Podcasts about pride sunday

Send us a textFor Pride month, we will be speaking to the grand marshals.First, we speak with Josephine "Jo" Jones, the Female Identifying Grand Marshal for Pride Houston 365 and senior police officer with the Houston Police Department. For the past five years, Jo has served as the LGBTQIA+ liaison, building crucial bridges between law enforcement and the queer community. With 18 years on the force, she brings unique perspective to her role: "Behind the badge is a human being who cares deeply." Jo discusses how her position allows her to advocate for community members while helping transform perceptions within the department. Her selection as Grand Marshal represents both personal validation and institutional progress.Lauren Tennyson takes us inside the First Christian Church of Katy, where radical inclusivity is reshaping suburban ministry. As Outreach Director, Lauren oversees their "transparent closet," providing clothing and resources to LGBTQ+ youth in need. The church has earned recognition as Outsmart Magazine's favorite trans support organization through their commitment to creating safe spaces outside the Loop. Lauren invites listeners to their upcoming Pride events, including drag bingo fundraisers on June 7th and a special Pride Sunday service featuring a trans male preacher sharing his journey.We close with Derek Charles Livingston, artistic director of Stages Houston, discussing his direction of the world premiere "Let Her Rip." This innovative production weaves together two historical threads – the Jack the Ripper murders and the matchstick maker strike of 1888 – to examine ongoing violence against marginalized women. The parallels to contemporary issues, including violence against trans women of color, make this a particularly powerful Pride Month offering. Derek also shares exciting plans for Stages' upcoming season, featuring diverse voices and stories.Don't miss the Houston Pride Parade on June 28th! Subscribe to Queer Voices for more conversations with the LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and advocates shaping our community's future while honoring its past.Queer Voices airs in Houston Texas on 90.1FM KPFT and is heard as a podcast here. Queer Voices hopes to entertain as well as illuminate LGBTQ issues in Houston and beyond. Check out our socials at:https://www.facebook.com/QueerVoicesKPFT/ andhttps://www.instagram.com/queervoices90.1kpft/

Growing up queer in religious spaces often means inheriting a legacy of shame—being told your identity is incompatible with God's love. But what if the very questions that expose our shame could lead us back to belonging? In this Pride Sunday sermon, Antonio Ingram explores how the Genesis story of Adam and Eve offers a surprising framework for understanding queer identity and faith. Drawing on the concept of "chosen family" familiar to many LGBTQ+ folks, he reframes our relationship with the divine not as one of exile and hiding, but as adoption into a family where shame has no place. This isn't about sanitizing faith or ignoring harm done by religious institutions—it's about reclaiming a spiritual heritage that says you belong, exactly as you are. Whether you're questioning, affirming, or somewhere in between, discover how ancient texts speak to modern struggles for dignity and belonging.

Guest Teacher Jazz McKinney celebrates C3's Pride Sunday with their teaching Liberation Through Fluidity: The Power of Seeing Beyond Binaries.

