An open and caring church in Plymouth
I needed guidance/support for my efforts to let my mom pass sooner than later. The on duty person and Anna Rae listened, understood, and affirmed me perfectly. On short notice. For a stranger. Her closing prayer brought me even more clarity.
My membership experience of this congregation over the last two years has been very painful. On this day, which is in fact, and ironically, the two year anniversary of my membership, I entered the sanctuary during their listed open hours to worship, pray, and feel some peace after a particularly difficult day yesterday, one of several recently during a very difficult season of my life, seasons the likes of which I am not unaccustomed and have through them over the years learned from where to find my help and comfort, graciously I might add; that such sorrow can lead one to such delight in praise and worship. But now to the point of this review, upon entering the open door of the church building, a church where I have been a member for two years, at 9:00am on this Wednesday, October the 8th, where and when it is listed here currently on Google as "open", the secretary immediately lept from her office chair, said that I was not welcome, and threatened to call the police on me. This is despite me having been told, in writing, by the Reverend that I was welcome to come worship during office hours, which I told the secretary, and then also the police when they arrived. My favorite part of the video I took was when, in response to my having said that the police replied, "It's not like you pay to be here." And this does lead me to wonder, if I was not currently living in poverty, and could then afford to tithe, maybe more of the members of this congregation might have treated me more respectfully over the years? Of course we'll never know, but one could surmise, and I digress. The Reverend just called me now after I shared the video and tried to justify the secretary's actions by saying that she acted as such because she felt uncomfortable and didn't know who I was, which is ironic given that I've been a member for two years, and even more so because she used my name, and so did the police when they arrived in the sanctuary to interrupt my song of praise. I think that actually makes it more dishonest than ironic, but perhaps ironically also, if we want to talk about discomfort, I happen to have significant police traumas and I went to a sanctuary supposedly built in the name of Christ and for the express purpose of His mission to heal the world through peace, love, and community but instead I have consistently felt ostracized and unwelcome by just about everyone there, and was forcibly removed from a sacred space during a time they claim to be open to the public. And what is also ironic is that my ostracization pronounced especially after I self-disclosed my struggle with PTSD, with the sole intent to be helpful and offer council during a time the church was working towards a collective UCC effort to be more informed and welcoming to those who suffer from conditions such as mine. In any case, (and apart from all the tragically comedic irony this world has to offer) as a profoundly devout lover of God, who just so happens to have an advanced degree in theology-along with its salary that usually costs much more than it earns-and who knows the Word as well as It knows me, I have been told on very good authority when it's time to dust off my sandals, and also, the devil is a liar.
Very open and caring community
We had a wonderfully warm beautiful day to dedicate our new church sign for First Congregational United Church of Christ. No matter what your journey, you are welcome here! Sundays at 10:15. 1405 State Hwy 67. Hope to meet you soon!
Good place to clear your head and ready yourself for the week.
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