If you attended either or both of the anniversary events, the Saturday Open House, or the Sunday service and reception, then you know what a terrific celebration of our history and our faith it was. If you were unable to come, you missed a great event in the life of our church and Unitarian Universalism in greater New Orleans. Folks will surely be talking about this great weekend for a long time to come.
Grateful thanks and appreciation to
First Church President Ann Maclaine for service above and beyond, arranging the history displays, promoting the "booths" at the Open House, and working tirelessly to make the anniversary a success, in the midst of personal burdens;
First Church Vice-President Cherie LeBlanc for the design of the anniversary logo and the gorgeous Orders of Service and arranging for the anniversary T-shirts;
First Church Religious Education Director Coleen Murphy for the interactive, intergenerational "UU Bingo" game;
Thanks also to all the church's children and youth who came, who helped, and who participated with such gusto;
First Church Board member Mary Jo Day for her assistance in gathering and arranging the historical materials and her Children's Story on Sunday;
First Church Music Director Betsy McGovern for providing such wonderful music all weekend;
First Church's own Flaming Chalice choir for their terrific contributions;
Thanks also to our guest musicians for the service, trumpeter Eric Morel-Ensminger and percussionist Michael Skinkus;
First Church support staff members Steve Buzick and Mandisa Jackson for their unflagging goodwill as extra anniversary duties came their way;
All the church teams and groups and programs who staffed tables at the Open House;
Jyaphia Christos-Rodgers and Dorothy Smith of Community Church (and many anonymous donors) for all the delicious food;
Thanks also to Jyaphia for the moving and appropriate Responsive Reading;
Southwest Conference of the UUA Executive the Rev. Susan Smith for bringing greetings from our sister UU congregations;
Mary An Godshall of Community Church for the Chalice Lighting;
Marilyn Malone of North Shore UU Society for the Offertory (dedicated to GNOUU, which received $969!);
First Presbyterian Session members Zane Fisher, Hoy Hughes, and Sherry Hutton for their graciousness and sense of humor;
UUA Moderator Gini Courter for her grand entrance and rousing sermon;
Our friends from Community Church UU who canceled their service to attend the anniversary celebration;
All the volunteers from Asheville, NC, and Washington, DC, who helped fill the church to celebrate with us;
Everyone, named and unnamed, who ran errands, set up chairs and tables, swept floors, bought something, brought something, and contributed in untold ways to the unfolding of the anniversary weekend;
And, a special thank-you to "the ancestors" -- all the ministers and members and committed friends of First Church for 175 years. We couldn't have done it without you!
We are in the process of gathering mementos of photos, objects and written material for a special time capsule to be opened at the 200th Anniversary 25 years from now. Contact Jyaphia if you have a contribution for that effort.
Commemorative T-shirts with the anniversary logo are still available at $15 each. Contact the church office if you don't have yours yet.
175 years of liberal religion in greater New Orleans -- it is a legacy to be proud of, and to live up to. And now, let's get moving on our next 25, leading up to the 200th in 2033!
Gratitude and appreciation all around, Rev. Melanie
