Will We Take the Risk?
We gathered for our Annual Pride Worship on June 11th, a people animated by a vision: "Sharing Light, Sharing Faith in Divided Times." In a rousing worship led by Rev. Dr. Dawnn Brumfield and leaders of the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches, we sang and prayed, broke bread and proclaimed our call to work for justice and peace for all. We named our advances, as well as the ugliness and precariousness of this time.
"Will we take the risk?" Dawnn asked us, to live into our power to be authentic, to make a difference, to speak the truth in these divided times?
We awoke the next day to the horrors of these divided times, made plain in the monstrous murders in Orlando. Our laments are swirling within and among us. Let us reach out to give voice to these, to cry out and listen, to walk together and work together.
We urge you to attend the vigils which will continue in the coming days. Watch here for developments, and visit the national calendar maintained by GLAAD.
Whether or not you can attend, please set aside time for silence and prayer. Also, consider creating space for your members and neighbors to gather as needed.
Please share your reflections and photos with us so that we can magnify your testimony and the reach of these important events.
The CCWC team will be in touch in the coming days regarding additional opportunities to gather for solidarity and creative action. We'll be discerning this - and inviting your feedback - as we move forward.
Let us think, pray, act and teach from our depths in this time. Depths of lament, of passion, of wisdom borne in the journey with a justice-making God.
In partnership,
Rev. Jacki Belile, Pride Coordinator
Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches
On behalf of the Executive Committee
2016 Pride Worship
"Sharing Light, Sharing Faith in Divided Times" was the theme of the Coalition's Annual Pride Worship Service on June 11. The Service was hosted by Resurrection Lutheran Church, 3309 N. Seminary, Chicago.
The Rev. Dr. Dawnn Pirani Brumfield was the preacher of the evening. She is a member of the Lighthouse Church of Chicago leadership team.
Sharing Light, Sharing Faith in Divided Times: Exposition of This Year's Theme
An exposition of our 2016 theme by Rev. Wayne MacPherson and Rev. Stu Smith
Our theme this year is inspired by Esther 4:14, where in response to the threatened persecution of the Jews, Esther's uncle, Mordecai, tells her, "For if you Read more →
Documenting Your Faithful Journey
How did your congregation become an inclusive, faith community? Is someone in your church collecting the stories from your journey to inclusion? The Coalition's Read more →
2016 Pride Photos!
We Are Orlando!
Coalition Calendar
2016 Pride Worship
The community at Resurrection Lutheran Church was excited to host the CCWC Pride service this year!
We give thanks for all the congregations and individuals who continue to gather and to work as, within, and behalf of the whole GLBTQ community.
In a time such as this, when hateful speech and violence too often pervades our culture and communities, we pray that the light and faith we possess might ever be grounded in love of one another.
Kelly Faulstich, Pastor
Resurrection Lutheran Church