St. Louis Area Open & Affirming Congregations of the United Church of Christ
Together AGain: The Gateway Open & Affirming Convocation
We are celebrating our trans and gender-expansive siblings — God’s beloved creation — and we are bringing to light the discrimination and violence the community faces. We will shine our lights and work for trans justice every day.
On Friday, March 31, join us for the day, for several hours, or for an hour. We will conclude our vigil by joining in worship with the Transmission Ministry Collective (TMC). -At 8 a.m. Eastern: TDOV opening celebration -On the hour every hour: a prayer or blessing from the host -During the hour: connection, fellowship, conversation, and resources for taking action in our faith communities and places of residence -At noon Eastern: presentation about gender diversity in scripture and Christian history with special guest Austen Hartke, author of Transforming: The Bible and Lives of the Lives of Transgender Christians and founder of Transmission Ministry Collective (TMC) -At 5 p.m. Eastern: a celebration of our trans* youth hosted by Micah (they/them), a nonbinary teen from Michigan. Along with their father (Eli Burton, he/they, transmale), they will offer a prayer on trans* youth and the way they make the world better. The time will also encourage attendees to be creative in celebrating our young trans and gender-expansive siblings. All ages are welcome with the understanding that the voices of youth will be centered and lifted up during the hour. -At 8 p.m. Eastern: worship with Transmission Ministry Collective Register for access to the Transgender Day of Visibility VigilRegister now! Your hosts are from AllianceQ – the Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance, Disciples Justice Ministries, and ecumenical ministry partners. Do you want to host an hour of the vigil? Do you want to sponsor or support the vigil and action? Host Position Description Here Sponsorship Details Here Make a financial gift to support the TDOV Vigil and justice work for trans and gender-expansive siblings Many thanks to our sponsors and supporters who are joining us for the vigil and taking action across the country.Follow and engage with these sponsors. Donate to their ministries. Be a sponsor to deepen and widen our impact! Email Melissa@disciplesallianceq.org about sponsorship. Read, Engage, Act: 10+ things you can do to support transgender siblings Trans Awareness, a link to the recording of Trans 101 You’re welcome to light candles and remain awake all night – the night before TDOV and the night of TDOV, but do join us in the light of day on March 31. 
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A Message from Sharon Love:Rainbow Comma T-Shirts
Classic Rainbow Comma "3 Great Loves" Rainbow Comma We are selling the shirts at cost, so Gateway ONA makes no profit on them. You pay only for your shirt and its shipping cost. Due to limitations in Redbubble's interface, some of the shirt styles allow you to select white or grey background colors. We ask that you choose a "rainbow" color as the background color of your shirt. This is both so that the white writing on the shirt is readable, and so that we look colorful in the PrideFest parade. Thank you, and please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Gateway ONA Resource line
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WE ARE UCCThe United Church of Christ (UCC) is a distinct and diverse community of Christians that come together as one church to join faith and action. We believe in a God that is still speaking, a God that is all-loving and inclusive. We are a church that welcomes and accepts everyone as they are, where your mind is nourished as much as your soul. Our faith is over 2,000 years old...our thinking is NOT.
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WE ARE OPEN & AFFIRMINGTo say that a UCC church is “Open and Affirming” means that it has publicly and specifically declared that those of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions (LGBTQ) are welcome in its full life and ministry. ONA congregations offer a spirit of hospitality and show a willingness to live out that extravagant welcome in meaningful ways.
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WE ARE GATEWAYGateway ONA is a coalition of LGBTQ Open & Affirming congregations of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in the St. Louis area. We provide support to our member churches, run a resource hotline, host annual events to educate on LGBT issues and have a presence at PRIDE.
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