{"id":38,"date":"2016-01-05T00:38:56","date_gmt":"2016-01-05T00:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stagingarea51.com\/lynda\/?page_id=38"},"modified":"2016-01-06T04:29:50","modified_gmt":"2016-01-06T04:29:50","slug":"my-call-to-ministry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/revlyndasutherland.com\/lynda\/my-call-to-ministry\/","title":{"rendered":"My Call to Ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was raised in the Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC), and children’s choir, Sunday School classes, youth group, and Sunday services were a joy to me. When I was fifteen, my mother died of cancer, and the church people rallied round to help us with meals, activities for me and my three younger sisters, and a listening ear when needed. I will never forget the sense of community, people who really care and have your back. Yet, at the same time, I entered a time of serious doubting and uncertainty about the image of God I had been taught to believe in.<\/p>\n

I searched for many years for a religious community that could satisfy both the yearnings of my heart for real community, and the need to continue growing and changing in my concept of how the world works and what part I play in the grand scheme of things. When I finally found Unitarian Universalism, I felt I had truly come home.<\/p>\n

As I became more involved in lay leadership, I discovered that I find joy in serving in almost any capacity of church work. From worship creation and preaching, to lifespan faith formation, to board and committee meetings, I love the process of facilitating the creation of Beloved Community, forging a strong and vibrant faith community where we support each other in the free and responsible search for truth, care for each other through the joy and pain life brings us, and raise our voices for racial justice, economic equity, and environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n

I am called to parish ministry and am thrilled to be in search. \u00a0I look forward to finding a congregation where together, we may grow in service and in love.<\/p>\n