Montana Interfaith Network
WELCOME TO WORSHIP!
Gathering for Praise and Celebration
June 18, 2017
* Signifies throughout to please stand if able
RINGING OF THE BELL
Big sky pride interfaith worship
PRELUDE
GREETING AND WELCOME
On this Father’s Day, we read this note from a father to a son.
Nate,
I overheard your phone conversation with Mike last night about your plans to come out to me. The only thing I need you to plan is bring home OJ and bread after class.
We are out, like you now.
I’ve known you were gay since you were six—I’ve loved you since you were born
-Dad
We are out, like you now.
I’ve known you were gay since you were six—I’ve loved you since you were born
-Dad
PS: Your mom and I think you and Mike make a cute couple
*gathering words (Queer Magic by Stephanie Syd Yang , Buddhist-influenced queer Taiwanese-American poet)
One: My queer magic is my presence / the truth that I am alive / that I am here / that I survive amidst a sea of ear-shattering erasure + body violence
I am here
All: My queer magic is a prayer that will weave the world whole.
One: My queer magic is the way I hold you / the way my arms reach out and wrap the warmth of your bodyinto mine
My queer magic is the fire in my eyes / that licks at the fire in yours / lighting up the stories that keep us tethered
to the should-have-dones and the supposed-to-bes
All: My queer magic is a prayer that will weave the world whole.
One: My queer magic rises off the moistness of my tongue / it laps up the words + wounds spilling out of your skin
All: My queer magic is a prayer that will weave the world whole.
One: My queer magic is a warrior /armor locked / buckles clasped / sword unsheathed / my biceps flexed in prayer
All: My queer magic is a prayer that will weave the world whole.
One: My queer magic is the sound of my belly’s roar / a cry that pulls the broken heart / out of the earth beneath / into the fullness of the moon
above.
All: My queer magic is a prayer that will weave the world whole.
*OPENING HYMN Praise the Source of All Creation
(Gen. 1:1-27, 31; Prov. 3:13-18) by Jann Aldredge-Clanton
(Gen. 1:1-27, 31; Prov. 3:13-18) by Jann Aldredge-Clanton
( adapted by Maren Haynes Marchesini)
Praise the Source of all creation, giving life throughout the Earth,
blessing every love relation, filling all with sacred worth.
Celebrate our rainbow colors, varied beauty everywhere,
streams of goodness overflowing, wondrous gifts for all to share.
Lesbian, gay, trans, two spirit—all reflect Divinity;
May queer wisdom make us allies, healing us to make us free
Partners on this path of freedom, taking down each stifling wall,
we will open doors of welcome, bringing hope and joy to all.
Let us act in care and courage, bringing justice everywhere
,
joining Holy Wisdom’s mission, helping all be free and fair.
Come, rejoice and sing together, peace descending like a dove;
praise the great Creative Spirit, breathing magic in our love.
*PRAYER OF APPROACH
We repent for the times when our faith traditions have named lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people unworthy. For love does not exclude and we are all worthy. We are grateful for the gift of our lives and the gifts of others in our lives. For each of us is created with dignity and worth. May we work to build a community where LGBT people are celebrated as full and equal members, recognizing our many gifts. And we celebrate sexual and gender diversity as a blessing that enriches us all. Amen.
*STATEMENT OF GOD’S LOVE
In the deep wells of major faith traditions is the spiritual knowledge that God loves diversity. When faith becomes monolithic and about white bread eatin’, white milk sippin, and absent of color, we know that faith has been captured by the violent and dominating theology of empire. Besides, any good nutritionist will tell you that diet represents way too much carbs and dairy. “Eat the rainbow,” nutritionists will tell you. So if you feel odd or strange or queer living in the world, maybe it’s not so much that you are out of step with the Divine plan. Maybe you are just hearing the message of empire. And the Divine, well the Divine, is all about the rainbow. For you are loved. You are loved. Amen.
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE God of Change and Glory (refrain) #177
Many gifts, One Spirit, one love known in many ways,
In our difference is blessing, from diversity we praise,
One Giver, one Word, one Spirit, one God,
Known in many ways, hallowing our days,
For the Giver, for the gifts, praise, praise, praise!
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
It is said that Muslim Sufi mystic Rabia of Basra would walk the streets with a torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. When asked what she was doing, she would say, “I want to put out the fires of Hell, the fear of punishment, and burn down Paradise, the promise of reward, so that we will love Allah, love God, only for loving God.” God is not some means to an end. In the same way, the people around you today are not some means to an end. They are an end unto themselves. And they await your love. Take this time to practice by passing God’s peace to them. Amen.
