Sunday 8 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM and 5 PM

  2944 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208  ·   (513) 321-6700  ·         Give

The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
  • Welcome
    • Children
    • Service Times
  • About
    • What We Believe
    • Vision Statement
    • Community Covenant
    • The Way of Love
    • Our Clergy & Staff
    • Vestry
    • Calendar
    • Latest News
    • Wedding Guidelines
    • Contact Us
  • Worship
    • Our Worship
    • Worship Online
    • Worship Weekdays
    • Bulletins
    • Music
    • Families in Worship
    • Children's Liturgy
    • Sermons
    • Prayers of the People
    • Ministry Scheduler
  • Serve
    • Mission Ministries
    • Mission Minded Forum
    • Reconcilers
    • Ministry Discernment
  • Care
    • Healthy Church
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Creation Care
    • Dementia Inclusive Cincinnati Initiative
    • Obituaries
  • Learn
    • Family Ministry
    • Redeemer Preschool
    • Book Group
    • Downtown Bible Study
    • Library
    • Theology Circle
    • Thursday Morning Bible Study
    • CoR After School
  • Connect
    • Holy Week 2023
    • Events
    • Church Directory
    • StorySharers
    • Becoming Beloved Community
    • Scotland Pilgrimage and Choir Residency
    • Second Half Ministry
    • Young Adults
    • Membership
    • Calendar
    • Contact Us
    • Giving
    • Planned Giving
    • CoR Portal
  • Media
    • Redeemer Online
    • Rector's Blog
    • Podcasts
    • Annual Report
  • Give
    • Commitment 2022
    • Stewardship
    • Endowment Fund

Rector's Blog: Standing in Awe of PRIDE

“It’s the Gay Pride flag,” she responded matter-of-factly. I said I knew that, but what I was asking is, why she would have it tattooed on her arm? Without hesitation, she pointed at it and she said, “This is here because of all the people who beat me and kicked me and called me names and shamed me and told me I was going to Hell.” I replied, “I’m really sorry that happened to you. And I’m really glad you’re ok now. I guess I just don’t understand the Pride thing. Like, you’re out of the closet now, and that’s awesome. But why have a Pride Parade?” “We have Pride parades for the same reason I have this,” she said, pointing again at her tattoo, “because of all the people who beat us and kicked us and called us names and shamed us and told us we were going to Hell. We do it so we remember we have nothing to be ashamed of.”

I knew enough about body language to see she’d said her piece, so I just nodded like I understood. I didn’t understand. I didn’t get it.

Every straight cisgender person, if they’re being honest, has at least one story of asking an LGBTQ+ person an inappropriate or unfair question. This is my story. I was 19 and working at a deli making sandwiches. The deli was in a vacation town with a reputation for being an LGBTQ+ destination. I lived with a gay family member, my boss was gay, as were half my co-workers. We all worked closely together, looked out for each other during the lunch rushes, and developed friendships.

When I think back on this conversation 20 years later, I’m overwhelmed by her grace towards me. She didn’t get mad, or if she did, she didn’t show it. She was older than me, wiser than me, and had seen so much more of life than I had, and for some reason she stayed engaged. It’s taken me a long time to get to a place of understanding on this, and I don’t want to pretend otherwise. I make a lot of mistakes trying to love others for who they are and not for who I think they should be. And when I remember how long it has taken me to fully support LGBTQ+ Pride I am reminded of all the grace that’s been shown to me by my LGBTQ+ siblings and friends. Learning how to listen to others and to believe them when they share their experience is a process. I have been loved and treated kindly in my glacier-paced process of learning how to seek and serve Christ in LGBTQ+ persons.

For many years I thought of myself as accepting while holding onto my judgment around the idea of “Gay Pride”. I reasoned that Pride was not a Christian virtue, and that people shouldn’t be either proud or ashamed of their gender or sexual orientation. (Of course, I had no problem with being Proud to be an American, easily tearing up every time that song came on – and saw no irony in this.) I thought I was being sensible. I even convinced myself I was being helpful, “More people will accept you if you won’t be so in their faces,” I thought. “Should I be proud of being straight?” I wondered.

In simple terms, I thought that LGBTQ+ people should be themselves, but should be themselves on my terms. I couldn’t have articulated this at the time, but looking back, I thought my co-worker got that tattoo to send a message to straight people. She didn’t. She got it for herself. She wasn’t reminding me she had no reason to be ashamed. She was reminding herself. She was the one who’d been beaten and kicked and called names, shamed and told she was going to Hell. She had endured trauma for living into her blessedness, her belonging, and her God-given beauty.

Jesus was beaten, kicked, and called names and shamed. He did not believe the lies people told him about himself. He knew who he was. He rejected hatred and embraced love.

