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Stewardship: a Bridge to Belonging

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The message of inclusiveness [is] central in this spiritual community of diverse thinkers and believers.  [Yet] I can partake only as much as I am willing to give of myself – of my love, of my time, of my skills, of my resources. -- Carol Gregory


 How wonderfully unexpected! My experience here at First Unitarian during the last four years has been just that – wonderful and unexpected. Sitting in the pew with Wendy during the first service I attended, I had to keep reminding myself I wasn’t attending a great concert listening to gifted musicians and vocalists in a magnificent venue. Enchanting as that experience was, I didn’t expect the music to draw me in so powerfully and so often.


I began attending our church during a transition. When The Reverend Tom Shade moved on, both The Reverend Tracey Robinson-Harris and The Reverend Gary Kowalski helped us rise to the challenging work of refocusing ourselves to call M12, The Reverend Sarah Stewart, to be our minister. What a wonderful time for me to become acquainted with who we are. Even in the struggle to speak from a place of love when people didn’t necessarily agree with a decision and even when the work yet to do looked larger than the group’s ability to get it done, the message of inclusiveness remained central in this spiritual community of diverse thinkers and believers. I could find a spiritual message playing out almost everywhere I looked. I didn’t expect that spiritual experience to stay with me so well or bring me back so often. I didn’t expect the people of this community to be so welcoming and inclusive while struggling to navigate such a substantial change.
Maybe you’re like me.  The music drew you in. The message brought you back.  The community welcomed you and invited you to stay.  I’m now part of this community, this gana, in both my heart and soul.  You are my spiritual family, and I welcome my role as a part of you.  As with my family of origin, I know I can partake of my life only as much as I am willing to give of myself – of my love, of my time, of my skills, of my resources.  Partnering with longer-term members and our new minister on the Mission and Values Committee, becoming a member of the Stewardship Committee, learning to play bridge with the sisters of the church, speaking with a young person I’m just getting to know, adding to the brunch options after the service, and fulfilling my annual pledge have become both welcome opportunities and welcome responsibilities. My experience at First Unitarian has truly been wonderful and unexpected. For me, these acts of stewardship are the price I gladly pay to realize my place in this spiritual community.
Carol Gregory

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