How long have you been a member of Unity in Edinboro?
Connie and I started coming to Unity in 2004. We were traveling through Edinboro on our way to the folk festival in Cambridge Springs. Since we had both gone to school at Edinboro University, we thought it would be nice to travel through town again and drive past the university. On driving by the church, I said to Connie: “Look, we should go there some time.” Connie told me she had attended services at the church once or twice, while in college, with Cindy Walk. Well, when we get to the festival, who should we run into but Cindy Walk! Then, we bumped into Cindy a few weeks later at a bookstore. That was enough – the Sunday after that, we decided to go to the church. And we were hooked from day one.
Please share some of the activities and efforts you have been involved with during that time?
Marilyn Boniger and Joanne started the chaplain program at the church, and I was one of a group of six who went through that first training in 2006. I wanted to be of service, and do things for our church, and this seemed like it was an ideal opportunity. But it was something I had to grow into. I felt
awkward praying with people at first. As time went on, I grew more and more comfortable with it. I love being a chaplain.
Joanne has also asked me, at times, to lead Sunday services. Those times have been very special to me. I have also served on the board of directors, where I am now in my second term. This, too, is a great opportunity to serve the church. I would encourage everybody to think about taking an active role as a board member and standing for election. We need good people to help guide us in the months and years ahead.
I have also written a lot for our church newsletter – chaplain and board columns, and special columns Connie and I wrote from India. I compare those India columns with other things that I have done at the church, such as leading in worship, where you have to really think of what you believe and then express it to others in a way they can understand. All this writing has given me a chance to do that. Also, writing from India, and knowing it was going to be read by people back home, kept me connected to home and to our church. It shows the connection we have with people.
What keeps you coming back to Unity in Edinboro every week?
That first week, Joanne gave the message and we really liked it. The next week, John Brown spoke, and we liked that, too. We just kept coming back. I had been exposed to many different religious traditions and tried many different services as an adult – from United Methodist, to Quaker, to Mennonite. I found a little of all those in Unity, and everything else I wanted.
The very first thing I noticed was the openness and friendliness of the church – it had a warm feeling. I liked what I heard, too, especially about seeking God within yourself and finding that spark of God inside you.
What are some of the things you learned at Unity in the time that you have been coming to our church?
One of the first classes I took from Joanne was about “keys to the kingdom” and it was a fantastic class. After that, I took separate classes from Joanne based on the teachings of H. Emilie Cady and Charles Fillmore, and those were also great classes. This inspired me to continue my education at Unity Village in Missouri. There, I took a series of classes for five days, from 9 to 5 every day. I have to admit, after that first morning of classes, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. It was overwhelming. But, by the end of the week I was more comfortable and learned a lot about Unity, about the Christ Consciousness, and about myself.
What would like to say about our church to fellow members and friends of Unity?
I mention the connection we all have, and Unity gives us a chance to practice that connection – practice it in a safe and loving environment. At Unity, we believe the congregation is the body of Christ – the Christ Consciousness personified. When I am worship assistant – which is another
volunteer area I’m involved with – and I look out into the congregation, I can feel that connection, literally feel it.
Tell us about yourself: your family, hobbies and interests, community
activities, etc.?
My wife, Connie, and I were married in the church on Easter Sunday 2007. We are both teachers, and I am retired. Connie and I met at the Full Spectrum School for Healing and Self Transformation in Meadville in 2002, and we are still involved with the school and in taking classes. The ideas we have learned there are very similar to what we learn, and do, at Unity. The experience at one place reinforces the other in our lives.
As I mentioned, we recently spent 12 months throughout 2008 and 2009 in India, teaching at the Trio School in Bangalore. We both fell in love with the country and its people. Living and working there was a terrific experience. We certainly took ourselves outside our comfort zone in going there, but it turned out to be a great blessing in our lives.
