...a welcoming spiritual community

Bridging: 2003 Readings

...As we move into our new life as young adults, we are seekers--Janis Scanlon

Bridging is a program and ceremony for those transitioning from youth to young adulthood, usually, but not always, through high school graduation.  The congregation holds out its hand to the bridging youth, welcoming them as new adults in the faith community.

Our members and friends graduating form High School in 2003

Laura Denison, Janis Scanlon, Evan Greer, Heather Vail, Alie Page, Ben Woodhouse, Julia Rohr 

Readings From the 2003 Bridging Ceremony

Julia's Reading

Memories

We remember the days when we were North Parish kids:

We slid down the big old slide in the playground, the one that went straight down, fast..

We waited in line to swing on the bell rope after church, making it sound over and over again…

We remember Christmas pageants:

I was always the narrator.

I was always the sheep.

I played Santa once.

I tugged on Lois Fisher’s dress to ask her how to make an “e.”

We remember Ferry Beach weekends and father/son weekends at Camp Lawrence.

When we got a little older, Evan’s mom took us to Dunkin Donuts each week, where we had our Sunday school class.

We were the first ones to try out the new OWL curriculum, and turned into encyclopedias of accurate sex information for our friends.

Then, three years ago, we Came of Age, each of us speaking before the congregation of who we are and what we trust.  It was the first time most of us had spoken our minds in such a public way.

And we are different people because of it

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Ben's Reading

Gifts

From the North Parish we have received many gifts-

Community

Open-mindedness, and acceptance of others

A better understanding of religion

A sense of self

A questioning mind

The church allowed me to go beyond where my parents were spiritually.

We have wonderful gifts to give to world-

Passion

Positive energy

Service

A willingness to take action

Unwitty jokes

A quest to become a better person

Lots and lots of music and writing and creative expression.

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Janis' Reading

Hopes and Challenges

As we move into our new life as young adults, we are seekers

Challenged to survive school, to manage time, to connect with other people, to maintain old friendships, to be more independent without as much parent support

But also facing profound spiritual challenges:

Trying to find something I’m passionate about and want to do for the rest of my life

Trying to keep high spirits in a society I want to change

Remembering always to see the beautiful things in life

Maintaining self-confidence

Taking an active stance, but thoughtful, never acting without thinking

Finding time for myself

Accepting the knowledge that the change I want to see isn’t coming in my lifetime.

We are guided by hope

Of living and leading a happy life- and having serenity in later years

Of enjoying life wherever it leads

Of changing the world

Of being true to ourselves

Of experiencing the success of touching someone else’s life

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Welcoming Congregation

North Parish is a Welcoming Congregation, consistent with the guidelines of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We actively welcome lesbian, gay. bisexual, transgender, and intersex people as full participants in the life of the church. For more information, see our Welcoming Congregation page, or contact our Interweave chapter.