Statement of Affirmation

St. Paul's United Church is an Affirming congregation within the United Church of Canada.  As such we reach out with love and acceptance to all those who come through our doors regardless of sexual orientation, age, gender, racial or ethnic background, differing abilities, economic or cultural background. As a community of faith, we strive to make St. Paul's United Church a safe  place for all and a voice for social justice.

Prayers of Gratitude and Concern 

And on this path we are

   guided by the Spirit

      created in the image of God,

         following the Way of Jesus.

On this path, loving God,

   we find ourselves looking back,

      taking stock of where we have been:

We see that you love us all

   and you made each of us, wonderfully.

We see also that the church has oftentimes excluded,   

   silenced and even cast out

people who were understood not to be part of a majority.

We see that many of us have lived in isolation

 - even one in isolation is too many.

When people live in secret in our midst

   we all suffer.

We see families who have needed a place to turn:

   a refuge, a sanctuary.

We recognize that much heartbreak would have been spared

   if people were free and safe, allowed to be who they are,

      and affirmed.

On this path some of us move with reticence: we pray for an inclusive church and yet the reality of it is challenging. We cannot understand all who come through our doors yet we still pray for one another, perhaps by grace and trust alone.

We ask your blessing on St. Paul’s. Give these faithful people deep peace to reach out with love and acceptance to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Hold this church in grace as a safe place for all and a voice for your clarion call to social justice.

We bless the courage of those who have gone before:  on this path, ahead of us, congregations and individuals have carried the torch with grace. We bless Southminster-Steinhauer, Mill Woods, Deer Park, Knox and Wild Rose as well as churches across the country, on rural and city roads.

On this path, beside us, we keep company with people of faith from other traditions: among others, the Anglican Group Integrity, the Brethren/Mennonite Council, Lutherans Concerned, Moravian Sanctuary, Mormon Affirmation, Roman Catholic Dignity, Unitarian Welcoming Congregations, and Jewish Mosaic. We bless them.