Growing up in southern California, my mother was afraid that extremist churches or cults could influence us away from our family and had summerly forbidden us from attending any church services including visiting with friends. However, as long as I can remember, I have felt a closeness to God. I cannot explain it but have counted on that presence in my life; a surety that God is an active presence and an anchor in my life. As a young adult I searched for a church and was baptized in a beautiful Methodist church in North Carolina, but we shortly moved to the mountains of Colorado. Although I periodically attended churches through the years, I did not find a church home until attending Christ Church Cranbrook. My daughter attended Cranbrook so was familiar with Christ Church Cranbrook and finally decided to attend a Sunday 8:00am service. I immediately felt at home. Learning the numerous ways in which church supports communities in need and lives what it means to accept all people into the church, I eventually joined the church. This has been a reverent place of worship and service ever since.