Last year our teens and pastor watched these fireworks from the Pine Ridge Reservation...an unforgettable moment of recognition of all which native peoples of this land have sacrificed and given generously to our nation laid bare against the ongoing poverty and injustice they continue to suffer.
Guilford Community Church, an Open and Affirming/ Just Peace congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), continues July 5 with worship online at 10am and on BCTV at 8am.
The link to the livestream and ZOOM Coffee hour can be found on the church homepage at guilfordchurch.org. The program is also available on the website under “next service”. The service marks the 4th of July and the hopes and dreams for our nation. Rev. Sparrow will open the service with an excerpt from the book "See No Stranger"
by Valarie Kaur and share reflections on an excerpt from "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek "by Annie Dillard and the story of Jesus healing the blind man in John 9: 1- 12, 37-39. “Blindness” will serve as a guide to seeing what is with and around us-- both at this time in our nation, in the healers and the haters... and in ourselves: our prejudices and our possibilities. Music for the day, under the artistic direction of Peter Amidon, will include “The Star Spangled Banner”, “My Country ’Tis of Thee”, and “O God Beneath Thy Guiding Hand” as hymns and special music will include “Dreams to be” by Donovan, “Blackbird” by the Beatles and “Golden Thread” by Pete Seeger. It is a Service of Holy Communion so those participating are encouraged to have bread and wine or juice at hand. If you have trouble finding the links, please call Fred Breunig at 254-9019. For more information call the church at 257-0994. Everyone is welcome!
Guilford Community Church, United Church of Christ (UCC), will join with four other area churches on Sunday June 28 in the Annual Gay Pride Union Service, an online celebration of our commitment to affirming the rights and relationships of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) members of our communities.here is the link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YycRkJD2k94&feature=youtu.be Rev Audrey Walker, pastor of the First Congregational Church of West Brattleboro, will lead the 10am worship service with pastors and members of Guilford Community Church, Centre Church, First Congregational CHurch of Dummerston and West Dover all participating. Some church members will share their personal stories and others will read the story of the Stonewall Uprising. A special Gay Pride virtual choir under the drection of Steve Rice will provide the day’s music.
The United Church of Christ has a history of supporting equality and justice for the LGBTQ community that spans back more than 40 years. In 1972, the UCC was the first mainline Protestant denomination to ordain an openly-gay minister, the Rev. William R. Johnson, and was the first denomination to affirm marriage equality for all people, regardless of gender, at its General Synod in 2005. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the UCC’s resolution affirming marriage equality for all people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
In April 2014, the UCC filed suit against the state of North Carolina, arguing that the state’s marriage laws violate the First Amendment rights of clergy and the principle of “free exercise of religion.” In October 2014, a federal judge ruled the state’s marriage laws as unconstitutional, giving the UCC and its co-plaintiffs a monumental and historic victory for equality for all people. The landmark lawsuit, General Synod of the United Church of Christ v. Cooper, was the first-ever challenge by a national Christian denomination of a state’s marriage laws.
The UCC stands with thousands of same-sex couples across the life the church, affirming their freedom to marry the person they love. UCC clergy have honored these commitments, officiating over covenantal vows or blessings, long before same-sex marriage was approved in 37 states and Washington, D.C., and the church has active coalitions working for marriage equality in nearly every state. There are currently more than 1,200 Open and Affirming (ONA) UCC churches nationwide, including all five local UCC churches celebrating tomorrow.
The link to the service will be found on the Guilfordchurch.org homepage on Sunday morning, on BCTV and by searching on youtube for Rev Audrey Walker /June 28, 2020. For more information call Fred Breunig at 254-9019.
