Thursday, May 13, 2010

An Anniversary

One year ago today I was getting ready, at this very hour, to sit down with the governing board of my church to place before them a letter telling them their pastor was a lesbian. I remember that as I sat in my office, trying not to hyperventilate, I opened my bible and read psalm after psalm.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

The Lord is my shepherd.

God is our refuge and our strength,
a very present help in trouble...
Be stlll, and know that I am God.

And so God is... God is God, and we are not, and it turns out the people of my congregation (beginning with that governing board) don't much care whether their pastor is a lesbian. They care whether she is a good pastor, preaching the Word, sharing the sacraments, visiting the sick and homebound, connecting with people of all ages... none of which I do perfectly, by any stretch, but all of which I try, every day, to do with love.

My revelation has been met with more love than I could have imagined. I am out to my congregation, to many (most) in my area, in and out of the church. I am so, so, so down-on-my-knees grateful, today, to be....

.... free.

Now THAT is worth another Glory! Hallelujah!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

We Interrupt This Broadcast...

... to bring you a few updates Chez Cecilia.

* Teh Prom Dress: Has been acquired. The crafting of a first-person sermon on Lydia was interrupted for several thoroughly enjoyable hours with Petra and her two best buds, one of whom is the style guru and one of whom is the makeup artiste. Much talk about "line" and "drape" and fabric weight and advantageous color to go with Petra's (very very) fair skin tone. We left one place with a "favorite, but". We went to another place where Teh Dress was donned and three girls shrieked simultaneously "It's THE ONE!" Cecilia smiled and wrote the check.

* It was summer here for two weeks. Tonight it will snow. The line on OurTown is "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute."

* Petra and I just marveled at an enormous and venerable linden tree covered with Wisteria on our way home.

* I really must finish that sermon now.