PeaceBang’s Sabbatical Road Trip: The Happy Church People Project, 2009

October 14, 2007 on 10:03 pm | In PeaceBanging Around |

Hi friends,

I have a sabbatical planned for the winter/spring of 2009. There are so many things I would like to do on this sabbatical. I would like to go to Taize in France and sing with the beautiful folks there. I would like to visit Yale Divinity School’s Institute for Sacred Music and study liturgy. I would like to become more fluent in Spanish. I would like to live abroad for at least a month (England? Spain? Would you like me to be your guest minister for a month?). I would like to take intensive dance classes and finally fulfill my fantasy of hammering some of the dance moves I faked through so many musical theatre performances.
I would like to lie on the beach in Santorini. I would like to visit Africa. I have to do a directed study for my D.Min., which will take some study and writing time.

I know I can’t do all of these things or even most of them. But one thing I bet I CAN do with your help is to take a U.S. road trip and visit readers of this blog!! There’s a catch: you would have to welcome me to your home, and TAKE ME TO A CHURCH SERVICE and let me collect stories of why you and your people love church, and each other.

My theory is that there’s not enough celebration of the ministries in our midst that do work, that are joyous and appreciative and where people are making a genuine effort to love one another as He loved us (and UU’s, you go ahead and translate that however you like).

I call it PeaceBang’s Happy Church People Project. Would you like to participate? Start writing to me and I’ll put a big map on the wall and start pinning where you write from. If I can make a coherent road trip out of it, we’re totally ON.

31 Comments »

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  1. Well, my goodness, I cannot believe I’m the first commenter. By all means add Portland OR to your list. I’m hoping to take you out for Argentinian (?) Peruvian (?) - what was the name of that restaurant you suggested?

    And, I was on your other site and hope you’re ok. Were you really in the ER? Sending out prayers just in case.

    Comment by juniper — October 14, 2007 #

  2. Another offer for Portland, OR. And I’ll take you out for Ethiopian food! Juniper may be able to offer more comfy accomodations though. We have cats, dog, and children. : )

    Comment by marcia — October 15, 2007 #

  3. Northern Virginia! But you know my church, and as awesomesauce as my youth are, that might not be interesting for you. Hmmm… Want to go to my mom’s Presby church and hear why she loves it? Pilgrims is a really complex place and I’d love to have you along to snark on the new decor.

    Wherever we go, it better have an eleven o’clock service, because I’m taking you out Saturday night and once you try the Mojitos at this one place I know, you’re not going to want to get up for the early service…

    CC
    Who might actually have a kitchen again by then as we’re starting the renovations now.

    Comment by Chalicechick — October 15, 2007 #

  4. Oh I would love to have you if you come through Michigan! I will drop you a note. :)

    -Tandaina

    Comment by Tandaina — October 15, 2007 #

  5. If you go to Michigan and want all the excitement of traveling to foreign countries, you would be most welcome in Ontario.

    Comment by michelle — October 15, 2007 #

  6. Okay, I can’t offer you a particular place since we live on the road. And I can’t offer you a particular church service, since we are CLF members.

    But if your path crosses ours, we’ll take you to a local church in our Rock Star Bus (TM). If nothing else, that church will never forget you :-)

    Comment by Louise — October 15, 2007 #

  7. I’m in Chicago, and you can stay with me, and then see the church I”m always bragging about.

    Comment by Ellis — October 15, 2007 #

  8. I read you all the time, but don’t comment that often. I would love to have you stop in Ohio (Cincinnati). We have 4 UU churches in the area; my particular one is a suburban church. We also have a guest room that you are welcome to stay in.

    If you are interested in growth and growing churches, I serve as the Extension Com. chair and am connected to some great minister and lay leaders throughout the Heartland district, if you wwant to explore this area. Also, the Columbus church (Belletini) is a short 2 hour trip away.

    Let me know if you are interested; jdapkins@uunhf.org

    Comment by cincinnati mom — October 15, 2007 #

  9. St Gregory of Nyssa awaits you! You’ll want to come to the Church of the One True Sack (our food pantry) on a Friday as well as the riot of a capella singing and dancing that’s Sunday church. (We might ask you to sing the Sh’ma to open the service.) And you may have to attend a drag show or two. (Peaches Christ, perhaps?) But we can’t wait to eat and praise God together. Please visit.

    Comment by Sara Miles — October 15, 2007 #

  10. We’d love to have you in Wisconsin. My husband and I are UU & Presbyterian and both belong to great churches. You might have to visit twice, though, to see BOTH places!! (And then there’s another church I used to belong to in Chicago that’s worth yet another visit.) We’d be honored to have you. Best wishes for your trip.

    Comment by DairyStateMom — October 15, 2007 #

  11. Want to visit us in Alaska?
    If you’re going to be in Portland, it’s not all that far!

    Comment by Heather — October 15, 2007 #

  12. If you’re coming this far, puh-leez include Northern CA on your list! The SF Bay Area has lotsa churches, big and small, and there are many fans living out here who follow Beauty Tips uh, religiously. The congregation to worship with is in Oakland. Put us on your map!!! People on the east coast don’t show us Californians no respect; maybe if YOU come…

    Karen

    Comment by Karen — October 15, 2007 #

  13. Want to visit Wyoming? It’s like nowhere else I’ve lived, and I’ve lived in Southern Illinois; Chicago area; New Haven; Northern Michigan; Central Michigan; Ottawa, Ontario; St. Catharines, Ontario; Syracuse, New York; the Central Coast of California; Silicon Valley; Fort Collins, Colorado; and the Denver area, as well.

