Celebration of Diversity, by Barb Clay, Saskatoon
On Sunday, January 3lst at 7 p.m. St. Mark’s Anglican church in Saskatoon demonstrated its vision of being an “inclusive” church by holding a service to which people in the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered) were warmly invited. Apart from notices going out to the Integrity group and all parishes in the Deanery, invitations were also sent to some of the United churches and the Roman Catholic Diocesan office.
The Rev. Karen Sandell and the planning committee – John Allen, Christine Bennett, Lynne and Barb Clay - drew up a form of liturgy which included prayers, readings, story telling and Holy Communion. The musical talents of Ken Bos, Cathy Hartsook and Kendra Kuse were greatly appreciated and added a special dimension to the celebration.
On entering the church where the rainbow flag was draped and a set of rainbow candles were lit on the Altar, people were handed a rainbow coloured paper streamer.
Karen gave a warm welcome to the congregation of over 50 people which included our retiring Bishop, Rod Andrews, and said that she had taken ideas for the service from the Iona community in Scotland.
Alex Sokalski read a passage from 1 Samuel8; 1-5 and 2 Samuel 1: 25-26 and this was followed by a contemporary story told by Barb Clay. Everyone joined in the singing of “Sing a New Church” before Ken Bos and Tom Rogers shared a conversation between Jesus and Peter. The latter was haltingly trying to pry from Jesus whether it was alright to love someone of the same sex to which Jesus adamantly responded that we were to love one another.
Following a modern interpretation of the creed, Rose Rogers led prayers of Intercession in which she prayed for the millions of homosexuals murdered in Nazi Germany and the thousands of GLBT people still suffering imprisonment and death and for the oppression religious leaders feel who serve in the church but cannot come out. The congregation responded with “We pray, O God, for those who liberate from closets.”
Three people then read out the names of well known personalities – all of whom were in the Queer community and after each grouping the congregation responded with “We celebrate you” At the conclusion of the formal list people were invited to name aloud anyone whose lives they would personally like to celebrate.
During the singing of “Abundant” Life while the Altar was prepared for Communion, the congregation was invited to come forward with their coloured streamers and decorate the Altar with them. Karen invited everyone to come forward if they so wished- to receive either a blessing or Communion and the musicians offered a duet “You Raise Me Up”.
Following the service everyone was invited to stay for refreshments and conversation in the church hall. The positive feedback to the event was overwhelming and St. Mark’s felt that they had made one more step to becoming an inclusive congregation.
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