John 17:20-26; Pride Sunday; 7 Easter; June 1, 2025 Additional texts: Acts 16:16-34; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 Rich Weingartner   Grace to you and peace from God our parent, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.   I'm scared.  We live in a scary time. When I went up to the UP to visit my parents and family for Easter, I brought my passport with me.  No real reason, just some fear that I might be in a situation where I'll have to try to prove that I'm a US citizen. I hear of friends traveling to foreign countries, some of them who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community.  I fear that they won't be able to come back into our country. I'm afraid to leave the United States for concern that I'll be stopped at the border and end up being detained and not let back into our country.  It is an unsettling time for LGBTQIA+ or Queer people these days.  We hear constant attacks on people as things are said or laws are introduced or passed that try to declare our Queer siblings as “other” or to make it sound like there is something wrong with them.   I also know others are scared.  The queer community aren't the only ones being attacked and put down.  I know my Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community have been attacked for centuries in various ways. Our siblings of hispanic heritage are facing struggles and threats as well. Asian and Pacific Islanders as well. Immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, including the young men in our parish house. There are a lot of people who are apprehensive and concerned now - and for many this is just a continuation of decades or centuries of being treated like “others” and that they don't really belong and aren't valid as a human being.   However, God, through Jesus and the bible, tells us a different story.  A story that declares that we are all children of God and we can be proud of who God made us to be. A story of love that knows no bounds and never ends. Which brings us to our readings for today that show that God is always with us, even in times of trouble.   We start with the reading from Acts where we find Paul and Silas thrown in jail. While they may have been feeling scared and worried - they didn't show it by just sitting around and moping and blaming God for their troubles.  Instead, we find them praying and singing hymns and connecting with the other prisoners. In the midst of it all, they kept faithful to God. Then the earthquake happens. Since, at the time, if a guard lost prisoners, it was custom that he would pay for the loss with his life, the guard had assumed that everyone would have fled and thus was about to kill himself.  However, Paul and Silas kept faith and stayed where they were and saved the guard's life - not only physically but also spiritually through their witness to the power of God.  This serves not only as a reminder that God will never leave us, but also that we can serve as witnesses to the power and love of God just through who we are and doing what is right - doesn't take anything special - just through our actions and love they can know God's love.  Just like yesterday and the pride festival.  We may think we were just there at a booth, talking to people, and handing out items - but we were witnesses to the love of Christ through our actions of acceptance, welcome, and love, to the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies.   Then we move to the concluding verses of Revelation.  From verse 13, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev. 22:13) While this passage refers to the extremes of the beginning and the end; and the first and the last - we need to remember that God isn't just there at the extreme ends, but everywhere in between.  Just like all of creation, God isn't just at one point or another - God is everywhere in between.  Not just light and dark, but in all the shades in between - not just day and night but at sunrise and sunset, the dawn and twilight.  In all creatures that live in the waters, on the land, and in the sky - and all of those that live in multiple places. And thus God has created all of us - in our many different varied ways - there is no binary in creation - everything spans a wide range to create the beautiful diversity of God's creation - something to be proud of and celebrate.  God is ever present across all time, all places, and all creation - the entire Cosmos from the very beginning of creation until the very end.   And not only do we have this promise of God being ever present with us always, we are invited. As it says in Revelation 22:17 - all are invited to come to the Lord and His promises.  Everyone who is thirsty and wishes to take the water of life as a GIFT is invited to come. This is a great reminder that God wants us to be in God's presence and love - we are invited to receive the gift.  We do not earn it, we do not have to work for it - it is a gift, a most wondrous gift from God for all.   Then we turn to today's Gospel from John.  When I was preparing and first read the Gospel for today - the very first thing I noticed was how this passage starts. It wasn't the words that I noticed - it was that it started with a quotation mark. Now, you'll notice that in the reading we used in our service, a helpful prompt is added at the beginning in brackets to guide the reader, but in the Bible that prompt isn't there. Since I didn't have that prompt and the passage starts with a quotation mark, I knew we were joining in, right in the middle of something, so I backed up to get the context.  And then I also remembered this is the time of the church year I tend to  get confused.   Just a few weeks ago we experienced the passion story and then the joyful Easter Resurrection.  In fact, we are still in the season of Easter.  However, for our Gospel readings for a few weeks, we have jumped back in time to hear stories from Jesus and his disciples during Jesus' last evening with them at the last supper. So that is where we are with today's Gospel.  Jesus is giving his farewell speech and then praying for his disciples.  That is where today's Gospel is from - part of the prayer Jesus shared with his disciples that evening.   While Jesus is praying with and for his disciples, we find that the prayer isn't just for his disciples, as this part of the prayer starts with “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word”.   The “behalf of these” is referring to the disciples and “behalf of those” is referring to us, today, and past and future.  All of us who believe. You and me and all of God's beloved. Take a moment and let that sink in - Jesus around 2000 years ago was praying for you and me, everyone alive today, and in the past and in the future. I don't know about you, but I find it pretty awesome and also comforting to know that Jesus was praying for all of us - so long ago.  In times when we are often scared and facing uncertainty it certainly is a good reminder to know that Jesus and God are on our side and that we are not alone.   So, yes, it is awesome that Jesus is praying for us - but what did he pray for? He prays that we all may be one. Not only that we are one together with each other, but that also we are one together with Christ. We live in a world that wants to label us and put us in many different categories to separate us. However, that is completely opposite of what God wants, which is for all of us to be one in Christ.  We have been given God's glory so that we can all be together as one.   While we need to celebrate and take pride in being called together as one in Christ Jesus - we are also given some work to do in this prayer - a reason for us all being called together as one.  We are called to act together so that the world, through us, might believe that Jesus was sent from God. Not only to believe that Jesus is God's son, but that God loved the entire cosmos so much that God sent Jesus for us, so that we may experience the grace, love, and forgiveness of God - given to us as a gift.  It is this unconditional grace, love, and forgiveness that we are called to share with the world - just like we did yesterday at the pride festival.   So, during Pride month, and always, today's readings remind us we are never alone - no matter what we are going through or who we are.  We are not alone for two reasons.  First, we, through the examples of so many stories in the Bible, are not alone because we live in community with each other. God clearly sets an example that we are meant to be in community with each other (and with the entire creation) to support and build up each other - to be one together with each other.  Not to divide and label, but to support and uplift each other.   Second, we are not alone because we have been promised and reminded time and time again that God is always with us.  God is the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.  And more importantly God is also everything in between.  God never ends - and is always with us - and loves all of us exactly for who we are - children of God created in God's image. Or in the words of a hymn.   Have good cheer, little flock; have good cheer, little flock, for the Father will keep you in his love forever; have good cheer, little flock!   May we all learn from the example and prayer of Jesus and work to be united as one with each other and with God and Jesus Christ.  Not just to be with each other but also to share God's love with all of creation.  From the waters and sky to the grass, trees, and plants, to all the animals that live in the water, on land, or in the sky. And to all of God's beloved children - every one of the LGBTQIA+ community, all our BIPOC siblings, people with every different ability, immigrants seeking safety and shelter, those who are hungry, everyone, especially those that society often shuns, calls an “other” or “less than”, and pushes to the margins. Through our words and actions, we can help bring this unity to creation, so we all can be one in Christ.   We do this through the help of God who is always coming to us, every day, not just at the end of times. As it says in Revelation 22:20-21 “‘Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.”  and let the entire church say “AMEN!”.

