HOW I FOUND MISSION PEAK

The Worship Associates have asked me to share with you how or why I found Mission Peak. It's a story about looking for deliberate community, a place to belong; and kindred spirits. And it's a success story! After 3 years living in San Diego County I was moving back to the Bay Area - Fremont in particular, but not to a job and not to reunite with friends - I was not coming back to a community. 3 years earlier after moving to San Diego County to start a business I was widowed and now my family and I wanted to return to the area we knew best. We missed trees and Indian food and Chinese markets. In preparing for this move I had to own a truth about myself. I like to be alone. I'm good company even for myself but I also knew that I ran the risk of isolating myself SO, I needed a ready-made community to join. I don't remember how I knew about Unitarian Universalism but somehow I got the notion and looked up UU in Fremont and found Mission Peak. I made a commitment to myself to attend and see if these people could be my people. Now, I've never minded going out to dinner alone or to the movies on my own - I did that when I was married...but walking into an existing community. Wow, that's outside my comfort zone. December 31, 2006 the first Sunday I was back in the Bay Area and my first day at Mission Peak. I sneaked in trying my best to be unobserved.

My intention was to sit in the back, the best vantage point to observe and make a quick getaway. No such luck. Pat Rodgers' radar for new introverts found me out and greeted me with care. The service started. I was awed when Allysson McDonald led us in the Spiral Ceremony to bring in the new year with pine boughs laid on the floor and candles to signify our intent - it is a beautiful and moving ritual...and I thought, these are my people, no doubt about it. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had at Mission Peak to grow and learn. Early on I participated in a program called Building the World We Dream About and I quote "...a program that seeks to interrupt the workings of racism and transform how people from different racial / ethnic groups understand and relate to one another." This course led me into the world of social justice and reconnected me to the values and practices I witnessed in my parents and now recognized as imbedded deep within me. I have remained involved in anti-oppression work through committees at church and, inspired by this experience found a counseling training program in San Francisco where I've developed my skill as a Life Coach/Counselor. My leadership skills have grown through the committees at church and through leading a Religious Education class in one of my favorite creative activities: beading. I'm developing a completely different class now - I'm excited. I've built some very powerful friendships through Mission Peak that nurture and support my whole life. Mission Peak is a Whole Life Experience. I'm really happy to be here.