A little over a year ago, on January 29, 2017, I set foot for the first time in what would become my home church. For about six months prior to this, different people from my mom to my hairdresser, and even a pastor on the radio asking his audience (in general) were asking me when I would return to a church for regular attendance. It had been years since I had attended Menlo Park Presbyterian with Colleen on a regular basis, and I knew I’d have to find one someday. That someday became an actual day when my friend Amber asked me and suggested I attend Almaden Hills United Methodist Church. She promised I’d love it, and I knew it was something special when I walked in and this was the first hymn played.
I was a little shocked at the hymn as it seemed to be about the political climate of the country. Pastor Jane made it clear from her welcome that it was, and I was amazed to be in a church that really talked about the community and the world and their place in it in such concrete ways.
Pastor Jane had even reached out to me before my visit, as Amber had told her I would be checking out the church. She had told me there were many ways to serve as Amber had mentioned my interest in community service.
It so happened that as that day was the fifth Sunday of the month, the church was involved in a group activity making bags of food to be shared with a homeless shelter. The actual bags were decorated by children in the church.
All the bags had different designs, the octopus was one of my favorite. Many had messages of God’s love on them. It’s ironic that I took so few photos with people in them as I’ve taken so many more in church with lots of people in them.
One of the things that made the church great was Pastor Jane, the first full-time female pastor I’d had ever. She’s a great role model for a feminist and had I had one a daughter of a feminist as well.
From the sunrise Easter Sunday, to colorful celebrations I took place in or observed, it was great having her as the first pastor I had experience with there. She told me I would greatly enjoy her successor, Pastor Mariellen, and she was right, I do.
Just last week I manned a table at the Resources Fair, which had many photos in the display that I had taken. I’ve since done less community service having had William, but I look forward to joining in again and when it’s age appropriate teaching him about, and involving him in church community service as well.
~ Danielle
Over 40 First Time Mom 