Betty chose the Unitarian Universalist Church of Midland (UUCOM) because of “acceptance by others of my unorthodox views.” She finds the people to be welcoming, curious and searching. Betty, a retired legal secretary, volunteers with the Permian Basin Master Gardeners, Crisis Intervention Unit, and is a reading tutor at Crockett Elementary School. Her hobbies include reading, tennis and gardening.

Sally likes the fact that “people think outside the box and know they don’t have all the answers.” Sally finds the friends and members to be accepting, friendly, warm and fun. Sally, a social worker, still finds time in her hectic schedule to volunteer with Keep Midland Beautiful and supervised parent/child visitations. Her interests include art and reading. Sally said this about her family, “We’re a diverse group—racially, culturally, spiritually—but we get along fine.”

The main reason Richard chose UUCOM is that he is “free to build his own theology without being constrained by creeds or dogmas.” Friendly, spiritually mature and tolerant of non-conventional beliefs and opinions is how Richard describes the people at UUCOM. Richard volunteers with Midland Needs to Read and is interested in physical fitness, reading and travel.

Amber has stayed because she found “community, commonality, and spiritual structure”. They find the people to be welcoming, caring and intelligent. The Scotts are extremely busy and still adjusting to “life after baby” (Garen), new home and career change.

They wanted to continue their UU affiliation after moving to Midland from Ft. Worth. Linda finds that a UU community provides a place where she can grow spiritually in a non-creedal environment. The McConathys find UUCOM members to be diverse and warm and accepting. Linda, a retired teacher and hospice RN, volunteers with Midland Memorial Hospital surgical waiting. Walter who is a researcher and educator is interested in stamps, gardening and politics. Linda loves to read, cook, travel and is learning Spanish. Linda and Walt have one son, Jon, who lives in St. Louis and is “getting married finally”!

The most meaningful reason that Jean helped to found the UU Church of Midland is “real freedom of belief”. She enjoyed the open discussions with like minded people. Jean is now retired but volunteers by collecting magazines for the hospital. Her interests include early American history. Her favorite films are Casablanca and Manchurian Candidate.

Tom chose the Unitarian Universalist Church of Midland because of our lack of dogma, and the acceptance (and celebration) of the realities of life. Tom described the Church members to be “compassionate toward the human race”. Tom serves on the Midland County Library Board and collects miniature books. His favorite authors include William Faulkner and Toni Morrison.

According to Alicia, the members are diverse in their beliefs yet supportive of everyone. A master gardener, Alicia volunteers with the Master Gardeners of the Permian Basin. She loves to read, garden, communing with nature and the expression of energy in life.

Friendly and politically liberal is how Jean and Linda described the people at UUCOM. Their favorite church activities include circle suppers and the auction for socialization and good conversation. Jean volunteers with the Bicycle Club and political organizations. Linda likes to work in her garden, watch hummingbirds and spend time with her children and grandchildren. Jean’s hobbies included sailing and bicycling.

Sam chose the Unitarian Universalist Church of Midland because of “religious eclecticism and tolerance”. He finds the people here to be congenial and a good support group and a “good green oasis in our regional desert”. Sam, a retired consulting environmentalist/geologist, enjoys hiking, walking labyrinths, bicycling and yoga. His favorite movies include The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca.