Contained in the lyrics of the songs and the way the choir delivered them was not just a message of joy

CAC Happenings

June 5, 2025

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands (Psalm 100:1 KJV).”

As many of you know, June 1st began LGBT+ Pride Month. This year it began on a Sunday. I’m sure it began on Sundays before, but I will not soon forget the way it began this year. On Sunday evening I attended the inaugural gospel musical of the DMV (local appellation for the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia metropolitan areas ) World Pride Mass Choir. The musical, intentionally named to honor African American church traditions of old-time church musicals featuring choirs from several churches, was held at Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ in Washington.

In his opening remarks before the choir’s processional, Covenant’s Pastor Rev. William Young Rev rightly honored pastors emeriti Revs. Dennis and Christine Wiley, who reached out with a ministry of inclusion and affirmation to members of LGBTQ+ communities during the AIDs epidemic of the 80’s. Covenant Baptist was a courageous witness where those rejected by other churches could find a place of love and affirmation. Under Rev. Young’s leadership, Covenant Baptist continues to thrive in its witness as a dually affiliated congregation with the United Church of Christ.

Rev. Young also shared that twenty years ago a musical featuring a choir of mostly LGBTQ+ members and allies in an historic African American church would not be possible. I can testify to that statement firsthand from my experience singing in nationally and internationally known choirs in churches where any acceptance of its LGBTQ+ choir members ranged from ‘Don’t ask, Don’t tell’ to downright hostility (which still exists today). Reflecting to those days during the AIDs epidemic evoked memories of sadness and some anger in hearing pastors deliver anti LGBTQ+ teaching from pulpits while their choir members were dying around them. To see this choir, as done back in the day, process into the chancel (paraphrasing with credit the longtime motto of Trinity UCC in Chicago) ‘Unashamedly LGBTQ+ and Unapologetically Christian’, was a profoundly moving experience.

After the processional and an enthusiastic welcome from the congregation, the DMV World Pride Mass Choir began to sing. But they didn’t just sing. They ‘saaaannnng’! Directed by Aaron Myers, Covenant’s Minister of Music and Executive Director of the DC Office of Arts and Humanities and accompanied by some of the finest musicians this side of Jordan, the choir ministered to us in song from gospel greats including Walter Hawkins, Milton Brunson, Hezekiah Walker, and Ricky Dillard. Contained in the lyrics of the songs and the way the choir delivered them was not just a message of joy. They contained a reclamation and reaffirmation both for the members and the audience that all in the sanctuary were imago dei, made in the image of God, with all rights and privileges granted as children of God. This movement of God was simply beautiful to see.

If you would like to see this musical, go to this link. And I pray that this will not be a one-time for Pride Month. I hope that this choir will bless many for many years to come. My thanks to members of Covenant Baptist UCC, Empowerment Liberation Cathedral, the Community Church of Washington DC, Inner Light Ministries, New Hope Baptist UCC, Beloved Community UCC, and Peoples Congregational UCC, (please forgive anyone I may have omitted) who came together to form this choir and blessed our souls on Sunday evening. I also want to extend special thanks to Belinda Whittle, a member of the choir, who assisted in gathering and keeping the choir members informed. This concert would not have happened without her.

In one of my favorite Psalms, the psalmist summons us to “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands (Psalm 100:1KJV to honor the teaching of our musical ancestors)”. A joyful noise on the first night of Pride month it was, and I could not have been, in the Lord, more proud.

With Blessings and Pride,

Rev. Freeman L. Palmer

Conference Minister

Central Atlantic Conference UCC

Join through Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86056967317?pwd=6Pbo2BNDYTVEMSdAC1CT7uHcToQbYp.1

Take Your Faith to the Streets This Pentecost

On Tuesday, June 10, people of faith will gather at the U.S. Capitol for A Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget.

We are witnessing against a proposed federal budget that slashes life-saving support for the most vulnerable. Together, we’ll sing, pray, and speak truth to power. This is a moment for moral courage.

