Celebrating one another: LGBTQ+ Pride Eucharist
by: Curtis Farr
|
|
When planning an LGBTQ+ Pride Eucharist, there are many questions one must ask: Who should be involved? What eucharistic prayer is most thematically appropriate? And, of course, how many bags of rainbow confetti do we need to adequately sprinkle the congregation?
These questions are better explored in community, so I was thrilled when Peter Thompson, assistant rector of St. Paul’s in Norwalk, reached out to me to collaborate on the service. Before long, the colorful affair became a Southwest Region offering involving Episcopalians from all over Fairfield County. With the help of Carlos de la Torre, our southwest region missionary, Marcella Gillis, assistant rector of Christ and Holy Trinity, Westport, Dinushka De Silva, postulant in the ECCT, Jake Street, director of music at St. Paul’s in Norwalk, and many more, the LGBTQ+ Pride Eucharist came to life.
Members from multiple choirs filled St. Paul’s, Norwalk with beautiful music, Marcella used light-reflecting props to preach the Gospel, and we collected an offering for the Triangle Community Center (TCC), which nurtures growth and connection for the LGBTQ+ community in Fairfield County. The clergy were adorned in rainbow stoles, and yes, rainbow confetti covered the church. Following the service, we enjoyed a fabulous reception on the labyrinth.
Like any Pride festival or event, our goal with the service was rather simple; we wanted to celebrate. More than that, we want to continue to find ways to acknowledge the unique perspective that queer people have on God, the Church, and the world. Even as many parishes become open and affirming places for LGBTQ+ people, Sunday morning is a largely heteronormative experience—to be queer and single can be the pits. A Pride Eucharist does not solve that challenge, but it is a start.
|
|
The day before the service, St. Paul’s, Fairfield was at Pride in the Park, hosted by the TCC, giving away bags that read, “This is a gay that the Lord has made.” The bags were in high demand, but the most surprising thing that day for me was to watch Episcopalians enthusiastically evangelizing for several hours. I’ve never seen Episcopalians so excited about Jesus and about their church—so willing to walk up to strangers to affirm and invite them in. This was nothing new to St. Paul’s, Norwalk, which was well-represented at Pride in the Park too and has been showing up for years.
The weekend affirmed for me the great things that we can do when we work outside our parish walls to serve and celebrate with one another. More than that, the service called me to consider more deeply the queer perspective on the church.
The Reverend Elizabeth M. Erdman argues in her book Queer Virtue, that, “Christianity is inherently liminal, inherently queer.” She writes that queer people are, “uniquely positioned to ponder, perceive, and make visible what is most alive, vexing, and fabulous about this aspect of the Christian tradition.”
Essentially, she argues that because of the way queer people have been and continue to be marginalized, we might have a unique perspective on what it means to understand, embrace, and live out one’s identity even when it is frightening to do so. I do not think that it is any coincidence that church as we have known it has struggled to understand, embrace, and live out its identity in an increasingly secular society.
Perhaps the way forward is to listen and point to the voices of those that have done this work on themselves. If we listen to these voices, we may find more, unexpected ways that our rich tradition speaks to the world as we find it—not as we wish the world would be. Then we might regain or refine our understanding of celebration…
…and I suspect rainbow confetti will be involved.
|
|
Curtis Farr serves with the people of St. Paul’s, Fairfield as their rector. He also serves on the board of Camp Washington, the Episcopal Church in Connecticut’s camp, conference, and retreat center. Curtis spends his spare time with his puppy, Eleanor (Elly) Roosevelt.
|
|
Daily General Convention eNewsletter
Karin Hamilton, Canon for Mission Communication and Media has a DAILY eNewsletter that is all things ECCT/Connecticut at General Convention. Daily reports by email from General Convention will automatically go to all subscribers of the weekly enews from July 3-14.
Others can sign up to receive just the GC reports from a
link on this page
- check the box for "General Convention 2018." An archive of the GC newsletters will be on ECCT's website page for General Convention,
here
.
Here is a link
to Karin's first Pre-General Convention eNews, the next will come out June 27.
If you have a particular resolution you are interested in tracking through General Convention, please contact
Karin Hamilton
.
We ask for your prayers for our deputation, bishops, youth, and all ECCT folks heading down to Austin, TX for General Convention. We also ask your prayers for the whole Episcopal Church as we gather to conduct the business of the Church for the next triennium, join in fellowship, and most importantly worship God together. Pray for God's guidance and prayerful consideration, and for a strong breeze as it will be July... in Texas...
|
|
Episcopal Church in Connecticut dinner at GC-79 in Austin, July 8!
Join other ECCT folks attending the 79th General Convention in Austin for a time of food and fellowship at a famous Austin BBQ restaurant, Stubb's Bar-B-Q, 801 Red River St., Austin, TX. Please purchase tickets via Eventbrite. July 8, from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis, as space is limited.
