FIVE HALTON REGION WELCOMING & AFFIRMING CHURCHES PRESENT
considering matthew shepard
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23RD 2022
performed by the elora singers
COMPOSED BY CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON
Craig Hella Johnson's three-part oratorio, Considering Matthew Shepard, will be performed in Burlington by the renowned Elora Singers, one of the finest chamber choirs in Canada. It is a fusion of musical styles, of poetry and prose, drawing from the events, the rural Wyoming setting, and from Matthew’s own notebooks. It is offered to the public free of charge by the combined sponsorship of five welcoming and affirming local churches.
*THIS IS not A ticketed event, capacity is approximately 400 people.
Date
Friday September 23rd 2022
PLACE
Time
7:30pm
COST
Free*
ABOUT matthew shepard
On a cold night, October 6, 1998, in a hateful homophobic act, 21-year-old gay university student Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, beaten, and strung on a fence outside of town in Laramie, Wyoming, a place he had lived and loved. He was found by a cyclist the next morning and died of his injuries several days later. The public outpouring of grief for the tragic end to Matthew’s life was scarred by the sickening protests of hate group, Westboro Baptist Church.Years later, Matthew’s name would be associated with changes to U.S. laws concerning hate crimes associated with homophobia.
Some 20 years after the event, Matthew’s life, death, and the questions of humanity they evoke inspired composer Craig Hella Johnson to compose a three-part oratorio, Considering Matthew Shepard. It is a fusion of musical styles, of poetry and prose, drawing from the events, the rural Wyoming setting, and from Matthew’s own notebooks. It merges the personal with the universal, life with death, ugliness with beauty, and seeks hope from what was a tragedy without redemptive purpose.
ABOUT the event
This event is being offered to the public free of charge by the combined sponsorship of five welcoming, affirming and inclusive local churches who believe in an open community of faith, that welcome everyone. Together, these congregations strive to make Halton a community that embraces diversity – differences of age, mental and physical health and ability, religious background, marital status, family structure, sexual orientation, gender and its expression, racial and cultural identity, educational and socioeconomic status, and more. All are always welcome at Port Nelson United Church, Burlington Baptist Church, St. Christopher’s Anglican, Grace United Church and St. Paul’s United Church!
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES
Founded by parents, Pflag Canada is a national charitable organization on a mission to help family members foster an understanding and accepting environment for their LGBTQ2S children.
If you are able, donations are accepted in advance or at the event in support of the Pflag Canada.