Upcoming. . .

 

1. Celebrate Pride this Week at Douglas UCC

This weekend marks the 41^st anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a significant event marking the rise of the modern gay rights movement. We also mark the 38^th anniversary of the ordination of William R. Johnson as Minister of Word and Sacrament in the United Church of Christ. Johnson was the first openly gay pastor ordained in the Church in hundreds of years. Watch the historic occasion of the debate around ordaining him and then his ordination on youtube at “A Position of Faith, Parts I & 2”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gorrOIo8Wg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c9zjYiGy9U&feature=related

 

Come join us Sunday as we remember these significant achievements, share our place in them now, and look forward to further justice, equality, and peace. You won’t want to miss the Homily in Word & Song featuring the Chancel Choir and Peter Black.

 

2. Volunteers Needed for Family Week July 9-16

 

Family Week is an incredible and amazing week of families gathering from around the country to enjoy the beauty of Douglas/Saugatuck and the sanctuary of similar families. Much of Family’s Week’s activities are centered around Douglas UCC. And they need your help! Let’s step up. See the note below:

 

Rainbow Families Great Lakes (www.rfgl.org) will be hosting it's annual Family Week in July. They are in need of volunteers to help facilitate these events. Below is a schedule that includes what they need. This is a wonderful and fun event and I hope many of you will be able to participate.

What is Family Week? Family Week is six whole days packed with family fun and activities such as picnics, BBQs, family crafts, pool parties, beach parties, and even a family dance celebration at the local Dunes Resort of Douglas, Michigan. The week will also include youth programming by COLAGE for children ages 9 years old and up. Kids will be able to make new friends with other COLAGErs that face similar challenges being a child of LGBIT parents, share stories and attend a broad range of programs, including how to cope with homophobia at school. Rainbow Families Great Lakes will also have age-appropriate activities for the younger ones which will include pre-school story time, parents and kids in the park, making kites and other arts-and-craft activities.

Here is what they need:

Friday July 9 from noon - ? : help setting up large tent, tables and chairs, etc. This is the day before Family Week actually starts so families will not have arrived yet.

Saturday, July 10 2:30-4:00 pm: Registration and check-in. Volunteers would be helping with sign-in, helping families get organized, etc. Then we'll go to the beach for the rest of the evening and volunteers can join us.

Sunday, July 11 1:00-3:00 pm: Family Games in the park. Volunteers will work with RFGL planners to play with kids, organize a kick ball game and basketball games.

Monday, July 12 7:00 - 10:30 am: Pancake breakfast. Help our PFLAG volunteers to prepare and serve a pancake breakfast for the families.

Thursday, July 15 4:00 - 10:00 pm: Family Week parade and farewell celebration. Face painting, sign making, decorate a float, march in a parade, prepare meal, set up and supervise games, dance, entertain kids....

Anyone interested should contact me before July 1st at:
Lucy Mercier, mercier@svsu.edu, 810-845-7015