RIC Sunday
January 29, 2012
Annually, the last Sunday in January is designated by the ecumenical welcoming community as Welcoming Sunday. On this day, worshippers are encouraged to join other welcoming congregations from various denominations in celebrating the witness to God's love for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Worship Resources for RIC Sunday 2012 are available here now.
Worship Resources for the RIC Sunday 2012 were developed by Rev. Jay Wiesner, who has served as pastor in many and various ways for the past ten years. A graduate of Concordia College and Wartburg Theological Seminary, Jay was ordained through the Extraordinary Candidacy Project on July 25, 2004 and served Bethany Lutheran Church in Minneapolis for six years. He also co-founded The Naming Project, a ministry for LGBTQA youth who wish to reconcile sexuality with spirituality. Jay currently serves as pastor of University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia, a joint parish and campus ministry.
These resources include suggested scripture readings, suggested hymns, sermon notes, a bulletin insert, and other materials. If your congregation has already scheduled other themes for that day, you may use these resources on a Sunday of your choosing.
There is a bulletin insert which is intended to print as a single, 8½" x 11" double-sided document, folded in half. The insert contains an announcement about RIC Sunday and an update on the RIC Program. It also includes a sampling of the ministries of new RIC congregations and a sign-up sheet for Reconciling Lutherans.
RIC Sunday is a time to remind your congregation what it means to live a theology of reconciliation. RIC pastors are doing wonderful things to further the welcome in their congregations; many acknowledge there is much more to do. Voting to become an RIC congregation is just the beginning. Some suggestions for RIC Sunday activities include:
- Reconciling Lutheran drive: Invite all members of your congregation to sign the Reconciling Lutheran covenant included in the bulletin insert. See how many members of your congregation are willing to publically state their support for full participation in the life of the Lutheran Church. Send completed forms to the LC/NA office.
- Take a special offering to support and enhance the ministry of Lutherans Concerned/North America and the Reconciling in Christ program. Congregational support is crucial to this ministry.
- Invite the wider community to your congregation for RIC Sunday. Many have heard about the politics of the Lutheran Church, and you can help do the work of reconciliation by showing them a congregation that supports full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
- Education Opportunities: Talk about what "welcoming" means, how churches can work to end bullying in our schools, or bi- or trans- education. Visit InfoX for videos and other RIC resources.
RIC Sunday Resources for 2012
The following RIC Sunday resources for 2012 are available for download:
Three Microsoft Word documents. Use the links below to view or download each file.
- Resource materials, including prayers and readings
- Bulletin insert
- Stand-alone Reconciling Lutherans sign-up sheet
Three Adobe PDF documents (requires Adobe Reader software). Use the links below to view or download each file.
- PDF resource materials, including prayers and readings
- PDF bulletin insert
- PDF Stand-alone Reconciling Lutherans sign-up sheet
Pride Sunday
Just as we celebrate God's all-encompassing love on the last Sunday in January with an RIC Sunday celebration, the annual Pride season is another chance for your congregation to celebrate and renew its commitment to welcoming all. Pride celebrations take place regionally all over the country, usually during the month of June. (You can check with your local LGBT publication, PFLAG chapter, or similar organization for local dates.)
Pride is an excellent chance for congregations to renew, remember, and rejoice in their welcome and celebrate their LGBT friends, family, members, and ministers. You may use the RIC Sunday materials for your local Pride celebration. |
