Dear UCM Members and Friends,

 

It’s wonderful to feel Spring beginning to arrive, with the lengthening of daylight hours, and more active bird song in the air. Thank-you for the ways that you have engaged with music in our virtual Worship Services and virtual Choir Rehearsals this year. We are certainly looking forward to the day when we can be back in one another’s company, making music together in person!

 

As we head into this last quarter of our Church Year, we wanted to provide some updates on the UCM Music Program. Kellie, Eliza, and the Choir are gearing up for our Annual Music Sunday, on May 23rd. The Choir has made great strides in learning how to rehearse and record virtual choir pieces. They have also been connecting with one another and sharing the stories behind some of their favorite hymns. They look forward to sharing their love of music with you in that special service in May.

 

Over the next couple of months, Kellie will be working with Paula Gills and Beth Damon to begin putting together a multimedia historical timeline of the major events, people, and milestones of Music at UCM. They may be reaching out to you directly to have you share your memories. There will also be an opportunity to gather over Zoom on Monday, May 3rd, at 7pm, for a preview of this timeline and to add your own memories and stories to the project. The final results will be shared during a “Zoom Reception,” following the Music Sunday Service on May 23rd.

 

Even with all that is yet uncertain in regards to the pandemic and safely gathering, the Executive Team is beginning to make plans for the coming year. This includes outlining our staffing for the Music Program. Kellie will be concluding her time with us at the end of June (and hopes to make a trip to Vermont sometime that month). The Executive Team recognizes the importance of  engaging in a comprehensive and inclusive visioning and search process for a permanent Music Director. Under the circumstances, this type of process cannot be accomplished before the end of this church year. As a result, we will be looking to hire an Acting Music Director for the coming year and to plan for your participation in a visioning process that would lead to hiring a permanent Music Director by the end of next church year.

 

The Executive Team remains open and responsive to your thoughts and feedback. Please reach out to Rev. Joan or any member of the Executive Team (Claudia Clark, Leslie Parr, and Dawn Evans) with thoughts, concerns, hopes, and dreams. Please also be in touch with Kellie if you haven’t heard directly from her and would like to participate in the Music History Timeline project.

 

We look forward to sharing more music and songs in the days and weeks ahead!

 

With love and gratitude,

 

Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, Minister, and Kellie Walker Hart, Interim Music Director

 

 

PS – The last Sunday of the Church Year is June 13th, and we will plan to have a Ritual of Departure with Kellie then.