27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. ~Galatians 3:27-28 This week, we celebrate PRIDE Sunday. While there are passages in the Bible that have been used to “clobber” our LGBTQIA+ siblings, there are also beautiful verses like the ones above that invite us to consider how the family of faith grows as God continues to speak to us. Paul writes to the church in Galatia about the inclusion of people not of Jewish faith in the early church. “There is no longer Jew or Greek,” he writes, challenging the binaries we impose on people. In 2025, our call to be an inclusive family of faith continues to grow as we listen to our still-speaking God, especially our growing need to affirm our LGBTQIA+ siblings. On Sunday, we will read Paul's passionate plea for inclusivity as we reflect on what it means for First Congregational Church to be an increasingly inclusive and affirming family of faith.

Ron DeGarde opens his evangelistic meetings with a strong message on the danger of pride. Message originally preached on Sunday October 27, 2024.

The sermon from the Pride Sunday, October 13, 2024, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “An Invitation to Generosity: Serve People” in the worship series “An Invitation to Generosity,” and scripture lesson: Amos 5:6-7,10-15 (New International Version).Support the show

The Rev. Megan Swett PRIDE Sunday 10 a.m.

Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost October 13, 2024

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Psalm 130 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Mark 5:21-43 The post June 30, 2024 – A Pride Sunday Conversation appeared first on Saint Michael's Church.

The Third Sunday after Pentecost (Pride Sunday) St. John's, Lafayette Square Washington, DC

Too often, the message we receive is "You don't fit in. You are broken!" and yet the real message should be: “There's nothing wrong with you. You're OK.  It's true!  There's something wrong with the village.” On this PRIDE Sunday, the passage from I Corinthians reminds us that although we each serve different purposes in ‘the body', each part is critical, valued and of equal import to the whole body.  A youth choir, Singers of This Age, performed a powerful song “Something's Wrong With the Village” earlier, so we reflected on those words.  It's our culture, some people and even some churches that tell our LGBTQIA+ siblings that something is “wrong with you”….whereas we believe EVERY person is created in God's image.  And God has a message for ALL of us, for YOU:  You are my beloved child, loved just as you are…and you belong…and you matter!  This message is presented by Pastor Tania, and the relevant scripture is 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12, verses 12-20, 26.

