Pride / Reconciling

On March 25 and 26, 2013 the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will consider two important cases: challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8 (Prop 8). Bringing these cases before SCOTUS is a pivotal opportunity for far-reaching, lasting change for LGBTQ people and their partners — including the opportunity to legally marry, and to receive benefits that are in many states only available to heterosexual married couples.

Holy Covenant’s Church & Society Committee invites you to show your support, in any way that speaks to your heart and fits into your schedule:

Rally & March
On Monday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m., gather in Federal Plaza (Adams & Dearborn) for a rally followed by a candlelight march to Pioneer Plaza (near Tribune Tower). (March 25 is also the anniversary of the 1965 march from Selma that Dr. King described as “a shining moment in the conscience of man.”) Please bring a candle, and dress warmly! RSVP and more info on Facebook.

Virtual Vigil
At 12:00 noon on Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27, you are invited to take 10-15 minutes, find a calm space (even if only in your heart), and dedicate this small window of time to prayer. Spread out across the city, in offices, homes, coffee shops, cars, trains, buses, churches, and on the sidewalk, we will lift up our hearts together in wishes for clarity and acceptance among the judges of the Supreme Court, and strength of purpose for those who speak to them on behalf of LGBTQ Americans. Tuesday’s case is about Prop 8, and Wednesday’s case is about DOMA. Click here for our “virtual vigil” prayer guide/resource.

Social Media Support
Between now and the end of the hearings, show your support and share your thoughts and prayers by connecting with Holy Covenant via social media:

“Like” the Holy Covenant page on Facebook

Join the Holy Covenant Facebook group

Follow us on Twitter: @holycov

Handles and hashtags to follow & mention:
@holycov
@rmnetwork
#scotus
#Time4Marriage
#UnitedforMarriage
#pray4LoveJustice
#loveprevails
#lgbt
#marriageequality
#repealdoma
#NoH8

More Information & Inspiration

Sunday, October 28, 2012
Holy Covenant UMC
Troy Plummer, Executive Director of the Reconciling Ministries Network , was our Guest Preacher

John 11:32-44

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This is a special week in our household—Halloween! Just in case you are unaware, Halloween is one of the high holy days for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people—a time where you can dress up however you want and not have the world come down on you. Straight folk seem to enjoy this freedom too. Some wearing costumes a little too much and some a little too little, some clever, some sexy, some scary, some angelic—unfortunately some racist. In our home it is special because Walter was born on October 31. He is a Halloween baby. It makes perfect sense. If you need to know more, just ask him. In fact, we thought about celebrating at Universal Studios in Orlando where they have a zombie maze based on the show The Walking Dead.

So just imagine the images conjured in our home, that this Lazarus passage spawns. No, sorry, Lazarus is not a zombie. Matthew’s account of the crucifixion and resurrection also is not about zombies. Mt. 27:53 “The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many.” No, not about zombies taking over Jerusalem. It is not about eating brains or half life/half death. It is about love that conquers death.

As a people though, we seem to be pretty preoccupied with death with unlimited curiosity for this rite of passage that we all must experience. With such preoccupation, some may wonder if we aren’t trying to work out something in all of this. Some families and cultures are more comfortable and may celebrate Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead – and picnic at the cemetery with our ancestors and creating a vibrant altar of honor—skeletons and all. Others have difficulty just saying the words: dead. died. Sister passed, went on over, gone to see Jesus, been called home, gone on to glory, resting with the saints, crossed the Jordan…because the clarity of these words—dead, died…are just too much to bear. So perhaps enough cocktails at a wake can ease our journey or enough church casserole comfort food, maybe good jazz or longing bluegrass can get us through.

In the midst of this, we say we are disciples of Jesus. Jesus who has interesting relationship to death. Jesus who has an interesting relationship to life. He just doesn’t allow life and death to live separately. Jesus brings life to the lifeless. Jesus conveys, again and again, that life can come from a lifeless situation. Jesus chooses to bring life even when it will mean his own death. Today’s account of Lazarus’s raising prompted the plans of the powerful to put his passion to the test and to end Jesus’ life. Still, Jesus chooses to bring life even when it will mean his own death. (more…)

Sunday, October 14, 2012
Holy Covenant UMC
Britt Cox, preaching

Hebrews 4:12-16

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Growing up I was kind of a tomboy, I might argue that I still am, I wasn’t really into bows, and frills, or playing with Barbies or My Little Ponies. I was really into Legos, building things and running around the neighborhood without any shoes on. My parents have always been so wonderful to encourage any type of nonconformity, diversity and self-identity, I really am so lucky to have grown up that way.

