Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of Grand Traverse

A Healing Community

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It has been a safe place to develop my faith.

This community has encouraged me and offered loving kindness during a period of great transition in my life. The dear ones I have been blessed to connect with here love me for who I am and give me the strength to learn to love myself, be compassionate with myself—and be all I can be—to live in light and love.

Through personal relationships formed here.

Friends—happily married couples, intelligent caring friends-Friends! Opportunities to be helpful to people in difficult situations.

UUCGT has supported me in being authentic, honest about who I am and more at ease in expressing my feelings.

I can be an active participant here. I don’t need to be a passive observer. I have been surrounded with welcoming embraces, heartfelt caring and deep acceptance.

Quilting group

UUCGT has given a place for my whole family to come and feel like we really belong here. It has helped to give us a common bond and sense of togetherness.

When Will died I was wondered and overwhelmed at all the ones who wanted to help and comfort and support. Bless us all!

We come as a first time couple in this place, here, NOW exists with the truth and impact of so being as we experienced today. Comfort, rest and convictions.

As life affirming
Self-validating
Sometimes challenging
Vocal Ensemble is both calming and invigorating at rehearsals and performances.

Friendship validation music intellectual growth

Through the music I am a part of and enjoy listening to.
The community of people.

It was helpful to me to be in this community while my husband had Alzheimer’s disease. I wish I had been in similar community during other times of great pain. It helps just to know that others know something of one person’s struggles.

The Music
The Bells
The Candles
The Humanity
The Presence

I have found a place to heal from a severe upbringing that told me I was inherently sinful and flawed. This community has shown me there can be spirituality and openness together. That people are inherently good and can come together to make great change in the world. I enjoy coming to a place where I can continuously work on becoming a better person.

This is a place where I can be vulnerable, imperfect and forgiven.

It is the only church I have joined as an adult . . . 40 years after the betrayal of the Southern Baptist Church and the loss of my extended family—who “lived in church”. My first Sundays here were very emotional. Tears flowed. I felt safe to grieve that loss of faith and innocence.

I came to this congregation at age 40and reeling with a life threatening and life altering illness. Here I have been able to find what I believe to be spiritually free, and to deal with the pain, disappointment and anger of becoming ill.
I love the music here and the way that this congregation has been so kind and generous to my girls.

I feel safe here. My beliefs are validated here and my beliefs are challenged here in an accepting way that encourages me to grow. Divergent ideas are beautiful here. Fellowship is genuine here.

Just knowing that there are others that are concerned with thinking about and acting on social justice issues.

Helped heal my body in yoga classes.
Helped me express myself in art classes.
Provided music to listen to and opportunities to play music-sacred music that soothed my soul.
Provide a place and space to help my children experience a spiritual life. Fed my mind with theology and spirituality.

This church provides a place of peace and sanctuary—little available to our family collectively in our daily lives.
Though we travel a considerable distance to be here, it is so worth it.
To be part of this community, to have this fellowship, feeds and nurtures our spirits and makes us a part of something larger than us.

Perhaps it is the words spoken here or the music, but I am often brought to the verge of tears in this space. I call this healing; I often know not what from.

It taught me how to BE!

Several years ago, while healing from double hand surgery, Emmy Lou Belcher, our minister at that time, visited me at my home. She helped me with a very mundane shore: She helped me change the sheets on my bed—which I could not do with my two bandaged hands alone. I am comforted at times of loss and grief among our members by serving at the memorial service reception which we so beautifully provide. This chance to give binds me here and gives me a time to give.

Friendship
Helping others

You were there for me when my son was going through a bad time.
Others have shown support and love many times.
This is a good place.

This congregation allows me to be sad or happy with no judgment or pressure.
I always feel clean and good when I leave.

I feel accepted, respected and—yes! —even loved in spite of my moodiness and depression. Also, I have learned to express appreciation and gratitude—regularly, often—to everyone who contributes to our spiritual community (to not take for granted that people know their contributions, and they themselves are valued), to say, face to face, “Thank you”.

During the intense care giving and ultimate death of my partner of four years, I was able to continue and get through each day because I had the UU community, the very strong feeling of being not alone throughout it all. I had hugs, calls, cards, food, physical help and those who would cry with me and listen. Listening was so valuable. Such a gift!

Let’s heal and care for each other locally and not look to the Federal govt. for the answer!

This congregation has physically helped when faced with surgery; going to the hospital, with meals and help afterwards.

This UU congregation has been supportive of our family as we live with our son’s struggle with alcoholism and bipolar disease.

Caring friendships.

My lifelong spiritual quest has been validated as well as encouraged. It is truly a joy to be surrounded by a loving caring ACCEPTING community. While I have always known I had good qualities to share with others, I had a hard time believing it. My best now burns brightest . . . and I am filled with gratitude.

I have found love, acceptance and humor in the Vocal Ensemble.

With its wonderful music minister and Vocal Ensemble
With healing words from many different people
With touch and caring by others.

It provides a place where acceptance is without conditions and a truly personalized path is everyone’s right and responsibility.

The congregation as a whole and the pastoral care team in particular, was a great source of support to me during my brother’s yearlong struggle with cancer and his death.

Diffusing sociophobia
Providing role models
Demonstrating how—processes to actualize some goals
Providing listeners of concern
Providing a chance to participate, thereby improving self-image and growth.

Accepting me during my severe depression without question or expectation. When I returned to good health emotionally and physically you were there to accept me with love and hugs!

Caring people who explore and listen to other people’s views and ideas. Very thoughtful, supportive and non-doctrinaire friends.