The Holiday Season is here!

The AuSable Inclusion Center is here to offer support and community for marginalized folks.

The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, tradition and cheer. It’s a time when we steel ourselves against the cold and darkness of winter by reminding ourselves of what really matters and enjoying festivity and comfort. It can also be a really difficult time.

For folks who are marginalized based on their gender, sexuality, and/or socioeconomic status, this time of year can lay bare the pain, isolation, and struggle caused by their marginalization. This is especially true for retail workers, who make up 6.3% of the US workforce. Roughly 1 in 10 retail workers lives in poverty, compared with 6% of the general population, and while many of us are able to enjoy more leisure time, retail workers often sacrifice their leisure time with their families this time of year to work more hours and make more money.

For members of the LGBTQ+ community, the holidays can present an obstacle course, particularly at family gatherings where they are unable to be their authentic selves or where they may face everything from micro-aggressions to physical violence. For folks who have been kicked out of their homes or are estranged from family, this season can be a time of grief and mourning. For supportive family members within a larger family structure that is not supportive, the holidays can also be a time of added stress.

In the midst of all of this, it’s important to say: It’s okay to not be okay. This time of year is supposed to be about filling our cups, and if your cup is feeling especially empty, it’s okay to take a break, yes, even from the holidays themselves. Life isn’t a race. It’s not even a marathon. It’s a thru-hike, up and down mountains, across vast distances. And it’s okay to lay down your load and say, “I’m not doing it today.” First and foremost, take care of yourself. Here’s a handy Queer Holiday Survival Guide from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs LGBT+ Resource Center if you need help coming up with a gameplan for getting through this season.

If you’re a friend or ally to the LGBTQ+ Community, this is a great time of year to be there for folks in your life who need it. PFLAG has this great article that may be a good starting place for you.

Here at the AuSable Inclusion Center, we have opportunities for support, fellowship, and fun this holiday season, including our support groups (2nd and 3rd Wednesday evenings), our first ever Game Night on Saturday, December 14th, our upcoming Longest Night service on December 20th, and even our extra-festive free film night… “Miracle on 34th Street” on December 27th! Note that we will not have Bible Studies on November 27th, December 25th, or January 1st. Our office will also be closed, except for December 27th, from December 23rd until January 4th and we will not have our usual Sunday Evening programs on December 29th. We look forward to welcoming everybody back for our first Sunday Evening Program of 2025 on January 4th!

Thank you for your ongoing support for our mission to provide holistic support to the LGBTQ+ community and those affected by poverty in the AuSable River Valley and beyond. If you would like to share out of your abundance to support this mission, the easiest way is by donating through this link. For information about volunteer opportunities or donations to our soon-to-be Hygiene Closet, drop us a line through the contact page on our website or give our office a call at 989-346-0155. We truly appreciate your support, prayers, and well-wishes!

Happy Holidays,

Deacon Beck Leclaire (he/him)

Ministry Developer, AuSable Inclusion Center

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Sunday, December 1 | 5 PM- Potluck

• Sunday, December 1 | 6 PM- Evening Prayer

• Wednesday, December 4 | 12 PM- Online Bible Study

• Wednesday, December 4 | 4 PM- In-Person Bible Study

• Sunday, December 8 | 5 PM- Potluck

• Sunday, December 8 | 6 PM- Evening Prayer

• Wednesday, December 11 | 12 PM- Online Bible Study

• Wednesday, December 11 | 4 PM- In-Person Bible Study

• Wednesday, December 11 | 6 PM- Parents and Families of LGBTQ+ Support Group

• Friday, December 13 | 1 PM- LGBTQ+ 101 Seminar

• Saturday, December 14 | 10 AM- Paint & Learn, Mary Agnes Mansour

• Saturday, December 14 | 5 PM- Game Night

• Sunday, December 15 | 5 PM- Potluck

• Sunday, December 15 | 6 PM- Evening Prayer

• Wednesday, December 18 | 12 PM- Online Bible Study

• Wednesday, December 18 | 4 PM- In-Person Bible Study

• Wednesday, December 18 | 6 PM- LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group (18+)

• Friday, December 20 | 5 PM- Longest Night Service

• Sunday, December 22 | 5 PM- Potluck

• Sunday, December 22 | 6 PM- Evening Prayer

• Friday, December 27 | 7 PM-Free Film Night, Miracle on 34th Street