Our celebration with some personal stories and a brief message on how churches embracing Pride today can find a powerful Biblical parallel in the early church's embrace of the Gentiles (Art: Peter in the house of Cornelius, by Gustave Doré, 19th century)FINANCIAL BOARD LETTER 2024:http://brownlinechurch.org/board-letter-2024Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resourcesDonate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

Our celebration with some personal stories and a brief message on how churches embracing Pride today can find a powerful Biblical parallel in the early church's embrace of the Gentiles (Art: Peter in the house of Cornelius, by Gustave Doré, 19th century)FINANCIAL BOARD LETTER 2024:http://brownlinechurch.org/board-letter-2024Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resourcesDonate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

How might your life work differently when you can feel in your body the joy, safety, and pleasure of which the psalmist writes?  On this Pride Sunday, Amy Wolfgang encourages us to feel the embodied confidence of God beside, before, and within our being. [Psalm 16:8-11]   Reflection How can our community go before and beside those in fear of their call to embodiment?  Who in your life deserves their flowers? What would today be like if you knew that God rejoices in your body? Resources Video: Writing The Funeral of Cecilia Gentili at St. Patrick's Cathedral NYC https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxUxJAq0_SHZ-vpIv62DizFhX6Ozu-TVch

We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections but only in yours. ~2 Corinthians 6:11-12 The people in the church at Corinth always had an excuse for not doing what Paul told them to do. Paul was growing tired of it. “We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians,” he finally tells them. “There is no restriction in our affections but only in yours.” Those words hit me hard as I began to plan for PRIDE Sunday. How many of our LGBTQIA+ siblings have felt the “restrictions” from the church? We have come a long way in unrestricting affections over the last few years, but we aren't there yet. So, this Sunday we talked about what it truly means to have our hearts wide open to all God's children. How can we be loud and proud with our weekly welcome and say to everyone, all y'all, no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, are welcome here.

“Our journey is to get ourselves back to the Garden before the “original sin” of “the woman made me do it” turned us into creatures striving to compete with each other rather than living to complete each other.” Sermon by Susan Russell from worship at 10:00 a.m. on Pride Sunday, June 9, 2024 at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Readings: Genesis 3:8–13, Psalm 130 and Mark 3:20–35. Watch the sermon on YouTube. Read the text of the sermon. Please consider pledging to All Saints Church at https://allsaints-pas.org/pledge/, or donate to support the mission and ministries of All Saints at https://allsaints-pas.org/donate/donate-now/. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated! Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsPasadena/. Follow us on Instagram at #allsaintspas. Check out the rest of our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/allsaintspasadena1/videos. Subscribe, like, get notifications every time we post! Enjoy our extensive archive of stimulating and inspiring content!

Welcome to Mount Olivet on this special Pride Sunday! We are proud to be a welcoming and affirming church. Today, we celebrate the first Pride Month since the UMC reversed its 40-year ban on queer clergy and same-gender weddings. Join us as we explore how Scripture guides us in seeking justice and adapting ancient laws to modern contexts, drawing inspiration from the story of the daughters of Zelophehad. We have much to celebrate together!

At our Pride Sunday service, Fr. Tim speaks about the importance of lifting up and celebrating our LGBTQ+ community, and how Jesus' ministry was always about expanding the circle of believers, communicating God's love to ALL people.

Join Bishop Bonnie Perry as she gives her Sermon on the Second Sunday after Pentecost and Pride Sunday at Christ Church Cranbrook.

Exploring Faith and Identity: Embracing Diversity in God's Kingdom Join us in this thought-provoking sermon delivered on Pride Sunday, delving into the intersections of faith, identity, and gender diversity. Reflecting on personal experiences andbiblical passages, the speaker explores the concept of 'eunuchs' and their symbolic significance in the Christian faith. Using scriptures from Matthew 19 and Jeremiah 38, this message challenges traditional views and underscores the importance of embracing complexity and diversity as integral to understanding God's love and creation. Prepare to be inspired and encouraged to see beyond societal norms and embrace a deeper, more inclusive faith.

A Pride Sunday sermon by Rev. Bryan Berghoef.

