For the last three Sundays we have been back in person at church. It has been wonderful to see familiar faces again and to greet people in person. And there’s been a particular gift these weeks: newcomers in person for the first time.

Now we know folks have been finding the church during the pandemic—at least google analytics lets us know that. But we haven’t had names—and certainly not faces—which has made it harder to know who those folks are. I think that’s why it has been a particular blessing to meet people in person and to hear how they have discovered the church and Unitarian Universalism during this time. If you have discovered the church in this pandemic time—welcome!

We all have “arrival” stories when it comes to the church. The referral from a friend. That sense one Sunday morning that it was actually time to check it out. That sense of “wow” and “I’ve been looking for this my whole life!” And sometimes the stories are not what we’d like. Arriving at the church only to be greeted by a rude comment. Or maybe no comment, no words of welcome at all. And particularly for those of us who carry marginalized identities those experiences can be particularly painful. The church is a very human institution and we don’t always live up to our ideals.

If you have “arrived” at the church in these last couple years, or if you have been around for a while and feel the pull to deepen your commitment, I hope you’ll consider getting more involved and maybe even joining the church. What does that mean? Mostly it is a decision to formally join the community. I like to think of it as a decision to make this your spiritual home.

The Bylaws of the church define membership and voting membership this way:

Membership defined. A member of this church is a person who considers this church the person’s place of worship, agrees to support the purpose of the church as set out in Article I, Section 2 of these Bylaws and signs the membership book.

Voting membership defined. A member who is at least 16 years of age and has, during the preceding calendar year, contributed a minimum amount established from time to time by Governing Policies is a voting member of this church.

The Board of Trustees has defined that minimum amount as a pledge that is generous within your means. The generosity of congregants through annual giving funds over two thirds of the church budget. Members and friends make what we do possible. And voting members get to vote on important decisions before the community including a vote coming up soon on who will serve as the next senior minister of the church.

When people ask when the time is right to formally join, I think that essentially it is a decision to make First Unitarian your spiritual home and your community. It is making a commitment to support the church as your are able not only through your resources but through your involvement. The mission of the church is lived out in what it is we all do together. It isn’t something you need to do immediately, but I encourage you to join once you have that sense that the time is right. People tell me that it is in joining that they do feel a deeper connection here.

In pre-pandemic times there were regular opportunities to sign up and quite a number of folks have become members during this time. But this coming Sunday after the service we are planning a special gathering to sign up. We will gather in Fuller Hall just downstairs from the Sanctuary right after service. If you have joined by the coming Monday, April 4, you will be eligible to vote on the new senior minister candidate next month as well as on candidates for the Board of Trustees, the Nominating Committee and the church’s Foundation as well as on the church budget and honoring Rev. Bill Sinkford with the title of minister emeritus.

Here is a link to the New Member packet. If you can be there on Sunday, come with this filled out. You can also send us this electronically. However you join, we welcome you.

I think we are all moving through (hopefully out of) these pandemic times with some realizations about what’s important in our lives. Being part of a community may be one of them. If you are joining us—welcome.

In the faith,

Tom