newsletter of Integrity/Dignity of Madison
proudly gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender
serving southern Wisconsin since 1977
Summer 2005
| IDENTITY
newsletter of Integrity/Dignity of Madison |
|
proudly gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender |
Summer 2005 |
"for the gift of identity always to be myself because I am the image of God" |
Summer
sabbatical |
|
I/D members remained quite busy over the summer joining in social and charitable work with many other worthy organizations, leaving little time to report it in a traditional newsletter. At the June 11 liturgy, Ken Scott was acclaimed convener, and Bill Diederich treasurer, for the upcoming season, replacing Mark Koch and Bob Manion, who had served as co-conveners for two years, and three-year treasurer Doug Bauer. More than a dozen of us traveled to Philadelphia for Dignity/USA's biennial national convention July 7-10. Sunday morning, July 17, together with others in the Coming Out, Coming Together coalition of supportive church congregations, we organized a modest, outdoor "Pre-Parade Interfaith Prayer Moment" in the First United Methodist Church Garden. |
Following the service, we joined the annual rally, parade and picnic which occur on the Sunday of Madison's Pride Weekend. Thursday evening, Aug. 25, many of us bid farewell at a memorial service to Lillian Diederich, Bill's 97-year-old mother, whom many in our community had come to know over her many years of accompanying Bill & Jim to I/D gatherings. The dinner afterward became a reunion of friends from many distant times and places. Saturday morning, Sept. 3, DignityUSA's executive director, Debbie Weill, and local I/D convener Ken Scott did an hourlong call-in radio interview with John Quinlan, the host of the Forward Forum show on WXXM (92.1 FM, Madison). |
co-sponsored by
Integrity/Dignity, First United Methodist, and the rest of the
Coming Out, Coming Together Coalition
“Nobody sees a flower, really — it is
so small — we haven’t time, and to see takes time, like to have
a friend takes time.”
—Georgia O’Keeffe
PROGRAM
Opening Song: World Peace Prayer Marty Haugen
refrain from Upanishads, Hindu holy text
Welcome: Rev. Tina Lang, Pastor of Christian Education
First United Methodist Church
Opening Prayer: Rev. Darrel Richey
James Reeb Unitarian-Universalist Society
Reading: Excerpt from Rosemary Radford Ruether’s
The Rape of the Earth and Its Peoples
The labor of dominated bodies, dominated peoples… mediate for those who rule the fruits of the earth. The toil of laboring bodies provides the tools through which the earth is despoiled and left desolate. Through the raped bodies the earth is raped. Those who enjoy the goods distance themselves from the destruction.
The Big Lie tells us that we are strangers and sojourners on this plane, that our flesh, our blood, our instincts for survival are our enemies… We must spend our lives suppressing our hungers and thirsts and shunning our fellow beings…
To return Home: to learn the harmony, the peace, the justice of body, bodies in right relation to each other. The whence we have come and whither we go, not from alien skies but here, in the community of earth. Holy One, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will done on earth…
The Shalom …of the Holy; the disclosure of the gracious “Shekinah; Divine Wisdom; the empowering Matrix; She, in whom we live and move and have our being – She comes; She is here.
Reflection & Reading: Rev. Cindy Crane
Coming Out, Coming Together
Excerpts from The Canticle of the Sun, by Francis of Assisi
Be praised, my God, through all your creatures, especially through my Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my God, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my God, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My God, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my God, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my God, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my God, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my God, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. The second death can do us no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Creator, and give thanks, and serve God with great humility
Community Prayer: Ken Scott
Integrity/Dignity
Please express your own prayers aloud, so all may pray with you.
Closing Prayer: Rev. Tina Lang
Dismissal to join the community rally at noon on the Capitol Square. March
with pride at 12:30 p.m.!
IDENTITY is published quarterly or thereabouts by Integrity/Dignity of Madison, which meets selected Saturdays from September through June at 6205 University Avenue, at 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise advertised. St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church is wheelchair accessible. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 2287, Madison, Wisconsin, 53701-2287. Please send ads, articles, anniversary announcements, memorials, etc., to the editor, Ken Scott, at this address, or e-mail them to info@idmadison.org. For more information about I/D–Madison, contact Jim or Bill at (608) 836-8886 or info@idmadison.org. We keep names and personal information confidential.
I/D–MADISON is an ecumenical Christian faith community affiliated nationally with INTEGRITY, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender group within the Episcopal church, and DIGNITY, an organization of transgender, bisexual, lesbian, and gay Roman Catholics and their friends. The Wisconsin Conference of Churches has recognized I/D as an AIDS Caring Community since Advent 1996—a community which, without judgment, hesitation or reservation, provides all of its services to persons who are either infected with HIV or are affected by it.
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www.dignityusa.org tel. 1-800-877-8797 |
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www.integrityusa.org tel. 1-202-462-9193 |
Learn more about these national organizations. Check out their web sites or talk to a member at the next I/D event.