October 2021 Vineyard
St. Mark's Lutheran Church monthly newsletter
St. Mark's Lutheran Church monthly newsletter
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Reconciling in Christ<br />
National Coming Out Day<br />
is Monday Oct 11th<br />
St. Mark’s RIC Team invites you to mark <strong>October</strong> 11th on your calendar.<br />
We encourage you and your family to think of ways to honor those<br />
courageous enough to come out. To honor those who stand as allies.<br />
Some loved ones in our families may come out.<br />
Others may still be hiding in fear of rejection. This day<br />
reminds us all of the importance of why we became<br />
an RIC-designated congregation. It reminds us that<br />
there is still work to be done. That our work didn’t<br />
end when the congregation voted overwhelmingly to<br />
became a Reconciling in Christ church.<br />
This month, the RIC Team wants to remind the<br />
congregation about the importance of intentionality.<br />
It’s one thing to say, “All are welcome.” It’s another to<br />
live it. Show it.<br />
As Jesus said, “We will be known by our love.”<br />
We want St. Mark’s to be known in our community<br />
as a place of love. A church that will always be a safe,<br />
welcoming and affirming place for all God’s children<br />
to enter, worship, and serve.<br />
In honor of National Coming Out Day, here are a few<br />
questions to consider:<br />
• How are you welcoming God’s people in your own<br />
life?<br />
• What do you see as the difference between<br />
tolerating others and accepting others?<br />
• When have you felt silenced and discredited? Who<br />
provided hope and helped you through those<br />
experiences?<br />
Want to talk?<br />
If you would like to talk to a safe<br />
person, feel free to contact anyone<br />
on our RIC Team. They are allies.<br />
They are open to conversation.<br />
• Susan Manning<br />
• Pam Miller<br />
• Mary Mandel<br />
• Melissa Nowak<br />
• Martha Egeland<br />
• Sheryl Campen<br />
Want more information?<br />
National Coming Out Day is an internationally observed day<br />
celebrating individuals who publicly identify as bisexual, gay,<br />
lesbian, transgender. If you’d like to learn more, check out these<br />
resources:<br />
• qspirit - spiritual resources to honor Coming Out Day<br />
• ELM (Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries) - blogs on National<br />
Coming Out Day<br />
• RIC (Reconciling in Christ) - news, information, and resources<br />
for churches welcoming LGBTQIA+ people and families<br />
• St. Mark’s RIC page - our welcome and official RIC statement<br />
8
Change language