Ken and Regina Carlson

Ken and Regina Carlson

Regina:  About eight years ago, my sweet hubby and I went to a Sunday service at Beacon, to see what it was like.  Well, we’ve pretty much gone every Sunday since then.  It’s so good to have a time to pause, to meditate, to have glorious music and intellectual stimulation from stellar staff, to be with other good folks eager for community and committed to social justice.  One of many ways we experience those joys at Beacon is in our Community Group.

Beacon gathers small groups of congregants to meet biweekly, on a continuing basis, with a curriculum of short readings and questions, to learn about ourselves and one another while discussing important ideas, values, and experiences.  In our community groups, through the years, we’ve had thoughtful, touching conversations about ideas, our lives, and our world, and a wonderful opportunity to know other people more deeply and to reflect on our values.

Ken: As we experienced how valuable the community and services of Beacon are to us, I decided to contribute to its well being by joining the finance committee.  I was soon involved in modeling the pledge-giving of the congregation.  Doing this, I came to realize how much Beacon depends on the generosity of its members to support all the staff and programs that we enjoy and offer to the community, and to understand the stark choices that would face us if our pledges fall short. So, contributing our fair share became a requirement to us as members of Beacon.