Hi friends!
It may still be hard to believe with all the snow and ice that have been assaulting us in recent weeks, but spring is on its way. I’ve been hearing the chickadees that hang out in the trees around our building singing their love songs, so even if it’s still a slushy mess, warmer days are ahead!
This week, we’re also in the midst of Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. During Holy Week, Episcopalians and other Christians who ground their worship in ancient Christian practices remember Jesus’ journey to the cross, the grave, and the resurrection with multiple days of worship services. These observances remind us of the hard truth that our highest hopes and deepest joys exist alongside our most brutal hardships and struggles. New life cannot exist without death. On the other hand, what Easter teaches us is that death never has the last word— not with God. Just as we can be trudging through snow and feel that thrill of hope at the sound of Chickadee love songs, we can be in the midst of struggle and note with joy the signs of hope in our midst.
It has been a hard winter with a lot of “bad news” on our airwaves. I’ve heard from program participants the way global and national strife is impacting their day to day lives, whether they’re queer and trans folks staring down tidal waves of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation around the country, poor folks struggling to make ends meet suddenly seeing their work commute costs double overnight, or rural folks noting changes in healthcare accessibility. I’ve also seen the way folks have been showing up to help one another, the grace extended across divides, and the resources shared. I’ve encountered so many people of good faith who may not know the “right” things to say and do, but care enough about their neighbors to engage in the hard work of building relationships and going beyond their comfort zones.
This is beautiful, tender work. It’s the kind of work that the House of Bishops recently described in this pastoral letter:
“There is hope in this moment, because even in the face of grief, death, and despair, we have access to the voice of life—the voice of the One who calls us to participate in the Gospel mission of unbinding those who are held captive by the bonds of injustice and ensnared by the cords of corruption and oppression. We do not raise the dead; God alone does that. But we are summoned into the tender, deliberate work of unbinding, of participating in resurrection by loosening the grave clothes that still cling.”
The work we do is Gospel work. It is resurrection work. Thank you for coming along on this journey.
Cheers,
Deacon Beck Leclaire (he/him)
Ministry Developer
AuSable Inclusion Center
April 2026 Events
Day/Date | Time | Activity/Location |
Wednesday, April 1 | 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM | Queer Book Club online via Zoom sign up: www.tinyurl.com/ausable-queer-book-club |
Friday, April 3 | 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Hygiene Closet Open Access |
Wednesday, April 8 | 5:00 to 6:00 PM | Parents and Families of LGBTQ+ Support Group St. Francis Episcopal Church, Grayling, MI |
Wednesday, April 15 | 5:00 to 6:00 PM | LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group St. Francis Episcopal Church, Grayling, MI |
Friday, April 17 | 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Crafting Club |
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Game Night | |
Tuesday, April 21 | 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM | |
Friday, April 24 | 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Pop-Up Hygiene Closet Extravaganza with Alcona-Alpena Area Credit Union Atlanta Family Hair Salon, Atlanta, MI |
Saturday, April 25 | 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM | LGBTQ+ 101 for Faith Communities and Leaders Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, South Haven, MI sign-up: www.tinyurl.com/lgbtq101-sh26 |
EVERY THURSDAY | Counseling Services available |
This month’s meeting: Wednesday, April 1st @ 6 PM
Next month’s meeting: Wednesday, May 6th @ 6 PM
This Month’s Book: On Earth, We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Next Month’s Book: The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
Sign up here: www.tinyurl.com/ausable-queer-book-club
Send hygiene closet supplies directly to us via Amazon HERE.
No sign up required! Join any month!
This month’s meeting: Wednesday, April 8th @5 PM, St. Francis Episcopal Church, Grayling
New participants always welcome! No need to sign up!
This month’s meeting: Wednesday, April 15th @ 5 PM, St. Francis Episcopal Church, Grayling
Bring a project or borrow one! Stash swap table available.
Bring a friend or make some new ones! Rumor has it there may be cake this month!
Join us for an extra special Pop-Up Hygiene Closet!
In addition to our usual supply distribution, we will be welcoming representatives from Alcona-Alpena Area Credit Union, which has been gathering supplies and financial donations to support our Hygiene Closet ministry!
You’re Invited! LGBTQ+ 101 for Faith Communities and Leaders
Join us at The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in South Haven for a day of learning, conversation, and fellowship devoted to advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion within Christian faith communities. This gathering is especially intended for leaders and members of churches seeking to strengthen their LGBTQ+ affirming ministries—all are welcome to share in this time of growth and connection.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
410 Erie St, South Haven, MI 49090
Cost: Free (registration required)
Lunch & Snacks: Complimentary lunch and refreshments
What to Expect:
Foundations for understanding LGBTQ+ identities
Practical strategies for developing and nurturing authentic welcome
Candid discussions on affirming faith, identity, and community
Registration:
Please sign up by April 19, 2026, to reserve your place. (Space is limited.)
We hope you’ll join us for this day of learning, reflection, and building a more inclusive church together.
The AuSable Inclusion Center is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes and is funded through a combination of allocated diocesan funds, occasional grants, and the generous support of individual and faith community donors. To support us in our mission and ministry, online donations may be made here, or check donations may be mailed to the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes Finance Office: 124 N. Fayette St., Saginaw, MI, 48602. Please make checks out to “The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes” with “AuSable Inclusion Center” in the memo line.
