Coming This Sunday, June 21

As our Summer of Renewal continues, we are welcoming Rev. Dr. Monica Cross to the pulpit this Sunday. She will be talking to us about prophetic vision. Here is some more information about Rev. Cross.

Rev. Dr. Monica Joy Cross serves as Pastor at First Christian Church of Oakland in Oakland, CA; Associate Minister at Tapestry Ministries in Berkeley, CA; Director of Women's Ministries in the Northern California-Nevada Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); and President of the Oakland Peace Center Board. She is a Transformational Leader Fellow of the Sojourner Truth Leadership Circle of Auburn Seminary in New York City, NY, and Founder of Global Prayer Network. Her activist organizing work includes Laney Teach-In/Poor People's Campaign League of Revolutionaries for a New America. She has authored Reflections of a Prophet Without Honor, a book of reflections that emerge from her life with God, and Authenticity and Imagination in the Face of Oppression, an autobiographical work that addresses gender, race, religion, sexuality, and strategies toward liberation. She also writes a blog entitled The Transgender Scholar. While being a native of Southern California, Monica currently makes her home in Richmond, California.

Pride Sunday

We are also celebrating Pride Sunday this Sunday. As you know, June is Pride Month. The UCC Open and Affirming Coalition has chosen the theme for this year: "We Shall Not Be Moved! Rooted in Love, Justice, and Affirmation." "Jeremiah 17 reminds us that those who trust in God are like trees planted by water. When the heat comes, they do not fear. When drought comes, they keep bearing fruit," writes the Rev. Derek Terry, acting executive director of the ONA Coalition. "That is the image for this moment. Open and Affirming churches are called to be rooted deeply enough to withstand fear, backlash, silence, and hate."

The first Pride marches were held on June 28, 1970, in cities around the United States, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. Thousands of LGBTQIA+ people gathered to commemorate Stonewall and demand equal rights. The first Pride Sunday at a church is attributed to the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in the early 1970s. Since that time, many mainline Protestant churches have incorporated Pride celebrations into their Sunday services. Pride Month (June) is now celebrated worldwide.

On Pride Sunday, we are reminded that we were all created in the image of God. God breathed life into the earth, transforming it into a hospitable environment. This life force brings energy and renewal to all of creation. God's creation is diverse, wonderful, and interconnected. On this Sunday, we celebrate our connection with the LGBTQIA+ community and the value they bring to our world.