On Jan. 1, 2017 Rev. Andrea Ayvazian retired as pastor of Haydenville Congregational Church. Many people spoke at the party after the service. The choir sang a favorite of Andrea’s. Marcia Gomes wrote a song for Andrea and Jen Matias read the following poem which she wrote for the occasion.

For Andrea
By Jen Matias
Arms outstretched, embracing us all,
You have walked with us, side by side, heart to heart.
Seeing in each of us the face of God,
Your fierce love lifting us to the heights of Denali.
You are a living prayer,
God’s healing breath in a hurting world,
Speaking love’s many languages,
Tenderly touching our broken places, reminding us we are one with god,
perfect and whole.
You lend your voice to those of us whose voices have been silenced.
You walk, unstoppable, leading with faith, pushing forward.
Champion of justice, and love, and peace, and our precious mother earth.
Moving, igniting, stirring, reaching, hearing, healing, drawing out, breathing in.
We have each been changed by this journey with you.
Now, we allow the crescendo of our brimming hearts to say,
We will never forget; we are forever grateful.
Your love lives on in who we are and who we will become,
And we will carry this love out into the world.
This love, your legacy.