Pride Month 2024 Activities at First Church Phoenix United Church of Christ

Introduction

Pride Month 2024 at First Church Phoenix United Church of Christ was a vibrant celebration of LGBTQIA+ identity, healing, and community growth. Upon the request of Pastor Susan Valiquette, I had the privilege to design the roadmap for the month, write several of the liturgies and messages and lead several of the month’s services and collaborate with Pastor Susan on others. This provided an invaluable opportunity to explore and share my passion for queer theology, self-awareness, healing, and personal growth within our congregation. I am deeply grateful to Pastor Susan and the congregation for trusting me with this responsibility and for the times we collaborated to bring messages of healing and hope to our community. Her support and shared vision were instrumental in making this month a success, and her feedback deeply appreciated. Many new visitors joined us during pride month and will likely make First Church their home because of our inclusive ministry!

Below is a summary of the month's activities and my reflections on what I learned.

Week 1: Celebrating Our Diversity (June 2, 2024)

Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

The first week of Pride Month was dedicated to celebrating the diversity within our congregation, using Galatians 3:28 as our guiding scripture. The sermon emphasized the beauty of diversity within the body of Christ and the inclusivity of God's love, highlighting that the LGBTQIA+ experience is not monolithic. During the service, we hosted an LGBTQIA+ Diversity Panel where various voices within our community shared their personal journeys and discussed how their LGBTQIA+ identity intersects with other aspects of their lives, such as race, gender, and socio-economic status. This discussion provided deep insights into the multifaceted experiences of our members and explored specific ways churches can be more inclusive and supportive. The panel fostered a sense of unity and inclusivity, setting a positive and reflective tone for the month.

Week 2: The Sacred Journey from Shame to Pride (June 9, 2024)

Isaiah 43:1-4: “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.’”

In the second week, we focused on the theme of moving from shame to pride, inspired by Isaiah 43:1-4 and the book "The Velvet Rage" by Alan Downs. The sermon centered on overcoming shame and embracing pride, featuring my personal testimony about how I have found healing for the shame and invalidation of growing up gay through the love of God. The service concluded with an act of collective healing through the song “How Could Anyone” by Libby Roderick, inviting participants to sing a love song to their inner child. This week emphasized the transformative journey from shame to pride, creating a sacred space for self-acceptance and community support.

Week 3: Acknowledging and Healing the Church's Harm to LGBTQIA+ People (June 16, 2024)

Matthew 18:21-22: "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"

The third week was a time for reflection and reconciliation, addressing the harm the church has historically caused to LGBTQIA+ individuals. Drawing from Matthew 18:21-22, the service highlighted the importance of seeking forgiveness and making amends for the failure of the church to always follow Jesus' example of compassion and acceptance for all. The service included a collective Prayer of Transformation, where the congregation confessed past wrongs, expressed lament for the harm caused and committed to doing better. Pastor Susan talked about how just "being" is enough for God's children, and that we need do nothing more than that to merit God's love. This week was a crucial step in acknowledging past harms and committing to building a more inclusive and compassionate church community.

Week 4: Addressing Religious Trauma (June 23, 2024)

Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

The fourth week of Pride Month focused on religious trauma, providing a platform for healing and understanding. Guided by Micah 6:8, the service featured a panel discussion with three members of our community who shared their personal experiences of religious trauma and their journeys towards healing while remaining in the church. These panelists provided diverse perspectives on the challenges they faced and the resilience they demonstrated in finding a path to recovery and faith. The panelists discussed the emotional and spiritual impact of their trauma and shared practical insights on how they managed to stay connected to their faith and begin healing. Their stories were powerful testimonies to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of a supportive community in the healing process. This week highlighted the necessity of addressing and healing religious trauma, reinforcing our commitment to justice and inclusion within the church.

Week 5: A Future of Hope and Acceptance (June 30, 2024)

Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

The final week of Pride Month was dedicated to envisioning a future of hope and acceptance, inspired by Jeremiah 29:11. The service featured a dialogue between Pastor Susan and myself, where we discussed our personal journeys of coming through difficult times into authenticity, hope, and community. I shared my story of finding support and transformation at First Church Phoenix, emphasizing the profound impact of a welcoming and inclusive faith community. The post-service celebration included a potluck and a talent show, showcasing the creativity and joy within our congregation with performances by LGBTQIA+ artists and musicians. This week was a joyful conclusion to Pride Month, celebrating our community and looking forward to a hopeful future.

Additional Activities for the Month

Throughout Pride Month, we engaged in various activities to foster community and support. Our marketing plan included engaging the wider community through social media, newsletters, and personal outreach. We facilitated weekly discussions in our Facebook group on themes such as diversity, overcoming shame, healing church harm, justice, and envisioning a hopeful future. Our month-long examinationa and celebration culminated in a Pride Month Talent & Fashion Show, featuring Trans members and friends wearing clothes from our gender expansive boutique! These activities ensured continuous engagement and reflection, allowing us to grow together and celebrate our rich diversity and common human experience as a church community. It also represented a major outreach to the Trans community through the leadership of Kimberly Jordan, who arranged the potluck and fashion show and brought many beautiful new visitors into the church. I beleive they fully experienced our love, and hope it was validating and healing to them.

Acknowledgements

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Pastor Susan Valiquette for her trust and collaboration. Her guidance and support were crucial in bringing our shared vision to life. Thank you to all the congregants and visitors for your participation, vulnerability, and unwavering support. Together, we have made this Pride Month a truly transformative experience.

Reflection

This was my first opportunity to lead worship and design an entire month worth of liturgy and programming for a church, and I LOVED doing it. It allowed me to express my passion for ministry to the LGBTQIA+ community, but it also generated in me the realization that many of the themes we discussed (e.g. shame, religious trauma) are common to the human experience in general. From now on, I will ALWAYS attempt to find the commonality between the experiences of marginalized communities when preaching so I can better acknowledge and honor our shared humanity and make a wider impact with my ministry.

This was also my first opportunity for my First Church community to witness my full calling and gifts for the ministry. After leaving Black Mountain UCC, where I would occasionally lead worship, it required me to "press the reset button" and rebuild relationships and trust in my new community before I could get to this point, It was an important reminder that all work in the church is based on relationships of trust, which cannot be rushed. I will have to remember this throughout the rest of my life in ministry. But it felt good to finally be seen for who I am and what I am called to create in the world.

I received a lot of loving and generous feedback from the First Church community and beyond about this month, and it was deeply satisfying to hear the impact I made. Pastor Susan's feedback brought me to tears of joy I had not experienced for many years. I am more convinced than ever that the ministry is my calling, and that I am ready to heed that call.

Conclusion

Pride Month 2024 at First Church Phoenix UCC was a profound journey of celebration, healing, and growth. We have laid a strong foundation for continued advocacy and inclusivity within our church as we reopen and reconsider our ONA covenant to expand its scope. Let us carry forward the lessons and experiences of this month as we strive to create a community where everyone is valued, loved, and accepted. Happy Pride! 🌈