Congregations Launch Pride Month with Worship on Sunday, June 1

All are welcome as United Church of Christ congregations gather to kick off LGBTQ+ Pride month with a service of worship at 3 pm on June 1. The service will be hosted by Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, 2592 W. 14th Street, in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. The service will also be livestreamed at https://pilgrimalive.org/live/

The preacher for the service will be the Rev. Dr. Bentley deBardelaben-Phillips, who serves as Minister and Team Leader for Education for Faithful Action as well as Transitional Executive for the Love of Church Unit with the National Ministries of the United Church of Christ. Dr. Bardelaben-Phillips’ will focus his message on the theme “That They All Be One,” drawn from John 17:20-26.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone at Pilgrim the first day of Pride month for worship, then marching together downtown at Pride in the Cle on June 7,” said Rev. Dr. George R. Graham, pastor of Pilgrim Congregational UCC.

Pilgrim has been committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion and justice since becoming the first Open and Affirming congregation in Cleveland in 1993. As a denomination, the United Church of Christ has longstanding commitments to equity for persons who are LGBTQ+ as well as to racial, economic, gender, and environmental justice work.

Area clergy and laypeople will offer leadership in the service. Windsong, Cleveland’s feminist chorus, will provide special music. Following the service, there will be a light reception in the fellowship hall at Pilgrim.