7 pm Sunday 17th December, Oasis Church, The Paragon, Bath BA1 5DU

Our Friend Dan Berry writes:

Quakers may have mixed views about carol services, whether because they consist of programmed worship, or because they give undue deference to a church calendar which we do not follow, or because they reflect a traditional Christianity that is not central to all Friends’ Quaker practice.  Bath’s annual LGBT+ Affirming Carol Service does all of these things – and reaches out to people who often are rejected by traditional churches and still do not have marriage equality in some of them. 

At the Carol Service, the carols will be familiar to many, but some of the readings, the prayers and the “talk” will reflect LGBTQIA+ experiences and concerns. 

The service is organised by Christ Church Julian Road, St Stephen’s Lansdown and Oasis Church and they take turns to host it. This year it is being held at Oasis Church in The Paragon.  I personally have found past events very moving – a church building full of LGBTQIA+ people and our friends and allies all worshipping together in a loving, accepting atmosphere.