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09/08/2010
9:00 am Morning Prayer12:00 pm Brown Bag B 6:00 pm Confirmation 6:00 pm Festival Bells 7:00 pm Voices of Zion 09/12/2010
RALLY DAY - YOUTH SERVICES8:30 am Worship 9:45 am Sunday School 10:00 am Financial P 11:00 am Worship 09/13/2010
2:00-6:00 pm ARC Blood6:00 pm Knit One Prayer 6:30 pm Outreach (Social 7:00 pm Stewardship |
Dear friends, I am excited and delighted to tell you that 10% of the worshiping community of Mt. Zion is gay and lesbian. You are couples, singles, men, women, moms and dads. I hope you all know that it is a blessing for Mt. Zion to be a church that welcomes and encourages gay and lesbian Christians and their families to be full participants. You represent communion deacons, readers, Sunday school teachers, Leadership Board and Executive Committee members, ushers, coffee hour hosts, social outreach, Nehemiah Project and Habitat for Humanity workers, choir members, confirmation mentors and much more. It is not my stance as your pastor to say please join and then be quiet. Your orientation is a particular blessing to the straight community. And, we of a different orientation can be ignorant about the challenges and prejudices you may face. I am particularly aware that some of you with children have been confronted about your orientation and so have your children. I know the world can be less than welcoming but the church should never be that place. Some among you are battling life threatening illness, some among you have babies on the way and some among you have children who are ill or, who have special needs. Because of the horrible laws of this state I know that child custody and health decisions, home ownership and even gaining access to your partner’s health information can be maddening challenges. I want your church to be a place where you find that extra measure of support you may need for any of these issues, AND, I want it to be a place where your families can gather for fellowship, picnics, family nights out, movies, play dates, bible study, family retreats or whatever. If you feel you feel the need for this new ministry here, in whatever form that might take, or, if you’d like to assist in starting it, please contact Chris Bremer at cbremer@mtzionlutheran.org. As your pastor I remain deeply committed to you and yours, and to the open and welcoming environment and R.I.C. (Reconciled In Christ) designation we nurture at Mt. Zion. God bless you and keep you as you embark on this journey together!
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