Saying good-bye to two beautiful people

Today was a sad moment at the church offices. Due to budget cuts we had to say goodbye to Jean Ferguson and Edwin Beatty.

Jean has been with the church for several (I think, six) years. She's known sometimes as our "office grandma," "grandma Jean," or by many others simply as the kind voice on the phone. As well as her duties with the bulletin, Jean has shepherded the Shared Breakfast crew. At the last Shared Breakfast, Jean and her gang served nearly 260 people, as well as giving away coats, hats, gloves, socks, you get the message. Jean will really be missed around the church. We love her and are sad to see her go.

Edwin is much newer with the church, but what a help he's been these last several months. Edwin was first with ideas when I was looking for a Spanish restaurant to cater our Camino dinner in September. We'll miss his wit, his grace, and his hard work.

Budget cuts will also lead to three other departures - Dan and Crystal in 2010. But sometimes fiscal sanity comes at the price of emotional insanity. At the end of it will be a balanced budget - for the first time in 10 years - and we'll all be a little sadder and wiser, too.