📍 U.S. Capitol – Washington, DC

📅 Tuesday, June 10 | Morning start

✍️ Sign up now to join us here!

Central Atlantic Conference will be embarking on a summer of learning through book studies on the topics of Christian Nationalism, intersectionality of congregations and social justice, and healing. Procure a copy of these excellent books and join the conference for a summer of exploration around these fine themes.

See the Full Schedule and Register Here

JUNE 11 BOOK STUDY OUTLINE

The June 11 conversation on Global Grace Café, by Elizabeth Colmant Estes, will have the following structure to help us better understand our deeply held values can transform the life of our local churches. The first portion of our time together, from 7:00-7:30 pm, will focus on how the Reformed Church of Highland Park (NJ) became involved with immigrant justice and where those early connections led. The second portion of our time together, from 7:30-8:00 pm, will help identify the ways in which the justice movement became intertwined with the life of the congregation. The third portion, from 8:00-8:30 pm, will help us identify ways in which we might use the approach of the Reformed Church of Highland Park in our own congregations to help transform our local churches and integrate our commitments into the life of our congregation.

ANOTHER WAY TO PURCHASE “GLOBAL GRACE CAFÉ BOOK FOR JUNE 11 BOOK CLUB

Some have asked if there is a way to purchase the selection for the June Book Club (Global Grace Café by Elizabeth Colmant Estes) other than using Amazon. There is! You can order your own copy of the book through the Global Grace Marketplace and have it shipped to you. Here is the link to order it: GLOBAL GRACE CAFÉ.

The Congregational Library & Archives invites you to our first annual Church Stewardship Initiative Summer Camp.

Join archivists Zachary Bodnar and Billy McCarthy as they lead you through the steps needed to successfully begin archiving your church’s important records and valuable memories. This multi-session online program, hosted on Zoom, will provide guidance and instruction on the archival process keeping in mind your specific collections and locations.

Over the course of five sessions, Zachary and Billy will provide hands-on and in-depth instruction about how to begin tackling the seemingly mountainous task of properly archiving your church’s collection. Between sessions there will be exercises to complete at your own pace that reinforce lessons and set you up for the next session. Sessions will include time for instructions, group discussions, and Q&A. Sessions will focus on the following four topics: gathering your collection, identifying materials, organizing records, and crafting finding aids.

Space is limited. Please register using the following link by Friday, June 6: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/CongregationalLibrary/CSISummerCamp.html

The cost to attend is $150 for individual and church members and $165 for non-members. Limited funds are available as scholarships for those otherwise unable to attend.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending the class.

For more information, please email ref@14beacon.org.

Upcoming Boundary Awareness Training

Gender Bias (Spe)

6/17/25 | 10am - 12pm | (2 hours)

Financial Ethics BAT (Spe)

7/24/25 | 6pm - 8pm | (2 hours)

Intellectual Property and Social Media Ethics BAT (Spe)

7/29/25 | 5pm - 7pm | (2 hours)

Sabbath as Self Care BAT (Spe)

8/7/25 | 10am - 11am | (1 hour)

Foundations BAT

8/26/25 | 3pm - 7pm (4 hours)

Advanced Power Dynamics (Spe)

9/29/25 | 5pm - 7pm | (2 hours)

What do I need to complete my BAT requirements?

The 2025 National Juneteenth Digital Opportunity Bible Study features an impressive lineup of speakers and invited guests, each with insights and expertise to help foster discussions on equipping Black communities with workforce development skills for an AI-driven job market. Rev. Traci Blackmon, a national faith leader, pastor, teacher, preacher, and public theologian, will deliver an inspiring keynote address. This gathering will bring together key influencers from various sectors, including faith, technology, and education, all committed to advancing digital opportunity.

300th Anniversary Celebrations

of the German Reformed Church in America

This year we will celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the German Reformed Church in the United States which began with the first communion at Faulkner Swamp, October 15, 1725. This celebration of our immigrant heritage is particularly meaningful and instructive given the current conversations about immigration happening around the nation.

