#TransDayOfVisibility & Learning

Today, we celebrate another difference that make us human. Why would we want to deny someone who they are? Today is Trans Day of Visibility. Interested in learning more about Trans Folx? Want to get involved in advocacy for equal rights for the Trans Community?

Photo by Lisett Kruusimu00e4e on Pexels.com

How does the Swedenborgian Church feel about LGBTQIA+ issues? As stated on https://swedenborg.org

Welcome and Support of All People in the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus*) Community

The Swedenborgian Church of North America (SCNA) publicly declares itself to be LGBTQ+ Embracing. The SCNA encourages all its constituent bodies to become LGBTQ+ Embracing.
As an LGBTQ+ Embracing organization, the SCNA recognizes that the LGBTQ+ community, in particular those of color, continue to experience prejudice, discrimination, and condemnation at the hands of many religious institutions. The SCNA will clearly and publicly make known their welcome of all LGBTQ+ people, will advocate in the public sphere for their rights, and will educate themselves on the care and pastoring of people in the LGBTQ+ community. We welcome LGBTQ+ seekers and support their identities and loving relationships. All rites and sacraments of the SCNA are available to LGBTQ+ people including, baptism, confirmation, communion, marriage, consecration as a licensed pastor, ordination, and services of remembrance and resurrection.
The SCNA understands the message of love and inclusion taught to us through the Bible and insights of Emanuel Swedenborg to affirm diversity in all its exciting complexity, offering equal value and worth to all people with a variety of God given gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and loving relationships. The SCNA will seek to interpret the Bible and the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg in ways that honor the equal value and worth of all sexual orientations, genders, gender identities, and gender expressions. We will support everyone who is engaged in the regenerative journey—individual or partnered. We affirm any partnered relationships that are entered into freely, are grounded in mutual fidelity and respect, and have as their end the well being and spiritual growth of each partner. We acknowledge that living in truly loving and wise ways is possible for finite and fallible human beings only with the Lord’s leading.
As our understanding of this continues to unfold, the SCNA is dedicated to educating itself and others. The SCNA respects the judgment of those who make decisions for its constituent bodies and lends its support to them as they discern whether to become LGBTQ+ Embracing and will offer resources and guidance to facilitate the process.

*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus—including: intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, non-binary, gender non-conforming, aromantic, and asexual

Help Local Kids Afford Prom

Lockland High School is doing a popcorn fundraiser to raise money for their students to be able to afford, and attend a great Prom. One of our members, Shannon Fischer is a teacher at Lockland, and this year’s Prom Chair!

This fundraiser lasts a limited time 2/21-2/25, so order your delicious popcorn flavors now! You can have them shipped anywhere in the US, or to US Military Personnel in the Americas, Europe or the Pacific!

Click and Share this LINK for the kids to have a poppin’ good time!

Buttered Popcorn

Currently Lockland prom ticket prices are $25 a “pop” (a good price considering most local school proms are $60+ a student.) However, some kids are still not able to afford tickets at this rate. The more money that is raised, the lower tickets can become.

Share or support this “Double Good” fundraiser, today! Shannon and her students say “Thanks!” https://s.dgpopup.com/25cpfr10

Feeling salty about popcorn? Send a donation to the church with “popcorn” in the check memo, or contact us for Venmo directions.

#ThankfulThursday: November ’22 Service Project

Remember our service project from November to Glendale Elementary School? We received a very thoughtful thank you letter from the principal of the school that was received by the Glendale New Church who forwarded it on to us. Your generosity was appreciated.

Your Generosity in Action @BethanyHouseSvc

Thanks to all of our members who were able to contribute time and money to help make the Christmas of a family of three (a mother and two daughters) a little merrier. Items purchased with your funds included a mountain bike, a Samsung tablet, a set of dishes, pots and pans, curling iron, clothes, makeup, jewelry, and toys.

We hope all of the folks that work and make their temporary home at Bethany House have a very, Merry Christmas!

Learn more about how Bethany House helps families experiencing homelessness in Cincinnati: https://bethanyhouseservices.org/about-us/

Bethany House sign at their new location in the Bond Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati

Staff from Bethany House with boxes of goodies and a bike from the New Church of Montgomery

Some of the clothes and gifts for our youngest recipient whose favorite color is pink

Tuesday. A good day to do a good deed.

