MEMBERS AND FRIENDS GATHER, AWAITING THE START OF THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY
The weather reports were predicting intermittent showers and the clouds were thick as the morning progressed, but at noon on Thursday, June 10th, over 50 members and friends of UCF gathered on the 2900 Bridges Street property to celebrate the Ground Breaking for our new Sanctuary and Social Hall building. When Joe Naset, Co-Chair of the New Building Team, stepped up to the microphone to open the event, the sun came out like a sign from the gods.
The ceremony was short but very meaningful. After Joe recognized the community officials and personnel from Smithson, our contractor, who worked with the New Building Team to get us to this point, UCF President Melva Kearney gave a moving account of how our congregation progressed from its founders in 1980 to today’s milestone. Rev. Sally White, our beloved minister who is retiring later this month, brought us to tears with her Blessing. She brought some of the water that has been collected in our “Waters of Ministry” services over the years and invited everyone to dip their fingers in the bowl and then sprinkle some on the ground to bless it. If you weren’t able to attend, both Melva’s and Rev. Sally’s remarks can be read by clicking on the red links above.
Members of the Leadership Council and the Board, along with our Smithson Project Manager, then took shovels and “broke ground” on the beautiful new building we hope to move into this winter. An exciting day, and a day to be remembered in the history of the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship.
