A little background. I am a 37 year old female who grew up in the Catholic church and attended Catholic school from Kindergarten through 8th grade up in New England. I recieved my sacraments through Confirmation which is when I started to shy away from the church. I never really felt a connection with religion or the church, even when I was little, but I had to go. When I started getting older was when I stopped going to church. I believe it was after I recieved Confirmation when I left the church, 9th grade. When I was a senior in high school, a friend of my sister's committed suicide. We had just gone to a baseball game a few weeks ago so I was shaken by her death, my sister was a mess. I was told I'd feel better if I "went back to church". I didn't go. Not long after that my former pastor who was at a different church was accused of pedophilia. During the investigation he was placed in a facility for priests and killed himself. That drove a huge wedge between me and the church.

When I moved to Tennessee in 2004, I was surrounded by evangelicals, something I hadn't experienced in my predominantly Catholic liberal city where I grew up. This ultimately turned me completely against Chritianity. When my dad died in 2011, I heard offers of prayers numerous times, but ultimately was isolated from everyone because I wouldn't go to church. Just last month I lost my mom after 10 years of bad health. I was her caregiver. Again, all the people came forward as rd with prayers and help and within days they were gone and I'm alone once again.

I turned to the UU church because they are about inclusiveness. They believe in helping each other. I've always had major self-esteem issues and have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder exacerbated by the death of my mom. I don't want to be healed. I don't want prayers. I want somewhere that can help each other out in time of need and time of being down. When you're down I will help you out in every way I can so please lend a hand when I'm down.

My main apprehension was my financial struggles. A lot of churches feel like country clubs. The more money you give the more you get. My local UU church is in an affluent area, so that's always scared me a little.

Long read, but I hope I can give everyone an understanding about my situation.