Tickets are available here.
|
|
Christ the Healer Church, Stamford to close; final service June 22, all welcome
The congregation of the Episcopal Church of Christ the Healer, located at 20 Brookdale Road in Stamford, after long deliberations, discernment, and prayer, has decided to dissolve as a parish and close on July 31, 2018. It will hold its final service on Friday, June 22, 2018 at 7 p.m. The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, will celebrate the Eucharist and preach. All are welcome.
|
|
|
CREDO: Worth attending
The Church Pension Group recently mailed out invitations to eligible clergy in Connecticut to attend an upcoming CREDO conference, which they sponsor. If you're among those who received one, the bishops of ECCT encourage you to participate. Bishop Laura Ahrens and Bishop Ian T. Douglas have both attended CREDO conferences and commend them.
|
|
Call to Convention
The Rev. Adam Yates, Secretary of Convention, mailed out a paper and electronic version of
this year's Call to Convention
. It includes information regarding changes to this year's convention, resolution guidelines, how to submit a question to convention, and more.
Annual Convention: Something New
|
|
Register for Convention
Annual Convention Banquet: Trivia Night
|
|
Formation E-News
Dean of Formation, Molly James, publishes an occasional E-News for those in the ordination process. If you are connected to someone in the ordination process and do not already receive it, please
email her
to be added to the list. The E-News also includes information on opportunities for ongoing formation, so if that is of interest, please also email her to be added to the list.
The most recent edition can be viewed
here.
|
|
Upcoming
:
- June 21: Aging & Life Planning Committee meeting, The Commons
- June 21: Standing Committee, The Commons
- June 22, Christ the Healer Closing Service, Christ the Healer, Stamford
- June 23: Northwest Region Convocation
- June 28: Missional and Conditional Priest in Charge Gathering, The Commons
- July 4: THE COMMONS IS CLOSED
- July 5 - 13: 79th General Convention, Austin, TX
- July 12: Deacons Council Meeting, The Commons
- July 12: Missional Priest-in-Charge Gathering, The Commons
- July 19: Standing Committee Meeting, The Commons
- July 21: Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Tim Squier
- July 24: College Chaplains Meeting, The Commons
- July 24: Retired Clergy Steering Committee, The Commons
Save the Date:
- September 14 - 16: Deacon Formation Retreat
- September 18: Fall Clergy Day
- October 9: Fall Clergy Retreat, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, West Hartford
|
|
Please help spread the word about the following:
Episcopal priest needed for FULL TIME CHAPLAIN POSITION at Seabury Lifecare Community in Bloomfield:
- The Chaplaincy’s purpose is to support the mission and philosophy of Seabury, Inc. and its current programs and practices focusing additional attention and resources on a systematic and holistic approach to the spiritual and overall health needs of residents, members, staff and the broader community.
- This is a full-time exempt position with full participation in CPG, and the expectation that the Chaplain will fully participate as clergy in ECCT activities such as Clergy Conference, etc.
- Full job description available here.
- Deadline is July 31, 2018
Clergy in Transition
The Rev. Lynne Grifo has resigned her position as Provisional Priest in Charge at St. Luke’s in New Haven, effective July 15. Lynne has accepted a call as Interim Rector in the diocese of Newark.
The Rev. Susan McCone has retired from her position as Rector of St. John’s, Washington.
The Rev. Benjamin Straley has accepted a call as ¾ time Assistant Rector at St. John’s in Essex, beginning in mid-August.
The Rev. Joseph Dr. Krasinski is retiring from his position as Rector of St. James’ in Danbury at the end of August. He has accepted a call as half-time Provisional Priest in Charge of St. John’s Church, North Haven, beginning September 1.
The Rev. Diana Rogers will end her ministry as Provisional Priest in Charge at Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange, on July 31.
Parishes in Transition
Calvary Church, Stonington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Ajung Sojwal
Christ Church, East Norwalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Christ Church, Greenwich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
Christ Church, Middle Haddam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking CPIC
Christ Church, Redding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Alon White
Christ Church, Sharon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Christ Church, Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
Christ Church, Tashua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
Epiphany, Durham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Good Shepherd, Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transition Team at work
Grace Church, Newington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Grace Church, Yantic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
Holy Advent, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking 2yr half-time PPIC
Holy Spirit, West Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
Holy Trinity, Enfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking half-time PPIC
Holy Trinity, Middletown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
Middlesex Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Jim Bradley
St. Andrew’s Meriden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing PPIC
St. Andrew’s Stamford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking PT PIC
St. David’s, Gale’s Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
St. Gabriel’s, East Berlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
St. James Poquetanuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
St. John’s, East Windsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Negotiating
St. John’s, New Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
St. Luke’s New Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
St. Martin’s, Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
St. Paul’s, Bantam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
St. Paul’s, Woodbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Negotiating
Trinity Church, Milton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Trinity Church, Seymour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Negotiating
Trinity Church, Wethersfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Please contact me (
latolzmann@episcopalct.org
) with any questions about the TMC or the process. I look forward to working with you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
