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Opportunities for Fellowship
Saints Aelred & Hildegard
Messiah’s ministry to the Gay
and Lesbian community in Orange County. Meets the third Sunday
of the month in member’s homes.
For more information contact:
Bill Wallace in the Church Office (714) 543-9389.
Mission Statement :
The St. Aelred and St. Hildegard Ministry is an
official ministry of the Church of the Messiah, an
outreach to the gays and lesbians of Orange County.
Our community witnesses to God's inclusive love while
providing a safe and affirming place for fellowship,
worship and service.
Who we are :
Since the fall of 1991, St. Aelred and St. Hildegard
has been a community of gays and lesbians within the
larger community of Messiah, and in 1993 became an
official ministry of our church, and its outreach to
the gay community of Orange County. We are a
fellowship devoted to making each member feel in his
or her heart that it is really okay to be gay and
Christian.
Our ministry :
Fellowship
We have potlucks and evening prayer in members' homes
at 6 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month and are
always happy to welcome new members. We have male and
female members, singles and couples, but must limit
membership to lesbians and gays as many of our
members are not "out," and would be faced
with real problems if their orientation became known.
We are Episcopalian and non-Episcopalian, many of
whom have been damaged by organized religion in the
past. We have no officers or dues.
Orange County Aids Walk
We have organized Messiah's participation in the
Orange County Aids Walk for seven years, receiving
the Eucharist on the UCI campus before the walk.
Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade
A large contingent from Orange County, composed of
both Aelred and Hildegard members and straight
members of Messiah, join the Diocese in proclaiming
that "the Episcopal Church Welcomes You" in
the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade each June.
Orange County Cultural Pride Parade
In 1997, fifty of us, gay and straight, witnessed to
our Lord's love for us as we celebrated the Eucharist
in the parking lot before this parade at UCI.
Thurifers swinging their incense pots led us in the
parade, and we were so resplendent with all our
flags, banners, pennants and all our Episcopal finery
that we won the Pride Award! Aelred and Hildegard
sponsored a booth at the Festival for the Diocese,
telling the story of Messiah ad the Episcopal
churches in Orange County which welcome gays and
lesbians.
Beyond Inclusion Conference
St. Aelred and Hildegard sponsored a booth at this
important conference in April of 1997. The issue of
the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in all
aspects of church ministry as well as the blessing of
same sex unions was discussed and prayed for. St.
Aelred and Hildegard will continue to be involved in
the ongoing discussions and actions within the church
surrounding these basic rights.
Interested in more information?
Want to join St.
Aelred and St. Hildegard?
Contact Bill Wallace in the Church Office (714) 543-9389.
© 2004, Episcopal Church
of the Messiah
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