Our Stories
Bob and Mary Lou
We've been UCC members since the early 60s, first as charter members of the West Garden Grove United Church of Christ. During the span of years since, we’ve both been actively involved in many different capacities. Our daughters were baptized while in Garden Grove and married at First Church. All four of our kids and now three of our grandchildren have loved their camping experiences at Pilgrim Pines. Of tremendous significance for us at First Church has been our Open and Affirming policy, as our oldest son was a gay man who died of AIDS in 1989. It meant a great deal to honestly acknowledge who he was as we remembered him in a celebration of his life at a memorial service at First Congregational Church. In 2000 Bob began a four-year position as the Project Manager for the construction of a new educational facility. The surprise and honor of having a portion of Pilgrim Hall named The Robert L. Klar Adult Education Wing was an overwhelming joy culminating his working career.
Adreana
One of the sermons preached by Pastor Jerry Stinson that made me feel especially welcomed at First Church was one about church being a place for those who are still wrestling with their "brokenness," not just those who have been healed or redeemed. The truth is, I don't feel so great about where I am in my life. But I always feel great about where I am at FCCLB. Maybe my personal relationships aren't where I wish they were. But at First Church, I am an important member of a welcoming community. Maybe I am not making anywhere near the mark I had hoped to make in my career. But at First Church I am contributing to social welfare legacies that will far outlive me. Maybe I lack clarity about what exactly I'm supposed to be doing with my life. At First Church I'm always crystal clear that my activities are helping the priority mission of establishing God's realm of peace and justice on Earth. There are frequently times that I feel pretty down about myself and my life. Never among those times are any of the times spent with my First Church family and/or spent assisting with First Church ministries. First Church is most certainly a light in my life which can sometimes be a little gloomy.
