Prayer Time With Noreen Owens
Sometimes, the path to finding a church home begins in the most unexpected ways.
For Noreen Owen, it started with a simple Sunday morning and a wait for a table at Big Bean. While waiting, Peter suggested stopping into NCC for a few minutes. Having been raised Catholic, Noreen was hesitant at first, unsure about walking into a service only to leave shortly after. But after a moment of consideration, she agreed. They sat in the back pew for about ten minutes.
The following Sunday, they came back. And they’ve been coming ever since.
Like many in our community, Noreen didn’t rush into involvement right away. It took a few months before she felt ready to step in. But when she did, it came from a genuine desire to contribute in a way that felt natural and meaningful. Her first step was becoming a greeter, serving alongside Peter, welcoming others just as she had once been welcomed.
Over time, Noreen’s role within the church continued to grow. While prayer time at NCC has evolved over the years, her involvement in it began about two or three years ago. This year marks her first experience helping lead prayer using prayer beads, a practice she admits she initially thought might feel a bit awkward. Instead, she has found it to be deeply soothing.
Noreen’s relationship with prayer is thoughtful and honest. She shares that she has often struggled with knowing what to say in her own prayers and doesn’t typically pray for herself. Instead, she finds meaning in reading prayers written by others, often feeling as though the words chosen for her to read on Sundays speak directly to her own needs. She jokes that Pastor Patty seems to know exactly what those needs are.
Her personal prayer life extends beyond words. Noreen describes her prayers as being for all of Creation, all beings, the earth, the cosmos, all that is. Gratitude is something she practices daily, noticing both the big and small moments. At the center of it all is Presence. For Noreen, presence is essential. Without it, life can feel hollow. Through prayer, meditation, stillness, and time in nature, she nurtures that sense of being fully present.
Leading prayer on Sundays, she says, feels like living her truth. It is an expression of who she is and what she values most. Along with serving as a liturgist, it has become one of her favorite ways to be part of the NCC community.
And yet, Noreen is quick to point out that her involvement is deeply connected to the kind of community NCC is. She speaks with pride about the church’s commitment to serving others, its welcoming spirit, and its willingness to continue growing and evolving. She finds joy in being part of a community that not only speaks about love and inclusion but actively lives it out.
Noreen, thank you for the presence you bring, the honesty you share, and the care you offer through prayer. Your willingness to step into this role has added something meaningful and grounding to our Sunday mornings.
Your friendly neighborhood church administrator,
Jeremy