Dear Middletown Reformed Church Family and Friends,

Pentecost blessings to you!

In the baptism/profession of faith and ordination liturgy of the Reformed Church in America it states, “We are ambassadors for Christ . . . We are the salt of the earth; we are the light of the world.” This Sunday we will be taking our salt and light as Christ’s ambassadors to the Asbury Park Pride Parade after worship. It is a joyful and fun time when we get to share God’s inclusive, expansive love for all people — specifically, the LGBTQ+ community. I am grateful that this will be our ninth year participating in the state’s Pride Parade, and the second year being witnesses to Christ’s welcome at the Pride festival.

Why do we march in the Pride Parade? Because God teaches us that everyone is in God’s circle of love; everyone is in the plan of salvation. And, as partners with God in the covenant, we get to extend our arms, wide open, with God’s welcome and that is what we’re going to do as we march. We’re not going to just say God loves all; we’re going to show it. And as we keep showing it, maybe one day everyone will believe it. That’s God’s love in action.

So come this Sunday at an earlier time 9:45 AM to put God’s love into action through worship. We are worshiping earlier so that I and others may get down to Asbury Park in time for the kickoff of the parade at noon. Tom will be leading us in our hymns, and I am preaching from 1 John 3.16-24 and my sermon title is Love in Action.

A happy and blessed Pride month to you, beloved of God!

In gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish