Open and Affirming now and always

This Sunday, August 7th, we will celebrate Pride Sunday at UCC.  While celebrating Pride Sunday is not a new thing for our congregation, celebrating it as an out, queer woman is new for me.  When I began attending this church in 2008, I knew it was a special place.  The sense of community, the amazing children’s programs, the true feeling of welcome and inclusion, were like nothing I had ever experienced anywhere before.  I loved being a part of a church that had a clearly written open and affirming statement...what a welcome to all!  

After attending for several years, I was so proud of the intentional work put into expanding that open and affirming statement.  The work put into making the statement more inclusive and welcoming, showed that our congregation believes very much in the phrase “God is still speaking.”  We are a congregation that continues to show welcome and love, because we are willing to continue to learn and grow in our faith.
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This extravagant welcome and continued focus on what it means to be a child of God, is what helped me to learn to know myself better.  I am grateful for a God that loves me "no matter who I am, or where I am on life’s journey.” What a privilege that the church where I am encouraged to serve, worship, and practice my faith, is one of such love, welcome, and radical hospitality.  Thank you all for loving me into being, I look forward to sharing more of my story this Sunday!
 
Peace,
Pastor Meghan Dever 
Director of Youth Ministries