United Church of Christ Honored by the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry

On Wednesday, February 15, 2006, the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry celebrated their 8th Anniversary with a special awards presentation at the State House in Boston.  RCFM honored legislators and religious leaders helping to protect marriage equality in Massachusetts. Members of the UCC were among those recognized for advancing the dialogue and the cause of marriage equality for same sex couples.

Receiving Outstanding Congregation Awards were First Churches Northampton and United Parish, Auburndale. The Massachusetts Conference Annual Meeting and UCC General Synod 2005 were awarded the Peace and Justice Award. The Rev. Dr. Nancy Taylor received the Rabbi Bernard Mehlman Building Bridges Award.  She also delivered the message at the ceremony.

A Celebration of 20 Years of Open and Affirming in the Massachusetts Conference

Entitled "Journey, Justice and Joy," a grand celebration was held on Sunday, April

MACUCC ONA churches process to start the celebration.

2nd at Trinity Church in Northborough.  The event honored over twenty years of Open and Affirming in the Massachusetts Conference and celebrated the present and future of ONA.  The full and exciting service began with lovely gathering music, which included “On My Honor,” written by Judy Hanlon and performed by Judy and friends. Cynthia Maybeck, minister of Trinity Church, and Steve Sterner, Interim Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference each brought greetings and shared ideas of welcome and inclusion. Service participants and ONA church members with banners processed to start the service.  The Call to Worship named Many of the founders and perpetuators of the ONA movement in the UCC.  Voices Rising, a Boston’s women’s chorus representing the LGBT community and allies, provided a connecting thread

Paul Nickerson, Associate Conference Minister for Evangelism, Mission & Justice, and John Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ.

throughout the service.  The order of the day was individual stories about why ONA is important.  Several people offered their personal experiences, providing poignant examples of inclusion or exclusion, of coming out, or of having a family member or friend come out. 

The main message, “Gloriously Shifting Ground,” was delivered with faith and great humor by Ann B. Day.  The ONA Task Force presented Ann and Donna Enberg an award for over two decades of their life-giving service to the ONA movement.  John H. Thomas, General Minister

Ann B. Day preaches.

and President of the United Church of Christ, brought greetings from the national setting, praise for the ONA movement, and his own moving story of why ONA matters.

The congregation sang “Bring Many Names” and an expanded version of the Julian Rush hymn, “Ours the Journey.”  A lasting memory of the day was created in the form of a fabric panel, with each attendee adding his or her own colorful piece to the design.

A fabric panel was created by participants at "Journey, Justice and Joy."