSocial Email List Ground Rules
  • Welcome Visitors
    • UU Orientation
    • Directions & Services
    • Special Ceremonies & Dedications
    • Our Congregational History
    • Our Faith
    • What is a Unitarian Universalist?
    • We are Unitarian Universalists
    • How did you become a Unitarian Universalist?
    • History of the Flaming Chalice
    • UU History in 8 Minutes
  • About Us
    • Our Mission Statement
    • Our Vision Statement
    • About Our Ministers
    • Our Staff
    • Getting Involved
    • Board of Trustees
    • Governance
    • Healing and Resilience Task Force
    • Congregant Celebration
    • Pastoral Care Chaplains
    • Our Welcoming Congregation
    • Photo & Video Galleries
    • Links – Beyond Our Walls
    • SOUNDINGS
    • Communications Guidelines
    • Events & Space Reservations
    • Pledging
  • FAITH FORMATION
    • Faith Formation for Children and Youth 2022-23
    • Welcome to Family Faith Formation
    • This Week in Family Faith Formation
    • Faith Formation Age Groupings 2022-23
    • What to Expect on Sunday Mornings
    • OWL Information at a Glance
    • Youth Ministry
    • Adult Faith Formation
    • Soul Matters
    • Keeping Safe
    • Faith Formation Registration
  • Social Justice
    • Welcome to Social Justice
    • Advocates for Prevention of Gun Violence
    • Beardsley School Committee
    • Immigration and Refugee Committee
    • KIVA Microfinance Committee
    • Racial Justice Committee
    • Westbridge Coalition
  • Music Program
    • Music Choir Schedules
    • Evensong
    • Our Minister of Music
    • The Music Committee
    • The Bell Choir
    • The Choir (Women and Men)
    • Special Projects Choir
    • Once & Again Singers
    • Children’s Choir
    • Teen Choir
    • The Chamber Choir
    • Sight-singing Classes
    • Cabaret
    • Voice Classes
    • Love Is the Spirit
    • Tune My Heart To Sing
    • Support Our Music Program
  • Sermons & Poetry
    • Minister’s Messages
    • Sermons – Audio
    • Sermons – Video
    • Rev. John T. Morehouse’s sermons
    • From Your Senior Minister: Facing Grace
    • Facing Grace – Rev. John’s blog
    • Rev. Frank Hall, Minister Emeritus – sermons
    • Rev. Frank Hall, Minister Emeritus – Dear Friends
    • Intern Minister’s sermons
    • Guest Minister’s sermons
    • Poetry & Readings
    • Communications from Your Ministers
  • Live Stream

Dear Friends – May 23, 2011

May 24, 2011 by Rev. Frank Hall - Minister Emeritus

Dear Friends,

It seems like a couple of years ago that my infant grandson, Alex, had a Service of Dedication of Parents and Children here, officiated by Herb Adams. It was actually twenty two years ago.

On Saturday Lory and I drove to Hampshire College to watch him receive his college diploma, Bachelor of Science in Organic Chemistry. It was one of those special moments in the life of a grandparent – one of those moments hard to describe, but for which description is probably not necessary.

The Commencement speaker was Winona LaDuke, environmental activist and former Green Party vice presidential candidate recognized for her work on issues of climate change, sustainable development, renewable energy and for environmental justice in Native America. She lives and works on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota.

While I appreciated LaDuke’s talk to the graduates and their families I was most impressed with and moved by a talk from Hampshire’s long-term cafeteria cashier, Roberta Tudryn. During her 33 years in that job she raised five children and welcomed 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren into the world, as well as inviting five foster children into her home. She spoke personally and lovingly to the graduates with many of whom she had developed a warm, caring relationship.

I appreciated what Ms. Tudryn had to say, and how she said it, but I was especially impressed by the fact that she was on the speaker’s platform – how often have you seen a cafeteria cashier give a talk at a college commencement ceremony?

Alex’s sister, my granddaughter Hannah, is going into her senior year at Hampshire, where she is majoring in dance. Her Service of Dedication was officiated here twenty years ago by my friend and colleague Dick Drinon.

Herb and Dick are gone, but far, far from forgotten. The next generation takes center stage – and so it is, and so it has always been, and so it will be.

On the day of Alex’s graduation we got a call from Jerusalem, where Carlyn is touring with a group of Jewish college students, sponsored by a foundation, Taglit-Birthright Israel, which provides the gift of first time, peer group, educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26 in order to strengthen their sense of Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish people.

Carlyn said that the group was asked who among them had not had a bar/bat Mitzvah – she was one of three young women – they were invited to have their bat Mitzvah there, and each of them accepted.

Carlyn went to Hebrew school at Temple Israel for several years but decided not to do her Bat Mitzvah when she completed those classes. Last Saturday, in Jerusalem, she welcomed the opportunity to become a Bat Mitzvah, making it a very special trip which she’ll never forget. Memories endure and live in us to enrich our lives. It’s as simple as that.

To Life,

Frank

Filed Under: Dear Friends Tagged With: Dear Friends, Rev. Frank Hall

  • Minister’s Messages
  • Sermons – Audio
  • Sermons – Video
  • Rev. John T. Morehouse’s sermons
  • From Your Senior Minister: Facing Grace
  • Facing Grace – Rev. John’s blog
  • Rev. Frank Hall, Minister Emeritus – sermons
  • Rev. Frank Hall, Minister Emeritus – Dear Friends
  • Intern Minister’s sermons
  • Guest Minister’s sermons
  • Readings & Poetry
  • Communications from Your Ministers

     The Unitarian Universalist
     Congregation in Westport
     is a member congregation of the
     Unitarian Universalist Association

      CLICK HERE if you have any questions      about The Unitarian Universalist
    Congregation in Westport

Congregational Hours: Tuesday - Friday
9:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Summer Hours:
July & August until after Labor Day:
Tuesday - Friday 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM

CLICK HERE to contact the web master

CLICK HERE to opt in to receive
the Weekly Congregational Email Blast

Copyright © 2023 · Visit us at The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport - 10 Lyons Plains Rd., Westport, CT 06880 - All rights reserved.