The heat is back — and so are we
Thanks to the work of  our trustees, and the skills of our HCAC contractor, the Haydenville congregation was able to return to worship in out sanctuary Sunday, Dec. 23. We were able to enjoy a lovely candlelight service, Christmas Eve. There is more work to be done to insulate and improve the energy efficiency of the church, but services, meetings and other activity at the church have all resumed as usual.

Busy agenda
We enter a busy time for the church and its leadership.
The January Church Council Meeting is moving to January 20th. Since this is the meeting where we will finalize the slate for church officers and new bylaws changes. Moderator Pat James is also proposing to move the February Annual Meeting to Feb. 17th, which gives us enough time to post changes for people to become familiar with them ahead of election time. If you are working on nominations for your leadership group, please get your list to Susan Farrell ASAPSettled pastor search committee update

Search Team Update
We have completed two first interviews and both were very impressive. We have three more first interviews scheduled. We plan to do second interviews with at least 2 candidates, and more if they are warranted. After that, the Conference schedules a “neutral pulpit interview” for finalists, in which the search committee sees them give a sermon at another church in the region. Finally, the Search Team will pick one finalist to give a candidating sermon, after which the congregation votes on whether to call that candidate to serve our church. Several concomitant events that are more social in nature precede that. This could be a luncheon or dinner the Saturday before the candidating sermon and can include all interested church members and especially folks from our various leadership groups. We’d hope o wrap up the process in early 2019.

We know folks are very curious about our candidates, but please don’t ask members of the Search Team for details. Confidentiality is critical both for the integrity of our own process and for the candidates themselves as they navigate their professional options. You selected a Search Team of thoughtful, committed, critical thinkers and spiritual leaders to manage this process. We deeply appreciate your trust, and we continue to earn it as we do this work, which we have found to be painstaking, incredibly interesting, and full of hope and joy as we witness the excitement of candidates encountering our welcoming, beloved community. We remain available to answer general questions about the process after Sunday services.

Your Search Team: Ann Loomis, Heather King, Doug Renick, Lisa Hall, Jan Varnon, and Pat James, Chair.