On Sunday, 10th January, the congregation was asked to respond to the question 'How has this community changed your life?' These are their responses:

• A feeling of belonging – a home, a place where words are given to my deepest feelings, a place where I can be without a fight or judgement.
  
  
• This community has made me feel connected… I felt very distant emotionally for a while so feeling connected and a ‘part of something’ is like a whole new life… one that I have wanted for a while, but wasn’t sure how to find.
  
  
• I came here for the first time before Christmas. Attending that service answered a deep longing that had been re-awoken in my heart for a sense of togetherness, unity and love from a community that is wider than my immediate family. It felt like coming home. It’s been a short experience so far, but I love the kindness, openness and fun of the people in this congregation. Thank you for your work, in my short time of knowing about Unity I have been deeply touched by the message.
  
  
  
  
• The existence and spirit of this community has fulfilled a need and longing I’ve always felt – to be able to participate and belong to an open spiritual community that meets me as I am
  
  
• It has reminded me where I came from, and what choices I have in my own life, enabled by this heritage. I hope this will be a place where I can be sustained and supported.
  
  
• I’ve never been to a church like this – just knowing it exists is a life changing perspective.
  
  
• Introduced me to a congregation of wonderful inspiring and loving friends! The strength of conviction to be me and the inspiration to be a better person. It has given me the sense of belonging to a community that cares.
  
  
• This community is giving me weekly and sometimes daily inspiration and kindness filling me with strength and courage to do amazing things. Thank you!
  
  
• It has brought me some new friends and given me new ideas. It was difficult getting here today – last night my car became stuck on a steep icy ramp leading to my garage, could neither go forward nor backwards, luckily this morning I could reverse down the hill and get here. I think it was worth it!
  
  
• So far probably I haven’t been attending regularly enough for the community to have had much effect on me, but I think of some of the people and their personalities and concerns in between attending. So that is enriching. Also the words and spirit of the hymn – ‘how can I keep from singing’ comes to me on occasions and is uplifting.
  
  
• I feel that as a space to come to this is something which I feel gives me a lot of joy and is light-hearted as a practice. I have never wanted to fully engage in a place like church. But I enjoy the people and the togetherness and feel the goodness. So it’s all good.
  
  
• I have been able to look at life in a different way. I reflect more. I wouldn’t have a focus in life.
  
  
• It has enabled me to connect with my community – those living close by – in a way that otherwise would have been impossible, and to create, with them, something magical or religious or spiritual, but certainly something special.
  
  
• The chance to come together to think and to be provoked to think, about matters of spirituality. The chance to sing, especially the traditional hymn tunes! (…and it makes me get out of bed at a reasonable time most Sundays!)
  
  
• Not changed, enhanced - a place of worship to worship and give God thanks.
  
  
• This community has renewed my faith in the power of collective love and questioning the meaning of life.
  
  
• How will this community change your life? Sense of belonging, shared values, a safe place, growth.
  
  
• It feels like home, like living in a small town but without the petty gossip and right wingers.
  
  
• Given the space to explore my historic journey and spirituality and path to my Christian origins. Glad to see the Newington Green Church in use. ‘grateful’.
  
  
• It has given me community where I had none in a new city and country. And also a sense of home when being so far away from my original home.
  
  
• Helped me to see humanity in other people living marginally.
  
  
• By catching me when I was falling. By offering a place I can rely on that is always safe and warm.
  
  
• Becoming more involved with my local community I hope... To be at the heart and with the heart.
  
  
• I am allowed to have my own beliefs and so is everyone else. This allows me to learn more from others.
  
  
• It has helped me gain spirituality. It has restored my faith in humanity through meeting many kind and good people.
  
  
• Being part of this community means that every week, whether good or bad, I know I can look forward to being surrounded by a group of wonderful, accepting and kind people. I feel that my life has been enriched in so many ways and I feel very lucky to be a part of this congregation.
  
  
• It gives me a lot of work but isn’t it great!
  
  
• It has given me a space in London where I know I can feel my idea of the eternal lives & breathes – no constraints, no conditions, no one single way to heaven.
  
  
• I hope to have found a place to go where I can simply be with others with an open heart to thank, pray, be grateful... somewhere I feel comfortable not coming from a religious background myself but feeling very religious/spiritual in my heart.
  
  
• Thank you for welcoming me into this community. I really appreciate it.
  
  
• Coming from a Church of England community to this one has made me believe once again what I believed and knew innately as a child: in the good in people, the good in me, that all are equal & should be treated as such and lastly in the love and power of god.
  
  
• I was shy, but now I welcome and join in activities. I became a Unitarian Christian and my faith grew. I was able to share my faith with others. Now I have many interests and have also learnt a little of other religions. People come from all walks of life and I now share with everyone.