By Scott Cullen, Editor, CrossCurrents
Since joining UUCWC a little over two years ago, Margaret Bar-Akiva has brought a rich tapestry of life experiences, shaped by a multicultural upbringing, personal loss, and a deeply held belief in human goodness. In this month’s Q&A, Margaret shares her unique faith journey—one that spans continents, traditions, and languages—as well as what drew her to UUCWC and the connections she’s found here. From French poetry to Armenian cooking, from community service to family time, Margaret’s story is one of quiet strength, thoughtful reflection, and heartfelt gratitude. We’re grateful she’s part of our community.
How long have you been attending UUCWC?
Margaret: Hard to believe but it’s been a little over two years.
What inspired you to visit for the first time and/or join?
Margaret: We moved to Pennington in 2022 under difficult conditions. After my husband passed away, I found myself lost in unfamiliar territory, both literally and figuratively. My daughter suggested that I give UUCWC a try. I’m so glad I listened to her!
What religion were you brought up in?
Margaret: The answer is complicated. I was born into an Armenian family in Israel, so the Armenian Gregorian Orthodox Church was where we worshipped on Sundays. But only on those Sundays when a priest could make it to Haifa from the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem. Attending a French Catholic school for 12 years introduced me to Catholicism, and living among Muslim Arabs introduced me to Islam. Growing up in Israel and later marrying a Jewish man made Judaism a part of my life as well. Eventually, the church I felt most comfortable in was a simple Lutheran Church in Haifa, where the congregants were mostly Jews who believed in Jesus, and the Norwegian pastors assigned to that church delivered sermons in Hebrew.
If you had to describe your faith journey in one word, what would it be?
Margaret: Circuitous.
What committees/ministries at UUCWC have participated in during your time here?
Margaret: Auction, HomeFront, Chalice Circle, Group reading ‘On Tyranny’, and I recently joined Coming into Connections.
What do you like best about being a member of UUCWC?
Margaret: The independent thinking. The liberation that comes from admitting we don’t have all the answers. The illuminating sermons.
What’s one thing about our church community that makes you feel at home?
Margaret: Being accepted for who you are.
What’s a favorite hymn or worship song that brings you comfort?
Margaret: “Soon the Day Will Arrive”. I was not aware until recently that this English version of a song I have loved and sung for decades in Hebrew had been adopted by the UUs.
Do you have a favorite church memory that always makes you smile?
Margaret: Yes, but with embarrassment. On my first visit to the UUCWC the wonderful Rev. Kim greeted me with the (now familiar) kind saying: “It is a brave thing to enter a community for the first time”. And my instinctive, rather rude, response was: “I was raised in the Middle East; you think this is brave?”
What do you do for fun when you’re not at UUCWC or attending an online service or UUCWC-related meeting?
Margaret: One of my three grandsons lives in Pennington, and twice a week, I have the privilege of hanging out with him after school. His inquisitive nature is a painful reminder of how much I don’t know.
I also serve on the board of a non-profit organization that my husband and I founded many years ago. It aims to promote democratic governance in Home Owner Associations (HOAs), and we strive to help homeowners navigate the treacherous waters when they encounter problems with their boards.
Currently, my French poetry class is a joyful reminder of the past and i have begun the daunting and arduous task of writing our family history.
Finally, cooking for friends and family is an Armenian tradition that still has me in its grips and always gives me joy.
What’s one piece of advice that has stuck with you throughout your life?
Margaret: My Mother was a very kind and refined person. Whenever we would encounter someone belligerent or rude for no good reason, I would get offended, but my Mother would say: “We never know what’s going on in that person’s life”. Over the years, I have come to appreciate her wisdom, and these days, I try hard to keep it in mind.
What’s a simple act of kindness that has significantly impacted your life?
Margaret: The ultimate kindness, and not so simple, was the ability of my grandparents and parents to provide us with a happy childhood and remain kind and gentle people, despite the atrocities they endured during the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Turks. They instilled in us the belief in the inherent goodness of mankind, something I try to remind myself of often, especially during these tumultuous times. The story of how they survived and eventually reached Palestine in 1921 to start anew had many miraculous twists and turns.
What’s one skill or talent you have that most people don’t know about?
Margaret: Being a polyglot.
What’s a tradition in your family that you cherish?
Margaret: Definitely, Thanksgiving!
If you could learn a new language overnight, which would you choose?
Margaret: Spanish.
What was the last book you read (Title and Author) that you enjoyed?
Margaret: A friend had given me a book titled Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher. I didn’t realize then how much it would help me to process my loss and deal with grief and aging.
In the spirit of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Colbert Questioner, if you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Margaret: The Impossible Dream.
What’s one thing you’re grateful for this week?
Margaret: Always the same: Thankful for my family and friends.