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March 2006 at  Old South Church

COMPASSIONATE LEAVE
MARCH 2006

* Note Addendum March 2, 2006

Dear Members and Friends of Old South,

As most of you know by now, my husband is terminally ill with cancer. The disease has progressed to the stage where it is important for me to be able to care for Peter and be with him as much as possible. At my request, the Church Council has granted me a part-time compassionate leave. This has already taken effect. While I am stepping back from preaching and other “public” leadership, I am still attending many meetings, and working with staff and lay leaders on a reduced schedule to oversee the work of this church. My colleague, Quinn Caldwell, and a crew of staff and volunteers have agreed to pick up some of the pieces. I have arranged for wonderful guest preachers to fill in, and Quinn will also take on more of the preaching for the short term. Our guest preachers include Nick Carter, president of Andover Newton Theological School (March 19), Ron Buford, who is the inspiration behind the UCC’s Still Speaking Initiative, (April 2) and Steve Sterner, Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC (April 23).

An ace team of church leaders is in place to work with me and the congregation during this time. The team is composed of Old South Church officers, board chairs, and chair of the Finance Committee: Jeff Makholm (Moderator), Jim Monsma (Treasurer), David Clark (Clerk), Suze Campbell (Historian), Dwight Crane (Chairperson, Board of Trustees), Betty Smith (Chairperson, Board of Ministers and Deacons), and Larry Bowers (Chairperson, Finance Committee). As you can see, we are in good hands.

Peter and I join in thanking the Old South congregation for your love and support for us during this time. Please know that our faith is strong and, while none of us is eager to let go of this earthly life, we anticipate with joy that “home not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens.”
 

Nancy

Nancy S. Taylor, Senior Minister

 

ADDENDUM (March 2, 2006): As of early March Peter has experienced an utterly unexpected reprieve from the worst symptoms of the disease. He is up and about and feeling better than he has for months. We take delight in the gift of these precious days in which he is feeling relatively normal and give thanks for the community of prayer that continues to hold us up and which has so clearly had a positive effect on Peter’s health and well-being (and on mine!).

I am so grateful for the flexibility that the leaders of Old South built into my Compassionate Leave. I can be at Old South working when Peter is relatively well and I can be with him when he is not well. I look forward, therefore, to worshipping and learning with the Old South community in this holy season of Lent.