A group of 35 people of all ages and churches or no church background gathered Wednesday night (Oct. 16)for the first Coming Out Day service at Church of the Good Shepherd in a partnership with Shepherd’s Table, a new ELCA church plant in Sioux Falls.
In this Ecumenical partnership, Pastor Sawyer VandenHeuvel, the Rev. Shaneequa Brokenleg, and Mother Christina O’Hara planned a simple worship with prayer, some congregational singing, and sharing from three speakers.
Pastor Alex Smith shared their coming into a recognition of being beloved, “fearfully and wonderfully made” in the image of God. Deacon Jerry Vanderlee shared his experience as a therapist and chaplain supporting people in being who God created them to be, including his child and their same-gender spouse in their marriage.
Rev. Shaneequa encouraged those gathered from the Book of Esther to “come in” to our calling to make the world a better place, to commit to our call from God to us “for such a time as this.”
In response to the call to Come out of Fear, Come into Belovedness, we lit candles committing to the call from God to each of us. Following the service, we enjoyed fellowship together with a simple soup and bread supper (and Costco cake!). - The Rev. Christina O'Hara
The Rev. Shaneequa Brokenleg, The Rev. Christina O'Hara, and Pastor Sawyer VandenHeuvel with their welcoming cake.
During the service, candles were lit in prayer.
Pastor Sawyer offers a blessing.