Little Rapids and Zion United Church

Thessalon Pastoral Charge Little Rapids and Zion United Church Thessalon Pastoral Charge Little Rapids and Zion United Churches 9:30 am 11:00am April 7th, 2013 Rainbow Camp Sunday ** Stand as you are able Bold type other than heading indicates the congregation speaks or sings

WE GATHER IN GOD’S PRESENCE

While people are arriving (up on screen) http://www.nohomophobes.com/#!/today/

** Opening VU # 395 – Come In, Come In & Sit Down

** Call to Worship: Send No One Away! By Meredith Bischoff

Leader: Some Pharisees wanted to test Jesus. So they came up to him and asked if it was right for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus asked them, "What does the Law of Moses say about that?" They answered, "Moses allows a man to write out divorce papers and send his wife away." (Mark 10:2-4 CEV) All: We will send no one away. One: Some people brought their children to Jesus so that he could bless them by placing his hands on them. But his disciples told the people to stop bothering him. (Mark 10:13-14 CEV) All: We will send no one away. Leader: In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself, and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat. If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way." (Mark 8:1-3 CEV) All: We will send no one away. Leader: And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed." But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us." (Matthew 22-23 NIV) All: We will send no one away. Leader: Queer (Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender) brothers and sisters are walking with us on the path of the disciple. They have chosen to be there because they feel God's call to them. Some have struggled throughout their lives with questions and uncertainties about their identity, their acceptability, their status as children of God. Some have dared to tell their story, resulting at times in warm acceptance and other times in cold rejection. Some have come to understand that God loves them unconditionally and embraces them as valued members of the human family; others are not so sure. (adapted from Community of Christ President W. Grant McMurray's Address at the 2002 World Conference Address) All: We as a community of faith value diversity and celebrate those differences as intentional acts of God's creation. In that the realm of God includes all persons, we welcome and include all persons including persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and family units in the full life of the congregation. We will send no one away! (adapted from the welcoming statement of Basileia: An Open Door Community of Christ)

** Hymn: God Made Us From One Blood Sung to "Immortal, Invisible" VU 264 Tune: ST. DENIO 11.11.11.11 Words by Thomas H. Troeger, 1988

God made us from one blood all families of earth, The circles of nurture that raise us from birth, Companions who join us to work through each stage, Of childhood and youth and adulthood and age.

We turn to You, God, with our thanks and our tears, For all of the families we've known through the years, The intimate networks on whom we depend Of parents and partners and children and friends. Through families we've tasted the value of trust And felt what it means to be loving and just. Yet families have also betrayed their best goals, Mistreating their members and bruising their souls.

Help families in all of their various forms To face with integrity struggles and storms; Grant peace to our homes that will nurture the bud Of peace for the families You made from one blood.

Children’s Time

CONFESSION OF SIN Based on the Ten Affirmations for LGBT Spirituality Leader: We are painfully aware of the ways we dismiss or disdain others who think or act or look differently from ourselves. All: At our best, we celebrate the unity we create in the midst of our diversity. Leader: We are so quick to look down on the defect or sin of another. All: At our best, we affirm the inherent beauty, worth, and dignity of every Queer and straight person. Leader: We insist that our way and view are the only ones. All: At our best, we remember: There are many paths to the sacred. The spiritual paths of Queer persons are among them. Leader: We get caught up in categories, presumptions, and stereotypes around and within us. All: At our best, we know: The choice is not whether to be Queer or straight, but whether or not to live an authentic life. Leader: We so often want to pull the covers over our heads or stay in the closet. All: At our best, we acknowledge: Coming out is a courageous and spiritual act. Leader: We confess the times when sexual expression has been manipulative and self-interested. All: At our best, we understand: Sexual expression is one of the many sacred ways that Queer and straight adults can express the depth of love in their relationships. Leader: We regret the ways in which sexuality and spirituality have been turned against each other. All: At our best, we commit ourselves: We support each person's journey of integrating spirituality and sexuality which leads to wholeness. Leader: We grieve the misuse of marriage, the withholding of its rights and responsibilities, for political gain. All: At our best, we proclaim: Marriage is a sacred union for people everywhere who are committed to each other without regard to gender. Love makes a family. Leader: We regret the missed opportunities to care for LGBT people persecuted by bigots. All: At our best, we pledge ourselves: Spiritual leaders must take responsibility to lead, protect, and affirm Queer people: children, adults, and their families. Leader: We hold fast to the promising truth that we are one human family. At our best, we remind ourselves: No one is free when others are oppressed.

