Reflecting on the past year, my experience as your intern minister has been profoundly impactful and, in many ways, unexpected. Having been a visitor at UU Asheville for several years, including a year as a Faith Formation teacher, I believed I had a solid understanding of what this internship would entail. However, the significant and unforeseen disruption of the storm quickly shifted the focus of ministry at UU Asheville squarely towards essential pastoral care for an extended period. Additionally, I will admit that the national decision to elect a leader whose previous term was marked by acrimony, a lack of decorum, and division, and the resulting implications of that collective choice, revealing deep social challenges within our country, deeply affected the hearts and minds of our congregation.
Yet, even more than these significant disruptions, I was deeply moved by the profound commitment, the care within our community, and the unwavering dedication that flourishes throughout UU Asheville. Immediately following the storm, witnessing the Care and Connect team reach out to every member on our rolls to offer support was truly inspiring. Serving alongside our Faith Formation team as they provided childcare for families, even amidst the challenges of non-functioning facilities in the difficult days after the storm when normalcy seemed distant, demonstrated remarkable resilience.
Sitting with the auction committee, navigating downed trees and power lines to adapt from a traditional auction to the most needed potluck I have ever experienced at our gratitude dinner in Sandburg Hall, and then demonstrating incredible agility by still organizing a familiar and financially successful auction several months later, was a testament to their dedication. Working with the passionate energy of the newly formed Reproductive Justice team as they rapidly responded to ongoing threats to reproductive freedom and the well-being of individuals with uteruses was also deeply meaningful. Helping to lead the Good Grief Group provided a valuable space to witness and support the processing of grief that naturally arises within any congregation, particularly ours in the aftermath of the storm and significant national events. And even participating in my own Soul Matters group offered a cherished opportunity to share what mattered most to my soul each month, this time as a participant rather than a leader.
While carrying my own sadnesses, I am left with the feeling that I may not have fully seized every opportunity presented to me with the many individuals and groups within our community. However, I measure the success of this internship not by perfect engagement, but by the consistent stretching and encouragement of growth within myself and others. I continually pushed against my perceived limits as intern minister, and I witnessed all of you bravely entering that same space. This shared experience is a gift I will always treasure.
T Kay Browning, Ministerial Intern