The sermon from the Pride Sunday, October 15, 2023, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Possible: Seeing Clearly” in the worship series “POSSIBLE.” Scripture lessons: Mark 8:22-26 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

Oct. 15, 2023 The Rev. Winnie Varghese

When I think of how fast everything fell into place for me to arrive and begin here, it really has been a whirlwind. Yes, I considered my options, but I could have just as easily decided I did not want to start over again and I could have retired or at least stayed in the UP. I tried to weigh out my needs and what or who God was calling me to. If I had thought any longer, I could have allowed fear and uncertainty to lead me. I could have also said yes and then allowed my fears and anxieties to take over. Since I have made other major moves, I felt if this is where God is calling me to, it would work out.  I can't tell you that there were not times that I thought about stopping the whole process. There are so many details, and one has to stay amiable in order to navigate changes. When I got the flat tire in St. Ignace on my way down to my home inspection, I could have thought that this was a sign to stop the process, but I just decided that I had to breathe and make it work. Fortunately, I come from a family stock that stays the course. I have also learned that you continue to tell people what you need, or you have little chance of getting it. It is so easy for us to plan out how things are supposed to go and then I think that God laughs. In last week's Gospel lesson, which we did not use due to Pride Sunday, Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah. When Peter heard Jesus say that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great sufferings at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and then be killed, and on the third day be raised, he did not like it. This was not fitting Peter's expectations of Jesus as the Messiah. Just as I had fears and anxieties, so did Peter. Peter actually took Jesus aside and emphatically told Jesus no, that this would not happen! Typical human beings, make a proclamation and basically back peddle because what was happening wasn't fitting their plan. I like how Eugene Peterson paraphrases Jesus' response to Peter, Peter, get out of the way. Satan get lost. You see Peter was not relying on Jesus, but himself and this allowed satan to work. Satan was capitalizing on Peter's fears and anxieties which was caused by relying on himself to know who the Messiah was and what the Messiah was supposed to be doing. Satan was working to foil God's plan and Jesus was not having it. Peter went from proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah to becoming a stumbling block for others in completing God's plan. As soon as a plan has some bumps, it is so easy to want to turn back. We want to go back, even if something was not healthy. It feels more comfortable because we know what to expect. We knew what to expect and therefore could manage it better, as that is often the human being's approach. Life does not always allow us to turn back. Change happens whether we like it or not. Our expectations are not always met, and it can cause us to question the plan or direction. The older we get, the more of these experiences we have. We can learn from them or allow them to consume us. Peter in our Gospel lesson for today is allowing Jesus' foretelling of his life, that doesn't fit his expectations of Jesus who had proclaimed to be the Messiah, to consume him. He told Jesus no this just can't happen. This is not what is supposed to happen in Peter's way of thinking. What a switch! Peter was saying at first that he believed Jesus was the Messiah. We could take this to mean that if Jesus came to save the world that Peter was following him in obedience. Now he turns around and tells Jesus, the Messiah, how the plan was to supposed to happen or at least how it was not supposed to go. Peter probably didn't want to see Jesus suffer, but maybe also, what would that mean for Peter who publicly proclaimed him as Messiah? Satan may have been saying to him, you know you will not look good in other peoples' eyes if this happens. It is that voice that can throw a follower of Jesus off track. Peter in that moment could not trust that what Jesus was saying was true. Also, it could have been that he didn't want to be associated with a Messiah that was going to suffer and die. I'm sure that this was very confusing to Peter. Jesus pointed out to Peter that he was focusing on and listening to the wrong voice. That voice was creating a lack of trust which produced fear and anxiety. It caused Peter to feel insecure and Jesus was telling him that he needed to turn this around and focus on Jesus. Jesus then turned to his disciples and said, again from Eugene Peterson, Anyone who intends to be with me has to let me lead. You are not in the driver's seat, I am. Don't run from suffering, embrace it. Follow me and I will show you how. Self-help is not help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. That is quite blunt. Peter was trying to be in the driver's seat and Jesus knew that is not the way it works. It is possible that the other disciples were thinking like Peter but didn't have the guts to tell Jesus. Thus, Jesus wanted to clarify more what it would mean for them to follow him. Basically, if you are going to follow me, it won't be easy.  You will be going against the grain of society. Jesus asks us to pick up the cross and he was and is the model for how to do it. It is not about self-help, but self-sacrifice. This does not mean that we are doormats, but that we will have to step past our fears and anxieties in order to be Jesus' followers and proclaim his love. You see it is not about what we can gain, but what others gain and that is Jesus' love. The church, the beloved community struggles with this as it clashes with our society. Richard Ward in his commentary on this Gospel lesson says that the church too often says no to Jesus' way far too often, we need, like the disciples, to be reminded of the differences. Our society says that cross-bearing is for losers. The winners are those who know how to master the game of life and have the goods to prove it. This is not what Jesus is calling us to. Cross bearers are winners and not by anything that we have done. The winners may have goods and the goods are all gifts from God in Jesus Christ. Jesus won everything for us that means anything and that is forgiveness, salvation and new life which are all signs of God's love for everyone. Thus, everything that we do is a response to God's love. So, when Jesus asks us to carry the cross, he is hoping that our response would be yes out of love for all that we have received. Jesus modeled what it meant to carry the cross out of obedience and love and now he asks his disciples, you and me to continue the cross bearing. During this next year, I will be working with the transition team and asking hard questions that may make us feel uncomfortable. It will create fear and anxiety. Through all of it we are called to carry the cross not as a burden, but as a response to Jesus' love for each of us. So, the question then for us will be, as we experience fear and anxiety is, “who is in our driver's seat?”.  I know in my journey here, there were many times I had to take myself out of the driver's seat or I may not have made it here. It is a constant process that continues until the day that we leave this earth. I believe it is good to ask questions of Jesus if we don't understand something. We still may not understand it, but I believe our trust grows as we see things work out even if it is not what we expected. I continue to learn that things take time and if they are meant to be it will happen or it may happen another way or not at all. Cross bearing is really about letting Jesus be in our drivers' seats. Giving our fears and anxieties over to Jesus, follow in obedience out of love and find joy in the ride of life.

