Liturgy
In a world riddled with grief and uncertainty—
What words do we speak to soothe our spirits, oh God?
Smoke fills the air, violence fills our public space,
illness lingers—
Where do we go to feel safe, oh God?
We are seeking restoration,
longing for connection, yearning for joy—
How do we reach for flourishing, Oh God?
Be with us in our questions.
Draw your presence of justice and compassion close.
Spirit of Creativity,
thank you for the way queerness
guides us towards the Kin-dom of God.
Frameworks beyond the binary broaden our imaginations to what is possible.
Ways of being outside of rigid social scripts
invite us into expansiveness.
Lead us from places of fear to places of freedom, Holy Wisdom
In the name of…
God, who expands our imaginations
Jesus, whose Love overcomes our fear
And Spirit, who guides us to freedom
Amen.
— Rev. Molly Bolton
Scripture
26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’”
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
38 “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
The Good News of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.
Homily and Reflection
Homily Podcast – Into the Midst… 6.25.2023
Is there a hurtful or violent theology you are being invited to set aside for your healing journey?
Where do you sense tension from being at the point of opposition or oppression for countering a violent system?
How might we imagine justice-bringing as ‘one of the most pleasurable experiences’?
Benediction
Jesus said He chose the weak things of this world
to shame the strong,
the foolish things to shame the wise,
and perhaps Jesus chose queer folks, in this world,
to shame the system.
To demonstrate that nothing in all creation,
not things past nor things to come,
powers nor principalities, angels nor demons,
nor politicians passing anti trans legislation,
nor our own queerness
can get in the way of the love of God
for anyone and everyone.
Your queerness is not a scarlet letter of shame.
It is your birthright of joy.
You are chosen. You are loved.
You arе holy. And God loves you.
Because God lovеs you.
Because God loves you.
Because God loves you.
Because God loves you.
Because God loves you.
Because that is who God is.
And I know God loves you, because I do.
And I know God loves me, because you love me.
And if we remember that,
we will not only survive,
we will save the world.
– adapted from Kevin Garcia
[ Photo by Juan Gomez ]