To The People of First Congregational Church
When I Went There
When I lived in Phoenix, I was shopping around for a church and had narrowed it down to two. One was down the street, a non denominational Christian church that played contemporary praise and worship music. People were of various races and backgrounds, many still young from 20s to 50s with families. My other choice was a lovely white historical church downtown with a tall spire of the UCC faith. It looked straight out of New England. This church sang traditional hymns, had an outstanding choir, and had one of those organs with giant pipes. Unlike the contemporary church, the people of this medium-sized congregation were homogeneous in that the majority of the members were retired seniors, and many of them even elderly. They were also mostly white with higher education, and some came from old money. Both churches made me feel welcomed. Both had good pastors with good ministries but I was drawn to the tradition of the UCC church and its beautiful old sanctuary. The people there also seemed to show so much interest in me and were just so kind. I was in my early thirties at the time. One Sunday in the pews I looked around at all the aging people and I realized that if young people like me didn't start coming, this church and its loveliness would die out. So I stayed.
It was probably one of the best decisions I ever made in life. These people who were many years my senior turned out to be a wonderful support to me and all were embracing. Any time I would be hospitalized, I received notes, cards, and visits. My pastor made sure to see me anytime I was in the hospital unless of course he was out of town. My friend Heather and her husband joined the church. They, like me, were young and she and I became instantly close and we both bonded with all the older women. So we did things like attend luncheons, throw tea parties, and I even came up with events like holding poetry readings and seeing independent films. And boy these members could throw a party! Every Christmas we had a party with a vicious gift giving and stealing game and there would be plenty of alcohol and food. Up until then, I had never gone to a church related party where they served alcohol, but these people knew how to have a good time. It was just so interesting to hear the stories of their lives, families, travels, and what life was like before I was born. They were so refined and such decent people. One lady named, Evelyn, was a retired high school principal. She adored me and I adored her. I always got a kick out of being friends with a retired principle and having her over for lunch at my home when I had been such a wayward student in high school and some of my teachers didn't like me. Then there was Beverly who was a retired therapist of some sort with a Masters degree who was so dignified that she sort of reminded me of the queen of England. She always dressed up and didn't believe in wearing jeans. I wore jeans all the time. But she and I turned out to be very close and was one of my biggest supports when I was going through my divorce. I remember the first time she told me she loved me. She tended to stutter, but said it firmly and I was so moved by her words. I knew she didn't just lavish those words on just anyone.
Oh how I loved this church and its members. Some of them have died or are living in nursing homes and I haven't seen them in a few years, and highly doubt I'll ever see them again. But they'll remain in my heart forever and I'm so glad that day I looked around, that I decided to stay while I lived in Phoenix; and that I was open enough to befriend people much older than me and from a different breeding than me. They taught me so much. People don't have to be the same to appreciate and love one another.
Olivia McGuire
No comments:
Post a Comment