Help ReconcilingWorks welcome the newest Reconciling in Christ (RIC) community: St. Mark Lutheran Church (Norwich, CT) Their welcome statement reads:
At St. Mark Lutheran Church, all people – and yes that means you! – are welcome here. You are welcome in this home of compassion, support, care and comfort. You are welcome in this home which is centered in Christ; filled with love, service and music. You are welcome in this home just as you are, with every burden and blessing, every old scar and healing wounds, with every story of the past and hope for the future. You are welcome in this home just as you are, 100% of who God created you to be, no need to leave anything behind, because nobody is perfect – but we are all wonderfully made and loved by the God who unites us. You are welcome in this home at any age, with any family. If you are single, married, divorced, widowed; with no kids, 2.5 kids, or 20 kids; single-parent, multiple- parents, parents of the same or of different gender, step-parents, grandparents, legal guardians, or have no parents. You are welcome in this home at any point in life. If you are a grade-school, high school, college, or graduate student; never finished school, or haven’t been in a classroom for years. If you are employed, under employed, or unemployed. If your income is more than enough, just enough, never enough, or nothing at all. You are welcome in this home… If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, heterosexual, or questioning; if you are male, female, transgender, gender neutral or gender non-conforming. If you are of African American, Middle Eastern, Latin American, Asian, Indigenous or European descent, or a mixture of many. This home is constantly growing and learning to affirm a variety of voices and stories from all people, especially the perspectives and context of Latinx, African Descent, LGBTQ, and Asian voices; and you are welcome here. If you speak one language, many languages, or are learning a new language. If you live with a physical disability, have limited mobility, are able-bodied, and of any mental health status. If you live with addiction, are in recovery, or are navigating how to support a loved one through it. If you are an immigrant, a refugee, or citizen; if you were born here, have a visa, or are undocumented. If you are enlisted, active duty, reserves, a veteran, or have never served in the military. If you have been arrested, been in jail, have a collection of speeding tickets, or have never been pulled over. If you are of any religion, no religion, or spiritual but not religious. You are welcome here. So, if you find your community somewhere in this list, in between, or not at all – you are welcome here, you are loved here, you are safe here, you have a home here!
Learn more about St. Mark Lutheran Church at: http://www.norwichlutherans.org/