by John Daubney
Since she began attending Unity in Albany, Terri Gerber has role-modeled being of service by doing what you love to do, through her love of performing music and for sharing food with us all. While service is certainly an opportunity to help and serve others, service can also be a divine opening into the depth of our own potential as human and spiritual beings. We know only a little of what we are capable of being; that is until we begin to risk serving in ways that excite and call to us and engage us in using and developing our creativity and God-given talents.
As Dave and I walked up to this cute, little, red brick church in Albany, N.Y. in July 2012 (having moved from Seattle in April), I said, “I sure hope they have good music.” We had visited Unity Churches before, so we knew they were very open and accepting of all spiritual traditions, but never had my own inner spiritual life been so mirrored in the music and songs that were sung in that first service we attended, and in all the others since! Music has the most amazing ability to open the heart, heal us and connect us. Roger, Mark, Pete and Sarah have an amazing synchronicity. I couldn’t have imagined being up there with them! So it was an evolution and whenever I now participate, it still feels a little dreamy to me.
I looked around for a long time wondering how to get involved, how to serve, how to find a sense of belonging. I kept hearing the message, “give in the way that most excites you!” Participating in the Coffee House was the first thing Dave and I did other than attend services. My, oh my, I still see the Coffee House/Open Mic as one of the BEST events at Unity. It is so much fun to get to see the other sides of people!
John Daubney, Gary Allocco, John Reith, and Steve Holmes really had their thumb on the pulse when they started this event eleven years ago and it is a blessing that they have kept it going. These men are wonderful role models for me in the areas of service and fellowship. The first time I performed at the Coffee House was by reading some original poetry and then eventually I played guitar and sang. The first time I could barely fingerpick; I was trembling! It took three to four Open Mic performances to finally feel settled, and then I just started having fun. I see now how those open mic performances built my confidence enough to eventually participate with the Unity band on Sundays.
Rev Jim said something once that really made an impression. He said we are all manifestations of the Divine and that Unity is all about being a place where our Divinity can be expressed in our uniquely creative and spiritual ways. I said, “Really?” and he said, “Of course, what do you think we’re all doing here!” Shortly after that I asked Roger if I could sing a song I had written, sometime, at a service. With the band’s amazingly accepting support, I did. It was terrifying and fabulous. The evolution of my involvement continued as I took out my old flute I hadn’t played for years and did something I would never have believed I could do – play in public!!
What I came to realize (and what actually gave me courage) is that Unity really is a family! And so in the way that a good, healthy, functioning family supports the unique expressions and the trying-of-new-things without expecting perfection of their members, so too is that which we do here. Yea! So, if you never got that chance in your family of origin, this is your chance for a redo!
I also love feeding my Unity family – at potlucks, picnics, and after services whenever I can. I love jumping in to help where and when it shows up in front of me. Most of all, I love to give what all of you have so graciously given me: acceptance, friendliness, fellowship, and that perfect Christ-Love. I told John Daubney when asked to do the Spotlight interview, “My service doesn’t really feel like service because it is too much fun and because I get so much back!” I think that is the way service is supposed to work.
I had an interesting experience in the White Stone Ceremony that Rev Crystal and the other “Revs” lead us through at the first of the year. “Rose” came to me. That is: Be Receptive, be Open, be Still, and be Empty and then whatever the next thing is, Spirit will make known. Meditation is a key for me in being that “Rose,” which often leads to feeling some stirrings of the next Divine/Creative/Spiritual expression surfacing in me. Unity is an exciting place and I am so very thankful for this patient and accepting family that lets us all bloom at our own pace.