 | I first attended this church when it was meeting twice a month at the Italian Oven. Bob Franke was the minister. Between Bob’s warmth and Laura McBride’s goofiness, I knew I would be coming back. When obligations from my job, my children’s’ activities, and my mother’s illness demanded more of me, I attended less and less. I really missed going. It took almost 40 years before I could enjoy the empty nest syndrome, and I do mean “enjoy”. Much to the chagrin of my kids, I made a pledge to myself to start doing things for me. The first thing I did was to come back to this fellowship. I was brought up in a traditional faith, and I struggled with much of the dogma. One thing I especially had a hard time with was the idea that the Bible was the absolute truth. To quote Jack Kennedy, “Too often, we hold fast to the clichés of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” With the Principles of the Unitarian Universalists, I don’t have that struggle. I don’t have to question what our church believes because it is what I believe in: the inherent worth of all human beings, the free and responsible search for truth, and fighting for justice. What resonates strongly with me is our mission statement “Fueled by love, transforming our lives and our world.” The members of this church have given me so much. It is a community of acceptance and openness. I know of no other place that offers this. In 1986, I moved back to Mt. Pleasant, but never really felt I belonged. It has been here and from you that I have a sense of belonging. Coming here gave me the opportunity to join groups such as the Wednesday Discussion Group, the Readers’ Theatre, the First Friday of the Month Potlucks and the Religious Education planning committee. I cannot imagine not having this fellowship in my life. That is why it is important to me to give of my time and financial resources to support it generously. |
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Stewardship
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