Text Box: True Courage in Pride by Jake Douglas Text Box: here there were people shouting "Reverend - take of your collar!", "Reverend - you're sick", making the assumption that our reverends were gay or lesbian. The Reverends could have easily turned to the jeering crowd and simply said "I'm not gay" or "This is my wife/husband" (while pointing out either of their significant others) or any other number of retorts that would have gotten them off the hook with the crowd. They did not do this, they marched on, smiled and waved. This took true courage. To march and be persecuted for something you are not.   The story kind of reminds me of the one where Jesus had told Peter that Peter would deny knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. I wonder if our ministers had been in Peters shoes that night that Jesus was taken into custody if we would have a different story to tell. Text Box: Someone asked me the other day would a church that is affirming be better off having a gay or lesbian minister. I didn't hesitate in saying "no". It's not to say that having a gay or lesbian minister who supports affirmation in the church is a bad thing but for me what hit home was when I first walked into the door of Centenary was here were straight people telling everyone that I was accepted. It meant a lot more to me having a straight person saying this than a GLBT community member. Plus when discussing with my mother, who has not reached "affirmation" in her mind yet, she could not say this persons declaration was self-serving.   Now let me talk about true courage, our church, as in other years decided to march in the annual GLBT Pride Day Parade. This year, we had an encounter of a different kind. As members of our congregation went through a particularly busy part of the city, we realized there was another celebration going on for a "world" sporting event. Well, as you can imagine, some of those revellers did not appreciate our presence and some were shouting and spitting at us.  What I saw amazed me that day, Text Box: 24 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8P 1H2 Text Box: Phone: 905-522-6843 Fax: 905-528-9299 E-mail: centenarychurch@bellnet.ca Text Box: A safe, diverse faith community offering acceptance and hope Text Box: Centenary Church “Food for the body and soul” Text Box: The Back Page: Opportunities to Share the Spirit of the Season Wesley Urban Ministries invites us to donate Food and Gifts for their No Charge Christmas Store. Families and individuals, who qualify by income, can register themselves and each family member for this unique Christmas program in Hamilton. Each family or individual may access only one Christmas assistance program in the city and this is confirmed at a central database. Once registered, “shoppers” at the No Charge Christmas Store are then given food and gift points, based on family size, to redeem for donated items off the store shelves. What is unique in the Wesley’s approach (as compared to other assistance programs) is that shoppers are given the dignity to choose all items for themselves; items to fit their dietary concerns, their traditional holiday celebration, and their distinct preferences. For many, this will be the only opportunity they will have to get the food and gifts to make their holiday season special and our donations make all the difference. Please include Wesley on your Christmas shopping list as you are able. Our donations will be placed under the tree on Sunday, December 3rd. The Centenary Special Outreach Project is Gift Bags for our Thursday Outreach. Group 1 Of the W.U.C.C. will be assembling the gift bags on Wednesday, November 29th and would ask that all items be brought in before that date. There will be a box marked “Gift Bag Project” in the church hall where you may place your donations.