When St. Gregory’s folks marched in the Buffalo Grove Pride Parade a few weeks ago, none of us really knew what to expect. Here’s what we saw: thousands of children and their parents from all over the north suburbs, lined up along the parade path, waving rainbow flags, cheering, and yelling “Happy Pride!”
I’m certain that the vast majority of those parents and kids are not LGBTQ+. So, why would they go to a Pride Parade? Because they realize that a world that is more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community is a world of greater freedom and grace for everyone.
It’s so often the case that a minority community’s efforts at liberation and equality are misinterpreted as an attack on the majority group. Sometimes these misunderstandings are amplified by voices that benefit from conflict and division. Often, it’s just our squishy jello brains that ring alarm bells when confronted with the new and different — something all of our brains do, especially my own!
Jesus came to show us a better way. Jesus’ ministry launched us into a millennia-old trajectory of slowly awakening to God’s unfolding vision for humanity. Jesus started with Samaritans, sinners, the sick, the poor, women, and other groups marked and segregated as inferior. He smashed apart those judgments, but the work did not stop with him. Jesus empowered us with the Spirit to keep that work going, and to do “even greater works than these.”
In light of that, we can rethink the ways Pride is misinterpreted as exclusionary or divisive, or simply not for straight people. After all: Does the story of the Good Samaritan mean that Jewish people are less beloved of God? Is the healing of the sick an offense against healthy people? Should we stop feeding the hungry because it might make well-fed people feel excluded?
Of course not — we followers of Jesus teach that in doing these things, all of us are healed, fed, and brought into God’s family. So, too, with celebrating Pride.
Whether you are LGBTQ+ or not, I invite you to see yourself as part of this celebration. Pride really is for all of us because:
Pride is about celebrating the kind of world God desires—a world where every person can live honestly, safely, and joyfully as the person God created them to be.
Pride is about gratitude that we live in a time and a country where more people are free to love who they love and to marry whom they choose, and where we continue striving for a society where every person can live with dignity, safety, and freedom.
Pride is about wondering what is next in God’s call for us as a church, as communities, and a nation to be a more just, more loving, and more holy people.
Please come this Sunday to celebrate with our Bishop this Pride Sunday and all the other great things*.
Thank you for being the amazing individuals and congregation that you are. You are a people of courage, compassion, imagination, and holy fire. Let’s keep radiating God’s grace. Let’s keep changing the world.
With blessings and gratitude,
Pastor Dan
*Here’s that list again of what’s on this Sunday:
It’s Bishop Paula’s official visitation to our congregation — something that happens only once every 3 years. Bishop visits are very special, and you’ll be delighted by our Bishop’s deeply caring presence, preaching, and leadership.
We have several people making a big step in their journeys of lifelong spiritual growth. Cissy Singleton, Annette Baez, and Megan Agyeman are being officially received into the Episcopal Church; and Marilyn Knilans and Suzan Sladcik are renewing their baptismal vows. These are special rites only possible when you have a bishop in the house. Please support them on this significant day!
It’s our 2nd Annual Pride Sunday — a day to celebrate the many wonderful ways God creates us and calls us to love one another.
It’s a Band Sunday! The music will rock and it will touch your heart.
It’s Father’s Day — fathers and father-like people, come get your special blessing.
Still not convinced … how about if we feed ya? A delicious brunch will follow the service.
