Carol Topitzer of Woodmont United Church of Christ

we celebrated ONA Sunday at our coffee hour after worship. We put up our “3 YEARS OPEN AND AFFIRMING” sign, and had a special cake (with a big rainbow on it, of course!).  This was also the day of our Annual Congregational Meeting, so everyone was in attendance to help celebrate.

Our ONA Mission Group is active and has become a member of the Welcoming Congregations of New Haven, a multi-denominational group of churches and a synagogue.  We also sponsor events with Mary Taylor Memorial Methodist Church (also in Milford, CT), like a Pride and Unity service and a pot luck dinner and show to benefit Love Makes a Family. Love Makes a Family was instrumental in helping to pass the Civil Union legislation here in CT and also in passing the co-parent adoption law in 2000 (when I legally adopted our son!).

Each year, the fourth Sunday in January is designated as "International Welcoming Church Sunday." This is a time when congregations in many different denominations all celebrate our commitment to diversity—and in particular to affirming God's love for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We encourage you to find ways to celebrate ONA Sunday in all areas of your congregation's life.