This worship service was the most emotionally raw Sunday morning I’ve experienced in my years of ministry. I worry that the shocking news along with the gut-wrenching slide show of 73 trans people who have died this year was overwhelming. It may have felt like too much for those in attendance.
If you are still feeling the grief, sadness, anger, fear associated with this event, or feelings brought up by Sunday’s worship service, take care of yourself. Reach out for support to me, to loved ones, to anyone in your support system. Be gentle and loving with yourself.
I said this on Sunday, and I repeat it here: This is the place where the pain is—and this is the place where the hope is. Because we care enough and love enough to feel the pain when our fellow humans (especially queer and trans in this case) are harmed, we keep open the place within ourselves for compassion. From that place comes hope. I believe in dancing. I believe in joy. I believe in striving to create safe spaces for queer people. I believe in everyone exuberantly and joyfully being their full selves. I have hope for our human community and for our American society.
PRAYER:
May healing come to the victims of the shooting in Colorado; to their families, friends and loved ones.
May the day come when people who are transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer not be afraid to live in public, to gather in public, to be themselves in every corner of the world.
May we hasten that day by fiercely promoting love for all people, with no exceptions.
Blessed be.
Rev. Andrew Frantz