UUFF Optimistic About Future as They Say Goodbye

STAFFORD COUNTY, Virginia, June 28 - The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg (UUFF) gathered at the Beth Sholom Temple on Lyons Blvd. Sunday afternoon to farewell Reverend Jeffrey Gordon Jones. There comes a time in every pairing when the two roads must diverge and that time became official for the UUFF and their minister with the 11am service.

Cars filled the parking lot and lined the street. The sanctuary was packed with standing room only for the service and the luncheon that followed. Approximately 175 people had signed up to attend the event and although though no official head count was taken it is estimated that several more than that were in attendance.

Arriving at Beth Sholom Temple the weather reflected the conflicted mood of the congregation who crowded into the farewell service. Outside the sky was overcast, gray in some directions and a tender blue in another with a changing juxtaposition of white clouds. The emotional congregation was visibly torn between the sadness of goodbye and the excitement of change.

The Universalist Unitarian Fellowship of Fredericksburg strives to be a "welcoming and intentionally diverse community" and this event demonstrated that they are both. Rather than following and proselytizing a single religious faith the UUFF provides a general forum provides spiritual fellowship to its members who come from a wide range of backgrounds in both religious belief and culture. Their website proclaims "Bring us your questions, we have answers. Bring us your answers, we have questions."

Lay Leader and UUFF President Connie Moore is well aware that 2009 is a year of remarkable change for the UUFF and a change in spiritual leadership is only one piece of that voyage. The sale of their Caroline street building which has been home to UUFF since 1984 was finalized on February 23rd. That building is now Eileen's Bakery and the UUFF is meeting at a temporary transitional storefront at 5044 Plank Road in Spotsylvania County.

The meeting space is quite a change from their downtown home but the real change will come when they complete construction of the UUFF's future home beyond the YMCA off of Butler Road in south Stafford.
The UUFF and the Beth Sholom Temple have a supportive relationship that dates back to the founding of the UUFF in1956. Rabbi Davorah Lynn welcomed the opportunity to host Rev. Gordon's farewell.

Although this Unitarian Universalist fellowship organizes itself much like a Christian church with Sunday services that follow a format familiar to most Christian church goers the content of the UUFF service and sermons are eclectic.

The farewell service was opened by chimes and full of music by the UUFF Adult Choir, the UUFF Hand-chime Choir, the UUth Choir and the offertory was done to Stephen Schwartz's song For Good from the musical "Wicked".

The service included The Steves (four members all named Steve with a presentation made by Susan Lovegrove and Marie Rizza, speaker Gae Pinschmidt and Joni Wilson presented Jeff, as Rev. Jones is known by the congregation, with a hand designed book of memories on behalf of the UUFF and Connie Moore spoke closing words. The eclectic feel exemplified the UUFF way of doing things.

The bulletin (printed on recycled paper) presented a quote by Shelley Jackson that was perfectly fitting of what Jeff encouraged during his time at the UUFF. "We search for truth, equality and blessed peace of mind. And then, we come together here to make sense of what we find." Between the philosophical and the traditional the service also quoted the Muppets.

The service ended with Extinguishing of the Chalice and attention turned to the single white candle at the front of the sanctuary . The words "you came to us at a pivotal time. We love you- goodbye." touched the entire audience as the flame went out but the atmosphere was not at all melancholy despite the therapeutic tears shed by several congregation members who will miss him and realize that he is also leaving at a time of pivotal change. With the service concluded the fellowship moved to a plentiful vegetarian potluck luncheon and conversation turned to the future.