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CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
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DTSTAMP:20260606T213451Z
UID:157-592004@messiahmission.org
DTSTART:20260628T143000Z
DTEND:20260628T163000Z
CLASS:PUBLIC
CREATED:20260601T130926
DESCRIPTION:In the baptismal covenant found in Evangelical Lutheran Worshi
 p\, Christians are asked:\n"Will you strive for justice and peace in all t
 he earth?"\nThe response is simple:\n"I will\, and I ask God to help me."\
 nAt Messiah\, we believe that promise is not merely a personal aspiration 
 but a calling shared by the whole Church. To strive for justice and peace 
 is to participate in God's ongoing work of healing what has been harmed an
 d restoring what has been broken.\nOn Sunday\, June 28\, Messiah Lutheran 
 Church will celebrate our annual Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday\, a sp
 ecial Service of Justice and Healing dedicated to that baptismal calling. 
 Through worship\, education\, prayer\, and community partnership\, we will
  reflect on the ways God continues to reform the Church and invite us into
  the work of reconciliation.\nEach year\, congregations across the country
  observe Reconciling in Christ Sunday during Pride Month as a way of celeb
 rating and renewing their commitment to the full welcome\, inclusion\, and
  affirmation of LGBTQIA+ people in the life of the Church. For Messiah\, t
 his day holds special significance.\nAs one of the most openly and officia
 lly LGBTQ-affirming congregations in Parker County\, Messiah has sought to
  be more than a congregation that simply proclaims “welcome”. We are a
  community where LGBTQIA+ people are well-represented and integral members
  of the congregation. In a region where many LGBTQIA+ Christians still str
 uggle to find a spiritual home\, Messiah has become the place where they a
 re not only present in the pews\, but also active in leadership\, ministry
 \, and service. RIC Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate that witness\, t
 o give thanks for the many people who have helped shape Messiah into a pla
 ce of refuge and belonging\, and to recommit ourselves to the ongoing work
  of healing\, justice\, and reconciliation.\nYet our commitment reaches be
 yond any single issue.\nOur congregation’s Reconciling in Christ Commit
 ment recognizes that the Church is always being called to deeper repentan
 ce\, greater faithfulness\, and wider compassion. In the spirit of the Lut
 heran conviction that the Church must always be reforming\, we believe tha
 t God continually calls us to examine the ways individuals and communities
  have been overlooked\, excluded\, harmed\, or forgotten. Reconciling work
  is never finished.\nThis Year's Focus: Mental Health and Recovery\nThis y
 ear\, our RIC Sunday will focus on the ways churches can better support th
 ose living with mental illness\, substance use disorders\, and other recov
 ery-related challenges.\nToo often\, individuals and families navigating t
 hese realities have encountered stigma\, misunderstanding\, shame\, or sil
 ence within faith communities. As Christians\, we are called instead to be
 ar one another’s burdens\, to accompany one another in suffering\, and t
 o proclaim hope where despair threatens to take root.\nTo help us engage t
 his important conversation\, we are honored to welcome Unity Recovery as o
 ur special guest partner for the day.\nUnity Recovery is a nonprofit Recov
 ery Community Organization serving Weatherford and other regions through f
 ree\, non-clinical\, peer-based recovery support services. Their work supp
 orts individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use 
 challenges while embracing all pathways of recovery. Through peer support\
 , recovery meetings\, family services\, educational programs\, community e
 vents\, and recovery-friendly workplace initiatives\, Unity Recovery helps
  create spaces where people can find connection\, support\, and hope. To l
 earn more about Unity Recovery and their services\, visit unityrecovery.o
 rg.\nJoin Us\n9:30 AM – Adult Forum: Learning from Unity Recovery\nRepre
 sentatives from Unity Recovery will lead a special educational session abo
 ut their work in Parker County\, the realities facing those in recovery\, 
 and ways communities of faith can become more supportive and informed part
 ners in healing.\n10:30 AM – Reconciling in Christ Sunday Worship\nDurin
 g our Special Service of Justice and Healing\, we will hear from Unity Rec
 overy once again as we reflect on Christ’s call to reconciliation\, rest
 oration\, and care for those who have been wounded by stigma and exclusion
 .\nAs part of our observance\, a special offering will be received to supp
 ort both Unity Recovery and the work of the Reconciling in Christ movemen
 t in the ELCA.\nWe invite all people—members\, neighbors\, friends\, and
  visitors—to join us as we celebrate God’s reconciling love and recomm
 it ourselves to the ongoing work of healing and justice.
LAST-MODIFIED:20260601T130926
LOCATION:907 Washington Dr.\, Weatherford\, TX 76086
SUMMARY:Reconciling in Christ Sunday
URL;VALUE=URI:https://messiahmission.org/events/reconciling-in-christ-sunda
 y--157/2026-06-28
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