Pride Sunday – 08/27/2023 Today is Pride Sunday. You have had this celebration here before, but I don't ever remember participating in a Pride Sunday. Thus, for me, this is a blessing. Pride is often thought of in a negative sense as to why do you think you are better than anyone else. Of course, it is quite the opposite, as it is about recognizing that every person is a child of God. This is regardless of anything. In many churches and with a number of people we in the LGBTQIA+ community have been seen as less than, committing some kind of great sin for being who God created us to be. We at Faith Lutheran church do not believe that. Our welcoming statement spells out many groups who are often excluded, where we are here to welcome and include. For me today is about celebrating diversity and inclusivity. God did not create us all alike and that is a beautiful thing. In Psalm 139 we read from the New Living Translation: O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Wonderfully complex. This is something that all of us are called to grapple with. For those of us in the LGBTQIA+ community, in order for us to find wholeness we have to affirm who God made us to be. This is not an easy process it means we are different than the main-stream person. We are different than what has been seen as “the norm”. Yet God has created us to be complex beings. As God's people we are called to celebrate this. This is not easy when we have people who are afraid of this complexity. There are churches who like to pull out the Bible and find texts to support their fearfulness. For me this is limiting and denying who God has wonderfully created. Everyone in this room and listening online are wonderfully created by God who loves everyone equally! In our first lesson today, we find that famous rainbow that has become the symbol for the LGBTQIA+ community. The rainbow colors that we encounter in this Bible story are the colors that when mixed with each other produce all of the possible colors that we can think of. Basic, but yet wonderfully complex. In the story of Noah's Ark, the rainbow comes at the end of a cleansing of people and animals. God was hoping that taking a family and two of every animal, that God could start over again on the earth. In the end God did not like this and used the rainbow as a sign that God would never do this again. This is a promise for all people and animals. The rainbow was and is a sign of hope that God would never flood the whole world again and start over. A symbol of God's love for all of creation in the complexity that God created. The rainbow Pride flag was designed in 1978 by artist and gay rights activist Gilbert Baker. He came up with the design after he was encouraged by Harvey Milk, another gay rights activist, to create a new, positive symbol that the entire LGBTQIA+ could rally behind. Up until this point, a pink triangle was being used. As you may know, it was Adolph Hitler who conceived this sign during World War II as a stigma placed on LGBTQIA+ people, just as the star of David was used against Jews. Harvey Milk felt that a new symbol was needed that would symbolize love and not oppression. As a basis for deciding on the rainbow flag, Baker went back to Noah's Ark where it was used as a symbol of hope, a covenant between God and all of creation. Baker also found that it had been used in Egyptian and Native American history. Rainbow flags were flown for the first time in 1978 at “Gay Freedom Day” in San Francisco. Colors have been added to the flag to represent people of color and the trans community. There are many versions of the flag also, to represent the complexity of God's creation. Once again we are not saying that we in the LGBTQIA+ community are trying to put ourselves above others, but to celebrate who God made us to be. We can as a community of faith enlighten these colors of diversity when we allow the light of Jesus to shine through us. Jesus tells us in our Gospel lesson for today that we are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. As followers of Jesus, we do not create the light, but we allow Jesus' light to shine through us. When we use lights, there is a reason for it. We wouldn't turn it on to read and then put it out again. Jesus says once my light starts shining through you, don't cover it up or put a bushel basket over it. If you are going to start shining my light, let it shine all over. Unfortunately, as human beings it is easy for us to bring that bushel basket out to cover the light. Sometimes we are not even aware of it. We all have biases, some we know, and others are hidden. Biases are a bushel basket. They can come from things we have learned as children growing up. Biases are passed on until we can identify them and see a need to change our way of thinking. All of this is a process. I believe biases can be changed over time. It takes the willingness to educate ourselves to begin to identify our biases. Then to see how they have and continue to affect other people. It is when we are willing to let the light of Jesus shine on our biases that we can see the wonderful complexity that God has created. When we begin to work through our biases we are better able to celebrate diversity and begin to embrace inclusion. This fall I and a friend of mine will be leading a discussion on racism, Indigenous People and gender and orientation. It will be on Zoom for one hour on Sundays at 4:00 pm for five weeks starting September 24. There will be around 1 hour of reading and things to listen to each week that we will then be used in our time together. Please see the announcements and the FLC news for more information and to register. Identifying what our bushel baskets are and working to erase them is what will allow Jesus' light to shine through us. Eugene Peterson in his paraphrase of the Bible, The Message, says it this way: You are here to be light, bringing out the God colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We are going public with this, as a public city on a hill. If I make you light bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand-shine! Keep your house open, be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous parent in heaven. Today on this Pride Sunday, we are called to be light bearers, that Jesus' light may shine through us and bring out God's colors in the complexity of God's wonderful creation.

