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This Community Surrounds My Life

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I am always inspired and touched by the efforts to build a better world.

Seth Popinchalk, Vice-Moderator
Last week Scott Hayman told me about a 5K road race to benefit Abby’s house. Abby’s House is a family shelter for women and children and provides them with “a safe place to stay, regroup, and rebuild.” I am in fair shape, so when I woke up Saturday morning I laced up my shoes and drove out to West Boylston to find the starting line.
I found Scott and Maddie at the registration area. I also ran into a handful of other familiar First U members wearing race bibs and supporting the event.
There was no plan among members to connect with our First Unitarian community this Saturday morning, but we found each other among the crowd of about 300. I was reminded that I am surrounded by our special community.

What brings us together?
We are a community because we choose to be one. We find a connection with something the church offers: the Sunday services, the sermons, the holiday celebrations, the excellent music, the faith development programming, religious education, and of course community.
What I value most is the connection with other people engaged in the world.
I am always inspired by the engagement of members of First U with the world around them, and I am touched by the efforts to build a better world for all. On Saturday morning our common cause was Abby’s House.
During our stewardship campaign we share the cause of supporting this community.
I pledge to our church because I want to support this community that is around me. I don’t want to live in an anonymous world, just driving from place to place, insulated from human interaction. I love to feel the connection with Worcester. When I run into other First U’s in Worcester it makes my world smaller and more personal.

The finish is in sight!
Our Stewardship Campaign race is nearing the finish. We will complete our campaign on November 24th and celebrate all our gifts with with a luncheon following the service. I hope you will generously contribute to our great community so we can continue to find our connections and support each other in the coming year.
Pictures of the Old Stone Church and finish line by Scott Hayman

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