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Palms church in Sun City has designated ‘open’ day

Recognizing struggles of groups

Posted 5/17/23

For nearly a decade, The Church of the Palms, United Church of Christ, 14808 N. Boswell Blvd., has designated the last Sunday in June as Open and Affirming to embrace and recognize the struggles and challenges the LGBTQ-plus community and others have faced in this country and the world.

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News

Palms church in Sun City has designated ‘open’ day

Recognizing struggles of groups

Posted

For nearly a decade, The Church of the Palms, United Church of Christ, 14808 N. Boswell Blvd., has designated the last Sunday in June as Open and Affirming to embrace and recognize the struggles and challenges the LGBTQ-plus community and others have faced in this country and the world.

Church officials plan to offer a special music and spoken word service Sunday, June 25 at the church to celebrate that anniversary — recognizing nine years of getting its message out to the greater community of Sun City and beyond of the unconditional love, justice and extravagant welcome the church offers all.

The premise of “reaching out to our community” is all inclusive.

“Equality means more than passing laws,” said Barbara Gittings, LGBTQ-plus historic activist. “The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.”

In addition to social, political and community issues, Gittings in the 1970s also was involved with the American Library Association to promote positive literature about LGBTQ-plus issues in libraries. A new battle is brewing over that very issue today

The church’s LGBTQ-plus ministry team is spearheading the event led by group organizer Georgia Feiste. The ministry is part of the church’s social justice leadership team and its task is to celebrate the diversity of all of God’s creations. A fellowship and a continuation of the celebration of all lives will be conducted in King Hall after the service.

“In honor of this anniversary, the ministry team is celebrating with an Open and Affirming Coming Alive in 2023 Sunday Celebration,” Feiste said. “All who embrace love, understanding and support diversity are invited to celebrate this day with us.”

The church welcomes all regardless of age, sexuality, color, religion, including residents in Sun City, Youngstown, El Mirage, Sun City West, The Grand, Glendale and Peoria.

The Sunday service will embrace a broad spectrum of spoken words and music and church Senior Pastor Paul Whitlock will be joined by a surprise guest pastor who will contribute to the service. In addition, members of the LGBTQ-plus ministry will be reading quotes throughout the sanctuary from LGBTQ-plus figures and allies who have made their mark on the movement, like Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin who wrote, “All of us who are openly gay are living and writing the history of our movement. We are ordinary people, living our lives, and trying as Civil Rights activist Dorothy Cotton said ‘to fix what ain’t right in our society.’”

The fledgling LGBTQ-plus ministry is made up of 15 members and their allies who dream of creating not only an LGBTQ-plus chorus, but starting multiple activities including everything from concerts and coffeehouses to educational and spiritual programs for the community.

“We are embracing this Open and Affirming Day and celebrating it with everyone, because we are a church that welcomes diversity and includes those who are certain in their love of the LGBTQ-plus community and those who are uncertain, but who are willing to learn to love their LGBTQ-plus neighbors,” Feiste added.

Contact Feiste at gfeiste@gmail.com or visit the church’s website at thepalms.org.