Testimonials for MVUC
Statements by members of Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, September & October 2010.MARLENE CHURCHILL
I love this church—great building, beautiful grounds, wonderful people, excellent pastor, services, and great music--but there is one more reason for me: freedom to worship—truly in Thomas Jefferson style.
Not to bore you with details--In childhood, I was well indoctrinated in my protestant church’s teachings. But in my teenage years, it all began to unravel. I developed serious doubts about the infallibility of the bible. I had questions about faith issues and no satisfactory answers. It was a painful time. I sought answers by attending other churches and reading about other faiths. I began to think for myself and very slowly, I built a belief system that aligned with my experiences of what life and spirituality were about. But, I knew of no church whose creed matched what I thought.
I was on this path when I first attended MVUC about 18 years ago. I was intrigued about the idea of no creed. How could a church exist without a creed? . And to be honest, I was set back when the children's choir sang "When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbing Along." Hmm, I thought, maybe my search has gone astray, or maybe they’re nature worshippers?
But when we read the covenant, everything cleared up and I was electrified. The first three lines said it all: Love is the teaching of this church; the quest for truth is our daily task; and service is our prayer. Wow! I was stunned! These words aligned with my beliefs, and were stated so simply and eloquently. I knew then I had found my home and true religious freedom—freedom to be me and to continue my personal search for truth and meaning. Now, I revel in the fun side of our diversity and community; it’s quite all right to have “bobbing robins” along with our solemn and reverent moments.
In a stewardship meeting a few weeks ago, Al Robbert said that he supported this church because he wants it to be here for other people—beautifully said. I completely agree with him. Also, I am delighted to be a member of this congregation that welcomes all peoples, regardless of their religious beliefs, skin color, or sexual preference. Further, I think there are many people who are UU’s and don’t know it yet, and I want them to find this church as I did.
CHERYL SABO
When I joined MVUC, I wanted a place to give back to our world, a place to celebrate life and love with others. I found it: MVUC has an amazing Religious Education program, interesting sermons, fascinating people, and lovely rituals. The first service I attended was a Winter Solstice six years ago this December in which the themes of light and hope were explored through movement, chanting, readings and silence. It was the sort of worship experience I had not known was available to me…. and I loved it!
I became quite involved: teaching in the RE program, sharing my love of music and dance in services and special events, helping cook, and making good on my financial commitments. I enjoyed attending services, loved the RE program and felt at home. Pretty soon, however, I felt I needed something more. I wanted to connect on a more spiritual level.
I found connection in a small group of people – the Contemplative Group. The power of ritual, readings, chant and silence in our meetings gave me the quiet energy I craved. Finding a small community within our larger community was a fabulous opening for me in my spiritual life here at MVUC.
But lately I’ve been struggling again. As my children grow and their needs change, so too does my experience, especially as a parent whose partner likes the idea of MVUC but prefers the rare solitude of our empty house on Sunday mornings. Advice came in the strangest form: several weeks ago I attended a dance and yoga workshop. In my class was a young, hip nun. She commented one day that “when something gets difficult it means the time has come to delve in more deeply, peeling away layers to reveal the next level.” She wasn’t specifically talking about my UU experience, but this rang true for me.
I’ve decided to delve in more deeply. As part of my commitment, I am finding a way to make recharging myself a priority. I am planning to keep playing flute, dancing, and teaching. I have revisited my financial pledge to Mount Vernon Unitarian Church and decided to increase my contribution as a way of saying yes, MVUC is an important place: full of inspiration, respect, love, compassion, support, direction, and space for growth.
JAY HOLMES
As many of you know, Bea and I have been around here for quite a while, and we have been pleased almost every moment of it. We were a mixed couple, born and raised in different boroughs of New York City. She was Jewish from the Bronx, I was a Presbyterian from Queens, where we met at college.
