Hi Friends,
When I pulled up to the Center this week, I was delighted to find that the lilac bushes in our yard were blooming! I thought back to the last time I saw them blooming, just about a year ago. I was getting everything together for our outdoor work day, followed the next week by our commissioning service and soft programming launch. What a year it’s been, bringing this new thing into existence! 

Last June, we started with a commissioning service and started gradually building up programming– filling our calendar with a little bit of everything until we had at least one program for each “pillar” of our vision of delivering holistic support to folks marginalized based on gender, sexuality, and/or socioeconomic status. We kept working on improving our building and grounds (still a work in progress!) trying new things, and seeing what works and what doesn’t in our community and context.

We’ve offered trainings and workshops on-site, online, and in the field. We’ve developed a hygiene closet and expanded it to offer pop-up hygiene closets to serve folks where they’re at. We’ve held free film nights, gathered for raucous game nights,  prayed for victims of anti-trans violence, and offered support groups.

We’ve had our fair share of challenges– a garage roof replacement, repeated bouts of respiratory crud knocking me out of commission, some limitations to capacity, a seeming infestation of printer gremlins, and of course, a devastating ice storm to close out a pretty brutal winter. Through it all, your prayers, support, and willingness to show up have helped us to build community and serve our neighbors. Thank you.

This month is going to see the last month of what I would call “full time programming” before we spend July and August taking a break from the majority of our programs. This way, we can prepare the coming program year and get a little bit of rest. Our Advisory Board has big things planned for the next year. 

Since June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, we’ll be offering extra content over on our social media, especially our Facebook and Instagram accounts… if you don’t already follow us there, now may be a good time to do so! Particularly given the current political climate for the communities we serve–especially LGBTQ+ people– safe and visibly affirming spaces that offer support and advocacy are more important than ever, not just in June, but all year round. Supporting the AuSable Inclusion Center as a recurring donor is one way to do that. It costs about $350/week to keep the doors open, beyond any of the costs of developing and delivering programs. Click here to donate, and if you’d like to be a recurring donor, click on the “frequency” menu to choose between a weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual gift (so many options!)
We cannot do this work without your support.

Cheers,
Deacon Beck Leclaire (he/him)
Ministry Developer
AuSable Inclusion Center

Events June 2025

Sunday, June 1st- Happy LGBTQ+ Families Day!

•  Potluck- 5:00 PM-6:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

•  Evening Prayer- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

•  Community Open Hour- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Wednesday, June 4th

•  Bible Study- 12:00 PM-12:30 PM Online

  • 4:00 PM-5:30 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Friday, June 6th

•  Hygiene Closet Open Access- 12:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Sunday, June 8th- Happy Pentecost!

• Potluck- 5:00 PM-6:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

• Eucharist- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

• Community Open Hour- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Wednesday, June 11th

•  Bible Study- 12:00 PM-12:30 PM Online

  • 4:00 PM-5:30 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

•  Parents and Families of LGBTQ+ Support Group- 6:00 PM-7:30 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Thursday, June 12th- Remembering the Pulse Nightclub Massacre

Friday, June 13th

• Pop-Up Hygiene Closet- 12:00 PM-3:00 PM @ Grayling Food Pantry, 300 Huron Street, Grayling

Sunday, June 15th- Anniversary of SCOTUS ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County (2020) expanding employment anti-discrimination protections to members of the LGBTQ+ Community

• Potluck- 5:00 PM-6:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

• Evening Prayer- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

• Community Open Hour- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Wednesday, June 18th

• Bible Study- 12:00 PM-12:30 PM Online

  • 4:00 PM-5:30 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

• LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group- 6:00 PM-7:30 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Friday, June 20th

• Game Night- 5:00 PM-8:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Sunday, June 22nd

• Potluck- 5:00 PM-6:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

• Evening Prayer- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

• Community Open Hour- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Wednesday, June 25th

• Bible Study- 12:00 PM-12:30 PM Online

  • 4:00 PM-5:30 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center

Thursday, June 26th- Anniversary of SCOTUS decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) extending the right to marry to same-sex couples

Friday, June 27th

• Free Film Night, “The Birdcage”- 7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center

Saturday, June 28th- Anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Riots (1969), which is generally considered the “beginning” of the formal LGBTQ+ Rights movement in the United States

Sunday, June 29th

• Potluck- 5:00 PM-6:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

• Evening Prayer- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

• Community Open Hour- 6:00 PM-7:00 PM @ AuSable Inclusion Center, Mio

Monday, June 30th- Queer Youth of Faith Day

Featured Events

That’s all for now! Take Care!