This weekend has two big events I look forward to celebrating with you:  Pridefest on Saturday, and our ingathering service on Sunday!

On Saturday morning, there will be a multi-faith celebratory Pride worship service hosted at First Presbyterian Church, before the parade and festival.  I’ve been on the planning team for that service and will have a role in it (offering glitter blessings!) and would love to see some of you there.  In the parade, I will either be marching with the clergy group or with our congregation’s contingent.  I will also be at our booth most of the afternoon, though I hope to have time to explore the other booths and get to know some of the wider community.

On Sunday, our ingathering worship service will include two rituals of connection: a blessing of the backpacks (not just for children—adult backpacks, laptop bags, and briefcases are welcome too!) and the merging of the waters ritual (often called Water Ceremony or Water Communion, and one of my favorite rituals from our faith tradition). If you have collected water, please bring a small container Sunday—it can be from your sink at home, your garden hose, a lake or river or ocean important to you, or from travels. If you forget, no worries—we will have a pitcher available for guests, newcomers, and those of us who (like me) have been known to leave our special container of water at home by accident.  If you will be joining us on Zoom, you are invited to have a container of water, and something to pour it into, if you would like to participate in the ritual that way.

I’m so looking forward to celebrating these rituals with you, and launching our new church year with joy!

In gratitude,

Rev. Diana