Friends,

Happy summer season!  As you all know, Dick and I have been serving the Church of the Beatitudes UCC as interim co-pastors for the past two years as their congregation engaged in a pastoral search.  I am pleased to announce that they have called  Rev. James Bowman Harris to serve as their new pastor, and his official start date is September 1!  We are very excited for the CoB, which has a long and rich history, to begin this new chapter.  Our prayers are with the new pastor and the congregation as they move into a vibrant future together.  You can read all about Rev. James Bowman Harris here: https://www.jamesbowmanharris.com.

I also want to thank all of you for allowing us to “two-time” you for this while, though I say this tongue-in-cheek because I believe that all of you who worshiped at the CoB over these past three summers were as blessed as Dick and I have been in getting to know our parent congregation better.  Without this opportunity, we would not have met the wonderful Ida Saucedo, our new office administrator, who also works in a similar capacity at CoB.  Yes, CoB is our parent church, and I invite you to read the history of CCOV on our website here: https://myccov.com/about/our-beginning/, and you will see how CoB and CCOV are intimately connected—starting in 1987.  

In fact, the CoB planted more than CCOV in its heyday.  It has been an extra special honor and privilege for me to serve at CoB, because the congregation also planted the Beatitudes Campus Senior Living Community.  I received my call to the ordained ministry to serve as a chaplain at the Campus back in 2007, so I am forever grateful to CoB for all it has made possible for me in order to live out God’s calling on my life.  

While I lament the approaching end of my time at CoB, I am excited to sail into the next busy season at CCOV with extra time on my hands.  Let’s all brainstorm together how much more good we can do for God’s kingdom! 

Stay Cool!

Sandi