On June 17, the HCC Men’s Fellowship presented a worship service which they developed in discussion over the winter and spring.
The sermon was delivered by Andrew Geery, and can be found on the Inspiration Blog on the home page of this web site.
Other parts of the service included additions to the Welcome specifically aimed at fathers and other male-identified individuals. It also included an Apology by men to women and girls of the church for the terrible behavior by men toward women for too long. And it closed with a Benediction read in unison by members of the congregation calling for everyone to work for an end to violence.
The Father’s Day Service was developed by Ross Bassett, Jim Foudy, Darien Gardner, Phil Hall, Doug Renick, Richard Spencer and Bob Varnon.

Welcome (portion relevant to Father’s Day):

….On this Father’s Day, we welcome fathers, step fathers, grandfathers and all father-figures who work hard, and strive to promote respect and harmony in their families and demonstrate great love for their children.

We welcome fathers and all male-identified individuals for whom peace in the home is a precondition for peace in the world.

      Finally, we want you to know that you are loved and invited and included for all that you are and all who you are.…

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Apology

 (Enacted during Opening Words, including introduction, invitation, and prayers):

Friends, as a men’s group we have been appalled by the public revelations of men’s violence against women.  We recognize the men’s violence and we recognize the truth of the women’s public revelations. The violence was done by and condoned by mostly white men, privileged men, powerful men. So much hurt and violence caused by our brothers, our fathers, our grandfathers, our sons, our male friends and colleagues. As a man and as men facing this truth is difficult and painful. We want to look away, run away, disappear. We’ve done that for far too long.  It is time for us to face into the truth.

In the light of what is happening in our country and after discussion and careful consideration as a men’s fellowship we agreed to include this apology in this Father’s Day service. We have personally contacted and invited other men in the congregation to join us, if they felt so moved. And we extend that invitation to any man or male identified person here today to now join us if he/they feel so moved. 

Prayer: 

Let us come together in a spirit of prayer. Loving God, open all of our hearts to truth, to feelings, to deep understandings. May we be safe and connected. May your spirit transform us into strong, healthy human beings in community and in communion with each other. Amen

We have something to say to all the women and girls in congregation. Thank you for listening.

The apology: (said by all men at least twice standing up front)

I apologize for all the times I have hurt or offended you. I am so sorry to have hurt you and caused you pain. Please forgive me.

We apologize for all the times you have been hurt or offended by men. We are so sorry to have hurt you and caused you pain.. Please forgive us.

Thank you for listening to our apologies and for hearing our request for forgiveness. Our commitment to do something beyond the apology is in the Benediction.  It is our commitment and our way of saying we hear you, we support you, and we stand with you as allies. Let us come together in a spirit of prayer.

Prayer:

Loving God, hear our prayer: May we all gratefully affirm our truth, our emotions and our understandings. May we be transformed. May we move together toward forgiveness. May we be healed. May we grow more deeply into the Beloved Community of our heart’s desire.  Amen

Benediction

For our benediction, we would like to end our service today making a pledge of commitment that as followers of Jesus Christ we will speak out against violence and oppression, and work against the patriarchal systems that underlie much of the violence in the world, including the violence against our planet Earth. If you are willing and able, please stand and join us in reading the Benediction found on Page 2 of your Bulletin.

Benediction: A Commitment to Social Change

(To be read in unison)

In the presence of these people and the holy spirit, I commit to never condone, or remain silent about violence against anyone because of their gender, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background. I commit to work for fair and equal treatment for all people in our society. I will support change in the social and political systems that maintain male privilege and male supremacy. And I will encourage young people to feel loved, safe and good about themselves, promoting understanding and respect among children. 

Go now in peace. Our worship has ended.  Let our service begin.