Psalms Modern

Advent: day 23

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I look into the faces of the congregation and see Jen and Sara, who are married to each other, and Kham, who was born in Laos, and Vickie, who is intersex, and Sammi, who is transgender and married to Vickie, and Eliot, who is developmentally disabled, and Teresa, who has epilepsy, and Rich, who has done his prison time and is taking care of his elderly mother, and Alanna, who is looking after Lisa's two little girls, and Lisa, who is recovering from cocaine addiction, and John, who is single again, and Gabriel, who is autistic, and Melinda, who is Haitian- and Puerto Rican-American, and Tim, who is Japanese-American and his wife Jung Sun, who is Korean-American, and I see them all loving one another, then I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Rev. Jean Southard

Advent: day 22

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I "see" the possibilities for the future, I know that the kin-dom of God is near.

Debbie Blane

Advent: day 21

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I see the family God has blessed me with, I know the Kin-dom is near.

Alex Hendrickson

Advent: day 20

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When we speak the truth in love, I know the kingdom of God is near.

Michael Poulos

Advent: day 19

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When my teen son creates more physical distance from me in the sanctuary but I catch a glimpse of him our of the corner of my eye getting spiritually closer to God singing out loud, raising his hands, lips moving in prayer, or dancing in the aisle, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

RevSisRaedorah, Pasadena, CA

Advent: day 18

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When my chosen family is gathered, I know the kingdom of God is near.

Alex McNeil, www.presbyqueerian.wordpress.com

Advent: day 17

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I am in the presence of my LGBTQ under-care sisters and brothers, I know that the Realm of God is near."

Beth Van Sickle, Inquirer, PC (USA)

Advent: day 16

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I am laughing with my friends, I know that the Kingdom of God is near.

Kate Davidson

Advent: day 15

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I can survive breast cancer and a long painful treatment, I know that the kingdom of God is near in those who got me through.

Rev. Linda Anderson-Little, Pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in St. Louis
(and married to a Presbyterian Pastor!)

Advent: day 14

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I witness (or commit) a selfless expression of love, I know that the Kingdom of God is near.

Chris Peet, New York Theological Seminary Student

Advent: day 13

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When experts admit that we cannot know for sure and we persist anyway, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Rev. Beth Waltemath, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn NY

Advent: day 12

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When the Cubs win the World Series I know the Kindom of God is near.

Rev. Mark W. Wendorf

Advent: day 11

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When the table is set, and one by one, or in twos or threes, they come in, the hungry, the lonely, the brokenhearted, the rich, the settled, the just-getting-by, the suburban mom, the single dad, the teen-aged boy, the toddler, the crazy old lady, the star soprano, the shy young man, the nerd, the preoccupied, the too-blessed-to-be-stressed, the neighborhood drunk, the wild-eyed mystic, the of-no-account, the beautiful newborn baby in the arms of her older brother, the tenderhearted, the junky, the old man with the parrot --- when they all come in, in such variety so as to defy describing -- each one carrying their burden of dreams and joy and sorrows -- and the table is round, and there is space for all of them, and more come, and there is laughter, and sobbing, and riotous communion, and time for each to say what is in their heart, and all of them together dwells in the assurance of the boundless goodness of God's grace -- I will know that the realm of God is near.

Lisa Larges, Minister Coordinator, That All May Freely Serve, San Francisco

Advent: day 10

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I see one church member ask another for forgiveness because the member knows he/she has offended the other, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Rev. Mitch Trigger, First Presbyterian, Rockaway, NJ

Advent: day 9

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When everyone realizes & embraces themselves (and others) as created in God's image, unconditionally loved by God, and as children of God ...and all of us treat each other as sacred, then.......I know the kingdom of God is near.

Michael J. Adee, Executive Director & Field Organizer, More Light Presbyterians, Santa Fe, NM

Advent: day 8

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When people comment on preachers’ theology or insight or eloquence or even humor, and not their sexuality, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Pam Byers, Covenant Network of Presbyterians, San Francisco

Advent: day 7

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I think of the people God has blessed me with, those who have brought me this far, I know the Kingdom of God is near.

Mieke Vandersall, Minister Director, Presbyterian Welcome

Advent: day 6

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I see a deer watching me through my window, defying the odds of all kinds of weather, traffic, and suburban development, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Laura Cunningham, Pastor, Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, Pearl River, NY

Advent: day 5

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I see the faces of my small congregation on Sunday mornings, in all their variety of age and color and culture and orientation, when I remember their hopes and fears and joys, sorrows, and triumphs and see that we are all still here together, I know that the kindom of God is near.

Rev. Bob Brashear
Pastor, West-park Presbyterian Church
Manhattan, Upper Westside

Advent: day 4

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When cynics' hearts melt, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

Rose Darling, Broadway Presbyterian Church Liaison to Presbyterian Welcome, New York City, NY

Advent: day 3

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When I see hatred reduced to struggling for survival against love, I will know that the reign of God is near.

Jenny Howard, Louisville Seminary, Louisville, KY

Advent: day 2

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When a developmentally delayed teenager who can barely form a coherent sentence affirms his faith and is received as an active member, I know that the kingdom of God is near.

John Edward Harris, North Church, Queens, Flushing NY

Advent: day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:57:00 +0000

A friend of mine wrote this on her Facebook page: "At home, really sick. If I were straight and married to my domestic partner, I'd have insurance and I would go to the doctor and they would tell me whether or not I have H1N1. Instead, we have to have an affidavit notarized when she gets back and then send it to NYC and we might eventually get covered. Annoyed. Really, really achy." I found this heartbreaking, especially as one who enjoys the double privileges of both heterosexuality and marriage. Neither sexuality nor marital status should be the gauge by which we determine whether or not someone deserves health care. Everyone deserves health care, period. When health care is a reality for all -- for all -- then I will know the kingdom of God is near.

Rev. Ian Doescher, Calvary Presbyterian Church, Portland Oregon

Advent Begins...

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:33:00 +0000

At church this morning, you may have heard someone read this:
“So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”
Luke 21:31

When do you know that God's kin(g)dom is near? Every day during advent and up until the new year we will be posting sentences much like this one, each written by a different member of our community. We've got the official leaders of the LGBT Presbyterian movement, some of our member church pastors, board members, and many other less well-known but even more special voices to add. Please leave your comments during this time, either on the blog or via facebook, as we continue to expand and explore what it truly looks like for God's reign to be realized on Earth.

God's Scrum

noreply@blogger.com (Presbyterian Welcome) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Lisa Larges and Beth Van Sickle

God is always making a way. Sometimes the material God has to work with is, let's say, "interesting." For the Israelites leaving Egypt, God makes a way by rolling back the water, so that the Hebrew children walk over dry land, with a wall of water on each side. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the way is made out of coats, and other garments, and palm branches , and whatever was at hand .

Sometimes, God makes a scrum. It's a term for a Rugby formation, but it's been borrowed by celebs and important public officials. In this case, a scrum is simply two lines of Secret Service Agents or body guards who create a safe path for the President, or official, or Hollywood star to pass through without injury.

There are now, a surprisingly large number of lgbtq candidates and inquirers for ministry in the Presbyterian Church. And perhaps God has brought us together to be scrum for one another. Scrums are made up of our own people - people that we trust to keep us safe when we encounter raucous people who do not support our Calls. Our scrums move through the ordination process with us, forming circles around us if need be, keeping an eye out for anyone intent on harming us. Through mutual love, respect, and honor of God's call to each of us, our scrum moves with us through desert wilderness into the promised land. When we feel alone, our God and our scrum is with us. When the night is dark, God and our scrum are there to light the path. God always makes a way.