At some point, my parents bought me this really awesome knight’s costume: included was a shield, double sided breast plate, a helmet with a face mask feature, but the best of all was that this costume came with this double edged sword and its own belt for easy jousting access. Adorned in my Knights of the Round Table costume I would roam the castle (my house), inflicting fear on any threat in my path; the usual suspects being my sisters and house pets. My sisters and the cats put up with me for awhile, hoping I would grow out of this phase of chasing them around the house, but finally they had enough and began to hide under the bed or shout at me that they didn’t want to play with me anymore if I was going to chase after them with a sword. After a few times of either being reprimanded by my parents for getting a little too rough, or not being invited to play with my sisters out of fear of being injured, I retired from knighthood; went back to Legos, building things and running around the neighborhood without any shoes on. And found it much easier to play with my sisters and family cats without them fearing being challenged to a joust.

When I first read this text in preparation for this morning I have to admit I had a tough time getting through my initial reading of it. While my childhood experience as one of the knights of the roundtable might be part of it, I also now consider myself a person committed to non-violence and the symbol of the sword with the word of God is problematic for the ways I perceive God communicating to us today. Many of you may have had similar feelings come up: The Bible has a history and reputation for being used as a weapon to enforce conformity, punish difference, and oppress the marginalized with such violence that no wonder many of us hesitantly walk through the doors of churches with bruises and scars. The world we live uses the sword as a norm to divide the haves and the have-nots, to justify wars abroad and at home, and hardens our exteriors so as not to seem weak or vulnerable to its sweeping blows.

However, while my first reading was to associate the word of God with the sword a second glance shows that the writer of Hebrews says, “Word of God is SHARPER THAN any two edged sword.” and is more like a scalpel, not meant for death or destruction, but for our wellness and for life. This tool rather must be wielded with precision and care to have the capacity to come into our souls and spirits, to reach the depths of the marrow in our bones like the text describes. While the sword requires brute strength to divide and keep those it is being used against at a distance; a scalpel requires the surgeon know all parts and to be within the intimate space of her patient. (more…)

One of the hardest things about being active and invested in a community like Holy Covenant UMC is that we are always in flux. Like our neighborhood and the great city that surrounds it, our makeup is never the same from day to day. We are welcoming new people daily. And we are sending them off with our love almost as often. The following is a letter I received last week just before we sent Todd Peacock-Preston off with God’s blessings on the next leg of his journey to Seattle.  I wanted to share it with you (with permission) because, even though it is addressed to me, it isn’t really just for me. These words are yours for the ministry you have done here. I hope they bring you as much joy as they did me. And I hope they serve to reiterate the kind of impact we have in living into our identity as a teaching congregation.

Abundant Blessings,

Pastor Matthew

Dear Matthew,

I am Todd Peacock Preston’s mother.  I have written this ‘thank you’ letter in my mind a million times over the last few years and like many things now find myself with a deadline – for he is leaving Chicago so I am putting pen to paper so to speak.  Todd is our third child and only boy, his sisters are 9 and 7 years older – so at times he has had 3 moms – telling him what to do!  Our family is very close and it seems the older they/we get the closer we are.

Five years ago, when Todd got into DePaul and moved to Chicago (1000 miles away from home)– our one request was that he become involved in a church.  Pretty quickly he visited Holy Covenant but did not feel it was just right and visited the Downtown UMC.  I am not sure how it happened but within a few months he found his way back to HC – I believe very strongly it was a ‘God thing’.

Ed and I have raised loving, strong, independent, faithful and creative children – but we have known from the get-go that we could not raise them alone.  So in each of their lives there have been very special people that have supported them in ways that Ed and I were just not able to do and for that we thank God.  For Todd, that support came in the shape of a very special church – Holy Covenant – and for that we thank God daily.  Todd went to Chicago a young boy in many ways and is leaving Chicago as a strong, confident and content man – thanks to HC.

You see, Todd needed to see himself separate from us – his nuclear family – yet loved and respected for who he is by his church family.  And he has.  We heard all about Kate’s sermons, Andrew’s music choices, Matt’s asking to meet for coffee, Troy and Walter taking him to lunch, this year’s General Conference and the activities around the Pride month – for years!  When he came home and visited our church – we would have lunch discussions about inclusive theology (our church’s isn’t) and what it means to be a part of something not just accepted.  HC has touched our family in ways that most churches just dream of ‘touching’ people.  When we come to town – we leave after church on Sunday – to worship with Todd.

