Since the end of January I have been attending a new church, Almaden Hills United Methodist Church. It’s been amazing at attending a church with a strong active faith demonstrated both in terms of community building and volunteerism.
This morning’s service included the hymn “Lord of the Dance” and the pastor had many members pulled into dancing around the church. I was one of those selected and took a few pics as well of which this was my favorite.
The words to the song were so beautiful including the last part which I got a picture of as well.
This weekend I had the pleasure to serve in one of their on site volunteer activities. These activities include Dignity on Wheels which lets members of the homeless population take a hot shower and do a small load of laundry, both much appreciated options.
The other onsite activity this weekend was the one for which I volunteered, The Warming Center, providing food, companionship and activities to a medically fragile homeless women population.
As I don’t yet have an engraved nametag from my church (more on that in a bit) I wore a name badge necklace instead of getting a sticker stuck in my hair.
The experience with working with the ladies is always a great opportunity to be of direct service. One lady, Margaret, asked me to help brush a knot out of her hair.
With that task completed we talked and it turns out we have something in common, she was an older mom, also having had her second at 43. When I told a fellow volunteer about it, she said her mom had had her at 42. All around me I’m surrounded by ladies who have had babies at an advanced age or in one case were born to one, all great yes reassure me of the chances of our baby being born healthy as well.
Also at the Warming Center I noticed some of the beautiful new artwork from the church kids. I suggested today that we try to incorporate the artwork or something similar into the Affirmation signs which were my idea for decorations for Reconciling Sunday in a few weeks.
After church today I attended the first of two membership classes to officially join the church and will get my nametag after next week. Today’s class was mainly hearing each other’s stories of faith including times when God was especially present in each other’s life. The stories included moments of pain and joy and two of the women besides me included stories of a miracle pregnancy.
One of the participants said she doesn’t believe in coincidences, she believes in Godincidence. I’ve seen a lot of Godincidence lately from our church having a beautiful dance I could document for a blog entry on our faith based community, to the beautiful artwork appearing to inspire our affirmation signs to so very many mentions all around me of healthy pregnancies born to older moms like me. I am indeed blessed by God’s goodness.
~ Danielle
Over 40 First Time Mom 
