If you saw my husband’s Story Corps video on May 19th, you already have a lovely introduction to my family. I started attending UCG in 2010 while I was in my masters program in occupational therapy. I joined in 2011. I was raised Catholic (for a few years) and my attendance at Mass usually revolved around visits from my beloved grandmother. She was always so proud to introduce me to others, and teach me the prayers and gestures. For me, those services were the “warm and fuzzy” times of my faith.
Later, in high school my family joined a non-denominational, evangelical church. I held a lot of ideas and beliefs back then that were damaging to me and to others. When I came to UCG, I instantly recognized a familiar sense of liturgy – the hymns, the congregational responses, the predictable rhythm of a service (even if it was also different every Sunday!). I also found a place that helped me truly believe faith isn’t about having all the answers and supported me on my faith journey, then and now.
As a fun bonus, I also connected with my future husband over our UCG membership, met my stepdaughter in the back left of the sanctuary, got married in the chapel, celebrated in the west wing, celebrated the adoption of our son and baptized our children on the stage, and recently saw one of my “babies” get confirmed. It’s not an exaggeration to say almost my whole adult life is wrapped up in UCG. I know that’s true for so many of you as well. UCG is a special place.
Even special places sometimes go through rough patches. Almost all the moments of meaningful growth in my life have come in times where I was forced to hold space for paradoxes – love and anger, joy and grief, connection and separation. For me, this moment feels like one of those paradoxes – hope and fear stand out to me but your words might be different. It is my hope that we will emerge from this rough patch having grown meaningfully as a community and as individuals. I fear that I won’t live up to what feels like a monumental task but you all have been so encouraging already!
As we move through this summer of renewal and discernment, please stay tuned to your emails, stop by the “Ask the Leadership” table, and note any announcements in your bulletin. We will do our best to communicate important information through multiple channels in hopes we catch most folks. Keep each other in the loop – if you’re traveling, ask a friend to alert you to any important messages that you might have missed. We’re also exploring other ways to stay connected (old school bulletin board, anyone?)
I’ll be traveling to the UK for two weeks to (hopefully) catch the birth of my niece. Will you say a prayer she stays put until June 22nd but makes her grand entrance before July 5th? I’ll still have access to my email but my communications might be slower in that time frame.
I look forward to holding this paradox with you this year.
Lindsey Telg