To Our Dear Sacred Center Family and Friends,

It has been an outrageously wonderful journey with SCNY since 9/9/01. We have grown deeper in unimaginable ways because we were privileged enough to found and lead this beloved Church.

So when the still, small voice came through us recently with the guidance that our work here is complete, Rev Carol and I were saddened, but not entirely surprised. The truth is, we were asked to found this Church, not asked to build it into the organization it was meant to become. For that task, builders were needed—and last year the Church builders arrived and have been building ever since.

The wisdom Rev Carol and I received was clear: Life is calling us to bring the Message outside the Church walls—a vision that we’ve felt tugging at our Soul for several years now—to carry this Message beyond Church, out in the world.  Why now? Now the Church is ready, and now we are ready. And while we love being at SCNY, we know that not following the promptings of the Divine is never a good idea…we know better than to say “No! ”  to Spirit.

So, at the end of the day Sunday, April 4th, Rev Carol and I will lovingly and gratefully resign our positions. She will step down from her role as Director of the Music Ministry, and I will step down from my role as Spiritual Director and Senior Minister of SCNY.  We have spent time with the Board since February working together towards the smooth and graceful transition in leadership at the Church.

Easter, a time of renewal and new birth, falls on the first Sunday of April. As SCNY undergoes its new birth, we are gratified to announce that our own Rev Elease Welch will be serving as Senior Minister and Spiritual Director for the Church. She is a seasoned and valued teacher, minister and leader at SCNY and we know that the Church will be in good hands. Tony George, who has passionately led our SCNY gospel choir, will be stepping in as Musical Director. Our core of leaders and volunteers will continue to create a strong foundation for the Church so that it continues to grow and thrive. Rev Carol and I trust that we’ll be crossing paths with SCNY in the future as Spirit leads us.

We thank all of you who have walked this path with us as colleagues, friends, stewards, volunteers, students, congregants—teachers and angels, one and all! You have taught us hundreds of lessons, and given us thousands of blessings. There are no words rich enough to express the depth of feelings we have in our hearts for you. Know that Rev Carol and I will be doing what we’ve always been doing: living, teaching and singing the Message in order to uplift ourselves and inspire others. For now, I’ll be giving transformational talks at the Concert Hall at the New York Society for Ethical Culture at 64th and Central Park West on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:00pm. We so look forward to seeing you there.

The doors of SCNY have always been open to everyone; may the Church flourish and continue to be a healing presence in your life and in the lives of many for years to come.

With love and thanksgiving, we remain,

Sincerely,

 

Revs August & Carol