Dear Friends,
This month is Pride Month and you will probably have noticed that we have a Pride banner up and the 'Hate has no home here' artwork on the outside wall. Every year it attracts the odd bit of hate mail, but that is par for the course. I would guess that most if not all of us have an LGBTQ friend, child, sibling, colleague, or neighbour. I have been reflecting recently on the number of people I know who have felt forced to keep their personal lives completely secret for fear of discrimination. I have colleagues who until very recently did not let parishioners know they had a long term partner. I had school teachers who always pretended to be 'just good friends'. One who is now in her 80's even hid her relationship from her own mother for the nearly 50 years she was with her partner. It is only now that many people feel free to accept themselves and their relationships in front of others. When I receive emails from random strangers telling me to take the Pride banner down I tell the person that the Pride symbol lets LGBTQ people know that Grace is a safe space, where they will be welcomed as they are, and as they should be, as one made in the image of our Creator.
On June 26th some of us from Grace will walk with the Proud Anglicans group at the parade on Sunday June 26th. You are most welcome to join us. We also have a double decker bus for those who don't feel like walking or need to take a break. I always wear my clerical collar when I take part and I am humbled by the amount of people who shout "Thank you for being here with us'. Our track record as Anglicans is not good with the LGBTQ community but we have never experienced anything but welcome at Pride. God help us to love and value all people as God's beloved children.
Psalm 139:13-14 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Yours,
Rev Nicola