One of my goals is to see the communion table you asked him to build.  We all have blood, sweat and smiles in that table!  You will never know what that single act of asking him to make that table did to securely ground his faith in God and humanity.  HC has been the complete embodiment of Christ on earth for our family.  And for that we will be eternally grateful to you and each member of the church.

As Todd worships with you and HC for the last time this week before his move, I want you to know how much it has meant to me as Todd’s mom to know that he has had HC’s support – unconditionally – HC has given me comfort – knowing that you were there for him and our family.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I have a feeling our paths will cross again – you have been too important in our lives…keep passing it forward..

With deep sincerity and love –

Ginger Peacock Preston

I have been around Holy Covenant for about 20 years, first as a visitor, than as a member, and finally as part of the staff. And while pride day is always great, every four years or so (read: General Conference years), there’s nothing like a Pride Parade to help heal the wounded soul. These are the years when we are reminded of how many of those “open doors” in our denomination are still actually closed; and the opportunity to again try and change those minds at an institutional level seems so far away.

So, yeah, by all means let’s parade and party. I have watched, marched, and “floated” in the parade for a number of years, and while I was not able to participate directly this year, I can attest to its power and joy and emotion; the mountain-moving kind. When that many hearts are beating in sync (mostly likely to a driving dance beat), it becomes quite clear that amidst all the wild revelry, there’s definitely some God stuff happening here.

We had a unique opportunity this year to give a witness to that God stuff as we, in addition to many other faith groups, received a prime location in the parade. And thanks to the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches, we were able to roll that witness into a mighty powerhouse of different faith traditions. We were there as one, marching together, praying together, singing together, holding signs for like-minded churches that couldn’t be there, lifting each other up. It wasn’t my church or your church, it was God’s church y’all. And we were deliverin’ the good word.

I have seen what the love of God and the people that embrace it, streaming through those open doors, can do at Holy Covenant. I have seen lives changed; souls blossom; hearts embraced. And to all the worn out weary folks that marched, designed, built, organized, led, preached and prayed, know that you took that love and put it out there for all to see. For 850,000 people to see. And that, my friends, is some really good God stuff.

Peace,

Andrew Collins

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Sunday, June 24, 2012
Holy Covenant UMC
Rev. Polly Toner, preaching

Genesis 1
2 Corinthians 6:1-13

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We’ve started this morning with a story from Genesis, one of the stories of creation. It is a bit long, but it seems a fitting text for today, that we begin with the reminder and celebration of the fact that God created everything and everyone, and found that it was good, very good, indeed.

Today is Pride Sunday, a day when people across Chicago, hundreds of thousands of them (last year’s estimate was 750,000), celebrate the diversity of God’s creation. It is lively and fun, sometimes a bit rowdy – and always colorful. As a community of faith we ought to pause and remember this parade is the response to a need. Its origins are in a time when individuals could not publicly celebrate who they are. Pride parades around the nation developed as an outcry for human dignity and civil rights, and they take place because people were willing to stand up, challenge the status quo, and take risks. I will be the first to agree that dignity might not directly follow from some of the behavior that has gone on at these parades in the past – but on the whole, they are a marvelous party in honor of God’s people. Every year I feel overcome by a sense of unity between humans right out on the sidewalk – a celebration of being alive and being whoever it is that we are. In 2012 we are able to enjoy the party because others before us stood up and took action.

Before we continue, in the spirit of our summer discussion series here at Holy Covenant, I want to raise a few questions…

1.) What is ministry?

2.) Is the Pride Parade ministry?

Friday evening was the Medical Resident Graduation for our House Staff at St. Joseph Hospital. After giving the benediction, I was able to listen to story after story of how these new doctors had changed lives in amazing ways, and then about the many personal sacrifices they and their families had made in order to do so. Medical service to the community is chock full of joy, of miraculous interventions and recoveries – but it is not without a cost. It is not without some discomfort for doctors and for patients. In fact it STARTS in a place of neediness. The medical model is based on looking for dysfunction, disease, what does not work right. Most doctors do not spend their days caring for the healthy and strong. Particularly at this faith-based, nonprofit hospital in the center of many urban retirement and nursing homes, these doctors spend much of their day caring for the uninsured, and for the elderly. SJH has an award winning ministry to those living with HIV/AIDS, and a high level neonatal ICU caring for the tiniest and sickest of newborns. Whether these doctors themselves are Christians or not, they ARE participating in the Christian ministry of SJH as they care for the least and the frailest of these, honoring all of God’s very good creation even when, especially when, things aren’t going so well. In order to fix what isn’t right though, health care providers must also be attuned to what IS right. They must also look at a person’s strengths so they can identify the resources that can be used to overcome the illness.

