It’s been quite a month. To all appearances, our church re-start in Norton has been moving along beautifully. We’ve had between forty and fifty people at our January and February services, and vibrant small group communities in our Roots groups, Buddhist groups, and Young Adult group. People are inviting their friends to our events, (hooray!) and we’ve been growing by about 2 or 3 people per week.
Then……
I received a letter at my home a few weeks ago. It was from an attorney who the Parish Committee of Norton had hired, and it notified me that when my contract with the church expired on May 1, they would not be renewing it. Further, it appears as though the Parish Committee has decided not to formally meet and therefore allow any of the new people to become actual members of the church.
When I first received the letter, all I could think of was “this must not be over. We are onto something here, and something beautiful is happening in this community. It simply can’t be over!” For a short period of time, my vocational path was clouded, and with it, the future of the spiritual community we have been building. I had felt so sure, you see, that this church, at this location in Norton, was the way to bring about a version of vibrant, transformative, Unitarian Universalist faith. But as I started to talk to people – people who have been part of the Norton community and the Unitarian Universalist community, and the people who are interested in what we have been doing in Norton – a path opened that I never would have expected a few weeks ago.
Yesterday, I signed a contract to become the full time minister at the First Parish Unitarian Church in Taunton. First Parish Taunton is a small congregation just seven miles away from Norton Unitarian. The Taunton church has been following the Norton re-start with interest, and even spoke to one of our denominational officials last fall about possibly doing a similar program in Taunton. They were in search for a minister who could help them grow their congregation, and who was tuned into how to reach those who are “spiritual but not religious.” They are delighted to welcome in our members from Norton, and to continue to grow the church into a welcoming, spiritually based community for the twenty first century!
When I first began the conversations with First Parish Church in Taunton, I was excited about the idea that our church re-start would not die. As I have continued to speak to their governing board and learn about their community, I have become truly convinced that moving our congregation to Taunton is the calling of our church community. Not only are the people in Taunton excited and welcoming, they have a large, up-to-date building, including all kinds of fancy assets that we don’t have in Norton, such as a telephone, and more than one toilet. They have several rooms for their children that have doors on them, rather than an outside door leading straight into a parking lot, and they even have computers!
They also have some staff, which means that I would be able to do two things – stop taking out the garbage myself, and allow me more time to take the next step in our ministry. You see, the goal for us before starting weekly worship in Norton was to reach a critical mass. I’m delighted to say that with addition of the people from the Taunton congregation, we have met that goal, will be able to begin having weekly worship when I start my ministry there on April 1.
It is the sort of story that you can’t possibly imagine, and yet when it does, it seems like it was all meant to be. I’m so excited for this move – for the new opportunities for growth and creation, and for all that this congregation can become!
I’m thrilled for you and your budding congregation! How wise of you to see the oppuntity that lurged behind the legal notification!
I burst out laughing when you mentioned the resources Taunton has that Norton does not — a telephone! This is such a wonderful way to continue the new start and your ministry. I am very happy for you.
It would be a massive understatement to say that we at First Parish Taunton are excited (excited New Englanders are a bit scary, but I suppose that we’ll regain our composure by May or June), but I am troubled that the Norton Board has treated Christana and 70-80 would be members so badly. Do the first three Principles mean nothing?
Moe Walters
Congratulations on the new opportunity! It sounds like you’ve been doing some amazing work, and this new community will be lucky to have you. xo
What a lovely article and story. I am thrilled for you,. You are a breath of fresh air. May this new Congregation grow and blossom just as you have done this year with your Norton Congregation.
Best of luck and Congratulations.
Bonnie Ryvicker
Oh, Christana, my parallel parish memories leapt up in reading the 1st part of your story—how tragic and too typical an illustration of how so many churches deserve to die. How the Creative Spirit intersected bringing two renewing leavening seeking & discerning communities together for a new adventure of renewal. How procreative! What a wonderful April Fool’s gift to all of you! Blessings of joy & hope in your birthing & rebirthing together! David Proctor
While I recognize that this has been very unsettling news for the young congregation in Norton, I am very excited about partnering with Christana to bring these 2 groups together to grow a church community. Christana has spoken lovingly about the community that has gathered in Norton. I am looking forward to meeting you all.
As the Director of Religious Education in Taunton, I invite anyone with questions about Sunday School and other children’s programming to contact me directly at barry.sanders@live.com
Bravery takes many forms. Whether it is in a leap of faith to reach beyond what we can see or the willingness to get back up and try again after being knocked down, if we are brave together, we might just do something truly amazing together.
What is the matter wit those people at Norton? Aside from the cowardice of having a lawyer tell a minister she isn’t being renewed, I mean.
With very best wishes in your work at the Taunton church. I’m glad I now know where to visit! Glad I saw Norton, too.
Spring is a wonderful time of new beginnings. Having been a past president of the Providence Benefit St. Church in the past, and an invested member of First Parish Taunton more recently – I am more than excited to begin the next part of our journey with others on the search for a spiritual community. I guess I should thank Norton for tilling the soil for us I for one am thrilled to welcome everyone to our Taunton Meetinghouse.
Christana, the news of your ministry in Taunton is good news indeed. How wonderful that the leaders of the First Parish congregation are welcoming you. Your vision sounds much like the one I had there a quarter century ago–way too soon. May your ministry be abundantly blessed.
David Keyes