Meet Augustana's Members
by Barbara E. Solt
When Judy Bucci rose to speak at a recent congregational meeting and
began with the statement "I have been a member of Augustana for
50 years," one could almost hear a pin drop. First Judy doesn't
LOOK 50 years old. Second, there are few members, other than our very
senior citizens, who have been members for more than 10-15 years. Judy
is a rare middle part of a three generation Augustana family.
Judy (9/26/52) and her husband Mike (1/23/51) have been married for
21 years (April 30) and are the parents of Joseph (2/9/85) and Sarah
(8/8/87). Both Joseph and Sarah have served as acolytes, book and torch
bearers. Joe is now an engineering student at the University of Maryland
and Sarah is a high school junior.
Judy, how did you and your family come to Augustana?
Judy: I won't say I was conceived here, but I have spent much
of my life here. My parents, Bob and Carroll Hoffman, came to DC as
so many of their generation did, as a result of military duty or to
find work in the city. My dad was in the Air Force, and my mom first
worked for US Air, then for the Dept of the Interior. They met at Augustana.
I remember them both. They were leaders of their sections in the choir,
and their home was always open on holidays and other Augustana family
occasions.
Yes, they both loved to sing, and not only in the Augustana Choir,
but in the Washington Oratorio Society (now the Washington Chorus)
and in the National Lutheran Chorus, an area wide singing group at
the time they met. At first they lived in DC, but as our family grew,
(four boys were born after me) we moved to Rockville.
So, you were one of that famous 400 Sunday Schoolers of Augustana's
years gone by?
Judy: Yes, I was. It was really something. But we weren't just
a Sunday School group, we did everything together, baseball as well
as Sunday School.
Where did all of them go? How is it that you are still here?
Judy: They moved away to the suburbs. We did too, but my parents couldn't
find a church there that meant to them what Augustana did, so we kept
coming back. They made a choice that at the time was something, since
it represented a commitment to Augustana's particular worship
and values.
But what about you? How is it that you have continued to be an active
at Augustana and have raised your children here rather than moving
on, as so many of your generation have?
Judy: Again, I made choices to stay here. I went through a period
where I attended a charismatic prayer group, and I married a member
of the Society of Friends (Quakers), and we still attend their meeting
once a month. But, I appreciate what I call the integrity of the worship
life here. Every congregation or community has personality conflicts,
but there is something about Augustana as a worshipping community that
transcends personalities. I love the continuity of the ages that I
think our worship style represents.
Mike, when I first became a member here, you used to attend only occasionally.
Now you and Judy both sing on the choir. What has made you become more
active here?
Mike: I am still a Friend, not a member here. But I love
to sing, and I love this community. I grew up a Catholic, and as
an adolescent
focused on the contradictions in that church. When my mother died,
I saw the support she received from her spiritual community, and
I turned to the Quakers, also known as "the seekers" and
appreciated their attitude of openness. I came to Augustana, mostly
to Vespers, after attending Meeting on Sunday mornings. Judy and
I married here, and while our kids were confirmed here, we still
attend
the Sandy Spring Friends meeting at least once a month. But I love
to sing, and so now I enjoy sharing this experience with Judy. Our
family has made a commitment to share worship lives, not just bowling
leagues.
What do you appreciate about Augustana's worship?
Judy and Mike: We both appreciate the sense of enduring time as
well as timeliness of the worship. We don't just use the LBW, but
there
is
a liturgical
order that connects us with the ages, with the history of Christianity.
We appreciate that we use the same lectionary, sharing the same scripture
lessons with other denominations so that our part of the universe
is connected to so many others as we worship. Just as personalities
come
and go, so do feelings, and one gets the sense in our worship that
it stands alone, it doesn't depend on just me. We appreciate
the members here who have what we call "the old faith." They
have been through doubts and trials, and still are here. There is
a shared history.
But you two have also been leaders in
many other parts of what makes Augustana "work" as a community.
Judy: Yes, we have taught Sunday School, been part of the Spiritual
Friends group, Bible studies, youth activities, the Lucia Fest, served
on committees ... Community doesn't just happen, you have
to make it happen.
Where are your brothers?
Judy: they are all engineers. David lives in California, Rick in Idaho.
Bill and Mark live in this area but have become members of non-Lutheran
congregations.
I wondered how it is that Joseph is studying engineering, since both
of you are teachers.
Judy: yes but not only are my brothers all engineers, I started out
as a systems engineer, but then decided to go into teaching.
How did you two meet?
Mike: We were both teachers in the same school. I saw how great she
was with the kids and I just fell in love with her. Our relationship
grew over coffee and conversation, then I went away one summer to the
mountains, and when I came back, I found letters from Judy she had
written every day, each numbered as to which I was to read first. I
was blown away, and decided then and there to ask her to marry me.
So, do you think there will be a fourth Hoffman -- Bucci generation
at Augustana?
Judy and Mike: It's hard to tell. Right now Joseph and Sarah are
going through the usual adolescent and young adult responses to the
many
competing
influences for their time and attention.
Let's hope they, too, make the kind of choices your parents
and you did, to return to a community where faith can be nurtured,
friendships solidified, and thanksgiving offered. Thanks for sharing
your unique voices and wisdom with us.
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