Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

From the Asst. Minister of Religious Education

August 23, 2009
Rev. Dan Harper

Just over two weeks ago, my partner Carol and I arrived in California after having driven here from our previous home in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Several years ago we lived in Oakland, and we are both pleased to be back in the Bay Area. Here are some of the things I like about living in the Bay Area:

• The weather is delightful. (Yes, it gets cool and rains in the winter, but the Bay Area doesn’t get blizzards, hurricanes, or ice storms.)
• Californians tend to be friendly and welcoming.
• On the whole, race relationships are less tense than other places I’ve lived.
• There is an amazing array of cultural opportunities in the Bay Area.

When people back East ask me what it’s like living the Bay Area, I tell them it’s a kind of paradise. (They always ask about earthquakes, but I tell them that destructive earthquakes happen here less often than blizzards, hurricanes, or ice storms happen in New England.)

I am also discovering how pleasant it is to be a part of the Unitarian Univer- salist Church of Palo Alto. I have discovered that people are friendly Ñ on my first Sunday, no one knew I was coming, and I forgot to wear a name tag so no one knew I was the new assistant minister; yet even so, friendly people greeted me and made me feel welcome right away. I have discovered that stimulating conversations take place on the patio after the Worship Service, conversations that are both intellectually stimulating and spiritually stimulating. And when Carol and I had problems moving, I discovered that people at this church were willing to show up on a weekday to help us when we really needed help (thanks again, Dave, David, Emily, Mara, Mike, and Dick!).

What a great church! I’m glad that I am a part of it, and I look forward to getting to know you all better in the months to come.