This week we join our LGBTQIA siblings in celebrating pride. Mandy will also be teaching about Jesus healing the leper out of Mark 1:40-45.Mandy Kampen from the Teaching Team June 25th, 2023 Livestream

Pride Sunday : Sunday Reflection by Fourth Universalist Society

The United Church of Christ in Enfield had it's service interrupted by protestors who read the Bible.

At Salt House, one of our core practices is sharing and hearing stories. We believe that stories matters, and that when we share our stories, we see what God is up to in the world and in our own lives. This Sunday, for Pride Sunday (the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots), we are going to hear a Salt House Story from Brenna! Brenna has served on our council, volunteered with our youth, and been part of our Queer group. Don't miss hearing her story!

Obadiah 1:1-21 The post The Well Lit Path of Truth: Session 17 – The Foolishness of Pride (Sunday Morning Service) appeared first on SOUTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH.

This podcast includes Pastor Ron Brown's sermon for PRIDE Sunday. It is the fourth sermon in the summer worship series, Faces of Our Faith. Pastor Ron tells the story of the Daughters of Zelophehad found in Numbers 27 and argues that when rules have unintended consequences, God expects us to change them.

This podcast includes Pastor Ron Brown's sermon for PRIDE Sunday. It is the fourth sermon in the summer worship series, Faces of Our Faith. Pastor Ron tells the story of the Daughters of Zelophehad found in Numbers 27 and argues that when rules have unintended consequences, God expects us to change them.

In the Psalms, we sing our life to God, and God sings our life with us – every distress on the way to deliverance, every lament into the wide expanse of liberation, every lonesome groan into singing together the songs we know by heart.

In our broader culture, LGBTQ Pride month is a time dedicated to celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) pride and often happens in the month of June. This time honors the movement for LGBTQ rights and celebrates LGBTQ+ culture. Even though the Portland Pride parade was moved to July 16, we found June 18 to be the best day to celebrate Pride at our church. The Menno Pride committee has helped coordinate and plan this service to celebrate our belief that God's radically inclusive love excludes no one. We hope to center the voices and experiences of LGBTQ persons in this service. Additionally, at the end of the service, our current MYF seniors are wrapped in quilts to be sent off with the love and support of their PMC family.

"Well, here we are with the rainbow colors of Pride Sunday all around us giving thanks for the promise of God, the covenant he's made to his earth. And the invitation to respond to that promise as a human race and care for the planet, and as individual Christians to care for one another and never vilify someone for what they are."   The Very Rev. Dr. Robert Willis, Dean Emeritus of Canterbury Cathedral, offered a powerful sermon on God's promises as well as the power of faith and authenticity this Sunday

For more visit: oceansidesanctuary.org

The Duality of Pride A guest sermon preached by Michael Hill at Foundry United Methodist Church on Sunday June 11th, 2023 as part of the Pride Sunday at Foundry.         Text: MATTHEW 9:9-13, 18-26 https://foundryumc.org/archive

Join Father Bill Danaher as he gives his sermon on Pride Sunday at Christ Church Cranbrook.

