CNP Communications Coordinator and Peace Presbyterian Church at Manatee Pride

"[Pride] means freedom and joy and happiness. I love seeing the joy on all these kids' faces as they realize they can be themselves here."

Last Saturday, CNP Communications Coordinator Amy Cerniglia had the opportunity to celebrate Manatee Pride in Bradenton, FL. Thanks to many volunteers from Peace Presbyterian Church, where Amy serves as Director of Music and Outreach, the youth, families and retirees shared the love of God with people across generations.

"Pride is about family. It's a whole family activity. It's appropriate for families. It's safe and okay for families. That's what I want people to know and take away."

The 8th annual festival in downtown Bradenton featured live entertainment and plenty of food benefitting ALSO Youth, a non-profit serving LGBTQ+ youth in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Despite fears of protests, no political division emerged.

Guests at the Pride festival had the opportunity to paint a design of their choice or paint their hands in colors of their choice to decorate a cloth for the Lord's Table at Peace. In this way, the community is brought "into" the sanctuary at Peace. Visitors were also invited to paint rocks that will decorate the church's nature trail. Both the cloth and rocks were painted with many colors or symbols meaningful to the LGBTQ+ community.

Before Pride, Amy collected short prayers written by people of various identities for people who share those identities. For example, an intersex person wrote a prayer especially for intersex people. At the event, volunteers from Peace offered those bookmarks for free.

Over several Sundays leading up to Pride, Peace members wrote nearly a hundred notes sharing love and affirmation. On the day of the festival, volunteers gave out each letter to grateful recipients.

It's so important that we not only enjoy it but be a part of it and make sure that it continues."

Regardless of how your church chooses to participate, the PC(USA) can offer a powerful presence at Pride spreading the good news of God's love for all people.