Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday October 9 2003 — C3 ©sw ©taD-eG- t der communities Over the years the denomination has been subject to violence on several occasions Church officials say there have been nearly two dozen incidents of arson including a 1973 fire in New Orleans that killed 12 people including that church’s pastor and associate pastor Two California pastors have been stabbed to death one in 1986 and the other in 1999 and earlier this year in Roanoke Va two congregants and a pastor were attacked after a Bible study and prayer meeting The UFMCC has been granted observer status at the World Council of Churches but continues to be denounced by conservative Christians “Homosexuality and Christianity are polar opposites The Bible is very clear about this” said the Rev Lou Sheldon chairman of the Tradi- bom the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches which marks its 33th anniversary with a series of weekend events beginning Friday It is the world's laigest and organizers say first denomination whose tnission is ministering to and educating the world about gay Christians The church formed a year before the Stonewall riot in New York City that gave rise to the gay rights movement now claims 44000 members in 23 countries including Australia Mexico Cuba Denmark and Great Britain Although all people are welcome the church’s primary tnission remains providing outreach to the world’s gay lesbian bisexual and transgen-- WEST HOLLYWOOD Calif (AP) — The Rev Troy Perry felt he had a simple mission when he gathered a dozen congregants in his living room in 1968 to sing hymns and take Communion: He wanted them to know God loves gay ( people as much as eveiyone (else “I told them ‘God doesn't play favorites’” recalled Ferry who recruited the 11 men and one woman with an ad in the national gay news- -j magazine The Advocate “I knew God loved me and if God loved me God had to i love other gay people” said Perry an excommunicated j Pentecostal minister From that service in this j t trendy city on f the edge of Beverly Hills I gay-friend- ly ' Happenings Author speaks tional Values Coalition Sheldon citing St Paul’s New Testament condemnation of homosexual acts as “unnatural” encourages gay people to change their lifestyle through prayer and counseling Other conservative Christians quote Leviticus 18:22: “You shall not lie with a man as with a woman such a thing is an abomination” The UFMCC responds with Paul Hawken best-selliauthor and entrepreneur will speak about "The Dream of a Livable Future” at 12:30 pm Thursday at the Taggart Student Center Ballroom USU Admission is free For more information contact Bethany Youngs at 797-172-2 ng 4 orbkyoungsccusuedu Common Ground Common Ground is going canoeing on Oneida Reservoir at departing from die Whittier Community Cento Transportation is provided Common Ground is a non-proorganization that provides outdoor adventure for people with 8 disabilities Call 1 pm Friday fit 713-028- ' " ' ' a pamphlet titled “What Jesus Said About Homosexuality” Every page Senior Bazaar ' The Hyrum Senior Citizens Center is their annual Fall Bazaar dinner and program Friday The Bazaar is from 9 am to 5 pm The dinner and program start at 6 RSVP by Friday if interested There will be many gifts quilts and a bake sale Money raised helps programs and activities at the Center (Craft boutique to wdbh aieeeptoinic© foegliniimoirajg 10-pa- ge is blank: UFMCC officials say they ' ' AP Photo ? Churchgoers attend Sunday morning service at the Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles in West Hollywood Calif MMC Los Angeles one of the first gay churches in the country celebrates its 35th anniversary in October perform more than 6000 gay marriages annually and the church led the fight in Canada to legalize gay marriage by challenging the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman In June courts in Ontario and British Columbia ruled the definition was discriminatory Since the founding of UFMCC congregations have declared themselves “open and affirming” toward gays and lesbians within several V US denominations including : the American Baptist Churches Presbyterian Church (US A) United Church of Christ and United Methodist Church “We have forced the estab' lished church to put