Why My Pastor is Awesome

This Sunday, after a long weekend of family and fun, I attended a special service at my church, to confer the status of Minister Emeritus on Dan Larsen, and celebrate his 19 years of service to the church.

I started attending the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Woodstock (then known as the Congregational Unitarian Church of Woodstock) sometime around the age of…six, I believe.  I don’t actually remember.  My family started going because of Dan – he had been the minister at the Methodist church around the corner from us, and my parents liked him so well there that when he switched churches, so did we.  As it turned out, Unitarianism was a great fit for us, and I know I, for one, am unequivocally a Unitarian Universalist no matter who the minister. But we have Dan to thank for leading us there.

My parents were married by Dan on October 20, his wedding anniversary, about a year and a half before I was born.  Dan and his wife, Pat, lived around the corner from us my whole childhood.  I dog-sat for their dog, Amos, and attended their church picnics.  Every year, Pat and Dan went out with my parents for their joint anniversary. 

Dan came 19 years ago to a church community suffering from a serious breach and the loss of almost 20 members, and through his leadership, helped rebuild the community.  I don't remember the church as it was when I came to it, but as I became older and more involved, my memories are of a church family that was whole - thanks in large part to Dan.  By his calculations (so he said at the service on Sunday,) Dan preached over 800 sermons at UUCW; The one that stands out most vividly in my mind is a Christmas Eve sermon wherein he re-told the story of the birth of Christ with the characters poor immigrants in McHenry County.  When I was 14 and coming to terms with my bisexuality and struggling with coming out to my mother, Dan counseled me.  He was a great leader, and the church and its members wouldn’t be where they are today without him.

On top of all this, Dan is truly one of the most giving, passionate, caring people I know.  He helped start a number of groups and programs dedicated to social justice and aiding vulnerable populations.  No matter how much he was giving, he always found a way to give more to those who needed it.  I truly believe that if Dan were down to his last dollar, he would give it away to a person in need of a bite of food.  His compassion and passion for justice are truly awe-inspiring, and without people like him, our world would be a darker place.  He exemplifies the UU principles in an inspiring way.

I am so glad I was able to attend this service, and celebrate the work of a truly great neighbor, minister, and community leader, and I look forward to seeing the great work Dan continues to do (especially now that he no longer faces the task of writing another 800 sermons.)