Member Profile - Karin Ferguson

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With her son safely tucked into bed, you could well find Karin Ferguson at her kitchen table with a well organized notebook in front of her, a directory of church members to one side, a computer open on the other side and a phone tucked under her chin. It must be the First UU Care Committee chair at work!

A member for a year and a half, she has taken on the very important task of organizing the dozens of volunteers within the church who respond when members are ill and need food or rides to medical appointments. That kind of network doesn’t happen easily. But Karin’s organizational work makes it look easy.

It’s just part of her commitment that blossomed suddenly when she realized First Unitarian Universalist was a comfortable fit for her.

Karin had never belonged to a church before. Not that she hadn’t searched for one. She had. She knew she wanted a place “where morality, goodness and peace were prevalent. “A church that would help me to be a better person… Where I could understand what was being said and it made sense.”

“My first visit was enthralling. I felt like this was a “good place to be.” I listened to Alane speak and I was thrilled that I understood the sermon. I decided to return just a few more times to assess the place, still feeling very uncomfortable in my skin in this type of environment. I came back for a few more weeks and was amazed to find I really enjoyed it. Alane would make me laugh and cry and I would leave feeling thoughtful, refreshed and at peace.”

And she brought her commitment to involvement with her. At first, she had thought she would just observe. That didn’t last long. “After taking the UU orientation class, I needed to join this church and commit myself to all it had to offer. The good, the bad, the happy and the sad. I needed to take full advantage of all its wonders.”

“And I have and I am so grateful for all of it. It has been such a wondrous experience. I love to listen to the ministers each Sunday morning. I have met and fallen in love with the most dedicated volunteers in the world. They spend so much time and energy to make this church a special place for me and for all of us. They pour their expertise, their love, their attention into so many aspects of this church to provide us with so much. This is a very special community of people. I am so blessed to be part of it.”

In addition to all her other activities, today Karin is a member of the membership council, volunteers to feed the homeless with CARITAS, greets once a month, is a member of the auction committee, volunteers in the nursery and is a member of the stewardship committee. Older members warn her about burn-out. She just smiles and keeps on volunteering. Here’s a young woman who truly believes that you wouldn’t volunteer if you didn’t get satisfaction in return. Her already busy life has gotten busier – but in a very fulfilling way.

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