This is not so different from what we do as the Church. (more…)

Sunday, June 26, 2011
Holy Covenant UMC
Rev. Rebecca Anderson, preaching

Ephesians 6:10-20

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PRIDE Sermon
Holy Covenant UMC, Sunday June 27th 2010
Rev. Kate Hurst Floyd
Galatians 5:1, 13-25

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Here it is! Pride Sunday, finally. We’ve been building up to this joyous day for the last month. We’re ready to leave here and have fun, celebrate, be set free into Lakeview to march and sing and dance.

And then we hear this scripture passage, from Galatians, which can seem to squelch all our fun. It starts off well and good: Paul is talking about freedom in Christ, telling us that we are no longer under a burden of law or oppression. And he tells us that the fulfillment of the law is summed up in the one commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.

It’s freeing and it’s beautiful…and then we get to the end of the passage, we’re on the edges of our seats ready to have fun, and Paul seems to ruin it: He tells us about all the things we can NOT do; he tells us that flesh is bad and in Christ we live by Spirit alone. It can be a bummer to hear on this day when many of us want to go carousing and engage in pleasures of the flesh. It doesn’t feel very freeing and it doesn’t necessarily feel like a Scripture passage we want to take pride in. Is this what it means to be Christian? To separate body and Spirit?
It doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. Plus, many of us have been oppressed because Christians have told us are bodies are bad. This passage is about freedom, but it can feel constraining.

Is this something to be proud of? After all, we are gathered today to be proud! (more…)

by Teddy Jay

A year and a half ago I stumbled into this small and funky little church on the north side of Chicago. Little did I know how much it would change my life. For many years, I was a seeker who wondered if a gay man could not only follow Jesus, but do so in a community that saw him as an equal. I also wondered if I could find a place where not only was I welcomed whole-heartedly but also one that pushed me to grow spiritually. Would I be able to find a church community that practiced what they preached? Could I be part of something that really lived out the teaching of Jesus without persecuting people for being “the other”? Holy Covenant answered all of those questions of uncertainty with a deafening and resounding, YES!

As you’ve read from earlier blog posts and communications, Holy Covenant is celebrating 20 years of welcoming all people as a reconciling congregation. This past month has been filled with activities, sermons and songs echoing the spirit of these 20 years, and calling for 20 more. June also included an amazing Prom, “Over The Rainbow,” to raise money for reconciling ministries. Thank you, Prom Committee, for such an wonderful event! Finally, a very strong contingent of Holy Covenant members and friends walked together in the 41st Chicago Pride Parade, united with one common objective: to live out our mission of loving all people. We walked under the theme of “No Place Like Home.” The theme couldn’t be more true. Being a part of this amazing group of people might be the most empowering thing I’ve ever done.

I had the privilege of leading the parade effort over the last two months, and am so proud of our witness on Pride Sunday. On behalf of the Pride Parade planning team, I want to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to our efforts. Special thanks to all who bought a t-shirt, helped with lunches, and built the float. Whether you marched with us, waved at us, or had us in your hearts, I thank you. Thank you for your prayers, and most importantly, thank you for standing up for justice and equality. Finally, a special thanks to all members of the Pride Planning team. None of this would have happened where it not for your gifts and contributions.

Holy Covenant is a community where the often rejected “other” is welcomed, embraced and included in “the one.” It is a community empowered to take part in social justice while embracing Jesus’ message of loving one another. Words can only begin to express the impact Holy Covenant has had on my life. I am overwhelmed and energized after witnessing Holy Covenant’s commitment to the LGBTQ community, especially during Pride Month. Here’s to 20 more years!

Can I get an Amen?

Troy Plummer, Executive Director of the Reconciling Ministries Network , was our Guest Preacher on June 13, 2010, as a part of our Twenty Years of PRIDE Celebration.

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Recorded at Holy Covenant UMC, June 13, 2010