IN-PERSON PRIDE SUNDAY, June 11 @ 10:30 a.m. Bulletin can be found here. Audio will be uploaded here. — On In-Person Sundays, we gather in-person our downtown sanctuary and provide a livestream of the service on facebook.com/CalvaryDC. On Virtual Sundays, we gather only on Zoom and NOT in our sanctuary. You can also watch us […]

“What's Pride Got Do with It? What does Pride got do with anything at all? Pride Month has to do with everything on how we YES! Yes, with our determination, Yes, with our sexuality, Yes, with our standing against Transphobia and Homophobia, Yes, to our faith Journey with God, Yes, to loving our neighbor, Yes to ensuring justice for all, Yes, with our Love. Yes!” Sermon by Thomas Diaz from worship at 10:00 a.m. on Pride Sunday, June 4, 2023 at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Readings: Hosea 11:1-4, Psalm 130:5-8, and Matthew 28:16-20. Watch the sermon on YouTube.  Follow All Saints Church on Twitter @ASCpas. Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsPasadena/. Check out our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/allsaintspasadena1/videos. Subscribe, like, get notifications every time we post! Enjoy our extensive archive of stimulating and inspiring content! Donate to support the mission and ministries of All Saints at https://allsaints-pas.org/donate/donate-now/.

The Most Reverend Dr. Mark D. Manning, D.D., D.R.S., Archbishop of Dallas Universal Life Church, delivers his sermon for Trinity / Pride Sunday, June 4, 2023 titled "Let's Get A Couple Things Straight...Or Not!" followed by the announcements and a few special moments from The 40th Annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. Today's service is dedicated in loving memory to James "Rayne" Chapman November 9, 1992 - May 23, 2023 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bishopmark/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bishopmark/support

Today is Pride Sunday and we start our three part sermon series “Gay Is Good: What I Have Learned as an LGBTQ Pastor.”   Join us for the message “Shame and Pride.” This is a recording of the scripture and sermon portion of our service on 6/4/23.  If you like what your hear on this podcast, you can also support our ministry with your gift through our website at www.TUMCD.org You can also see the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel “Trinity UMCD”  or our FaceBook page “Trinity UMCDuncanville”

6/2/23 6am CT Hour - Fr. Bob Pagliari/ Joshua Mercer/ Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg Fr. Bob shares some reasons to celebrate fathers and their deep impact on our lives as we approach Father's Day. Joshua shares an initiative to rent books at the library that are illicit to keep them out of the hands of young eyes during Pride month. Bishop Mueggenborg reflects on this Sunday's Gospel on the trinity and how mysteries like this are beyond our human understanding.

On this Pride Sunday at All Saints', Dr. Jenny McBride, our new Associate for Formation, shared with us this message of hope, “You are worthy. You matter to God. God takes pride in you. Your story matters.”

Our series, Acts of Inclusion dares us to see and embody how from the first days, Jesus-followers were to include all people -- ALL PEOPLE -- in this life of love. On Sunday we celebrate PRIDE Sunday as we welcome the founder and director of BELOVED ARISE, Dr. Jun Love Young. Beloved Arise is a movement to fight for the lives of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those who have been rejected by their faith communities. The Beloved Arise mission is to celebrate and empower LGBTQ+ youth of faith.

“On this Pride Sunday 2022, the audacious goal  we have set before us is nothing less than the kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven we pray for every time we gather –  a world where respecting the dignity of every human being.” Sermon by Susan Russell from worship at 11:30 a.m. on Pride Sunday, June 12, 2022 at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Readings: Psalm 104:25-35, 37b, Acts 2:1-18 and John 14:8-17. Watch the sermon on YouTube. Read the text of the sermon here. Follow All Saints Church on Twitter @ASCpas. Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsPasadena/. Check out our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/allsaintspasadena1/videos. Subscribe, like, get notifications every time we post! Enjoy our extensive archive of stimulating and inspiring content! Donate to support the mission and ministries of All Saints at https://allsaints-pas.org/donate/donate-now/.