Connections – Member Stories

In Connections, a church member shares a brief story about some instance that was important to them, that made them feel connected or supported in the church, or that brought forth the gifts they bring to this beloved community. The stories can be small or large, sad or funny, simple or complicated, and they are all personal, affirming and uplifting. These Connections are posted with permission from the authors, and provide an insider’s view into the loving nature of this congregation.

And service is its prayer . . .

The first time my husband and I came to Schenectady, in the fifties, he was assigned to the G.E. Physics Training Program and we were not inclined to settle down and create roots in what we both felt to be only a temporary home. But, as time went on, and several assignments later, he was assigned permanently to the Research Laboratory in Niskayuna - a dream come true because we had really come to love the area and our new friends.  Read more:

Judy Farrell

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-06-12T15:21:15-04:00

Judy Farrell

The first time my husband and I came to Schenectady, in the fifties, he was assigned to the G.E. Physics Training Program and we were not inclined to settle down and create roots in what we both felt to be only a temporary home. But, as time went on, and several assignments later, he was assigned permanently to the Research Laboratory in Niskayuna - a dream come true because we had really come to love the area and our new friends.  Read more:

Connecting with all my roots . . .

As a gay man I’ve “come out” many times, beginning with realizing who I was and accepting it...Coming out to my family when I was 19 was an entirely different ordeal but was very much a positive influence in my life. But that’s not the full reason I've connected with this loving community of people at UUSS. Read more here:

Francisco Gomez-Dossi

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-06-02T20:22:26-04:00

Francisco Gomez-Dossi

As a gay man I’ve “come out” many times, beginning with realizing who I was and accepting it...Coming out to my family when I was 19 was an entirely different ordeal but was very much a positive influence in my life. But that’s not the full reason I've connected with this loving community of people at UUSS. Read more here:

Full circle…

Simply put, it was a circle that led me to this church. Let me explain. I grew up in this area but left for many years to pursue career and then raise a family in the mid-west, returning after 20 years, coming full circle, discovering the UU faith in the process.  Read more here:

Rosemary Bishop

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-05-21T07:33:04-04:00

Rosemary Bishop

Simply put, it was a circle that led me to this church. Let me explain. I grew up in this area but left for many years to pursue career and then raise a family in the mid-west, returning after 20 years, coming full circle, discovering the UU faith in the process.  Read more here:

This Extraordinary Place

This extraordinary place never fails to inspire me with its continuing passion for the pursuit of justice …

I did not come to Unitarian Universalism seeking refuge from some painful religious experience.  That’s just not my story.  And so today’s connections talk will be a little different.  And yet, I proudly proclaim that being a UU and part of this Congregation over more than 40 years has had a profound and life-altering influence on me.

John Reschovsky

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2017-03-21T21:05:30-04:00

John Reschovsky

This extraordinary place never fails to inspire me with its continuing passion for the pursuit of justice … I did not come to Unitarian Universalism seeking refuge from some painful religious experience.  That’s just not my story.  And so today’s connections talk will be a little different.  And yet, I proudly proclaim that being a UU and part of this Congregation over more than 40 years has had a profound and life-altering influence on me.

A leap, fifty years later . . .

Before I share with you my connection with this congregation, let me first give you a brief glimpse of my background. I was born in South America. Ecuador was 80% Catholic, I would guess, at the time my family emigrated to the US in 1946. My father was educated at a Jesuit school, my mother at a German Catholic School, my siblings and I also attended a German Catholic School.  As you could gather, I could not be any more Catholic than that!!  Read more here:

Angela Calabria

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-05-30T15:34:40-04:00

Angela Calabria

Before I share with you my connection with this congregation, let me first give you a brief glimpse of my background. I was born in South America. Ecuador was 80% Catholic, I would guess, at the time my family emigrated to the US in 1946. My father was educated at a Jesuit school, my mother at a German Catholic School, my siblings and I also attended a German Catholic School.  As you could gather, I could not be any more Catholic than that!!  Read more here:

Unitarian Universalism is a frontier religion . . .

Two years ago, a paper sign with three words "Black Lives Matter" was placed in the glass case in front of our church, our "wayside pulpit.”  The wayside pulpit, a roadside welcome that contains an inspiring, uplifting thought is a tradition in many churches.  Most of the time (at most churches) the thought changes, sometimes weekly, sometimes less often.  "Black Lives Matter" was never replaced.  Once it was posted, it stayed.

Lisa Temoshok

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-11-14T16:33:41-05:00

Lisa Temoshok

Two years ago, a paper sign with three words "Black Lives Matter" was placed in the glass case in front of our church, our "wayside pulpit.”  The wayside pulpit, a roadside welcome that contains an inspiring, uplifting thought is a tradition in many churches.  Most of the time (at most churches) the thought changes, sometimes weekly, sometimes less often.  "Black Lives Matter" was never replaced.  Once it was posted, it stayed.

Roots hold me close . . .

I love to sing -- and play guitar.  But, I’ve come to recognize my limitations in both of these areas.  (I have recently concluded that I may never be the rock star I envisioned when I was in high school).

Why do I bring this up?  Because this place – UUSS – is a place of great connection for all – even those with limited vocal range. Read more here:

Dan Leonard

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-06-02T19:50:48-04:00

Dan Leonard

I love to sing -- and play guitar.  But, I’ve come to recognize my limitations in both of these areas.  (I have recently concluded that I may never be the rock star I envisioned when I was in high school). Why do I bring this up?  Because this place – UUSS – is a place of great connection for all – even those with limited vocal range. Read more here:

I came, I saw, I immediately felt at home

When I agreed to do this Connections talk, Margret sent me her description of them.  She suggests, for example, that we describe “an instance that was important to you, that made you feel connected or supported in this church.”  And I thought, just one???  Just one instance, one story??  Holy moly, I have felt supported or connected to this place every week for years!   Read more here:

Christy Multer

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-05-29T15:55:55-04:00

Christy Multer

When I agreed to do this Connections talk, Margret sent me her description of them.  She suggests, for example, that we describe “an instance that was important to you, that made you feel connected or supported in this church.”  And I thought, just one???  Just one instance, one story??  Holy moly, I have felt supported or connected to this place every week for years!   Read more here:

I do believe that the best thing we can do for this “hurting” world is just to live our UU values ….

In childhood, I went through the education process in becoming a good Catholic. We were required to recite the catechism without really understanding what was being taught. Questioning was not encouraged. Other faiths were looked down upon as being started by men and not by God... Read more at:

Fred Boreali

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2017-06-06T21:07:06-04:00

Fred Boreali

In childhood, I went through the education process in becoming a good Catholic. We were required to recite the catechism without really understanding what was being taught. Questioning was not encouraged. Other faiths were looked down upon as being started by men and not by God... Read more at:

Love – we start with love. . .

I remember when I first came to visit this church.  I read the Bond of Union silently with awe.  I was (and am) impressed that this church says  what it means. Over time I’ve also learned that this church does what it says.  Powerful, and uncommon....Read more here:

Donna Newsome

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-12-07T12:16:10-05:00

Donna Newsome

I remember when I first came to visit this church.  I read the Bond of Union silently with awe.  I was (and am) impressed that this church says  what it means. Over time I’ve also learned that this church does what it says.  Powerful, and uncommon....Read more here:

What got me here?

I didn’t know that most middle class kids didn’t sit at their family dinner table to eat a lovingly prepared meal with lit candles on the table and, depending on their father’s whim, classical music, bagpipe music, or music from the opera Nixon in China playing (blaring?) in the background.

My spiritual journey involves my realization that my dad was a nonconformist.... Read more here:

Robyn Salvin & Ralph Smith

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-12-07T13:02:28-05:00

Robyn Salvin & Ralph Smith

I didn’t know that most middle class kids didn’t sit at their family dinner table to eat a lovingly prepared meal with lit candles on the table and, depending on their father’s whim, classical music, bagpipe music, or music from the opera Nixon in China playing (blaring?) in the background. My spiritual journey involves my realization that my dad was a nonconformist.... Read more here:

There’s more to being green . . .

I think I’ve always been somewhat green. One of my earliest memories of my green connection was a dress my mother mail-ordered. She always ordered pink for me and blue for my sister.  But they were out of pink, so they sent a green dress, with a little red cherry embroidered on the white collar. That’s when I started thinking green.  Read more here:

Nancy Peterson

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-06-02T13:30:55-04:00

Nancy Peterson

I think I’ve always been somewhat green. One of my earliest memories of my green connection was a dress my mother mail-ordered. She always ordered pink for me and blue for my sister.  But they were out of pink, so they sent a green dress, with a little red cherry embroidered on the white collar. That’s when I started thinking green.  Read more here:

Past, present, future . . .

I grew up in a UU church in Rochester, and while I always identified with the message, I never felt myself a member of its community.  As I became an adult, I visited other UU societies but it was not until I came to UUSS that I found my home in this amazing group of people.  Read more here:

Bridget Almas

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-06-02T19:56:54-04:00

Bridget Almas

I grew up in a UU church in Rochester, and while I always identified with the message, I never felt myself a member of its community.  As I became an adult, I visited other UU societies but it was not until I came to UUSS that I found my home in this amazing group of people.  Read more here:

The music we have in the UU Schenectady community is incredible ….

Folks, the music we have in the UUS of Schenectady community is incredible.  Under the leadership of Gary Griffiths, we frequently have the top musicians from the area as part of our services, interspersed with young performers, some of which, despite being young, ARE some of the top musicians from our area. Read more here:

Jeff Brinck

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-10-17T19:35:57-04:00

Jeff Brinck

Folks, the music we have in the UUS of Schenectady community is incredible.  Under the leadership of Gary Griffiths, we frequently have the top musicians from the area as part of our services, interspersed with young performers, some of which, despite being young, ARE some of the top musicians from our area. Read more here:

Every week was a new experience . . .

In 2009 I gave birth to twins. I don’t have to tell any of you out there who are parents that in that moment everything changed. Priorities changed. Schedules changed. The way I saw and thought about the world changed. It was time to start a new journey. The scary part was that I was starting this journey not only for myself, but for my children. Read more:

Morgan Myatt

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady
2016-06-12T15:31:45-04:00

Morgan Myatt

In 2009 I gave birth to twins. I don’t have to tell any of you out there who are parents that in that moment everything changed. Priorities changed. Schedules changed. The way I saw and thought about the world changed. It was time to start a new journey. The scary part was that I was starting this journey not only for myself, but for my children. Read more:
0
0
Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady