My church home from the age of four to 29 was a Lutheran church in Fremont. This is where I received first communion, was confirmed, attended Luther League and went to Mount Cross summer camp. My mother taught Sunday school, made banners for the sanctuary, and played guitar for the contemporary service. I was married in that church and my daughter was baptized there. I met one of my dearest friends there, her father was the pastor who married my husband and
I and she is my daughter’s godmother, as I am hers.

After moving to Sunol 22 years ago, it became increasingly challenging to get my toddler up and out on a Sunday morning and we began attending church only sporadically. I was missing something that had always been such a big part of my life and I knew my daughter was missing it too. Once my son was born, I decided to visit the church I’d been driving by every day for about 3 and a half years.

I had no problem with the Lutheran church – it had truly been my home for over 20 years. I had also visited churches with a Morman friend, a Baptist friend, a Catholic friend and even gone to Vacation Bible school at a synagogue. I’ll admit I walked through LBC’s doors for the first time out of convenience. I knew no one here – I hadn’t been invited. I didn’t know what “United Church of Christ” meant. But I can tell you from that first Sunday, I felt welcome. The hymns were familiar; the sermon filled an empty space in my heart and the people were so inviting. The Sunday school teacher took Amanda’s hand and sat with her during the children’s sermon and guided her to Sunday school that first Sunday and many more for several years. The interim minister at the time baptized my son in the hopes I would make LBC our church family. On clean up day, he carried him in a back pack so I could work – what a thoughtful man. I became a member about two months after Adam’s baptism – 19 years ago this coming spring.

A lot of things have changed here in the last 19 years. Adam is much bigger. I don’t think there is anyone attending here now who was here the day Adam was baptized, but everyone who has walked through these doors holds a special place in my heart. Every one of them has brought a gift to this church family. All those members over all those years - plus many more before - have kept the doors to this church open.

It hasn’t always been easy but as my father says “anything worth having is worth working for”. LBC is worth it.

There is another saying attributed to Anonymous that
I displayed on a poster when I was the Sunday school teacher –

“I wondered why somebody didn’t do something.

Then I realized that I am somebody.

I cannot do everything, but I will not refuse to do the things that I can.”

It has taken faith and hard work but most of all it takes walking through that door and knowing that you are somebody – you make a difference by being here – your church family needs you.

When I became a grown up, I had the rude awakening that there is a practical side of church that can’t be ignored. PG&E doesn’t accept payment in prayer. I have always remembered a stewardship moment given by a fellow member who shared that it helps for him to consider his giving to LBC like a bill for spiritual gifts freely given – not a leftover amount of discretionary income at the end of the month.

There have been years when I have been a diligent member of this congregation and years when I have lapsed. Times when I have stood up and said “yes”, and times when I have quickly passed the clip board. I’m pretty sure that won’t change –life always springs something on you when you least expect it. Just remember you are somebody. You cannot do everything, but you should always try to do the things that you can.