Hello Church Friends, 

I am passing along information about my teacher team, grades 7-9, for items we could use throughout the school year.

Almost 99% of our students live in poverty and as a school (Lockland) we don’t have a lot of money for additional resources and supplies.

These items are supplies for the classroom as well as items that can be used for our PBISrewards. (positive-behavior intervention system). Throughout the school year we will be updating the last so feel free to check back in and support. 

Log in through your Amazon Smile account to benefit NCOM, as well. If using the amazon app on your phone, make sure smile is turned on to donate. Go to the menu bar (three horizontal lines) >Gifting, Registry & Charity>AmazonSmile> Mobile App Generating Donations ON

Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/MZJS0WWSUI1?ref_=wl_share

Feel free to share the Shannon Fischer wishlist on facebook and with others around you. If you are not sure what to get, an amazon gift card is also helpful. Thank you so much for the support. It is greatly appreciated and needed

Shannon Fischer

Photo by Kobe – on Pexels.com

Gift-Giving at the Holidays

This was our church’s first year “adopt(ing) a family” from Bethany House Services to provide gifts and needed items. Thanks to all who were able to participate, purchase, wrap and label gifts, and transport them, and to the kids from church posing for pictures in the warehouse receiving area.

Items purchased included silverware, shoes, gift cards, clothes and toys to bring smiles to two little ones and their mom; a family experiencing homelessness. We hope they have a Merry Christmas and feel the love we wrapped into each present.

Two kids from our congregation who helped unload the gifts.

Last day to order books for @BethanyHouseSvc!

www.bluemanatee.org/bethanyhouse

Blue Manatee Book Event

You know that feeling when you are into a book and nothing else matters in the world. Well, you can help give a child that same care-free feeling when you buy a book from Blue Manatee Literacy Project.

Buy a book for yourself or a friend and one will be donated to a child experiencing homelessness and receiving shelter through Bethany House Services.

Don’t have time to pick out a book? $12 buys one book and Blue Manatee will pick it out for you. Finding ways to be useful can be tricky some days. This is one idea where you can combine love with wisdom.

https://www.bluemanatee.org/bethanyhousehttp://www.bluemanatee.org/bethanyhouse 15% off with code BETHANY at checkout. Local pickup available. Sale ends today —don’t delay, help today!

#ServiceWithASmile: Dinner for Our Neighbors @BethanyHouseSvcs

During the pandemic, it has been easy to see the need all around us. We at the New Church Of Montgomery have been fortunate enough to be able to take some of the opportunities to help that are in our community.

Bethany House Services, for whom we have done our ToySwap, the Something Wonderful art show, and brunches and dinners, continues to have the need of feeding unhoused families in the Cincinnati area.

If you would like to help provide a dinner for this community helper, please contact bethanyhouseservices.org.

Here is the dinner we provided for half of the families housed at a local hotel since shelters cannot adequately provide enough spacing during Covid-19.

Dinner for 48 of our neighbors: Smoked beef sausage, sautéed tri color bell peppers with onions, rice, applesauce, dinner roll, and chocolate chip cookies.

Peppers and onions

Rice, applesauce, buns, peppers & onions, cookies

Bags of dinners

Description of dinner bag contents

Hopewell Junior School collecting Personal Care Items for Reach Out Lakota

Please bring any personal care items you wish to donate to the vestibule of Hopewell Junior School, by Friday, March 12, 2021, at 2:00 pm. The address is 8200 Cox Road, West Chester, OH 45069. These items are being collected by the HJS PTSO organization as part of their Community Service Fair week and will be given to Reach Out Lakota, a local organization which addresses poverty in the West Chester, OH, area of the Lakota School District.

Examples include: Toilet Paper/Tissues, Toothbrushes/Toothpaste, Bar Soap, Deodorant, Shaving Cream/Razors, Sanitary Pads/Tampons, Infant Wipes, and Lotion. All-purpose cleaners, dish detergent, and paper towels are also accepted and appreciated.

#BeOfGoodUse #MLK2021

“We are now faced with the fact my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.” -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How will you be of service today? Tomorrow is today. Love your enemies. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”-Rev. Dr. MLK, Jr.