SACRED READINGS Dr. Jill Weiss, Siddur B’chol L’vav’cha,Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, Based on Psalm 145
When I was a little boy, I prayed to God. I prayed God would make me a girl because I knew I wasn’t really a boy, not inside. I didn’t want to keep pretending to be a boy because it was hard to pretend all the time. I knew I couldn’t go on forever pretending like that. It made me very tired and sad. I wondered why God would want me to be tired and sad every day. But I tried hard not to disappoint God.
One morning, after praying like this for many years, I woke up and God had changed me. God had changed my tiredness into courage. God gave me the courage to tell the truth. God gave me the courage to tell people I wasn’t a boy, even though it made some people laugh and some people get mad.
God’s courage has made me happy. God’s courage has taught me to love myself. God’s courage lets my outside be like my inside. God’s courage gives me the gift of honesty. God is Truth. I thank God for giving me the courage to
Thank you God, for creating the infinitely complex universe, and for creating infinitely
complex me.
Christian Gospel Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-11
Read in conjunction with Litanies to My Heavenly Brown Body by Mark Aguhar
5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
BLESSED ARE THE SISSIES
BLESSED ARE THE BOI DYKES
BLESSED ARE THE PEOPLE OF COLOR MY BELOVED KITH AND KIN
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
BLESSED ARE THE TRANS
BLESSED ARE THE HIGH FEMMES
BLESSED ARE THE SEX WORKERS
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
BLESSED ARE THE AUTHENTIC
BLESSED ARE THE DIS-IDENTIFIERS
BLESSED ARE THE GENDER ILLUSIONISTS
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
BLESSED ARE THE NON-NORMATIVE
BLESSED ARE THE GENDERQUEERS
BLESSED ARE THE KINKSTERS
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
BLESSED ARE THE DISABLED
BLESSED ARE THE HOT FAT GIRLS
BLESSED ARE THE WEIRDO-QUEERS
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
BLESSED IS THE SPECTRUM
BLESSED IS CONSENT
BLESSED IS RESPECT
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
BLESSED ARE THE BELOVED WHO I DIDN’T DESCRIBE, I COULDN’T DESCRIBE, WILL LEARN TO DESCRIBE AND RESPECT AND LOVE
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you
AMEN
Letter to Churches in Asia Minor Revelation 21:1-5
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home of God is among mortals.
God will dwell with them;
they will be God’s peoples,
and God will be with them;
God will wipe every tear from their e yes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”
And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”
SPECIAL MUSIC Sweet, Sweet Spirit Cheryl Hudson, accompanied by Steve Plaggemeyer
PASTORAL PRAYER (adapted from a prayer “Wondrous God” by Rev. Ann B. Day, Shaping Sanctuary )
Wondrous God, lover of lion and lizard, cedar and cactus, raindrop and river,
we praise You for the splendor of the world!
We thank You, that woven throughout the tapestry of earth are the varied threads of humanity.
Created in Your image, we are of many colors and cultures,
ages and classes, gender identities and sexual orientations.
We thank you for these brothers and sisters, siblings and cousins
who reveal your great diversity.
We are grateful for parents who demonstrate their love;
Comfort those whose families are filled with fears of difference
that divide and wound.
Show us how to be loving to those around us, to end violence,
whether we are related by blood
or family by choice.
Different and alike, we are Your beloved people.
Move us to dismantle our attitudes and systems of prejudice.
Renew our commitment to make this a household of faith for all people
that all who worship and minister here may know the grace and challenge of faith.
In our life together, grant us minds and hearts
eager to learn,
reluctant to judge,
and responsive to the leading of Your loving Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER RESPONSE Nearer My God to You NCH, #606, v. 4
Then waking from the night to morning air
By Bethel’s stone I’ll know, you heard my prayer
And how my yearning grew:
Nearer my God to you, nearer my God to you,
Nearer to you.
THE OFFERTORY
Offering
Offering
The Offertory Go Be Love Danielle Egnew
* Offering Response (TUNE: OLD 100TH)
Praise God the Source of Life and Birth.
Praise God the Word who came to Earth.
Praise God the Spirit, Holy Flame.
All glory, honor to God’s Name! Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
TESTIMONIES Abenayaa Lane (Muslim)
Marci & Angie McLean Pollock (Blackfeet/Christian)
Tyler Starkweather (Jewish)
*SENDING HYMN For Everyone Born (insert)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*Sending Words By Jazlle H.
Let the heart
dwell in the fountain of love
where love may continuously flow
into the abyss of emptiness
deep within the soul.
Let the fountain of love
embrace the quivering body
to warm it like a fur
and wash away the fears.
Let the flow
touch the numb lips
and perforate within
where frost reside
subsist eternally...
*POSTLUDE Sent Forth by God’s Blessing
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