Index of Rev. Grey's Columns

We have learned our beloved Rev. Millie Rochester is dealing with a significant health concern. Rev. Millie has shared that she expects to have surgery for breast cancer in the near future with chemotherapy likely to follow. Rev. Millie's letter to the congregation, sent last week to members and friends, in its openness to her own feelings, gives us permission to feel all of our feelings, too. And she is encouraged by many of you, as you have shared some of your experiences.

Millie's and her husband, Roger's affirming, encouraging spirit and love bless our community. We hold her and Roger and their family in all our hearts. While Millie will likely have to miss some of our holiday celebration during her recovery, we know she is with us continually in spirit.

This season's holy days, Chanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, honor the spiritual qualities of courage, perseverance, love, peace, hope and faith. In the face of unexpected illness, which can come into any life, these are qualities we can nurture in one another. Being with each other in times of sorrow and joy, in moments of testing and celebration, in sharing our caring, hope and purpose, we incarnate the spirit of love.

This is what we have been doing - expressing the spirit of love through our support of each other. Many of our church members and friends have touched Rev. Millie and Roger with their expressions of support and their desire to be of help in any way they can. And Rev. Millie, Rev. David, and I, Margaret Huyck and the Board of Trustees, Colleen Grogan, chair of the Religious Education Council and other church leaders are in regular conversation, as we look forward into the days of December and months of the new year. We will stay in close touch with the congregation and we hope that you will let us know of any questions or concerns that you have in the days ahead.

As Rev. Millie says in her letter to the congregation, we do not have the answers to all our questions. But there is one thing about which I am sure. Through caring for each other we strengthen our congregation's spirit of courage, perseverance, love, peace, hope and faith every day. These qualities will be evident in our December holy day celebrations and in the tiny ways we care for each other and our community in the days ahead. For this, we can be grateful, and through this, we nourish hope.

With my warmest wishes that your holidays be filled with love,

And our hearts and the world touched by a spirit of peace,

Nina