by Clarence Baney, for the Peacemaking and Social Justice Team
Let me tell you a story. After the prophet Elijah won the competition of fire on Mount Carmel, and Israel returned to the LORD, Elijah then flees the wrath of Jezebel. He seeks refuge in a cave on Mount Horeb, and there he waits for the LORD to pass by. There was a great wind that split the mountain. And yet the Lord was not in the wind. Then there was a terrifying earthquake. But still, the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then…a fierce fire!!!…But the Lord was not in that either. Finally, sheer silence, out of which the Lord spoke.
It can be bewildering, amazing, and difficult to recognize when the LORD speaks.
The medium through which the LORD speaks can also be equally surprising and unexpected. For example, when did we hear the Lord speak about the LGBTQ+ community? Did the LORD speak “Love” for creation in the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard? Did the Lord speak “Peace” in the horrific tragedy at the Pulse Nightclub?
Has the Lord spoken out in the “Don’t Say Gay” bills currently being considered in many states across the nation?
June is LGBTQ+ Pride month in our church and around the country. Within the PCUSA, there has been a growing trend to participating and making this celebration a part of the church year. This year will mark the fifth year First Presbyterian of Howard County has celebrated LGBTQ+ Pride. Some of us, this author included, can still remember the tentative feeling of taking it up as a church practice, not really knowing if Pride really had a place in the Church (big “C”). Yet, five years later, we joyfully celebrate Pride as a way of advocating for, affirming, and welcoming those in the LGBTQ+ community who have not been fully included in the Church.
This June, the Peacemaking Social Justice Team invites you to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride. Our motto and theme this year will be “Speak Love. Speak Peace. Speak Out!”
Our activities will center on using our speech to proclaim God’s love for creation and demonstrating our affirmation of the LGBTQ+ community.
- We kick off our LGBTQ+ observance with our first ever “Stories and Donuts: Drag Queen Story Hour” on Sunday, June 5 at 9:30 a.m.
- Additionally, we invite our church community to come together at the church picnic on Sunday, June 12, following the 10:00 a.m. worship service, for Woven Lives: Picnic Art Project, to create a festive Pride Banner that welcomes and affirms members of the LGBTQ+ community.
- On Sunday, June 19, Call to Remembrance: the Lessons of Juneteenth (an essay, see the insert in First Day that week)
- And…you’ve heard of “Name Tag Sunday”… this year we will celebrate “Pronoun Sunday” in which we invite you to write your name, as well as your pronouns, on Sunday, June 26.
- Finally, our celebration culminates in Pride Sunday, on June 26.
- Lastly, check out our weekly insert in “First Day”, in which we will highlight people and events, as well as offer statements that our denomination has made, affirming the LGBTQ+ community.