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A Fond Farewell by The Rev. Laura Queen For the past three years, we have had a variety of opportunities to learn and grow together in faith. As I write this last contribution to the Ebb & Flow as your Associate Rector, I would like to reflect on some of those most memorable occasions that we shared. My first women's fellowship dinner was very special. We gathered together outside on the patio down stairs late into the evening hours with candle light flickering and conversation bubbling. It was a magical introduction to such a wonderful group of women. I will never forget our first retreat together at Holy Spirit where we wove together images of ourselves and God into beautiful designs. The weekend retreats nurtured our spirits and we have formed lasting friendships and created bonds that will live forever. I have my mosaic tile and my beautiful scarf to wear with pride. When I arrived at St. Augustine, we shared the courtyard with the school. When we changed schools, we gained a courtyard. Every Wednesday that summer several of us came and worked to transform the garden into what it is today. We moved rocks, turned the soil, planted flowers, cleaned out the bird bath, planted bulbs and enjoyed rinsing off with the cool water from the hose when we had finished. It is a beautiful space that will continue to flourish and grow. There was so much discussion around the name of the senior group. When it was suggested to call it "Swinging Seniors," I think people were a bit concerned about me. I cleared the name with Sylvia and Honorine and it was final. The seniors of St. A's really are swingers − we went from Malibu to Bel Air, from Long Beach's Aquarium of the Pacific, to the Robinson Gardens of Beverly Hills. We tasted wine at the San Antonio winery, tripped the light fantastic at our very own prom and made pies for the Thanksgiving dinner. This group has been everywhere and I will always cherish our time well spent. I remember when we were leaving the family retreat at Camp Stevens two years ago it snowed − in October. We had so much fun freezing together, it was soooo cold we had our campfire inside. Last year we were fortunate to be the first group in after the terrible fire. This retreat was always a great way to celebrate fall. There are so many great things to remember about my time at St. Augustine that I could go on forever. Perhaps this quotation from a favorite book of mine that I have read from during several Market Day Masses that was written by Parker Palmer will conclude this trip down memory lane. Palmer writes this in his book Let your Life Speak, about the cycle of seasons, and the change that occurs in nature: "We are participants in a vast communion of being, and if we open ourselves to its guidance, we can learn anew how to live in this great and gracious community of truth." Autumn brings about many changes, "…it is a season of great beauty, but it is also a season of decline: the days grow shorter, the light is suffused, and summer's abundance decays toward winter's death. Faced with this inevitable winter, what does nature do in autumn? It scatters the seeds that will bring new growth in the spring-and scatters them with amazing abandon." It is with gratitude that I lift up my time at St. Augustine by-the-Sea. Karen and I would like to thank you all for giving us so many wonderful memories, for sending so many well wishes, for throwing such wonderful farewell parties and for such a very "big" check − but most importantly for giving us your hearts.
Copyright © 2008 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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