A 300th Anniversary Committee of representatives from all four Pennsylvania UCC Conferences has begun the work of planning a series of events and worship celebrations to mark the occasion. They include (among other things) quarterly presentations of German Reformed History, a liturgy for congregations to share on the morning of Sunday, October 12 and a Festival of Celebration on Wednesday, October 15.

A history strong in its roots and its capacity to evolve within God’s unfolding creation leads us into an uncertain future by God’s certain presence. This is something to celebrate!

Historic ONLINE Presentations held via zoom beginning at 7:00 pm:

June 24th – A Living Theology: Thinking about God in the Reformed tradition w/ Rev. Dr. Lee Barrett More information will be forthcoming.

September – United and Uniting: How the UCC Makes Room for German Reformed and Armenian Evangelical Christians w/ Rev. Dr. Heather Ohaneson More information will be forthcoming.

October – A Lasting Legacy: Gifts of the Reformed Tradition to the emerging church w/ Dr. Randall Zachman More information will be forthcoming.

On Sunday, October 12th all PA Conferences will come together for an event at Falkner Swamp Reformed UCC. Guest preacher for this event will be our General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson.

For more information about this event click here.

Join Pilgrim Church in celebrating our 60th Anniversary Closing Worship featuring UCC General Minister and President Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson. Sunday, June 29th, 10:30 a.m., 2206 Briggs Road, Wheaton, MD 20906. All are welcome! (No RSVP necessary).

Following worship, Central Atlantic clergy are invited to a luncheon with Rev. Dr. Thompson at 1:00 p.m. at Pilgrim Church. Clergy are welcome to attend the luncheon even if they are not able to join us for worship. Please RSVP for the luncheon to pastor@pilgrimchurchucc.org.

We have the perfect midweek ministry connection for your families- “Bedtime Stories and Prayers”! Join us Wednesday evenings on Zoom to hear a children’s story, pray, and be sent forth with a blessing. Come as you are, even if you are in your car running home from soccer practice. The weekly event is FREE!

Here is the Zoom link: BEDTIME STORIES & PRAYERS. Each session is 15 minutes long and perfect for families to add to their evening going-to-bed rhythms.

The weekly time is 7:00-7:15 PM.

Summer Registration is now open at St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute. Courses include Spirituality in the New Testament, an exploration of the varieties of spirituality—the lived experience of Christian faith—found in the New Testament and their relevance for contemporary Christian life and mission. Readings include works by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King Jr. For more details, visit https://stmarys.edu/ei/summer-2025/ or contact gzook@stmarys.edu.

General Synod 35 Online Registration is Open

Registration for the 2025 General Synod of the United Church of Christ is open.

The event takes place July 11-15, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri, and offers the opportunity for thousands of folks within the United Church of Christ to gather for worship, fellowship, attending to business, offering public witness, and setting the denomination’s priorities for ministry.

The cost to attend is $325 for the full event for visitors, delegates, youth leaders, and exhibitors. Read more here.

Position Opening: Interim Music Director at Westmoreland Congregational UCC in Bethesda, Maryland

Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ in Bethesda, Maryland is a progressive congregation rooted in the teachings of Jesus and aligned with a denomination of "firsts" and extravagant welcome. The church seeks an Interim Music Director to serve in a temporary employment capacity from September 2 - December 12, 2025 during our Music Director’s sabbatical. The Interim Music Director will report to the Transition Minister or Senior Minister. (WCUCC is in a time of leadership transition and is currently interviewing candidates for the Senior Minister role.)

FOR INFO AND TO APPLY: Westmoreland UCC

Position Opening: Technical Support Associate at Christ's Reformed UCC in Hagerstown, Maryland

Position available for Technical Support Associate at Christ’s Reformed United Church of Christ in downtown Hagerstown, MD. The person best suited for this position must be available from 8:30-11:00am Sunday mornings. They must be able to run the sound system, PowerPoint slides, and Zoom while recording the service for YouTube. We would appreciate some experience but are willing to train. Compensation commensurate with experience. If interested, please contact Rev. Norville at reverend.norville@gmail.com.