07/12/2026
✨ Need ✨
Church has been part of Norma's life since she was three years old. Growing up in a family of six children near Liverpool, England, her early years were shaped by the aftermath of World War II, when many factories and homes in the area lay in ruins. Her father, a committed left-winger, instilled in her an enduring sense of social justice. "He would talk about injustice being done to people who weren't getting what they deserved," she recalls.
At twenty-two, Norma met Garth at work; he shared her values, and this year they celebrate fifty-five years of marriage. The couple have lived in three countries together — England, Canada, and the United States — and in each one, Norma has sought out and found a church home.
When Garth retired, they settled in Sebastopol. "I can't imagine myself without a church," Norma says. "I feel a real need for a church, even though none of my siblings feel the same way. Just as I need to feel in touch with my family, I need to be in touch with my church." A neighbor suggested she try Community Church, and Norma persuaded Garth to come along. They both joined the choir, and Norma also became active in the Women's Fellowship. The congregation, she says, gave them "an extravagant welcome and provided an outlet for meeting people."
One moment stands out to Norma as especially meaningful to her relationship with the church: the wedding of Alvin and Darrell, when the entire congregation turned out to celebrate. The church's support has extended well beyond worship, too. When Garth developed health problems six years ago, members stepped in to help with the farm, and a group still comes out for planting and harvest seasons. Much of what the farm produces is donated to community members in need.
"Pastor Ben's sermons always give me something to think about," Norma says. "He's really the preacher for the moment. I can't imagine going back to a more traditional church." She draws the contrast sharply: visiting her daughter in Illinois, she found the local church confining by comparison. "I must have a place to worship God, be comfortable with people, help with social justice," she explains. "I can't imagine myself not having a church. I need the church as much as the church needs me."
Looking back, Norma locates the value less in any single event than in an accumulation of small moments. "There are lots of little moments at the church that have had an impact on my life," she says — moments built through years of interactions with fellow members across the church's many programs, each one adding to an experience she calls deeply worthwhile.
Written by Chris Chang Weeks
