Nexus Church UCC

Here is a quick summary of what our church has done in April.

Work continues on our interfaith video series. Currently the videos are undergoing remixing, expected to be completed by the end of June.

Fidget toys are available on one of the back tables during church services. We are looking for more ways to make our services sensory friendly. Please let us know if you have ideas!

Posts like this will be a monthly series to make it clear what we're doing in the church and in the community. Have a question, suggestion, or something you’d like to see us try? Send us a message or talk with us after worship. We’d love to hear from you.

As we say on our website: Be careful who you hate, because it could be someone you love. As an open and affirming church we accept, affirm, and love everyone of any identity. God's love is for everyone. How could we deny it to so many people? Too many people have been pushed away, judged, and told they had to become someone else to belong. We believe God’s love is bigger than that. We choose to make room for people to show up fully as themselves and work for a better world so no one is made to feel ashamed of who they are.

A spirited wind blew through the Booth of Blessings as the family of three approached us at Hamilton Pride. They asked what our booth was about.

Nexus and other open-and-affirming churches in our region collaborate on blessing people with rainbow confetti during Pride each year.

Would you like a blessing?

The parents nodded. Their young daughter – I’d guestimate her age as roughly 4 years – watched me sprinkle rainbow confetti across her parent’s heads and shoulders like a gentle rain.

“Remember, you are a beautiful and beloved child God,,” I said. “Always.”

The mother asked their daughter if she’d like a blessing, too. The girl nodded. I knelt to be at her eye level and sprinkled her with confetti. Her reaction suggested she found it unexpected and fun.

“Remember that you are a beautiful and beloved child of God, just as you are,” I told her while sprinkling her with confetti. “Remember this for the rest of your life.”

Then, I invited her to bless me with confetti. She looked at her parents for permission. They nodded.

The girl dipped her thumb and index finger into the bowl, carefully plucked out one flake of confetti, and planted it atop my head.

“You can use more confetti if you want,” I said.

Game on!

She plunged her hand into the bowl, grabbed a fistful of confetti and dumped it on my head. I shook my head and the clump of confetti flew everywhere.

The girl giggled. So did I. Her parents said thank you and off they went, covered in a colorful blessing.

Jesus was known for – or, notorious for, depending upon your point of view – blessing whoever came to him, especially those who didn’t receive blessings from their political, religious and cultural leaders.

Sadly, many culture war Christians today prefer to berate rather than bless, to reject rather than embrace, to hurt rather than heal.

No matter. The Spirit-filled work of blessing goes on unabated in many different forms – water, oil, words. hugs, confetti.

Most people I know say their earliest memories are from around the age of 4 -- the same as the girl who covered my head in confetti. I hope that the colorful and wind-swept moment becomes one of her formative memories.

May her lasting memory be of her belovedness.

-- Joe

We are an open and affirming church. What does that mean? It means we invite everyone to participate in our spiritual community regardless of their sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression. And beyond welcoming you to our church, we affirm your identity as being part of God's beautiful plan. All people are able to take sacraments, hold office in the church, and be married in the church.

We know many people have been hurt by churches that said “all are welcome” but placed limits on love, belonging, or leadership. We want to be clear: you do not have to hide who you are here. You are invited to bring your whole self: your questions, your gifts, your story, your family, your joy, and your hope.

You are loved by God. You belong. And there is room for you here.

💚🖤❤️ Join us for the 2026 Juneteenth Commemoration: In Troubling Times, Consult the Ancestors!

Juneteenth is a sacred day of remembrance and hope—a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward justice. Today, we honor the legacy of those who fought for liberation and the ancestors who guide us still.

In these challenging times, the Racial Justice Ministries of the United Church of Christ invite you to gather in prophetic remembrance. Let us draw wisdom from the prophets of scripture and the modern-day leaders who inspire us to resist injustice and nurture a just world for all.

🗓️ Thursday, June 18th | 3:30 PM Eastern
✨ Featuring Rev. Dr. Velda Love, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay, and Rev. Trayce Potter

👉🏾 Register to join us: https://ow.ly/knQu50Z8vJR


Sermon Seeds (United Church of Christ)

Hamilton Ohio Pride was incredible, even with the heat! Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth. We were grateful for every chance to remind people that they are deeply loved exactly as they are. Pride is a celebration, and it is also a reminder: everyone deserves safety, belonging, joy, and community.

To our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, and family: you are beautiful, beloved, and welcome. Always. 🌈

God doesn't promise that things will be easy for us. But He does promise that He will be with us when times are hard.

When we are grieving, God is near.

When we are afraid, God is near.

When we don’t know what comes next, God is near.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to be strong every moment. You are held in love that does not let go.

Whatever you’re carrying today, may you know this: you are not alone.

Butler County Affirming churches welcome all to a service of affirmative and healing the Wednesday, June 10, at 7pm. In the outdoor chapel or we’ll move inside in case of inclement weather.