First Congregational UCC DeKalb

OCOTOBER 2020

Greetings Members and Friends of First Congregational UCC,

I am excited and grateful to be your Interim Minister.  I will officially begin on November 1 – but will admit that I am already at the work of preparation. I am delighted to do so.

My spouse, Barb, and I moved to St. Charles in early November so that we could be closer to our children and grandchildren.  You know Courtney and her family.  Our son Ross lives in Western Springs.  I left the church I served in the Minneapolis suburbs intending a self-funded sabbatical of several months and then I planned to seek a call in Illinois beginning late in the spring.  You know how that went.  I began my search much later and I am glad that I did: I will be able to return to ministry with you.

I have worshipped with you several times in the past and look forward to seeing you again in your masked identities.

I have a request:  The Sunday that I begin is Remembrance, or All Saints, Sunday.  We will remember and give thanks for the lives of folks who have died in this past year.  Julie told me she can provide the list of members who have died in the past year. It is your custom to have those in attendance at worship provide names they would like to remember as well.  Many of you will not be able to attend worship in person due to the restrictions under which we all operate.  I invite you to email or mail the names you would wish us to include.  You may send them to the office, or to me at mcnamara.alan@gmail.com.  I will reply when I receive your email so that you will know I did indeed receive it. 

I am hopeful that I can work with your ministry teams to find ways to do the celebrations and activities that make up your life together in this next year.  In particular I will want to work with the Ministry Team for Worship and Spiritual Life to plan Advent and Christmas.  You are an active and involved congregation and I am certain we can use technology, and your savvy, to do those activities that give you joy in being part of First Congregational UCC.

Grace and Peace

Alan