Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County

History, 1964: The Wandering Year

After we left Group Hall, where to meet became a problem. We moved about, returning to the use of member's homes and to the new sanctuary at the College Avenue Congregational Church. Then, the Jewish Congregation, which previously had let us meet in their old synagogue downtown, said we could use their new social hall on Sherwood Avenue. However, with the kosher kitchen off limits it wasn't long before we missed the coffee communion and we looked elsewhere. For a time we rented the Community Center Building at 800 East Morris, using the social hall for services and the upstairs room for religious education programs. Even with all the moving about the programs continued with a marvelous mix; visiting ministers, community and college speakers, dramatic productions, musical programs, speakers from the fellowship and children's presentations. By the end of 1963 the group felt it was time to find a permanent home, a home of our own.

Minister:

In February 1962, Rev. Boyd Tucker came out of retirement at age 69 to lead the Fellowship for the next five years. He was a Universalist who had been a Methodist Missionary in India. He had known and worked as secretary to Rabindranath Tagore and other prominent Indian leaders. Since Rev. Tucker had a retirement income he willingly agreed to serve for a modest salary.

Religious Education:

Edith Wheeler and Helen Cooperider were in charge of the children's activities. They were active in "The Kenya Project", which Peggy Mensinger had a big part in setting up due to her interest in the foreign student program at MJC. The children learned about African culture, exchanged letters, had an exhibit and presented a program for the adults of the Fellowship. One Sunday Hazel and Roy Hall and their daughter Barbara, wearing costumes from Peru, entertained the children with Peruvian songs and dances.

Social Action:

Racial equality was the big field of action during the early years. Rev. Tucker led the community walk for racial equality, which a number of local churches joined. Howard TenBrink helped to establish the Stanislaus Co. Memorial Society. Our women formed a women's group, the "Fellowship Females".