A welcoming Congregation

Although my journey to the north was fairly short, the activities, people, and memories will forever permeate my thoughts. The first adventure placed me in the Unitarian Church of Hobart, where we celebrated marriage equality.

Prior to the marriage equality event that took place in the afternoon, a church service was held in the morning about, "Standing on the side of love". My best friend, Timothy Reeves, accompanied me from Chattanooga for my duration of the trip. Having been brought up in the Catholic religion, the traditional religious views turned him away from the institution while attending college.

We both were surprised when the Reverend if the First Unitarian Church bashed the Catholic church with their views on the GLBT community as well as immigration laws. The sermon provided was more of a philosophical view on love and history rather than a sermon announcing a belief in God, or telling others what is the right way to believe. We both watched as people shared their joys and sorrows, threw balloons in the air and taught the children that adults are not always right, but adults do certain things out of love for their children.

The latter was reinforced later in the marriage equality event. The board president gave a speech on the people who attend the church. He proudly announced, that the church had Pagans, Humanists, Christians, Atheists, people with no religion, and others and that Sundays can be a whacky place with all different beliefs.

The STITCH representative in NW Indiana and my marketing director, Gail Thomas, made a brilliant statement, "Out of all religions, the common denominator is love". The Unitarian Universalist Church lives by this one code and spreads it outward into the community.

Tim and I could feel the love within the atmosphere and other visitors called the attendees of the event, "family". An outsider walking in for the first time, would feel welcomed within the halls of the church. People immediately flock to your side asking a person about themselves and making them right at home. The students various schools, who helped in the event, loved the unity of all people.

Surprisingly, Tim asked if there was an Unitarian Church in the Chattanooga area. We are planning to attend this Sunday. I can only hope this church reflects what I have come to call home with the Unitarian Church of the north. Tim wanting to attend on Sunday, shows the power of love and joy as well as acceptance toward all people. If the church as the board president said, seems to be strage with strange people, then this is my kind of church and place.