Testimonials
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Rev. Aija always knew the right thing to say. During a tense committee meeting, she was the calm grounding voice. When something did not go as planned, she had a reminder for us to embrace humor and grace. She has a way of speaking truths to people that they did not even know they needed to hear. Rev. Aija became one of those voices in my heart that I consult when trying to make a difficult decision. “What would Rev. Aija say?” has become an internal yardstick for me that I am so grateful for.
~Emily Crutcher
A talented preacher can hold the attention of a crowd of hundreds. A powerful preacher can both hold their attention and also make each person feel as though they're speaking directly to them. Rev. Aija Simpson is a powerful preacher. She has a true talent for crafting meaningful, timely worship services that speak to the hearts of folks of all ages, genders, backgrounds, and cultures. When she says "you are welcome here," she means it from the bottom of her heart, and it is evident every time she steps into the pulpit.
Speaking very personally, Rev. Aija's greatest strength is her compassion, and her ability to connect with her congregants through pastoral care. Her willingness to sit with me as I waded through years of religious and other trauma, at times literally holding my hand as I shared my story for the first time, changed my life profoundly. I trusted her with my heart, with the bits of me I'd come to believe were unlovable and unwelcome, and she held space for me with a gentle compassion and tender strength, believing in hope and healing for me until I was strong enough to believe it for myself, all the while guiding me toward wholeness. ~Chris Kapp, Congregant
“Wise beyond her years, that one is.” A friend said that about Rev. Aija recently. And it’s certainly been my experience. Working with Rev. Aija as her Committee on Ministry chair was a pleasure. Her intelligence, professionalism, and vision helped make the COM an incubator for ideas at UUCV. Even when we disagreed, she always listened and spoke respectfully and thoughtfully.
We shared a desire for tight, well-crafted, well-executed services. If you want to learn her thoughts on worship quickly, ask her to explain the difference between “performance” and “performative”. That has become my yardstick for judging worship service quality. She’s smart and funny. An engaging speaker and a perceptive listener. Knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. Including food. So much good food.
I unreservedly recommend Aija Simpson-Newbury. Even though I’m twice her age, I want to be like her when I grow up. ~Deb Stille, Congregant
As a colleague, Aija is a humble role model, a tireless advocate, a wise leader, and an enthusiastic collaborator; and I am tremendously grateful to have been able to work beside her for 8 years doing the back-breaking, heart-wrenching, soul-saving, world-changing work we do as religious professionals in the Unitarian Universalist tradition. I am a better musician, a better religious professional, a better citizen of the world, and a better human because of the time I was able to spend working with Aija. ~Rev. David Glasgow