When Rev. Patricia de Jong invited me to consider working on staff back in 2008, I had no idea how much richer my life would become after I accepted her offer. I was in my late 40s, recently married for the 2nd time, and co-parenting two teenagers with my ex & his partner in Oakland. I was looking for work that would be stable, purposeful, and really mattered to me. I’d worked in publishing (a scientific org., a legal publisher & a textbook publisher), a preschool, a biotech firm, and a computer hardware co. It was a string of jobs, each held for a few years before I either left in search of something more sustainable or the company was bought out or downsized. The result was the same – me back out there in the job market in search of a viable job. I’d shared this anxiety of job loss with Rev. Pat that Sunday morning 17 years ago and instead of praying with me or listening empathetically, she brightened, smiled, and offered me a job!
Fast forward to today. As I reflect on my years as a staff member, I’m honored to have worked with so many incredible humans – from our ministers to ministry interns, our many Cal work-study students to the many talented musicians, who provide our music every Sunday, our hardworking facilities staff, our dedicated church volunteers – too many to name. I’ve served, you all, this wonderfully eclectic cast of characters who make up our beloved First Church community. I carry with me so many of our First Church Saints (Margie Coates, Bernice Brissette, Natalie Lucchese, Imogene Crebbin, Jerri Ricca, Lewis Perry, John Wadman, Chris Stuetz to name a few) who generously and lovingly shared their wisdom and their life stories with me. I could not have imagined 17 years ago the grace, the awe, the love, and the sense of community & purpose I’ve experienced. My heart is filled with gratitude as I leave my staff role in capable hands and hearts, and say “goodbye” to you for some months. I’m excited to spend more time with Jim, my daughters, stepsons and their families, my seven amazing grandchildren, my siblings & Jim’s, and my mother-in-law Barbara. I’ll continue to do NVC practice and learning, and will intentionally occupy as much space as I can in the “fertile void” to remember what it’s like to be, just be. I love you all.