    We have no UU churches hereabouts. I’m UM: our congregation is working together (just started) to be home to a fellowship of transsex and intersex folks, and I will shortly be able to attend a local prayer meeting of conservative pastors, by invitation.

    Now if that isn’t tempting, I don’t know what would be. :D

    Comment by Mary Ann — October 15, 2007 #

  14. Keep ‘em coming, folks!! This is getting good! How about southerners? I know I have friends in Baton Rouge, LA and New Orleans. Anyone else out there?

    Comment by PeaceBang — October 15, 2007 #

  15. Peacebang, I’ll make you a deal. I’ve got a year to start going to a UU church in Houston and I will take you there in 2009. Also, Rothko Chapel. http://www.menil.org/rothko.html

    Also, there’s a fantastic James Turrell Quaker house that my friend was married in. The Here’s a teeny tiny video: http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/turrell/clip2.html#
    Sold yet?

    Comment by Mary — October 16, 2007 #

  16. Also, Joel Osteen! How can you pass up the largest, fastest growing and most diverse congregation in America? F’realz, come to Houston. http://joelosteen.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer?pagename=JOM_homepage

    Comment by Mary — October 16, 2007 #

  17. On your way south from Michigan and Chicago, you are more than welcome to stop in Philo, IL. We are “The Center of the Universe” - our rusty old water tower says so. The church is in the middle of our village of 1500 souls. You could preach, or sing, or whatever you’d like, and after worship we’d love to feed you a Presbyterian potluck.

    Comment by cindy, really — October 16, 2007 #

  18. You are welcome in Kansas City anytime. We are a good stopping place going east to west or north to south.

    Comment by Melissa — October 16, 2007 #

  19. Sold, sold, sold. I’ve been wanting to visit the Jung Center in Houston to meet one of my favorite writers, James, um, … well, um, I really *do* love his writings. Will check my libes later.

    Comment by PeaceBang — October 16, 2007 #

  20. When you’re done visiting Juniper in Portland (or before, whichever works out best for you), come by Maple Valley, Washington (close to Seattle). The hubby and I would really love to have you visit! Oh, yeah, we can cook and bake, too. We attend Eastshore UU church in Bellevue and we love it! If you come here, we’ll take you to the ballet (my personal passion).

    Comment by Rachel — October 16, 2007 #

  21. PB,
    Come to Chicago. There are many happy church people (and churches)there. Many of your loyal readers here will be glad to show you how much the town has changed since you left Northwestern.

    Comment by Anonymous — October 16, 2007 #

  22. What about those of us who are not in community at the moment? What about a meet-up at your choice of establishments in The Greatest City in the World, my beloved NYC?

    Comment by Peg Schuler-Armstrong — October 16, 2007 #

  23. If I’m not in Italy, you’d be welcome in East/Middle Tennessee. I’m Episcopalian, but I bet you’d love our church.

    Comment by Ann — October 16, 2007 #

  24. I belong to one of those (choke, gasp!) conservative fundamental churches. We are a happy group and all about reaching out to others. I would love to meet you; I enjoy your blogs.
    We are in the NW corner of Wyoming up by Yellowstone Park.

    Comment by Carol Hill — October 17, 2007 #

  25. Hey,
    You need to come to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and view the awesome splendor that is Fountain Street Church. Even though I don’t serve there anymore, I know the folks that do. It is a cathedral church for religious liberals (stained glass for Darwin and Erasmus as well as Jesus, Moses, and the other usual suspects).
    Nurya

    Comment by Nurya — October 17, 2007 #

  26. Hiya, Peacebang… I come from chicago but am in Kalamazoo MI right now… would love to have you visit, we have two UU churches in the area and I’ve been impressed by both fellow clergy.

    Elizabeth, former blogger

    Comment by elizabeth — October 17, 2007 #

  27. Before you go all crazy, you might take a baby step and do a pulpit exchange at mine…

    Comment by fausto — October 17, 2007 #

  28. I’m about 15 miles soutwest of you, so we can commision you off and pack you a pic-in-ic basket for the trip. I’d love to bless you on your way.
    Katherine

    Comment by Katherine — October 17, 2007 #

  29. Peacebang, we’d love to have you come to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We could take you to the church we go to in Durham, (as do my parents– and I know they would be delighted to see you, too), which is beautiful, with wonderful people who make great music. They have a slightly different way of handling joys and concerns that I think is quite moving.
    Will and I would be so happy to have you stay in our home! It has become even less tidy since I began grad school (everywhere you turn, there are interesting books), but the guest bed is comfy, I can make yummy buttermilk pancakes, and if you are suffering from cat withdrawl, there is a dreamsicle fluffy one here who loves people with laps and gentle hands.

    Comment by greenseagirl — October 19, 2007 #

  30. Definitely post your tour dates so your readers can schedule a little party for you! (I’m in the Cincinnati area)

    Comment by Madgebaby — October 20, 2007 #

  31. How about north of the Chesapeake Bay in Havre de Grace, MD? It’s beautiful and we’d love to have you!

    Comment by April — October 23, 2007 #

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