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"The Strangers in Our Midst", Making Connections Column from Jan 18 09 Connector
     Fri 23 Jan 2009 11:23am
Who are these strangers, and are they actually in our midst? Don’t we at First Parish of Sudbury do a good job of reaching out to help strangers—those in need in our communities and in the larger world? (I think we do a pretty good job of this.) And, aren’t we welcoming to people who come through our meetinghouse doors seeking a religious community? (I think we do a pretty good job of this, too.)
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“A stranger is just a friend I haven’t met yet.”  ~ Will Rogers
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Did you know that studies conducted in the past few years show that for every one member or friend active in a UU congregation, there are three people who identify as Unitarian Universalists who have not crossed the threshold? They claim to agree with our principles and believe in our mission, and many of them are open to being part of a congregation.

Some of these people may be true strangers, friends we haven't met yet. We are working to get the word out to people, through a variety of media, that First Parish is here and that we welcome them.

But, some of these 675,000(1) adults in the U.S. who identify broadly as UUs aren’t really strangers to us at all. They are our friends, family members, and acquaintances. They are the good folks with whom we roll up our sleeves to help those in need in our communities. They are people who are passionate about some of the same causes that many of us are—the environment, education, and civil rights, for example. And, many are seeking a religious community in which to learn and explore.

As your Community Life staffer, I urge you to invite your friends and family (of all ages) to come along with you to experience our community life. Invite them to a Sunday morning service, or to a workshop, or coffeehouse, or Tempo Time, or to build with us at the Habitat for Humanity house on March 14. Invite them to the Auction, or 4th of July grill. We look forward to meeting them!

Although sometimes it’s a stretch for us to verbally express why *We Love FPS*, it’s important for us to communicate this, one way or another, with the thousands of people who are looking for a spiritual home, who share many of our values and dreams, and who need to have us meet them—at least halfway.

Peace to you all, Fran
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(1) source: American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), 2001
 

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