Pride was awesome!
We had an incredible day on Saturday, starting way early with taking the car to the start point for the parade at Hove Lawns. Luckily we were placed very near to both the Cafe and the toilets, both of which were a huge blessing whilst waiting to start.
We dressed the car with our flags, logo and a banner (thank you Suzy for all of your help and inspiration). Then (almost) patiently waited to begin.
Giant Jesus arrived ably escorted by Nina, Nikki, Paul and Jim from Liberty Church in Blackpool. Our very own Suzy miles helped out with him for a while and ended up with her picture on the Heart FM website, along with the Heart Girls (check it out).
Our friends from Safe Harbour MCC and MCC East London joined us (big thanks to Rev Mia Briggs and Rev jak Davis) as did some new friends from the midlands.
After a slight delay, the parade started and we rocked it. Jim cranked up the tunes and we supported giant Jesus in dancing our way through the city. We held up signs saying "God thinks you're fabulous!" (amongst others) and these really connected with people. The above picture was taken and published by Gaystar News (click here) but that wasn't the only picture taken that day. People were constantly grabbing us for photos, especially of the Fabulous signs and the response to this simple message was phenomenal. It was an incredibly hot day but we all managed to keep up the energy to the very end of the parade. People in windows, on balconies and outside pubs overwhelmingly responded to Jesus and our signs. The atmosphere was electric.
MCC was loud, proud and Fabulous!
On arrival at the park Paul (the legs of Jesus) was finally allowed to collapse on the grass and rest having walked for over two and a half hours and even Nikki seemed to finally wind down. Our brave wheel stewards Kirsty and Sean had worked tirelessly to keep people from falling under the car and to keep us all in line (well done i know it wasn't easy) and could finally take off their high-vis vests and go and party in the park. A huge thank you also goes to Philip, Kim, Kelly and Ros for walking with us, handing out stickers and keeping us all going. We could not have done it without you guys.
Whilst we were having tons of fun on the road, SJ and Kirsty R had been hard at work setting up our stall in Preston park. By the time we arrived they had set up, been checked and already had a number of interesting and challenging conversations. They had also managed to hand out a large number of "God thinks you are fabulous!" wristbands, which appeared to be a huge hit with party goers. A few of us joined them at the stall and started to talk with people. We were refreshed and refuelled by our friends in the Lunch Positive Cafe and had a number of old friends drop by to say hello.
What an incredible experience. There were some very challenging conversations to be had but just to be there, available, approachable and accessible really impacted on people. We really changed some pre-conceptions about church.
A huge thank you to Dulcie, Kelly and their teams from Brighton Pride for all their help and support in making this such an incredible experience.
Saturday was fantastic but the weekend was not over yet.
Sunday we held an open-air service in the gardens at Brighthelm. Such an incredible feeling to be leading worship outside, under the trees, in the sunshine with people just sat around the gardens on benches and some just laying on the ground. Throughout the service there were quite a few who just sat, watched and listened (although one or two sang along with Shackles by Mary Mary). During the sermon (posted on our website) a reasonable crowd gathered by the Queens Road entrance and listened. There were also a number of slightly shyer people who were looking through the railings of the fence during the service. It was an incredible feeling to be a part of such a far reaching service, to see a physical manifestation of peoples interest in the spiritual. An old friend came and joined us in the service and a man who had been watching all along, came and joined us just after communion, received communion and a blessing.
We ended the service with refreshments in the garden and the atmosphere was incredible, such peace, such joy and a real feeling of spirit right there in the middle of the city by one of the busiest roads.
I am still full of awe at how moved we all were by the spirit in the weekends events and how keenly I felt God's touch in everything we did.
I know God thinks we are fabulous and that knowledge strengthens and empowers me in everything i do.
Have a truly fabulous and blessed week.
Andrew
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