Marble Church to Kick Off Pride With Celebrations of Joy in Resilience

Marble Collegiate Church, a diverse, inclusive congregation of God’s people, will kick off Pride Month 2023 with a worshipful celebration of “Joy in Resilience,” an uplifting evening of music and reflection on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 7 p.m. in Marble’s historic sanctuary on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 29^th Street.

Rev. Rashad McPherson, Marble’s Associate in Ministry and Music, will offer words of hope and inspiration affirming the beautiful gift of who we are – all made in God’s image. Special guests will participate in the evening, including artists performing feel-good music curated to keep attendees in the festive spirit.

Highlights include multiple social-media-friendly features, including a massive Pride balloon arch at the church entry and a joyful, after-event reception in Marble’s lower-level Labyrinth Room, hosted by GIFTS, Marble’s LGBTQIA+ ministry.

In addition, Marble’s evening honoring the “Joy in Resilience” theme helps prepare for the arrival of panels from the National AIDS Memorial Quilt, which will proudly hang in Marble’s soaring Neo-Romanesque, Gothic-style sanctuary through June 30.

During the month of June,  Marble will offer an array of Pride-focused events.

On Sunday, June 18, Rev. Chad Tanaka Pack, LGBTQIA+ leader and former Marble Church Associate Minister, returns to Marble to speak at the 10 O’Clock Hour and the 11 a.m. service. On Saturday, June 24, at 4:30 p.m., the Marble congregation, friends and community members will serve water at the 31^st Annual NYC Dyke March on Fifth Avenue in front of the church. The month-long slate of Pride-focused events culminates in Marble’s Annual Pride Service on Sunday, June 25, at 11 a.m. For more information, please visit www.MarbleChurch.org.

Marble Collegiate Church maintains membership in two denominations: The United Church of Christ and The Reformed Church in America, making it North America’s oldest Protestant congregation with continual service.