Moses and Anita Taylor – Two People to Meet
28 years of marriage; 12 years of service
Moses and Anita Taylor are two HCUCC members you should definitely meet if you haven’t already. Moses, a deacon, often assists as an usher or a greeter. You will probably recognize his smiling face.
The Taylors first met in Anita’s home city of Montreal. Moses spotted her while vacationing there. Finding her intriguing, he soon got to know her much better. For a number of years, they lived in Boston where Moses worked at the Harvard University Store. Although he is officially retired now, he happily works part-time. Anita worked full-time at clerical positions for a number of years, but she has now retired, as well. They have shared 28 years of marriage together.
When Moses and Anita moved to Charlotte from Boston in 1999, they received a postcard invitation to visit HCUCC. During Moses‘ first attempt to visit, he was “technically” turned away. When he arrived at the front door, Donna Collins (with her most welcoming and apologetic smile) was meeting people at the door to explain that no service was being held that day since the pastor, Randall Mishoe, and the majority of the members were in Blowing Rock at our annual retreat. Because of Donna‘s warm welcome, Moses decided to give us a second chance.
Moses admits at first he was a bit uncomfortable. Not only was he new to Charlotte, he had no friends at the church, and was the only African-American in the congregation that Sunday. But, Moses explained, “I enjoyed the music, and I liked what I heard Rev. Mishoe speak from the pulpit.” He also found the length of our service to his liking. Moses soon realized he appreciated the welcome he received and the blessing he found at HCUCC.
Anita was recovering from a knee operation and did not attend with Moses that day. But in one of those miracles of the moment, Anita’s therapist at Carolinas Medical Center-University City was Pam McGill (then a long time member) who told her about HCUCC and encouraged Anita to attend. When Anita and Moses visited several weeks later, she saw Pam, and Anita considered this a sign that she and Moses were right where God wanted them to be.
Among the myriad of ministry opportunities at HCUCC, Moses and Anita enjoy most working with our homeless neighbors with our Room in the Inn ministry. Anita enjoys helping to set up meals and Moses is in charge of transporting our neighbors to the church. HCUCC is very grateful to have engaged members like Moses and Anita who live out Christ’s example of service by volun-teering in the ministries of our church.