Today’s service involved reflections from 3 of 20 people who spent the week of April 18 in New Orleans repairing a home. You would think they didn’t need volunteers any more, but we got more of the scoop lately. The poorest of the poor got some sort of help immediately after Katrina hit. Then they were swindled by contractors who did shoddy work and disappeared. So now, the volunteers are rebuilding after shoddy work caused their places to fall apart again.

Our team stays at an Episcopal church, 15 to a room in five triple bunk beds. They work all day under the supervision of Americorps volunteers. Someone at the church feeds them in the evenings and they sing and dance. And work really hard. The couple who raised their family in the house they were working on were both in wheelchairs so our team has learned to install ramps.

Always inspiring to listen to the volunteers tell about their week. But there was a huge amount of sadness hanging over us from some recent deaths in the congregation. When we reached the part of our service, before the closing prayer, where the minister reads the congregations’ joys and concerns, most of us just started to cry without anything being read.

On the first NOLA trip, 10 years ago, a newer family to our congregation went along to work. The family consisted of a mom and her twin teenage daughters. Their dad had died of cancer when they were 9. Nice little trio. Before the girls were out of high school, their mom developed cancer. She has been fighting it all these years. She died last night. Also, the owner of the finest 94 year old smile one could ever wish to see died on Friday. She came to church every Sunday, MaryBeth picked her up from her nursing home and we all enjoyed her radiant smile and great outlook on life.

Music for the service had been all NOLA related. The choir sang a rousing version of “When the Saints.” The prelude was “House of the Rising Sun.” The offertory, “Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans.” Postlude was supposed to be “Iko Iko.” It comes shortly after joys and concerns. Music director Steve made a last minute switch to “Yesterday” instead. We used up a lot of tissues.

Once again, the service I would like to experience. Thank you. I am sorry for the loss of these wonderful people. The sharing with others helps.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/2016 01:31PM by bordergirl.

Our family has been attending First Parish since 1997. Sometimes with more or less regularity. Prior to First Parish we attended a UU church in Harrisburg, PA.

Drdad and I were talking about things that we miss about mormonism. 1988 was the last time we were anything like "active" and even then we had stopped believing. The sense of common purpose that is present in a mormon ward is something we have never found elsewhere. In a way we miss it, in a way not at all as the common purpose was to keep a fraud alive and growing.

Our UU congregations rely on a democratic process and making sure everyone is heard. Divergent views are acknowledged and discussed. This means it takes FOREVER to get anything done.

We know that our First Parish community will organize meals if we are ill or having a tough time. Rides to church will be organized. This is all accomplished by people who sign up to be part of the meal or ride providers. No one is "called." Some of us definitely feel a sense of "calling" about that for which we volunteer, but no external source "called" us.

Except that sometimes one of the paid staff or another volunteer may say, "I know you are really good at X, could you do X for the church?" At which point you are completely free to say "no."

Anyway, there is not that all consuming sense of purpose that you find among mormons. And it can be really tough to gather volunteers. But it is a spiritual home. Thanks for the opportunity to discuss it in this forum.