Caught in the Act of Generosity: Sara Wofford
by Christina Socorro Yovovich of the Radical Generosity Committee
20 years ago, Sara T. Wofford joined First Unitarian. The congregation was just small enough to pass the mike during services, sharing joys and concerns. Many see her joyful presence and ease with public speaking, and don’t realize she is an introvert. She loves spending her energy with others, but then “must retire in solitude to recharge.”
Sara began by serving on the board of the CUUPS chapter, Coyote Willow, first as treasurer and then president. She also sang in Spare Parts, writing a song they performed called “The Little Things,” about how little things we do matter and bind us together in service and community. She remembers bringing the lyrics and melody to rehearsal and then watching and participating as they made a whole, musical song in an hour. She also served on the Board of Directors during a time of great change, including hiring an associate minister, the Reverend Angela Herrera Koren.
In 2021, she again took leadership in the Pagan group and began to chair the Healthy Community Committee (HCC): “HCC work has been perhaps one of the most eye-opening and emotionally challenging endeavors I’ve ever engaged in. It has taught me that when we are at our worst, we need each other to act on our values, and give each other grace to make mistakes if we are to remain in community together.”
Sara reflects, “While we were already openly welcoming of gay and lesbian folks (including ministers), we have become more openly affirming of transgender folks too, and I have been a visible part of that process with my own public exploration of gender expression and eventual transition.” Seeing other members’ journeys showed her that First U was a safe place to explore gender expression and then to transition, and she has been told she has done the same for others.
Sara plans to develop more pagan-themed liturgy “including offering customized rituals to individuals and families for events across the lifespan …” She is uncertain if she will pursue a full UU ordination. Instead, she might serve as a lay minister, including training in pastoral counseling. She also is training in Northern Tradition Pagan and magical practice with a teacher in England, which will influence her offerings to CUUPS and the local Pagan community.
Sara says, “Community is who you show up for and who shows up for you … most of the time, my service is my joy.”
