Kane and Kendall churches represented at Aurora’s Pride Day celebration

Seven clergy members from Aurora, Batavia, Geneva and Oswego banded together to celebrate Aurora’s Pride Day on June 9 at New England Congregational Church in Aurora.

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

Activities began with a free Pride Cakes pancake breakfast. Scott led congregants in dishing green and orange pancakes with sausages and beverages, according to a news release from the churches.

An interfaith worship service at 10 a.m. featured clergy from the partnering churches. After Perrine welcomed worshippers, Friedman chanted Psalm 119. Hodge offered the morning prayer. Scott led three exhortations with a children’s message. She was followed by Wolfanger and Fish, according to the release.

Performing songs were Wesley UMC musicians Thew Elliott, Meredith Lindgren, Wally Loague and Ben Smith, according to the release.

Hull closed the service with a benediction, according to the release.

At 10:45 a.m., attendees walked from New England to downtown Aurora for the noon parade where members of St. David’s Episcopal joined in.

To view the service, visit youtube.com/watch?v=CByB5NwQS2E.