Here I am, Send Me by Catherine Dauber

[Editor's Note: Catherine Dauber, age 90 (though you would never guess it!), had just that morning participated in a fundraising walk for the American Cancer Society. Nevertheless, she looked quite fresh and none the worse for wear as she mounted to the pulpit to deliver this "Moment for Mission" at a recent worship service.]

There have been many influences in my life that have guided me along the way and that brought me to this church home. The first one was that I was raised in a Christian home. During the years my father was a trustee, my grandfather was a senior deacon and my mother was president of the Women's Association. We all attended Sunday School and we three children sat with my parents during the church service. Grace was always said at meals. When I was older I once asked my mother how she managed some tough times and she replied that she asked Jesus for help. I went to church camp where I was inspired and encouraged to be involved in Christian youth activities. As a college student my room mate and I attended a "rally" led by a great missionary, Frank Leubach, who coined the phrase 'Each One Teach One'. We decided to stand up that night and dedicate our lives to God. That was many years ago. I had forgotten about the incident. I just felt that I wanted to serve and be helpful, live as God would want me to, following Jesus as my example.

I graduated with a BA and RN and worked for three years before I married my husband. We were active in that same congregational church. My mother-in-law came to live with us and enjoyed caring for the children so that gave me more time for community service. I attended a prayer group at church that met one morning each week. We had a wonderful leader and this started the habit of daily meditation. I also learned of many inspirational books. In Cleveland I was a member of the YWCA, the LWV (League of Women Voters), and became active in Church Women United, a national movement through which Protestant, Orthodox and Roman Catholic women may express the ecumenical dimensions of their faith through celebration and actions on behalf of justice and peace. I was on the Cleveland board during the 1950's and often volunteered for jobs, so I became President in 1960, which was a great honor and responsibility.

One evening my husband came home ( we had just moved to a new house) and announced that he had been offered a job in Boston with a new company. After 5 months of prayerful consideration we moved to Boston in July 1961. We rented a house on Marlborough Street and came to Old South because it was congregational. The first Sunday we attended it was quite crowded and we sat in the middle section halfway back. During the service tears kept running down my cheeks. I had never gone to another church - every thing was so strange. I felt lost and it seemed a new life was beginning for me.

I knew only one person in Boston, a friend in my nursing class. I called her and she asked if I wanted to volunteer at New England Medical Center as she was doing. I welcomed the opportunity, not only to serve but to make friends. I retired after 34 years, of one day a week there. During this time of transition Old South helped me meet people and become a part of this community. I joined the Women's Guild which met weekly with 2 programs a month. When I went to the national assembly of Church Women United, I met women from Massachusetts and was soon asked to be their social action chairman - a great opportunity to serve others. I heard about the March on Washington in 1963 so I attended and was thrilled along with thousands of others as we sat on the grass under the trees and heard Martin Luther King's voice ringing through the air with his famous words "I have a dream".

As I became more active, I joined other groups which had an interest in young women's education, mainly because Elsbeth Percy asked me and you couldn't say no to Elsbeth. Eventually I became state President of CWU and I was a trustee of Andover Newton Theological School for 20 years. I am only telling of some of my activities that show my motivation. I wanted to be helpful and follow the teachings of Jesus, but I really enjoy meeting people and working together for causes in which I believe, often feeling like Isaiah who said, "Here I am, send me".

My husband and I both had cancer operations and his death was difficult for me, but prayer helped. Of course daily meditation is essential -- you need constant renewal to live your life as you should. Worship on Sundays is important as you join with others who have the same purpose as you. As my theme I like the words "The Art of Living is the Art of Giving". I have loved what I have done all these years. It has been a satisfying life and my friends know that my religion comes first. The church is the most important organization in my life. It is my family. I would like to share this quotation from Robert Courtiss: "God is with us each day, strengthening us to do the work of the kingdom. This is true in the bloom of youth, the time of adulthood, or the beauty of age".

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