Saturday 12th May sees the Annual Exeter Pride Day organised by the city’s LGBTQ+ communities.
At St Michael’s at 9.30am there will once again be Sung Matins to which we welcome all, of any faith or none, who want to show solidarity and to pray before the Parade. If you wish to join the singers, please come for a practice from 8.50am. We plan to serve Brunch after Matins at about 10.25am.
This is a celebration of God’s people of every kind; a service of remembrance and repentance for all those who have suffered as a result of their sexuality, gender identity or persecution of any kind.
Revd Fr Christopher Durrant will lead the Service, Fr Simon Robinson will preach, and Mtr Hannah Alderson will lead the Prayers. A Pride Trustee and the Lord Mayor of Exeter have been invited to give Readings.
Members of St Michael’s will join other Christians and all taking part in the Pride Parade, which starts at the St Sidwell’s Centre at 12noon.
Br Michael Jerome’s comments from 2016 are still relevant …
In small way, we open ourselves up and share healing by expressing that we as a Church are sorry for past and continuing persecutions of the LGBTQ+ community by members of the Christian Faith. We want it to be known that the doors of our communities are open and whatever the challenges, discussions, and discernment that all of us will face, we want them to be carried out in love with a message of welcome.
We will be joining some of the community of St Michael and All Angels, Dinham Road, Mount Dinham, EX4 4EB, for Sung Matins (BCP 1662) before proceeding to join with the main Pride march, which leaves the St Sidwell’s Centre at 12 noon.
We encourage everyone who is willing, and has this as part of their tradition, to come dressed to celebrate the occasion; church robes are very welcome and appreciated by the LGBTQ+ community particularly with clergy. Many from St Mike’s will be coming in our choir dress. But of course dress to celebrate however you want!
St Pythag’s, St Mike’s humorous altar ego, is also proud to support the Pychester Pride Parade in an act of alliterative penance for the prejudice and persecution still practised by the Church of England, where all are different but some are more different than others.
An Ode to Inclusivity
Here I am Lord, is it I, Lord?
Love one another with a pure heart fervently.
God is Love, and where true love is, God is there.
Be still and know that I am God.
Tell out my soul, the glory of the Lord.
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
Quaintly creating gender, sexuality, intimacy, love,
Companionship for all; sharing bread and wine.
So don’t give up but persevere,
Walk on with pride, loving God,
And loving your neighbour AND yourself.
Directions
St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Dinham Road, Mount Dinham, Exeter, EX4 4EB