Revelations ~ May 2021

This is a monthly column helping us to get to know our friends and members in a deeper way. We thank Monte High for taking the time to do these in-depth interviews for us. This month Monte used his talents to create a beautiful poem for us.

     I love our little, mighty community, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley – how we stand for one another and for what we stand for in the community at large – linking loving arms and waltzing our way into peace. We support one another in so many ways – with our Care Team that helps members in need with services such as providing meals or rides, with worship services that lift our spirits with inspiring sermons and participation in song, by joining small groups and listening to and sharing our stories, by listening deeply to one another and accepting and cherishing our differences and encouraging one another, or by simply being together. We may be small in numbers, yet we are a force in the Grand Valley – whether it be supporting the local homeless and low-income population, sending food to the Navajo nation or advocating and activating peace and justice. Our building is (pre and post pandemic) a hub for nonprofits and those who come together to join forces and organize for peace and justice, and for helping those in need.

     Many of you have not heard the story of our UU Congregation’s history, how we wandered around in the desert for 40 years (actually, closer to 60) until we found our home. The first UU group started up in the 1950s. They met in people’s homes. Since that time our foremothers have met in multiple buildings around the Valley, sharing space with different churches and organizations. The group changed their name a few times, and the number of members fluctuated. They even disbanded for a couple years in the 1970s, only to rise from the ashes and thrive like never before. Most recently we rented a building close to 10th and Grand, and then moved to share space with the Congregational church across from Grand Junction high school. Our weekly worship service was held on Sunday evening. During our time at the Congregational church, we began searching for a building that we could buy, with a mortgage we could afford.

     After inspecting and touring three different locations that didn’t quite work out, an intriguing prospect arose. The Downtown library was selling a building across the street that it used mainly for storage. The building began as a credit union. It had a drive-up window, a vault in the middle of the building that ran from the first floor down into the basement, and a conveyor system in the middle of the main room that hauled books from the basement. How in the world could this possibly work? Yet, the building had a strong foundation. The location was outstanding. And the imagination of our building team members was amazing – if we knock this wall down… and we put up a wall here… remove the conveyor belt and the drive-up window… put in a lift… a sound system… a kitchen and classrooms in the basement… 

     With the help of a generous donor, we were able to get a loan. Some of the work had to be contracted out, but much of it was done by congregants. Thousands of hours of volunteer time went into the remodeling of our building. Many of our congregants poured their blood, sweat and tears into the renovation.

     Though the work continued, and continues to this day, at long last, in June of 2014 we moved into the building and held our first worship service. Such a beautiful space! A place of our own, a place we could truly call home.