The theme for our program year is “The Welcome of a Steadfast God: Inviting All the Questions.” With that great theme in mind, we have begun collecting faith statements from congregation members of all walks of life. The pastors have identified specific individuals who have been invited to share. We expect that this project will illustrate the diversity of experience of this church community, reconnect our faith to our shared church life, and tell Central’s story in a new way. From September 2026 to August 2027, you can expect to learn the faith stories of your fellow church community members in the Faith Statements Project.
Tell us about your family and formative years. Growing up, who in your family and/or community influenced your faith?
I grew up in an orthodox Indian family with pious ritual practices. So, faith formation was loaded with many questions about rituals. Growing up in Bengal, I’ve experienced the reverence of “divine feminine” – all girls were typically referred to as Maa or mother. Luckily, I got to spend my teenage years culturing various faiths and discovered a simpler way, especially when my maternal grandmother summarized it: body being the temple and soul/spirit being the divine presence.
Tell us about any faith milestones or touchstones in your life. What significant moments did you feel close to God?
I discovered God’s omnipresence at around 10 years old as I learned to listen to an inner voice despite many different opinions from many responsible adults around me. To date, I see him answering my prayers and reasoning with me in my inner voice. Sometimes it’s an elder in the church guiding me to talk with someone I might not have noticed; sometimes it’s a total stranger I’m interacting with, so I have no preconceived notions but a completely open mind.
What anchors your faith to Central? Can you think about the answer to this question in terms of your senses (i.e. sight/sound/smell/taste)?
Faith before any tradition or practice anchors my faith to Central. The bell that rings at the beginning of service is like the switch that orients us all in the brief refueling for our souls. Then, based on season and individual preference, there are many options to engage with the community and manage interactions that help us live our individual purpose.
What is your favorite part of worship? If you don’t regularly attend worship services, how do you connect with God on a regular basis?
Singing hymns is my favorite part of the worship service. I’m not skilled, but losing individuality as we sing together is a great reminder of us all being HIS beloved children.
What is something you are looking forward to in your continued faith formation?
I love the personal interactions in the fellowship hall. It’s fun to discover what makes some of our congregation special or how some wise souls make us feel special with their kindness. I hope to pass along all the good vibes I get to gather at church in my many interactions, always to let folks experience HIS unconditional love. After all, God is Love.