IntegrityVT@yahoo.com

 
Integrity Vermont and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church invite you to join us for a Eucharist in celebration of the Feast of St. Aelred (transferred) and Valentine’s Day Party.
The Rev. Reid Farrell will lead us in a Eucharist celebrating the Feast of St. Aelred, patron saint of Integrity USA. This will be followed by a festive reception of sweets.  All are welcome. Please bring a sweet to share.  Don’t hesitate to wear your pink!
When: Sunday, February 13th at 4pm
Where: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 38 Grand Avenue (Rte 7), Swanton, VT
For more information contact Paul Leduc at 518-562-7895 or paulleduc@aol.com
 
An explanation of how St. Aelred became the patron saint of Integrity USA taken from http://sacredpauses.com/saint-aelred-the-patron-saint-of-integrity:
How St. Aelred Became the Patron of Integrity
by the Rev. Paul Woodrum
At the 1984 General Convention in Pasadena, CA, The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music recommended Aelred, along with a number of others, for inclusion in Lesser Feasts and Fasts. When this resolution came before the House of Bishops, the preconversion Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong informed the house that, according to John Boswell, Aelred of Rievaulx had been gay implying this might disqualify his inclusion.
With little discussion The House of Bishops approved the others on the list but sent Aelred back to the commission which sent him back to the House of Bishops where, in spite of his being gay, and with the bishops’ full knowledge that he was, he was admitted to the calendar.
That this was the first person openly acknowledged to be gay to be formally admitted into ECUSA’s liturgical calendar engaged my sense of irony and inspired my resolution submitted to the 1987 St. Louis, national convention of Integrity, Inc.:
“Whereas the Episcopal Church USA meeting in General Convention in Anaheim, California, in 1985, with full knowledge, thanks to the vigilance of the bishop of Newark, of St. Aelred’s homoerotic orientation, did approve for annual commemoration in her liturgical calendar the Feast of St. Aelred on 12 January and did provide propers for the same, Therefore be it resolved that Integrity Inc. place itself under the protection and patronage of St. Aelred of Rievaulx and, be it further resolved that Integrity, Inc. dedicate itself to regularly observe his feast, promote his veneration and seek before the heavenly throne of grace the support of his prayers on behalf of justice and acceptance for lesbians and gay men.”