About 20 years ago I decided to start going to church again.
Someone suggested a rather large non-denominational church in San Jose, so that is where I went. I felt lost in the middle of such a large church, and the pastor was spouting a lot of hateful non-acceptance instead of preaching about love. I hung in there for about five years then decided to leave that church.
Some time later, I got married and I shared my vision of attending church on a regular basis with my wife. She thought that sounded good, but she was raised in a Catholic church. Could we find a church home that would fulfill both of our spiritual needs? We decided to try some neighborhood churches and started with the uniquely shaped church not far from where we live.
It only took one visit to realize that we were home. Pastor Gen and the entire congregation welcomed us; we especially liked the message of love and acceptance of everyone. And I do mean everyone. As we like to say, Jesus never turned anyone away and neither do we.
Darryl Alford
I grew up in the Catholic Church and was a nun for 6+ years. When I realized I was gay, a many-years-long struggle began because I no longer felt welcome in the Catholic Church. Finally I ended the struggle, came to peace, and walked away from formal participation in the Church.
Many years later my partner started visiting several different Churches, looking for the right one for her. One Sunday in September 2005 she came home and suggested I go back with her the following Sunday to the Church she had just visited. She told me she had found a Church that really resonated with her. I agreed to go.
At the end of my first visit to the Congregational Community Church of Sunnyvale I knew this was the Church for me – exactly the type of welcoming and strongly spiritual Church I had been searching for for 20 years. I was home.
Maybe you will find our Church is home to you too. I invite you to find out. Come check us out.
Marilyn
Some time ago, a friend had invited us to a Sunday service here and several months later our son suggested this church and Pastor Gen for his confirmation process. That was 5 years ago. We were a bit apprehensive when we came the first time without our family friend. But our anxiety left us when we realized that the folks here are low key, sincere and fun with diverse backgrounds.
Sometimes, I come a bit earlier just to sit, to enjoy the church building with the sun shining through the large windows or to gaze at the memorial garden outside. This Church, Pastor Gen with her inspiring sermons, the uplifting music from Tatiana, the welcome from the other members, all of that is what helps me readjust my personal compass on Sundays.
From Monday to Friday, the common work pressure in Silicon Valley, the parenting challenges with teenagers, the girations of the stock market, the US domestic and foreign politics and other things weigh me down and contribute to my loss of 'True North'. If you read 'Seven habits of highly effective people' you remember the image of your life's ladder leaning on the wrong wall. Well, for me, on Sunday my ladder get's readjusted, gets moved to the proper wall. On Sunday, I hear about the historic Jesus and what his life means for me today. On Sunday, I drive home with the melody of the last hymn in my ear and with the sermon or the conversations with others during fellowship hour on my mind..
Had I been looking for a Church to network and advance my career, to meet bible thumping experts who watch the '700 Club' on TV, I would have been disappointed. But I was rather (not that I knew it at the time) looking for a place to be (re-)energized for a faith based life. Today, I am happy to learn about the life of Jesus, the politics and culture of his time and what his life and death means for me here, today. I see the bible as a human recollection of a divine experience, a collection of truths.
We are a small congregation. We're a family style Church in Silicon Valley. We are part of the United Church of Christ (UCC). And the UCC motto of "God is still speaking" or "Never put a period where God has put a comma," may just speak to you. If it does,
I look forward to meeting you!
Markus Berber
My parents were devout Christian Scientists and there was hardly a Sunday we weren’t in church. When I was old enough to make my own decisions, I went my own direction. And that direction didn’t include going to church.
Two years in the Peace Corps in Thailand gave me an introduction to Buddhism. But, that interest faded upon returning to the United States.
It was over 30 years later that religion came back into my life.
Actually, it was my wife who pointed us in that direction. When I asked her what she wanted to do for Mothers’ Day (this was about 4 years ago), she let me know she wanted to attend Sunday service at the Congregational Community Church of Sunnyvale.
We attended that Mothers’ Day and haven’t stopped. We were baptized a year later. Joined the church about a month later. And continue to attend weekly even though we moved to Morgan Hill a year ago and round-trip to church is no longer 2 miles, it’s 66 miles.
My guess is that If you fervently believe that every word of the Bible is absolutely true, or, if you are a fervent, prosyletizing atheist, you probably won’t be too pleased with our church. But, if you’re somewhere – actually, anywhere – in between these two poles, I think you owe it to yourself to drop in some Sunday at 10:30.
For example, you might just . . .
- Find out about a church that says "God is still speaking." (And, "no" we don't hear voices.)
- Encounter a pastor - our Pastor Gen - who's been known to say "The Bible is full of many truths. And, some actually happened."
- Learn about what some scholars believe was the meaning of "turn the other cheek" and "walk the extra mile" (Hint: It's just the opposite of the notion that Christians should be doormats).
- Meet a diverse, warm, and welcoming group of people who make you feel at home (which is what happened to me).
- Who knows what else?
Ted Feely
I enjoy attending Congregational Community Church of Sunnyvale because the windows are so beautiful, the space is so strong and peaceful, the lovely live music ranges from folk to classical, and the messages are about the healing, challenging Christ.
I leave feeling more centered and whole, with new interest in and hope for the world.
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