Letter from Florence

Florence Caplow was the Minister of Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist from 2015-2016. She wrote with an update of how she is doing and what’s going on! Read below:

Dear beloved beautiful people of TRUU – I’m writing with my greetings and blessings at the beginning of your church year. Just last Sunday I was talking about TRUU from the pulpit, here in the flatlands of Illinois. Were your ears burning? I was reflecting on your generosity in ordaining me in that beautiful ceremony, a year-and-a-half-ago, and how that connects us, wherever we all go. Not to mention the way you taught me to love snow and skiing! I imagine that many of you heard through the grapevine that I left Port Townsend. It was a hard, sad year, and my mother Harriet McNeal, who came out to the Roaring Fork Valley for my ordination, had a number of very scary health issues. I decided that I needed to be closer to her at this time in her life, and by a small miracle, there was a UU church in central Illinois looking for a settled minister this year. This all goes to show that life has no end of curve balls it can throw your way. I certainly couldn’t have predicted this one.

So now I am living in Urbana, Illinois, in an old neighborhood with big shade trees It’s strange to be away from the mountains and waters of the west, but I have summers, and maybe a winter ski trip, to look toward each year, and the people here are wonderful, as UUs generally are. My mother is over the moon, having me close enough to hear me preach regularly. I miss you all (never think that your minister doesn’t miss you after they leave!) and send all my blessings to each one of you. I am so happy that you have a minister who loves your valley as much as you do, and who is so passionate and engaged on justice issues. With all my best,  – Florence