ONLINE WORSHIP

Join us online for worship on Sunday, June 27, at 10:15 a.m. at https://vimeo.com/channels/1547852.

You can view and download the bulletin here.

 

One of the joys of the early summer is that June is Pride Month—and while the signs reminding us of that have shown up in our lawns and in front of our church, because of the pandemic, it was decided a few months ago to wait and hold Iowa City’s Pride Festival in October this year. And Congregational UCC will be on the Ped Mall as part of it as we have for some time.

Moving the Festival to October reminds us that Pride and the Open and Affirming commitments of our congregation are not seasonal activities—although I learned this past week that some see it that way. There’s a term for it: “rainbow washing”—it happens when businesses put out the rainbow flag in June in an attempt to cover up the bias that occurs the rest of the year.

Andrew Isen, founder and president of an LGBTQ marketing and communications agency, said recently that people can see superficial support. He adds: “Pride really is 24/7, 365. And companies that understand this and relegate themselves to a yearlong commitment rather than a one-month effort to reach out to the community, understand how to reach this consumer. Companies that rainbow wash are seen as pandering and tokenistic to this community.”

And, of course, what it true for companies is, in this case, true for congregations as well. So we work at living out our faith and our commitments year round—in the easy days of summer, in the difficult days of winter.

Pride is 24/7, 365.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Jeremiah 17:7-8, I Corinthians 16:13-14

SERMON       “Pride 365”

The Rev. Bill Lovin preaching

 

SOLO             “By the Grace of the Spirit”   Andrew Grant

                        Colin Wilson

 

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome to join us online.