KAREN PASSES THE BATON TO CARA

“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in very much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in very much.” As we studied that verse at our Bible Study of Luke last Wednesday, my thoughts naturally turned toward Karen Hansen, her 18 years of faithful service to FCC, Darien, and her quiet but essential role as our Treasurer. As I watched Karen’s dedication to getting the details right, it inspired trust and confidence in the veracity of our big picture here.

Church budgets are not as monied as large corporations, but maybe as complex. Karen would fuss and devote herself to the tiniest of accounts that didn’t add up. I could hardly dissuade her to let it go and move on. What I mean by that is none of us will ever know the extent to which Karen has shown real love to us through her tireless and devoted attention to getting the smallest details here just right. We have never had to doubt our accounts were safe in such trustworthy hands.

What’s more is, we’ve been Karen’s home church, her spiritual home, even as she had to learn that worshiping here as staff and sitting in the pews doesn’t always work so well. Karen knows us in ways much deeper than numbers. Her feel for our history and our families has been key to her performing so well for us.

Karen has been loyal and true.  She has been a great partner on our staff team as our friend and coworker. She has been beyond reproach in the honesty and integrity of her service to us. She has always inspired confidence. And Karen’s concern for our best interests, including respecting your privacy, was paramount. Our farewell Eleventh Hour for Karen is on Sunday, March 17. Celebrate with us!

As of March 1, Cara Blatney begins as our FCC Treasurer. The two women will briefly overlap as Cara looks over Karen’s shoulder to apprentice into the job. Interestingly, Karen had Cara’s child Lauren in her kindergarten duties years ago.

I recently got to know Cara over coffee. She grew up in Garden City, Long Island. She has lived in Darien for 20 years. Her four children graduated from the FCC Nursery School. Cara comes to FCC with a solid corporate background, and as a trained CPA. Cara attended college at Holy Cross where she loved running track.

Cara’s bright countenance differs from the somber image of CPA wearing a visor. In recent years, she has been busy raising her four children, Burke (at Bucknell), Kerry (at Penn), and twins Ryan and Lauren, sophomores here at Darien High. So much of her life has revolved around their lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer.

Husband Steve commutes to Manhattan, working in investment and finance. And their church background is St. Thomas More, here in Darien. Beloved Chocolate Lab Duke and Pekinese Daisy help complete the image of Blatney home picture.

Cara is beginning a new stage in her life of getting back out there to use her gifts, after a wonderful run of creating a nurturing environment and raising her children. Do yourself a favor, stop by, say hello to Cara as we welcome our new treasurer.

-Rev. Dale Rosenberger