First Annual Event

On Sunday June 5th the Welcoming Congregation Task Force completed our first year of work by participating in the worship service celebrating Gay Pride Month and holding FPUU's first "Walk With the Ones You Love." It was a glorious day of beautiful weather and an even more glorious sharing of our faith and dreams. We were especially pleased to be joined by several members of the West Kennebunk Methodist Church for our walk to Rotary Park. All told 87 of us paraded down Main Street behind our rainbow flag. We sang songs, visited and picnicked by the river, enjoying the day and each other's company.

Reflections from Claudette Desautels

Renee and I were thrilled to be one of the 80 plus participants in the first annual "Walk with the Ones You Love", celebrating diversity and tolerance. I felt such pride in being a member of the Welcoming Congregation Task Force and First Parish for organizing such a wonderful event.

Nature cooperated beautifully! After such a long winter and enduring several days of persistent rain, the skies opened up to reveal the sun for the first time in many days just in time for the walk. The sky was blue, the sun comforting against the gentle breezes as we began our walk from First Parish to Rotary Park.

As my fellow co-chair of the Task Force, Andrea Rohde and I led the walk from the front of the church, I glanced over my shoulder and was moved to see the diversity of people walking from children to seniors and couples to singles all coming out to support the common goal of publicly recognizing all types of relationships.

As referenced in the book "With Purpose and Principle", this quote came to mind as I reflected upon the meaning of the day.

" A better global order cannot be created or enforced by laws alone. Both the minds and hearts of women and men must be addressed. Earth cannot be changed for the better unless the consciousness of individuals is changed also". And so we have begun!