Installation and my family

Yesterday we gathered at FCCB (First Congregational Church of Bellevue — not to be confused with Bellingham) to install Tara Barber as our new minister focusing on family ministries. I met Tara in high school at Pilgrim Firs, so it was a great joy to be a part of the search committee that called Tara to our church. But I was amazed at the number of ways the installation felt like a homecoming for me.

As we sang the opening song, Jim Manley's Part of the Family, I looked up and saw Cindy Bauleke and Bobbi Virta walking up the aisle to join in the celebration and uphold Tara as a colleague as she begins her journey as our pastor. I was immediately struck by the web of family that extends out through the United Church of Christ and was brought to tears. Not only was I surrounded by my Bellevue church family who has grown very dear to me over the last 11 years, but I also felt suddenly connected to the rest of my UCC family, both present and far away. Beginning with my early memories of Pilgrim Pines with my Woodland Hills family and learning some of my still favorite songs from Jim Manley himself, to the overwhelming love and feeling of home that enveloped me seeing Cindy & Bobbi, to the comfort and pleasure of raising my voice in singing with my church family at Bellevue as we celebrated such a joyous occasion. I felt a mix of great joy and pride to be part of such an amazing extended family. There were other family members of course: I can't possibly see Dee Eisenhauer without thinking of wonderful times at N-Sid-Sen and Family Camp; Gail and Ed Crouch hold a special place in my heart with our mutual love of Yosemite, connection with Dad and the conference and now the more recent time spent (after Gail's first retirement) here in Bellevue with Gail serving as our Minister. I saw many of the conference ministers whom I've met over the years at Annual Conference, sometimes at my father's side as his daughter and sometimes representing Bellevue as a delegate, often both.

As a kid, I was always so proud to be Don McClellan's daughter. Wherever there was hearty laughter or deep fascinating conversation, there was Dad, in the middle. If there was a table having fun despite a boring meeting, or the loudest laughter during a break, joyful singing or stirring and thought provoking services — that was where I knew I'd find my father. And not only that, but I knew that everyone else knew it too. Dad has developed a wonderful reputation as a joyful person to be around, a challenging and through provoking preacher and yes, sometimes the person who will stir the pot when everyone else preferred to let things sit quietly. Who doesn't know to watch out for the very worst puns when sitting in his presence? How can a kid not be proud to follow in such footsteps? At church camp, I longed to be old enough to join the adults playing music and singing during happy hour. Dad joined along on his homemade gut bucket or earlier the autoharp, both instruments that required more enthusiasm than years of training and always allowed him to take part in the joy and celebration of the moment.

It's amazing the number of thoughts that can dance through your head during a song and the memories and connections that a single service can bring to the surface.

During the prayer, someone raised Dad's name and our family in prayer. I didn't recognize the voice and don't even know if it was someone that I know, but I certainly felt in God's care. In every way I felt part of a huge family and realized yet again how much love and support is out there as we are all dancing with Dad.

So to each and every one of you — my family: those who I've known as long as I remember being a part of church family and those of you who I've met only in the last few years, I thank you for your love and support: your support of me, of Ron & the girls and of Dad and Mom is so very valuable to me. I cherish it and I am honored to be a part of your family and look forward to all the dancing yet to come!