This week marks the completion of 8 years of my ministry at Broadway UMC. I am very grateful for all the experiences I have had here, and all the ways you have blessed me. You are all wonderful people and I am indebted to each one of you for the freedom you have given me to show up in spaces of justice, to participate in protests and marches, and to see the scripture with the eyes of marginalized people. I have learned and grown a lot with you all in these 8 years. Thank you for always loving me and my family! I also want to share with you a few more joyful events-
I am also grateful to all who marched with us at the 2023 Chicago Pride parade, including those who were not standing with us when this picture was taken. There were about 200 entries among which were more than 40 churches and about 100 pastors and congregants. We saw folk with tears in their eyes because they saw churches that are affirming and welcoming, and they wanted to hug and greet and acknowledge- and that gave us the energy to keep going, even though it was hard to carry the flag through those strong winds. Thank you for supporting us in the walk.
This month we have welcomed another partner into our building. Some of you are familiar with YEPP (Youth Empowerment Performance Project), whose work has a vision to end LGBTQI+ youth homelessness in Chicago and BEYOND! We have partnered with them in the past. This month they moved into our building as a regular building partner. They will be in the building (room 106 downstairs) during the day on weekdays, and I invite you to welcome them if/when you are in the building.
We are delighted to welcome the congregation of Holy Covenant UMC to our “Worship in the Yard” on Sunday July 16th and we will join them for their “Beach Worship” on Sunday July 30th at 10:30am (note the change of time). More information will be shared as we get closer to the day. Hopefully this will be a beginning of a longer partnership.
Also remember-
We have started collecting donations for the annual SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY. Please bring your donations (pencils, crayons, erasers, color pencils, index cards, backpacks, glue-sticks, 2 pocket folders, markers, highlighters) to the church.
We continue to fundraise (almost $6000) for the organ repair and media upgrade! Please contribute by clicking here. We hope to get the organ repaired as soon as we possibly can.
Beloveds, as people of God, we are called to ‘show up’ against every injustice that we see around us. May we continue to strive to do our best, be our best and do all we can to create a safer place for all God’s people. Be blessed beloveds, and I look forward to seeing you in church.