us on their agenda” said the Rev Neil Thomas pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles At the same time there have been setbacks President Bush said in June he would push to ' ' ban same-se- x marriage and the Vatican recently issued a statement warning that “homosexuality goes against the natural moral laws” More than two dozen conservative groups have said they oppose gay marriage and want to make it the No 1 social issue in the 2004 elec- tion On Thursday the groups announced a voter registration drive and designated the week of Oct 12 as “marriage' pro- - v tection week" ' Kyocera "' Fiaecam L3v Digital Camera h opted zoom aUncnot 2 S" ICO (wnHMtMnbi MOM HriVt) mold My com tor durablty v - ft ' V The Lewiston ys craft boutique sponsored by the Lewiston Arts Council is from 10 am to 5 pm Saturday at the ’ ' ! Lewiston Community Center o ' Fall-a-Da- v A- 5 (Monster Truck show r - An Outlaw Monster TYuck show is at 7:30 pm Saturday at the Logan-Cach- e Fairgrounds Local participants may sign up ' for the mud bog races Sign-Utickets begin at 3 pm Pre-sa- le i can be purchased from Les Schawb Tires Bells Chevron ’ Phillips 66 in Wells ville Advance tickets are $12 for adults $8 ( for children children five and under are free Gate ticket prices are $15 for adults $10 for children and kids five and under are " 'Ifi ee’v-':v r - turn U ps 4 I 'C 753-020- 38 : Cmmmd Citiclor DM hr my wmp alAdvantage d interest & NO parents on aay Digital Camera over 4 — Common Ground and Clay Gunnell are hosting a benefit ride Saturday Registration is from 7:30 to 8 am in th west parking lot at Mountain Crest High School Registration fee is $10 and includes a free For more information pall Clay at OR $299 s— 0 interest & t12 months ' Benefit ride ' M- 'tig v The Lace ’N’ Levis Square Dance Club will dance from 7:30 to 10 pm Saturday at the Cache County Senior Citizens Cento 240 N J00 East Logan Steve Sullivan will call and cue Call ' or 563-35- $44099 Raecim L4v Digital Camera 3 npfal ana wMacmn UP HumrfCtrt hat iLace’N’ Levis ' Kyocora 10-mi- le an any Digital Camera Nikon 2650 Zoom SScSr $99MlffiS I aw $599 $299" $1GH99 hop mm 14 v I irt 881-61- : 95 J Elk Festival The Elk Festival is from 9 am to 3 pm Saturday at Hardware Ranch Activities include free pumpkins breakfast for $4 a plate tepee talks bird house building nature games lunch for $6 a plate' wildlife presentations and archery shooting Everyone is welcome Art contest The Hardware Ranch Elk Festival is sponsoring an art con- test The contest is open to ages Entries must be original artwork and should fit on a 85 X 1 1 sheet of paper It should highlight elk in their natural Utah habitat Entries are due by 5 pm Friday and can be dropped off at Macey’s South Cadre Market or Lee’s Marketplace 3-- - Jazz Fest : - A Jazz Fest runs all day Saturday in Logan The schedule is: The Ughtwood Duo at 3 pm at Caffe Ibis Rock Bottom Blues Revue at 3:30 pm on the sidewalk in front of Caine Lyric The- atrc The Jackson Evans Quartet at 4 pm at the White Owl William Pollett at 4 pm at Chapter Two Books Valley Dance Ensemble (African Dance) at 5 pm on the sidewalk in front of Eccles Theatre Nivison Taylor and Wright at die Caine Lyric at 7 pm followed by the Joe McQueen featuring Lany Smith All-Sta- rs Nature Center The Stokes Nature Center Tails and Trails program featuring the stay “Stellaluna” is from 10 am to noon Saturday at the Center This program is for ages 4 to 9 Space is limited preregistration is required Program fee: $5 for and or visit $375 for SNC members For information call wwwlogannatureorg non-memb- 755-32- 39 d Post-Mormo- ns The Cache Valley Support Group is a nonsec- tarian group of former Mormons that meets regularly at Tony - Roma's for dinner and socializing All former Mormons are encouraged to attend The group meets at 6:30 pm every Sun-or go to day For more information call Jeff at 770-42Post-Mormo- ns 63 418 NORTH 175 EAST LOGAN UT wwwpostmormoncom Soccer registration 435-752-92- 00 iHIlf'WkllSiTKli Cache Indoor Soccer is holding soccer registration for indi- viduals and teams ages four through high school Call 563-- 1 167 for more information or to register Adult soccer leagues are also forming Call the above number for more information $799 rqement HCiu: W: I u It-jQ- 'W53EB55' - |