The year was 1984 and I was invited to a service at an interfaith community in Doylestown, PA called Pebble Hill. It had a reputation of being a ‘hippie church,’ where people experienced God in their own way, without restriction. Music, art, drama were all part of the celebrations. Songs of peace were sung. It has been a come as you are place from Day 1. People of all stripes, backgrounds, gender expression, sexual orientation, skin hues and socio-economic status are welcome there. The words that are inscribed on the wall behind the pulpit are “We live a life by love transformed-by spirit empowered-by creative imagination guided-in peace with all.”Â
This is not a suit and tie, dress and heels kind of church. Jeans and tie dye, shorts and sneakers are how people are often decked out. Dogs are welcome and meander throughout the room, stopping to be petted. I had been attending off and on over the past nearly 40 years, petting dogs and hugging people.
It is a place where social activism thrives. Putting legs under our beliefs and putting money where our mouths are. Pebble Hill is known as a peace site, and displays a peace pole which is an obelisk that carry the words May Peace Prevail on Earth in four different languages.
I knew I needed to be there today, since our former minister, Gary Culp was visiting from Sayulita, Mexico where he and his wife Jennifer had relocated many years ago, following his retirement in the early 2000s. They are happy expats there and at one point had run a school for children of other expats. I’m not sure if they are still doing that, but I imagine they made it fun for the students.
When I walked in the room, my heart swelled. It was filled with many of the people I had known for decades. Most of us have grey hair. Some of us need canes or walkers to get around. We are now seasoned people, hopefully, not just older, but wiser. As Gary began to speak to the congregation, I felt like the calendar pages were turning backward and I was in my 20s as I was in 1984 and he was in his 40s. The theme was A Time To Embrace: Love. The opening song was a Pebble regular called Beautiful Sunday that got us up our feet. The service proceeded with messages of unity and peace in the face of challenging times. Gary reminded us that no matter how frightening things feel, all will be well. He has a deep sense of spiritual connection and I trust his perspective. The song made popular by iconic folk singer Pete Seeger, Turn, Turn, Turn, reminded me that there is a season for everything and that when world events seem hopeless, change is inevitable. When we get together in mutual support, we thrive.
When Gary finished speaking, Larry Hall took to the microphone. He too has been a vital part of the community and became the coordinating minister a few years after Gary left our pulpit. One message jumped out at me, about events and people coming into our lives on purpose and with a purpose, such as it was when he met his wife Gimone. Sadly, she passed a little more than four years ago but her spirit was felt surrounding Larry.
At the end of the service, we were reminded that The Times They Are A’Changin’. May we be easily able to change with them.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
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