Assurance of Pardon All: Through the power of the resurrected Christ, our sins are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen.

Sermon: “Send no one away”

http://youtu.be/TdkNn3Ei-Lg Rainbow Camp radio ad (available upon request) Discussion around youth and rainbow camp http://youtu.be/UC_CFYHh8n4 Closed by reading Doreen’s letter (which was also printed in bulletin)

Prayers of Concern and Lord’s Prayer

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

** Hymn: VU # 289 It Only Takes a Spark

** Benediction CLOSING PRAYER May Your Gifts of Love Transform From the More Light Presbyterians Retreat & Mission Weekend New Orleans, LA, 2006 All: May Your gifts of love transform and enliven us that we may live lives of thanksgiving. May Your presence among us provoke such longing for Your realm that we will never be satisfied until the whole earth knows Your justice, Your peace, and Your love. Amen.

Leader: Rev. Dr. John E. Porter Organist: Mrs. Christine Findlay; Mr. Harry Stewart Service slides at Zion: Ms. Krista McCracken, Mr. Gordon Graham

Announcements to Chris Southin [email protected] Pastor’s Mail Box [email protected] (705) 842-2304 Church (705) 542-6524 Pastor Local (413) 374-7295 Pastor Long Distance when out of town Please place offering in the offering plates at the back of the church.

The Apocalypse: Controversies &

Meaning in Western History Mondays DVD Bible Study 8:00 p.m. @ Zion Holy Walk Meeting At the Bruce Mines/Plummer Add’l April 16 Library 7:00 p.m. Thessalon’ s Got Talent Come and enjoy a wonderful night of talent and desserts! IOOF Hall April 25 Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $5.00 at the door. To have your event\meeting listed contact Chris Southin at [email protected] (705-842-2020) Reflecting on Rainbow Camp Rev Doreen Sproule – August 2012

It has been a week of recognizing much pain; hurt that these kids have experienced in families, amongst friends, at school, from community members and, perhaps worst of all, from the church. Words of judgment, condemnation and hatred.

For some who want to remain in the church, they are forced to live a lie; pretending to be something or someone they are not. For some, church is no longer an option. For some, their faith has been severely shaken. For some, their faith is gone.

Some have tried to ease the pain with alcohol and drugs. Most have considered or attempted suicide.

I struggled with my role there as chaplain – a representative of the church. Why would they want me there? Why would they want to listen to anything I had to say? Surely any words from me would fall on deaf ears. We decided, the staff and I, that a ministry of presence would work best. And so I was there to be with them – to eat with them, play games with them, learn and grow with them, laugh and cry with them. That, after all, is what scripture asks of us – to live in love as Christ loved us; to be imitators of God.

By the end of the week enough trust had developed that several of the kids opened up to me. There was talk of broken families, of illness, of fear and challenge, of church, of God, of death and suicide. One of them, near the end of the conversation, said, “If I go to heaven when I die, I want it to be just like Rainbow Camp.” It was a comment that touched me deeply and has stayed with me. What was it that made Rainbow Camp so heaven-like? This is what I saw:

 They knew from the get-go that they were welcome and accepted just as they were.  There was no judgment.  There were no questions to be answered; no explanations needed.  There were no creeds or doctrines they were expected to believe in or say.  They could all be different with no need to conform.  They were like family – for some the family they wished they could have beyond camp.  They were loved and cared for.  They were nourished and fed.  It was a safe place, a beautiful place, a place where they could have fun and be kids.  It was a place where they could learn and grow, even while dealing with the tough stuff.  It was a place where mistakes could be made and repentance and forgiveness happened.  It was a place where they could challenge themselves; being encouraged and supported.  It was a place where they could form relationships – make friends in a healthy way.  It was a place where transformation happened.

