Interfaith flapjacks and worship: Aurora area clergy band together for Pride Day

Seven clergy from Aurora, Oswego, Batavia and Geneva joined in celebrating Aurora’s Pride Day on Sunday, June 9, with a pancake breakfast and interfaith worship.

Participating clergy were Rev. Brandon Perrine, New England Congregational; Rev. Tammy Scott, Wesley UMC; Rev. Scott Hodge, Orchard Community and Rabbi Ed Friedman, Temple B’Nai Israel, all in Aurora; and Rev. Patrick Fish, Becoming ELCA, Oswego; Rev. Paige Wolfanger, First Congregational, Batavia; and Rev. Scot Hull, Unitarian Universalist Society, Geneva.

Activities opened at 8:30 a.m. at New England Congregational Church with a free “Pride Cakes” pancake breakfast. Rev. Scott led congregants in dishing green- and orange-colored pancakes with sausages and beverages.

An interfaith service at 10 a.m. featured clergy from partnering churches. After New England senior minister Rev. Brandon Perrine welcomed worshippers, Rabbi Ed Friedman of Temple B’nai Israel in Aurora chanted Psalm 119, and Rev. Hodge offered the morning prayer.

Wesley UMC's Rev. Scott led three “exhortations” with a children’s message. She was followed by Rev. Paige Wolfanger of Batavia’s First Congregational and Rev. Patrick Fish of ELCA Becoming in Oswego.

Performing gathering and sending songs were Wesley UMC musicians Thew Elliott, Meredith Lindgren, Wally Loague and Ben Smith.

Rev. Hull of Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva closed the service with a benediction.

Afterward, attendees walked from New England to downtown Aurora for the noon parade where members of St. David’s Episcopal joined in.

The service was livestreamed and a video recording for viewing is on the New England Congregational Church YouTube channel.