Bashaw United Church reaffirmed its message if welcoming thanks to a new stained glass window.
Mounted within the church, the piece is titled, Acceptance by Fern Bolduc, who took a few minutes to explain her motivation.
“When my brother first came by the church, he couldn’t believe that we were so accepting,” said Bolduc of the window.
“We have come a long ways in the last few years. And we still have a long ways to go.”
Fern suggests that God doesn’t ask people to judge, rather for people to love. One person asked about Fern’s motivation for the design of the window.
“We’re all the same but we all have a difference,” said Fern, pointing out that she tried to create several different hues of each colour.
She added that the different rays of the sunshine represent the people who have different paths to God. Some are straight, said Fern, and some are indirect.
That message of welcoming is something that has been part of the United Church for the last few years, first with the rainbow flag painted at the church’s entrance.
Reverend Robin King said that a sign was created by a member that states, “We’ll take anyone.”
“And then the congregation started talking about becoming an affirming ministry.”
It’s a way of designating churches that have come to a point where they confirm that they welcome everyone, including LGBTQ members, but also individuals with disabilities or other differences.
“We’re a small rural community where engaging diversity is sometimes challenging,” said King.
The point is to ensure people know that if they walk into the Bashaw United Church doors, they are indeed, welcome.