We were married by a justice of the peace in Westchester County, and followed my jobs in three places in upstate New York. After searching, in 1955 we found a religion that we liked, in the Albany Unitarian Church. Two moves later a job took us to the national capital area. We checked out several Unitarian churches for social action before finding one at the top of a hill, reached only on a long winding driveway through a dense oak forest. Our six-year-old son said, "I like the trees," and we did too. Turned out we also liked the people. They were vigorous and socially very active, and we bought a house in Hollin Hills a few months later.
All four of our children were devoted to walking through the woods - some of which later became streets - for their fun and social lives. We walked too and were involved in almost everything that went on here. Bea did social action and poetry; I was in social action and the choir.
In August 1953, MVUC hired a bus to carry about 50 of us to the All Souls’ Church, where we joined about 1,000 Unitarians from all over and marched about a mile down to the Mall. One of us was a brand-new student minister named John Wells. We joined one of the biggest demonstrations in Washington’s history. Bea and I and our 10-year-old son John and others sat on grass near the Lincoln Memorial and heard Martin Luther King Jr. tell us to judge people not by the color of their skins but by the content of their characters. That evening, President Kennedy invited him to the White House for dinner. They were a great pair.
More recently, we were involved in the newsletter. Two of our daughters were married in the field behind me. We had a big party in the Mansion for the third when she and her husband came here from a hilltop wedding in Rome. And we said goodbye to Bea in this room last January. Well, maybe goodbye isn’t the right word. She’s still here, down that hillside. When my turn comes, I’ll be down there too. But I’m in no hurry. I hope all of you can be as lucky as me.
JOAN DARRAH
My partner, Lynne Kennedy, and I joined MVUC five years ago this week. Now I am Chair of the Board of Trustees and we recently decided to become "fair share givers." The reality is that we certainly get more out of our relationship with MVUC than we give.
We are delighted to be surrounded by so many people who are trying to make the world a better place. Whether it is spending time together as chaperones during the winter months so some homeless people may get in out of the cold, marching to the White House or the mall demanding repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and equality for all, or spending Sunday morning at Church, we are very pleased to be with you.
Of course, as an added bonus, we are thrilled and appreciative that you accept us as a gay couple. We know for sure that our lives would be greatly diminished without MVUC. We are pleased and proud to call MVUC our Church.
ANNE ULM
I became a UU 58 years ago when my mother took us to the Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington. My father was dying of brain cancer; I am sure she was reaching out for help for us. I grew up in the RE program of the day which taught much about life, other peoples, other religions, etc. We were taught to think and make our own decisions. I respect and appreciate Unitarian Universalism for allowing our children to grown and learn. It has given me the right to think, act, and react in a positive way in relationship to the rest of the world.
And then there is MVUC. I married my husband, Sam, in 1987 and I went to the Presbyterian church with him and the boys for many years. I did, and still do, most of my work in social responsibility through the church, and Sam is an active deacon there. After the boys grew, Sam said, “Well, we need to go find a UU church for you to join.” We decided to go to all of the local churches until we found one that we liked. Our first trip was to MVUC. I walked into the door and met (of course)…Sandy Peterson. She was welcoming and charming and made sure that we talked to people. Thank you, Sandy. I joined MVUC 15 years ago next month. I must say that of all the UU churches I have been involved with … this is the best. This is a church with much depth, many types of people, great caring and much community.
PATRICK BOSSMAN
My wife Darbi and I have been coming to MVUC since 2002. We have two daughters and they've obviously been coming since they were born.
When we first came to MVUC, I remember Sandy Peterson finding us, talking with us, and telling us, "You're welcome here." We felt welcome then, and we still feel welcome now, so we kept on coming back! A big reason I feel welcome is MVUC gives you the space and support to explore your own spiritual path without requiring that you believe the unbelievable. You're not required to check your critical reasoning at the door.
Another reason we're proud of MVUC is that MVUC lives its values. Joan Darrah mentioned a few weeks ago how happy she was that MVUC accepted her and her partner Lynne. Joan lived under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and had to hide her sexual orientation for over several decades. She suffered an injustice, and now she's working to overturn the DADT policy. She's more than accepted; she's a living example of the values of this church -- and people like her are a reason to attend.
Joan is welcome here, I'm welcome here, you're welcome here.