Family home evening on 11.12.2012 in South London

We were four last time we met in October, and it would be great if more people would join us.

It is on Sunday 11 December 2011 from 2.45pm (for a prompt start at 3pm) until 5pm, in South London (closest tube Elephant and Castle).

For more details email angelo on angeloberbotto@aol.com

Confessions of a Mormon Boy in London

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY - Charing Cross Theatre


Confessions of a Mormon Boy

Steven Fales' critically acclaimed award-winning 90 minute solo play Confessions of a Mormon Boy, has its London premiere for three weeks only at the Charing Cross Theatre. Recounting how Steven went from being the perfect Mormon boy in Utah to a high-priced call boy in New York City, this provocative true story takes the audience from his Mormon mission to Portugal, through excommunication, divorce, pr*stitution and crystal meth addiction as he struggles to reclaim himself, his two children and his 'Donny Osmond smile'.

Directed by Tony Award Winner Jack Hofsiss (the original Broadway production of The Elephant Man), Confessions of a Mormon Boy has played across the US including an extended off Broadway run, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, and a sell out run in Salt Lake City! Internationally the show has played the Dublin International G*y Theatre Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe.


CHARING CROSS THEATRE

until 24 September @ 8pm

Songs, Readings and Thoughts

dear all


come to a family home evening called "Songs, Readings and Thoughts" on Sunday 16 October from 2.45pm (for a prompt start at 3pm) to 5pm.

Where? at Angelo's home in Elephant and Castle SE1, email angeloberbotto@aol.com for more details.

Volunteers are required for the following:

1. choosing opening hymn
2. opening prayer
3. reading (3 different readers, excerpt will be emailed in advance)
4. snacks (no Mormon do can take place without food)
5. choosing closing hymn
5. closing prayer


Even if you do not wish to undertake an active part, please do come anyway.

January Meeting and some news...

Hello everyone,

thanks to all of you who made it to St Martin's yesterday and to those who met us afterwards.

It was a very inspiring service and it was nice meeting you and getting to know you afterwards.

There are some events in the coming weeks that may be of interest to you:

Launch of ‘Living It Out: A survival guide for lesbian, gay and bisexual Christians, and their friends, families and churches’.


Living It Out is practical and positive and is based on the stories of more 50 contributors of all ages, from eight denominations, exploring issues such as coming out in church, love and marriage and family relationships.

The event will be held on Wednesday 27 January, 6.30-7.30pm at Waterstone’s bookshop, 82 Gower Street , London.

It’s free and all are welcome. You can read more about it on
http://www.livingitout.com/


Sexuality and Human Flourishing
Saturday 6 February 2010 (10am to 4.30pm)at Church of the Ascension, Stirchley, Birmingham.


A Day Conference to explore and celebrate our relationship with God, with each other, and with our inner selves.

Jointly organised by members of The Centre for the Study of Christianity and Sexuality, Inclusive Church, Changing Attitude, LGCM, The Sibyls, and Church members in Norwich and Birmingham.

Keynote Speakers

Arnold Browne The Scriptures and Sexual Diversity

Alison Webster Sexual Diversity and the Human Journey

The aim of this conference is to create a safe and holy speace in which we can explore the themes of human sexuality, faith, and relationships, through listening, reflection and discussion. What is it about our sexuality that informs and expresses the nature of our huamnity and our relationship with God?

At a time when the Churh is deeply divided on the issue, many of us find this question perplexing, in the light of our own experiences, and of those whom we know.

Cost: £15 (Concessions £5)

Conference Joining Information and Booking Form from Daphne Cook, Centre for the Study of Christianity and Sexuality, 01789 762553 or daphnecook@btinternet.com

All are welcome.

Get together in January --- 17-01-2010 at 5pm

hello everyone and Happy New Year

You may read the report from the last Affirmation London event below.

The next get together will be on Sunday 17 January 2010 at 5pm at Saint Martin´s in the Field (the Anglican Church at Trafalgar Square).


We will meet for evensong at St Martin´s (http://www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/page/church/worship/worship.html it starts at 5pm at the main chapel) and then go for coffee/hot chocolate nearby.

Evensong is a service with readings and singing (it is not like Sacrament meeting but more as a devotional) you may read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evening_Prayer_(Anglican)

It is hoped that this will provide the spiritual element of the meeting, considering that many of us have moved on from traditional LDS forms of worshipping or do not worship at all. Any suggestions as to the spiritual content of future Affirmation meetings will be gladly received.

I look forward to seeing you there.

cheers

Angelo

Saint Ethelburga's

The weather was awful indeed last Wednesday but still some people made it to the Saint Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace.

There were about 20 people, mostly Jewish and Anglicans. The speakers each represented their faith and shared texts and images.

I thought it was very interesting the way they approached the subject of "The Agony and the Ecstasy". Sam, the facilitator told about a spiritual experience he had when seeing this painting by Caravaggio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flagellation_of_Christ_(Caravaggio)

The discussion then centred in the wholeness of living our lives in which faith has a place. And if we are made in the image of God, is not our sexual orientation also coming from the divine?

We had the Christian (Protestant) and the Jewish perspectives on this and people were able to contribute their own experiences to the discussion.

Then we moved on to discuss scripture interpretation... some individuals asked very interesting questions and I must say I was impressed with the answers.

In the end, it was clear that God would not have created us with sexual drives towards our own gender unless it was his plan... otherwise, it would have been cruel. Same-sex partnerships can be as sucessful as straight marriages and the Church/es should be the first ones to honour them and celebrate the union and love of two people.

I hope more people can make it to the next gathering.

I will post details here soon.

Thanks for the organisers and the attenders who contributed to the discussion.

December meeting

We will meet on Wednesday 16 December at 6.30pm for the Lecture: Same-sex relationships and religious belief and practice, delivered by Jewish and Christian leaders at the
St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace
78 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4AG

free entry but need to book on www.stethelburgas.org

please contact Angelo for any further information angeloberbotto@aol.com