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A Service of Celebration of the Holy UnionJeanne and Ellie
of Jeanne Barnett and Ellie Charlton

Sacramento Community Theater 1:00 PM, January 16, 1999

'HOLY UNION' -- Jeanne Barnett (left) and Ellie Charlton are blessed by a laying on of hands during a ceremony of 'holy union' at the Sacramento (California) Convention Center. The service, lead by the Rev. Don Fado of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Sacramento, challenged the denomination's policy against its clergy performing same-sex union ceremonies. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.

 


PRELUDE
Duets: Jane Howard and Jim Parr
"Now Sing We Joyfully" G. Young, arr. O. Young
"Close to Thee" S. J. Vail, arr. O Young
"Nearer Still Nearer" C. H. Morris, arr. O. Young
"Rise Up Ye Saints of God" W. Walter, arr. O. Young

DIVA (Diverse Individuals Vocalizing Affirmatively) Mixed Chorus of Yolo and Sacramento Counties, directed by Jim Parr, Jr. and Jane Howard, accompanied by Dan Stern, and joined by members of local United Methodist Church choirs "Siyahamba" South African, arr. Nyberg
"This Is the Day of New Beginning" Brian Wren, Carlton Young
"In This Very Room" Ron & Carol Harris

SOLO: Jane Howard "The Lord's Prayer" Malotte

DIVA Chorus: "Within Christ's Light" Jim Parr, Jr., arr. Dan Stern

SONG: "Part of the Family" Jim Manley

Come in, come in and sit down, you are a part of the fam'ly.
We are lost and we are found, and we are a part of the fam'ly....

[remainder of song omitted, due to copyright concerns]

GREETING ONE ANOTHER: Song: "The Spirit in Me" Strathdee
The spirit in me greets the spirit in you, Alleluia
God's in us and we're in God, Alleluia.

INVOCATION: Don Fado, Host Pastor
Recognition of gay and lesbian partnerships

THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES: Sacred Dancers, St. Mark's UMC, Sacramento

PROCESSIONAL HYMN: "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"

THE PROCESSION OF THE CO-OFFICIANTS

Names co-officiants are listed here.

Right aisle:
FORMER CLERGY WHO HAVE SURRENDERED THEIR ORDERS DUE TO THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION
CLERGY OF THE CALIFORNIA-NEVADA ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Left aisle: CLERGY FROM OTHER UNITED METHODIST ANNUAL CONFERENCES
CLERGY FROM OTHER DENOMINATIONS
LAY REPRESENTATIVES FROM RECONCILING CONGREGATIONS IN THE CALIFORNIA-NEVADA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

UNISON AFFIRMATION: Written by Barbara Troxell, led by Rev. Ronna Case, a special friend

We are unique human beings linked with all of creation and gathered from diverse places
to share a ministry faithfully,
to raise questions hopefully,
to work for justice lovingly . . .

We believe in the church, community of faith and caring, covenant and promise,
which nurtures our pilgrimage and
through which we are called to be witness to
God's truth, love and justice

We believe our believing affects
our daily walking and talking,
our doubting and struggling,
our decisions and choice-making,
our responses to persons and systems.

We intend in this community in these days
to raise questions hopefully,
to work for justice lovingly,
to share a ministry faithfully,
and, by God's grace, passionately!

POEM: "A New Covenant"
written and read by Rev. Dr. Jeanne Knepper
Director of Shalom Ministries, Portland, Oregon

DUET: "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera
Jeanne Ann Howard (Jeanne's niece) and Michael Dearth (Jeanne's cousin)

PRESENTATION: Wanda Charlton (Ellie's daughter-in-law) and Bobbie Charlton (granddaughter)

DUET: "The Ballad of Ellie and Jeanne"
written and sung by Jean and Jim Strathdee

SCRIPTURE AND WITNESS TO THE WORD: 1 John 4:13-5:4 Randy Miller
Randy felt called by God to ministry in the church, felt discouraged in ministry by the church

SONG: "People Like You" Si Kahn

THE WORDS OF LOVE AND COMMITMENT: Jeanne Barnett and Ellie Charlton

THE BLESSINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENT: All co-officiants
O God, our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, we bow before you to ask your blessing upon Ellie and Jeanne, whom we now bless in your name. Their commitment to one another grows out of their commitment to you, whose love is revealed through Jesus Christ. We pray for you to guide and strengthen them, that they remain open to your spirit and continue to grow in love. We thank you for Jeanne and Ellie's love and faith which they so readily share with us. We recognize in this service the place of family, friends, church and the entire human family; we are able to love because you first loved us. O God, our maker, we gladly proclaim to the world that Jeanne and Ellie are loving partners together for life. Amen.

HYMN: "Walls Mark Our Boundaries" Duck/Strathdee
So build us a table and tear down the wall!
Christ is our host. There is room for us all!

[chorus only printed on web, due to copyright concerns]

A RAINBOW CONNECTION

BENEDICTION Don Fado


SERVICES OF SOLIDARITY THIS WEEK-END

Thanks to: Songleaders: Jean, Jim and Michael Strathdee
Piano: Dorothy McKibben ASL Interpreter: Polly Wagner
St. Mark's Brass Group: Steven David, Rick Eaton, Tom Roehr, Erik
Schmucker, Darrel Schmucker
St. Mark's Sacred Dancers: Andrea Bunch, Samantha DeVol, Jennifer
Frazier, Ashley Hart, Emily Jaske, Emilie Nichols, Deanna Reese, Jenna
Ricks, Kelly Stockton, Christy Stoughton, Rachel Strathdee
DIVA: For information about joining our chorus or having our group sing for your event, call DIVA (Diverse Individuals Vocalizing Affirmatively), LGBT and Friends Mixed Chorus

Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who made this event possible, including

Special thanks to Barb Chandler and members of Episcopal Integrity of Northern California for preparing and providing lunch for the clergy co-officiants who have been here since early this morning.

And to The Reverend Elisabeth Seeger and St. Paul's Episcopal Church for providing an oasis the entire day for participants in the service and the circle of love.