queer-friendly christmas eve service?

Well, I am not a church-goer (or even a believer for that matter) but I'm alone for xmas this year and thinking I might like to attend a Christmas Eve service somewhere in the Slope or Prospect Heights. Something comforting about it, I guess.

Any suggestions on where? (If not exactly gay-friendly, then at least someplace I won't feel like a freak and a heretic and stand out like a sore thumb)

Stand out??? will you be wearing a sign?

amac wrote: Stand out??? will you be wearing a sign?

yeah thats what I'm thinking... how would anyone know your sexual orientation at a church service (especially if you're going alone?!)

I have the same questions as the above posters!

But, I will say this. My neighbor, who happens to be gay, says he sometimes attends church services at the church on 6th Avenue and 8th Street. I can't remember the name of it now, it is the one right on the corner that houses Beansprouts. I have never been personally and not even sure if they do a special Christmas service, but he likes it.

Obviously I won't be wearing a sign. But some congregations have a more diverse mix of people where a single person showing up alone and looking perhaps a bit more dykey than your average woman will be just another face in the crowd. And there are other congregations that are all straight families and a tight-knit community where they all know each other and the same person might feel uncomfortable.

Sheesh, why is every post here met with such suspicion and snarkiness? It was a simple question and I bet any queer who read it knew what I meant.

Just to be fair, brooklynian is the least snarky/suspicious community I've ever visited. ALSO- saying "queer friendly" and then insinuating that it's "obvious" lead me to immediately think transgendered/transsexual which can be a bit more physically obvious than a lot of homosexual men/women and might make some conservative congregations more uncomfortable (and, while I am not queer myself I have an extensive group of queer/gay/transexual/transgenered [pre and post op] friends in brooklyn and do not consider myself to be "conservative" in any way.)

That said, the Methodist church on the corner of 8th st and 6th ave actually states in their mission statement that they accept all people, "queer or straight" so I'd guess there may be a large gay population there. I am not a churchgoer so I wouldn't know. Either way, it's christmas and if you want to go celebrate you should go wherever you want. Park slope has a very large lesbian community and I would be shocked if ANY local church wasn't accepting.

Asil wrote: Obviously I won't be wearing a sign. But some congregations have a more diverse mix of people where a single person showing up alone and looking perhaps a bit more dykey than your average woman will be just another face in the crowd. And there are other congregations that are all straight families and a tight-knit community where they all know each other and the same person might feel uncomfortable.

Sheesh, why is every post here met with such suspicion and snarkiness? It was a simple question and I bet any queer who read it knew what I meant.

did you read my response for the suggested church?

Carmen wrote: Just to be fair, brooklynian is the least snarky/suspicious community I've ever visited. ALSO- saying "queer friendly" and then insinuating that it's "obvious" lead me to immediately think transgendered/transsexual which can be a bit more physically obvious than a lot of homosexual men/women and might make some conservative congregations more uncomfortable (and, while I am not queer myself I have an extensive group of queer/gay/transexual/transgenered [pre and post op] friends in brooklyn and do not consider myself to be "conservative" in any way.)

That said, the Methodist church on the corner of 8th st and 6th ave actually states in their mission statement that they accept all people, "queer or straight" so I'd guess there may be a large gay population there. I am not a churchgoer so I wouldn't know. Either way, it's christmas and if you want to go celebrate you should go wherever you want. Park slope has a very large lesbian community and I would be shocked if ANY local church wasn't accepting.

true that Carmen!

I wear a sign that says "Kiss me, I'm straight (unless I'm drunk)." Is that weird?

damn, I wonder if I stood out at the Village Halloween parade.

I mean I was standing and out ...but I'm straight.

Asil, you've gotta let us know how this turns out: Get a crowd shot of yourself at the crowded church, then make us guess who you are. We'll let you know if you stand out.

I was going to recommend Park Slope Presbyterian, which meet in John Jay High School on Sundays, but they are not doing Christmas Services. They recommend these:

Christmas Eve Services

Dec 19, 2008

The pastors at PSPC recommend checking out one of these services being held in the city on Christmas Eve:

* Old First Reformed
* Trinity Wall Street
* St. Thomas
* St. Bart's

http://www.parkslopechurch.com/announcement/christmas-eve-services/

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I would also expect Park Slope churches to be very accepting, but you never know what the vibe will actually be. Me and a bunch of straight families is going to feel different than me and mix of gay/straight/familes/groups/individuals/etc. And like I said, I don't go to church on a regular basis, so I thought I'd ask.

Hey, Asil! Weren't you supposed to come to Festivus 2.0 (also known as The Festivus that KICKED 1.5's ass)? WHERE WERE YOU????????

Anastasia Beaverhausen wrote: Hey, Asil! Weren't you supposed to come to Festivus 2.0 (also known as The Festivus that KICKED 1.5's ass)? WHERE WERE YOU????????

Yeah, I was planning to, but in the end just didn't feel too sociable that night. Even though I would have loved to meet Oscar. I just went through a breakup so am feeling up and down lately (thus my seeking comfort in church services--what is that??) I should have sought comfort in beer and Festivus. Sorry I missed it, maybe next time.

Eh, I didn't end up bringing O-man. It was icy, I didn't want to drive, etc. BUT there was a smoochie bulldog! Next time, you have to come. Regardless of status, mood, bitchesness, etc. We make people laugh.

OK, sounds good!

old first.

I've been to the xmas eve service at the church on 6th ave and 8th and it's very open and accepting of people. I think it's a unitarian church?

new2hood wrote: I've been to the xmas eve service at the church on 6th ave and 8th and it's very open and accepting of people. I think it's a unitarian church?

methodist.

Asil wrote: Obviously I won't be wearing a sign. But some congregations have a more diverse mix of people where a single person showing up alone and looking perhaps a bit more dykey than your average woman will be just another face in the crowd. And there are other congregations that are all straight families and a tight-knit community where they all know each other and the same person might feel uncomfortable.

Agreed. Different churches attract different crowds.

Subject: Gay Friendly Service

Try Sacred Center. The service is on Sunday but well worth the wait.
I believe sacredcenternyc.org is the website.

The Unitarian Church in Brooklyn Heights is very queer friendly, or as they call it, "welcoming".