PSI Symposium Annual Journal 2006-7

Baptism: A Vision Or A Dream?

By Anita Farber-Robertson

 

Was it a vision…or a dream?

May-June 1996. It was in the City of Lynn, MA. There was a round above-ground swimming pool with a deck and railing and water 3-4 feet deep.

As I approached I could see that I knew the people who were gathered on the deck around the pool. They were the clergy and leaders of ECCO (Essex County Community Organization). Walter Murray, my friend and pastor of Zion Baptist Church was in the water, nearer to me (about 5 o’clock in the circle).

Across the pool (about 1 o-clock in the circle), in the water and beckoning to me, was Jesus – and I understood why they were all there, waiting for me.

It was time to be baptized, to accept Jesus as my teacher, guide, and…savior?? Yes, savior. And I would do it with the community as my witness, the Christian community, the body of Christ, of which I would become a part, which would hold me, and prod, me, and to which I would be accountable.

UU’s were there, but they did not hold the power of definition, of naming or legitimizing. That belonged to the wider cloud of witnesses, of which UU’s were welcome to be a part.

Addendum: In July, 1997 I was baptized, an ecumenical cloud of witnesses participated.

 

 

A True Calling

By Nannene Gowdy

 

A few years after joining the Haverhill, MA Universalist Unitarian Church, I became what we called then the Superintendent of Sunday School. I started attending the Mass Bay District Fall and Spring Rallies regularly and truly loved them. In March 1975 I went to the Spring Rally with other parishioners and came home high on the experience.

When I arrived home I found that my former husband had arranged a surprised birthday party for me. Friend and relatives I hadn’t seen in years were there. It was another high.

After I had been home for about one-half hour, I told the gathering to be quiet, I had an announcement to make. I had no idea why I said that or what I was going to say. When everyone was quiet, I told them I had decided to go into the UU ministry.

It had never been a conscious thought before that minute. The reaction was interesting—half of the people said, “WHAT? YOU?” The other half said, “I was wondering when that was going to occur to you.”

The more I thought about my announcement, the more it made sense. Ministry combined my gifts and my interests. I have also always considered it a true “calling”.