The Open and Affirming Ministry
of the United Church in Walpole

 will sponsor the Exhibit:

The Shower of Stoles 

Friday June 19^th 7:00PM – 9:00PM

Saturday June 20^th 10:00AM – 2:00PM

Sunday June 21^st 10:30AM – 1:00PM

The Shower of Stoles is a collection of over a thousand liturgical stoles and other sacred items from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) persons from thirty-two denominations in six countries. Later this month, thirty of these inspirational stoles will be on display in the church Library and Parlor.  Each stole contains the story of a GLBT person who is active in the life and leadership of their faith community in some way: minister, elder, deacon, teacher, missionary, musician, administrator or active layperson. This extraordinary collection celebrates the gifts of GLBT persons who serve God in countless ways, while also lifting up those who have been excluded from service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

The majority of the stoles you will see have been sent to the collection by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons themselves. Others were made by churches to honor their GLBT members. In some cases a church has sent a stole inscribed only with the church’s name to protect those in their midst who must remain unnamed. Overall, one third of the stoles have been received anonymously.

This collection visits well over 150 churches, conferences, colleges and seminaries annually all over the United States and Canada. The Shower of Stoles Project is not aligned with or supported by any denomination; it is entirely dependent on donations from individuals and congregations to do this work. For more information about the Shower of Stoles Project, and links to the online exhibit, we invite you to visit their web site.   www.WelcomingResources.org  

We will have more information in the coming weeks, but in the meantime please feel free to contact one of us if you have any questions

Your ONA Ministry: Roberta Cadoret, Brad & Laura Parsons, Ruth Patterson, Donna Spigarolo, Barbara Tausey