We Did It!!

Emerson UU Church Houston, we did it!! We filled up the sanctuary and installed Rev. Ed as our settled minister in a touching ceremony filled with love and respect among all the participants. We made our pledges of commitment with Rev. Ed. We heard stories about him that we didn’t expect, and laughed along with him to fond remembrances from long-time friends. We heard a sermon that challenged us as UUs to be better and live up to our ideals. And we heard the choir give full voice to a joyful noise.

It was an afternoon to cherish and remember. And then we had a party!

What a great party. We chatted and laughed over drinks in the Gathering Place, then decamped to Westwood Hall to enjoy the music of Mim and Ed Freiter’s trio, Banish Misfortune. We chowed down on delicious barbecue from Pizzitola’s while we shared animated conversations. The room teemed with people and overflowed with laughter and repartee.

Thank you so much to the wonderful volunteers who helped with so many things: making gift bags for the participants in the service, tidying up our campus inside and out, setting up and decorating Westwood Hall, and cleaning up afterward. A special thanks goes to Carol Trout, who insisted she was “just helping” while she advised on everything and did so much. And thanks to Ale Gonzalez, our church administrator, who cheerfully attended to the many details that an event like this requires. (And who delighted us by bringing baby Magnolia to the celebration.)

Emersonians, we did it! As Rev. Becky proclaimed at the end of the service, “Hallelujah!”

Lane Devereux

Installation Chair