By Rev. Nathan Adams
Christ Church United Methodist
Fort Lauderdale and Deerfield Beach

We had just finished marching in the Stonewall Pride Parade this past June for the first time as Christ Church United Methodist, when one of our members told me about a conversation she had had on the route. 

Along the parade route someone had stopped her to ask if God loves them. Without missing a beat, she definitively said, “Yes, of course God loves you.” 

She didn’t know who this person was. She didn’t know their experiences. She didn’t know who they had fallen in love with or if they’d ever been in love. She didn’t know how this person identified, in any capacity. And yet, she declared, “Yes, of course God loves you.”  

It’s an answer that we believe fully at Christ Church United Methodist. We believe no matter who you are, God loves you just as you are. 

This past summer, we intentionally spent more time together as a church and in our community to get to know one another and our community better. In addition to marching in Stonewall, we hosted a community meal for those experiencing homelessness in partnership with Taskforce Fore Ending Homelessness, spent Monday nights playing trivia at Funky Buddha Brewery, sang and laughed at weekly hymn sings, hosted a Juneteenth celebration, and even had an old school ice cream social. 

All of these community building events were in addition to what we regularly get to do as a church. Namely, worshipping together regularly led by top notch musicians, studying scripture and current events, hosting free weekly community meals, operating a food pantry, celebrating and remembering those that have passed away at memorial services, baptizing children, and of course celebrating our great students, families, and faculty at our own Christ Church School and at our partner school, Tedder Elementary. 

On a recent trivia night at Funky Buddha, someone from another team asked our team who we were. I imagine that he had observed our intergenerational and diverse team laughing and carrying on and wanted to know what had brought this group of people together. 

What brings us together for trivia and everything we do is a deep belief that God created and loves every single person and our commitment to live this out. We do so as a growing, diverse, and inclusive community where everyone belongs, including you! 

We’d love to have you join us as our guest. Consider worshipping with us on a Sunday morning in Fort Lauderdale at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m., serving our larger community with us in our food pantry, laughing with us for a meal or drink at trivia, or enjoying beautiful music with us at our upcoming Concert Series this fall. 

You can find out more information about all of these opportunities, our National Coming Out Day activities, and more by visiting our website at www.ChristChurchFL.org.

In the meantime, remember, “Yes, of course, God loves you!”