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Writer's pictureNancy Rexford

Forward Chats June 2 – Open and Affirming

Fred’s sermon today was on the history of social activism in the United Church of Christ – the “firsts” that have made us more inclusive: https://www.ucc.org/about-us_ucc-firsts Seventeen people came to Forward Chats to continue the discussion. We began by going around the group asking people what Fred’s sermon made them think about. The most frequent answer was a sense of pride in our history. Fred said that it was important to know our own history because it helps us understand who we are and how to move forward.


Conversation opened up in two directions:

1. Living the Promise of being Open & Affirming (in context of LGBT)

  • Be more visible in the LGBT community

o Why aren’t we in the parade on June 15?

o Discussion of upcoming events (see below)

  • We need to DO, not just say. The flag is not enough.

2. What is the next Social Justice Issue in our generation? Where should we be working to include and welcome yet another marginalized group?

  • Look at the demographics in our area

o Single people, single mothers

o Young families

o Kids with special needs

  • Elderly who were part of this church community earlier in their lives

o Shut-ins – bring them to the church sometimes

o Taking communion to shut-ins

o Bereavement group – ministry during grief

o Hospital visiting

  • Veterans

o Reach out via VA

o Need to find someone in the church for whom it is a passion - need a depth of emotion to commit to social change

o North Shore Community College offers a gathering place for vets to get together to chat, offers coffee, pizza lunch.


3. How to encourage people to participate in the church

  • Booth at homecoming

  • Don Remick teaches church growth – have him come as a speaker. But Fred asserts that we are NOT dying, no matter what you hear. This church is average for this time in our history.

GAY PRIDE MONTH EVENTS


Saturday June 15 - FRAMINGHAM

Celebration of 35 Years of Open and Affirming in Mass Conference UCC

Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM

The Plymouth Church in Framingham 87 Edgell Rd Framingham, MA

The event will be a beautiful day of worship, music, small group workshop conversations, lamentation, healing, revitalization, imagination and empowerment. Registration fee is $10. Registration ends June 13. https://www.macucc.org/eventdetail/12798077?month=6&year=2019&day=1&display=m


Thursday, June 20 - SALEM

North Shore Pride InterFaith Service 2019 (Free)

June 20 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Tabernacle Church

50 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970

Please join us on June 20th for an Interfaith Celebration to kick off Pride Week 2019. More than a dozen North Shore churches, temples, synagogues and spiritual communities will come together to celebrate our shared commitment to the values of community, diversity, and equality for all that drive our 50+ year movement for equality.

Guest speaker: John-Manuel Andriote , author, journalist, and longtime HIV advocate, will draw from his latest book Stonewall Strong: Gay Men’s Heroic Fight for Resilience, Good Health, and a Strong Community in an inspiring message about claiming for ourselves what he calls the “heroic legacy” of our community’s history of courage and resilience.” Andriote graduated from Gordon College in 1980 as president of his class.

Returning will be Coro Allegro, Boston’s LGBTQ+ and allied chorus to lift our spirits with their beautiful music.


Saturday, June 22 - SALEM

North Shore Pride Parade 2019 (Free to watch, fee for organizations marching)

June 22 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Salem Common, N Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970 Download the parade registration form at http://www.northshorepride.org/2019-Parade-Registration-Form- revised.pdf to mail in your registration or complete the online registration at http://www.northshorepride.org/march/. Theme is Stonewall 50: Looking Back, Marching Forward

NEW PARADE ROUTE: The 2019 North Shore Pride Parade will kick-off at Shetland Park and lead to the Salem Common, where the festival takes place.


More information and other local pride festival events:

http://www.northshorepride.org/events/

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