Big Day

~ MaryG

After many years of saying no, I agreed to serve on the Executive Team of my church for this fiscal year (summer 24-summer 25). Typically, it’s a three year term, but I’m filling the final year of a term that was vacated by a gentleman who sadly became sick and died.

I didn’t really want to do this heavy lift of a volunteer role, but I had run out of good excuses to say no. (I’m not working and my kids are grown.) Plus, I only had to commit to ONE year (not the usual three).

I gotta say…I am good at leadership. I believe I have significant skills in this area. I have received a lot of positive feedback from the congregation and other members of the Executive Team. So that’s been nice, but the long meetings and endless emailing have led me to conclude that if I’m going to do this type of work-work, I should get paid. I should seek out a role for which I’d start getting paid again for my skills. I’m too young to fully retire. I want to limit my church volunteer roles to the fun stuff (ie singing in the choir, circle dance, helping organize the jewelry booth at the country fair).

One thing I did on the Executive Team this year is project management. We got a donation to create a “memorial garden” — a contemplative outdoor space where people can go to reflect. We set a goal of March 16 to dedicate the space (in honor of the donor’s late wife’s birthday) and by George—it is happening today!

Later this morning, after the service, we will gather on the side lawn of the church to dedicate our new space and dramatically unveil the new stone monument at its center. The weather is going to be warm (for Massachusetts) and people are excited. The donor’s extended family and the artist who created the monument will be joining us.

Here’s a group of us in front of the 1.2 ton stone monument, which got installed in the nick of time on Thursday.

I have made lemon squares from scratch for the reception afterwards because it’s a Big Day. (And Big Days require something a bit more special than brownies from a box.)

I taste tested my lemon squares last night and they’re good.
Recipe

12 thoughts on “Big Day”

  1. The nice thing about filing in for the deceased gentlemen is that it is only for one year. It will give you a chance to decide if it’s something you want to do again (but it sounds like your already thinking “no”)

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  2. Congrats on getting the job done. What a beautiful project! I, too, have volunteered for an all-consuming project, a library expansion that more than doubled the size of our library. Lots of bumps in the road getting there but my oh my how wonderful it is to have that expansion. It not only improved the library but also the town. However, when the project was done, I stepped down from being a trustee. Phew! Burnt out. Still, glad I worked on the project.

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  3. They are lucky to tap into your skills, Mary. But it does sound like a lot of work. I’m with you. I’d like to volunteer my time with something that doesn’t feel like a jay-oh-bee. I’m so glad there are others out there that have differing opinions. We need those types of people for the heavy lifting.

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  5. Lemon bars! MMM

    Congratulations on your accomplishment, and it will be interesting to see what you ultimately find to do with your skills, talents and energy! A few times in life, I took on more responsibility within contexts that were my outlets, and it changed them for me, so I understand why you are wisely drawing lines.

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    1. Exactly! That’s what I want to avoid. I love my church and I don’t want this role to end up changing how I feel about it. (We’ve had some past members leave the church entirely after serving in governance roles.)

      The lemon bars were a hit! 😀🍋

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      1. I’ve seen the pattern too many times. Someone who loves their church and emanates joy is important to be there, too. It’s what I want to feel if I (incredibly rarely) go into a church. 🙂

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