With so many new people visiting and joining the congregation I’ve found myself wondering how many are like me, having almost no prior history of being in a spiritual community. I’ve gotten a lot out of UUCP during my short time here, and I thought I might share my own experience, in case it resonates with anyone who is new but might still be on the fence.
The bulk of my family growing up was nominally Christian, the we-stay-at-home-on-Sundays-and-don’t-read-the-bible variety. I would get dragged to the occasional evangelical service with my grandmother, but over time I drifted away from that into a sort of passive agnosticism. Things stayed that way until I was widowed in 2019, and I wasn’t prepared to deal with my loss. I had few friends and was distant from my family, and I was a mess for a long time. My journey to find meaning in my life again is a different story, but a big part of it was that after spending years admiring Unitarian Universalism from afar, I worked up the courage to walk alone into UUCP’s sanctuary one Sunday last year, and I believe it changed me for the better.
Nothing changed that first day, of course. I was nervous, overwhelmed by this big step out of my comfort zone, and I skittered out of service the moment it ended. I kept coming back though, and got a little more comfortable each time I did. Everyone I’ve met here is kind, and there were several people who went out of their way to help me feel welcome; they hold a special place in my heart. I started attending coffee hours, and from there joined congregational committees, and just recently I was thrilled to become a member of the congregation.
I’ve noticed myself changing in pace with these escalations of participation. I’m more outgoing than I used to be, more secure in my own beliefs and more outspoken about our values. I’ve been to services that have brought me to tears (in a good way!), and I feel I’m a more open person than I used to be. For what may be the first time in my life I feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself instead of navigating this world alone. We tell first-timers to come back again because each Sunday is a little different, and to that I would add that the effects of community are sometimes subtle, but they’re also transformational if you give them time to grow.
~ Chris King
Editor’s Note:
Our regularly scheduled column, Notes From Your Dance Partner, will be on pause during Reverend Christine’s sabbatical. In its place, we’re excited to have a series of guest speakers who will be sharing their experiences at UUCP. NFYDP will return in August.