Pride, in this context, is a stunning, glorious refusal to believe the lies the world tells about you. Pride is the claiming of your belonging in this world as you are, not as I tell you you should be. This Pride, this celebration of who God made you to be, is a rejection of shame, and an embracing of joy; a rejection of hatred and an embracing of love. This Pride is an act of grace. It’s a Christian virtue. A Church that has participated in and condoned the marginalization and shaming of LGBTQ+ persons doesn’t get to stand in judgment of this Pride. A Church that seeks the full incorporation of LGBTQ+ persons on all levels of ministry and in all areas of the church community should stand in awe of Pride.



Tags: Rector's Blog / Rector's Blog: Pride Series

Sermons

  • Mar 20 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    The Present Past
  • Mar 12 | Tym House
    Direct Access to Grace
  • Mar 6 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Being Righteous
  • Feb 27 | The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane
    Two Sides of the Same Coin
  • Feb 20 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Superman Transfigured

Rector's Blog

  • Mar 24 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, When God Feels Like It
  • Mar 17 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, But Through Me
  • Mar 10 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Conversions - Part 2
  • Mar 3 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Conversions - Part 1
  • Feb 24 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Better Not Easier

© 2023 The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
2944 Erie Ave. · Cincinnati, OH 45208
(513) 321-6700
Privacy Policy · Powered by Membership Vision

  View Entire Post

Service Times

We welcome you to join us at the church building or online.

Learn more about our worship services using the button below.

Our Worship

Please join us online by using the button below!

Online Worship

Location

The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
2944 Erie Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45208

Contact Us
(513) 321-6700

Newsletter Signup

Welcome Children Service Times Membership Contact Us

Welcome to Church of the Redeemer! We invite and welcome ALL to join us in worship and community. In addition to worship, we have a vibrant music community, a fun and welcoming community for children and youth, plus offerings for everyone from young adults to seniors, covering many varied interests.

The Rev. Philip DeVaul, Rector

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We love children, and children love Church of the Redeemer!

Children are at the heart of life at Church of the Redeemer. Children learn about the word of God through our Children's Christian Education programs; they are involved in worship services, they play music in our services, and they form lifelong friendships with each other through their experiences.

LEARN MORE

On Sundays we have an 8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I service, a 9:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II service (which is also livestreamed), an 11:00 am Banquet Eucharist service and a 5:00 pm Celtic Eucharist service.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we offer Morning Prayer on our Online Worship Podcast.

On Wednesdays, we offer Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 6:00 pm in the Chapel.

LEARN MORE

The community of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer welcomes you! We are glad that you have chosen to explore your faith here and hope that this document can answer some of the questions you may have about Church of the Redeemer. We seek to be an open, inviting community. Our invitation to you is to join us as we grow in faith and reach out in love to others. At Church of the Redeemer we are always seeking to know Jesus and grow in love. We hope that in whatever ministries you undertake will strengthen your relationship with him through your ministry and fellowship here.

LEARN MORE

PARKING: Parking is on the street. Please pay attention to the signs indicating proper parking zones. Handicapped parking is available in the front on Erie, in the back parking lot, and on the south side of Raymar.

ACCESSIBLE REDEEMER: The front entrance has a ramp and there is an elevator inside the back door and to the left. Accessible restrooms are located in the Lobby inside the front entrance.


CONTACT US
Make a Donation Altar Flowers Endowment Fund Commitment 2023 Planned Giving

Thank you for supporting the mission and ministry of Church of the Redeemer!

To give a one time gift, click the button below. To make a financial commitment for 2023, use the Commitment 2023 tab above.

Donate

Flowers in our holy worship spaces are a beautiful gift to God and those who attend services at Church of the Redeemer as well as those being honored or remembered. A contribution to the Flower Fund is a meaningful way to honor or remember a loved one for special life events such as birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, confirmations, thanksgivings, or in memory of a loved one.

Donate

The Church of the Redeemer is blessed to have received special gifts from parishioners who wanted Redeemer to have permanent savings to care for our facilities and to supplement our pledge income.

Such permanent savings are often called an “endowment.” The endowed funds are permanently set aside by donors or by the Vestry. Some of our donors have specified uses for their endowment gifts. A limited portion of the funds is distributed each year to supplement our general budget. All funds are invested with professional advice.

LEARN MORE

What about your connection to Redeemer changes the way you live in this world? Your financial commitment is a response to the work that God is doing with you here. It is a practical way to ensure that others are able to experience the relationships of holy connection and communion that are shaping your life.

For 2023, we ask that you make your commitment through regular scheduled electronic giving, if possible. Whether it be weekly or annually, giving electronically is a safe and sustainable way to ensure your continued financial support.

MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT NOW

Your planned legacy gift to the Church of the Redeemer is a practical way for you to empower generations to come. It is a powerful witness of faith, love, and gratitude. This type of gift recognizes the heritage left by those who came before us and acknowledges that we bear a responsibility to the future faithful - to insure the continuation of God’s work within and beyond Church of the Redeemer.

Read More