It’s all that we claim we want the church to be – and yet it isn’t. I have never heard anyone compare church to heaven. Maybe Rainbow Camp was what the church should be, with my role as minister being a whole lot different – imitating God, loving as Christ loved us – not in word and doctrine, but in body – in flesh and blood, in love and healing, in hope and salvation so that all kids might experience heaven here on earth.

It wasn’t easy, but it most certainly was great.

Doreen School Climates in Canada Today

Homophobic and Transphobic Comments

 70% of all participating students, LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ, reported hearing expressions such as "that's so gay" every day in school and almost half (48%) reported hearing remarks such as "faggot," "lezbo," and "dyke" every day in school.  Almost 10% of LGBTQ students reported having heard homophobic comments from teachers daily or weekly (17% of trans students; 10% of female sexual minority students; and 8% of male sexual minority students). Even more LGBTQ students reported that they had heard teachers use negative genderrelated or transphobic comments daily or weekly: 23% of trans students; 15% of male sexual minority students; and 12% of female sexual minority students.  Hardly any LGBTQ students reported that they never heard homophobic comments from other students (1% of trans students; 2% of female sexual minority students; 4% of male sexual minority students). This suggests that if you are a sexual minority student in a Canadian school, it is highly likely that you will hear insulting things about your sexual orientation.

Verbal Harassment

 74% of trans students, 55% of sexual minority students, and 26% of non-LGBTQ students reported having been verbally harassed about their gender expression.  37% of trans students, 32% of female sexual minority students, and 20% of male sexual minority students reported being verbally harassed daily or weekly about their sexual orientation.  68% of trans students, 55% of female sexual minority students, and 42% of male sexual minority students reported being verbally harassed about their perceived gender or sexual orientation. Trans youth may report experiencing particularly high levels of harassment on the basis of perceived sexual orientation because often trans individuals are perceived as lesbian, gay, or bisexual when they are not.  More than a third (37%) of youth with LGBTQ parents reported being verbally harassed about the sexual orientation of their parents. They are also more likely to be verbally harassed about their own gender expression (58% versus 34% of other students), perceived sexual orientation or gender identity (46% versus 20%), gender (45% versus 22%), and sexual orientation (44% versus 20%).

Physical Harassment

 More than one in five (21%) LGBTQ students reported being physically harassed or assaulted due to their sexual orientation. 20% of LGBTQ students and almost 10% of non-LGBTQ students reported being physically harassed or assaulted about their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.  37% of trans students, 21% of sexual minority students, and 10% of non-LGBTQ students reported being physically harassed or assaulted because of their gender expression.  Over a quarter (27%) of youth with LGBTQ parents reported being physically harassed about the sexual orientation of their parents. They are also more likely than their peers to be physically harassed or assaulted in connection with their own gender expression (30% versus 13% of other students), perceived sexual orientation or gender identity (27% versus 12%), gender (25% versus 10%), and sexual orientation (25% versus 11%).

Sexual Harassment

Levels of sexual harassment are high across the board for LGBTQ students. The following groups of students reported having experienced sexual harassment in school in the last year:

 49% of trans students  45% of students with LGBTQ parents  43% of female bisexual students  42% of male bisexual students  40% of gay male students  33% of lesbian students The higher levels of sexual harassment for gay male than for lesbian students may be attributable to greater exposure to sexual humiliation as a distinct form of unwanted sexual attention. Also, lesbian students may be less likely than gay male or trans students to perceive their experiences of harassment as sexual.