My Story
When I look back on my childhood, I see the call to a religiously inspired life has always been present. I have been connected to a church or spiritual community for as long as I can remember. I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ, into a Jewish family—my mother’s parents and family ancestry were Jewish. Although I do not claim it as a religious identity, the cultural and spiritual ties informed much of my childhood. My parents divorced when I was very young and my father remarried and had two more daughters. Anne, is three years younger and Gina who is eleven years younger. Technically they are my half sisters, though we have never regarded each other as such—we are sisters—with all the ups and downs that come with that relationship despite having different mothers. We love each other fiercely. I have often said that I got the best of both worlds; I get to be my mother's only child and an older sister. Growing up, I attended several different protestant churches with my father and sisters. I have fond memories of searching for the left-over communion bread with my sister after worship, joining the children’s choir, and being a reader of liturgy. I loved being in church and I loved worship—the rituals, the music, the hymns. I felt this deep sense of awe and wonder pulse through me during worship services and looked for ways to connect to that feeling, that I now name the sacredness of life, throughout my youth and young adulthood.
I found Unitarian Universalism in my late 20's shortly after I moved to Los Angeles. At that time in my life, an interest in earth-centered traditions fostered my growing ties to naturalism and the sacredness of nature along with a sense of the divine that was not fixed, not dogmatic and open to experience and interpretation. It also exposed me to the burgeoning environmental movement and pushed me to think about the choices I made. When I began attending the local UU church, I felt right at home. My own diverse religious experience keeps me open to that same diversity of experience and truth for others. This UU faith reminds me to “Draw the Circle Wide” in my Ministry welcoming all on their own search for truth and meaning.
For ten years I served as the Director of Religious Education at Neighborhood UU Church in Pasadena. I love working in the church, serving our families, children and youth. Not long after I began working there, I felt a calling for this work as a vocation. I felt at home in my work life in a way I had never felt before. I instantly recognized that this work fit me; it matched my gifts and strengths and I felt an intuitive sense for the job, for service to this community and to this faith. In the ensuing years, my call grew into a call for wider ministry. I am passionate about multigenerational ministry and youth ministry in particular, about connecting to our deepest selves and to one another. I also have a deep passion for social justice, following the legacy deeply rooted in our UU history.
Our Family
I met my husband, Michael Alvarado, in high school, on the first day of school. We became fast friends and got married just after college. I had not planned to be married so young, but seventeen years later, we have no regrets. We have two amazing boys, William (9 years) and Gavin (5 years). They keep us busy and laughing all the time. My husband and children have been active in our current church; they all consider themselves UUs. When we light our chalice at the dinner table and sing the UU Principles song, I feel so thankful to have them growing up as UUs. We are blessed to share this faith together.
I found Unitarian Universalism in my late 20's shortly after I moved to Los Angeles. At that time in my life, an interest in earth-centered traditions fostered my growing ties to naturalism and the sacredness of nature along with a sense of the divine that was not fixed, not dogmatic and open to experience and interpretation. It also exposed me to the burgeoning environmental movement and pushed me to think about the choices I made. When I began attending the local UU church, I felt right at home. My own diverse religious experience keeps me open to that same diversity of experience and truth for others. This UU faith reminds me to “Draw the Circle Wide” in my Ministry welcoming all on their own search for truth and meaning.
For ten years I served as the Director of Religious Education at Neighborhood UU Church in Pasadena. I love working in the church, serving our families, children and youth. Not long after I began working there, I felt a calling for this work as a vocation. I felt at home in my work life in a way I had never felt before. I instantly recognized that this work fit me; it matched my gifts and strengths and I felt an intuitive sense for the job, for service to this community and to this faith. In the ensuing years, my call grew into a call for wider ministry. I am passionate about multigenerational ministry and youth ministry in particular, about connecting to our deepest selves and to one another. I also have a deep passion for social justice, following the legacy deeply rooted in our UU history.
Our Family
I met my husband, Michael Alvarado, in high school, on the first day of school. We became fast friends and got married just after college. I had not planned to be married so young, but seventeen years later, we have no regrets. We have two amazing boys, William (9 years) and Gavin (5 years). They keep us busy and laughing all the time. My husband and children have been active in our current church; they all consider themselves UUs. When we light our chalice at the dinner table and sing the UU Principles song, I feel so thankful to have them growing up as UUs. We are blessed to share this faith together.