There have been a few things that have happened lately which just remind me how much I love MCC locally and as a denomination. Every time we have Enquirers’ Class, I show a short DVD which tells the story of our Founder, Reverend Troy D. Perry. He started Metropolitan Community Churches a year before the Stonewall riots in New York. (http://tinyurl.com/3qgy6fu) Reverend Perry organised the first Pride march in Los Angeles on the first anniversary of the riots. Our church in San Diego was part of a 24 prayer vigil for HIV/AIDS which developed into World Aids Day. We committed ourselves to equality and inclusivity at the start of our ministry and over half MCC’s clergy are women. We use language in worship that reflects the diverse encounters God that are experienced by those who make up our world faith community. As a denomination, we believe strongly in the ‘priesthood of all believers’ – that is, we believe everyone is called to be active in ministry, it is not just for a select few. The denomination now has a formal programme – Laity Empowered for Active Discipleship – L.E.A.D., which gives lay people (those who are not clergy) a training programme and a way of having their gifts and skills recognised.

On Saturday evening, some of us at NLMCC joined MCCers around the world to participate in a live webinar with LGBT theologian Chris Glaser. It was wonderful to see all the different names and church congregations logging in. People could type in comments and questions to Chris, which he responded to, just as though we were all in the room together. If we had wanted Chris Glaser to come to Newcastle, it would have cost us hundreds of pounds. Yet we were able to participate in this time of retreat and reflection completely free. Chris will also provide the resources that we will use for our Advent groups in December.

Recently I was contacted by the MCC department which deals with starting new churches – The Office of Emerging Ministries. Northern Lights MCC has been invited to be the Sponsor Church for a new church starting in Brighton – The Village MCC. The Board has agreed to this request, which means that we will provide resources to Reverend Michael Hydes and the congregation, such as help with developing worship and policy documents. Each month, we send a percentage of our income to the denomination to contribute to our ministries worldwide. Some of this money will now go instead to The Valley MCC to help it grow and develop. For me, it is wonderful to be part of a worldwide denomination, sharing our faith, sharing our resources, changing the world.

God bless

Cecilia

There was a very interesting exchange recently on “Have I Got News for You”. On one team was Janet Street-Porter, journalist and broadcaster. On the other team was Katherine Ryan, a comedian, originally from Canada. Janet Street-Porter was berating the pop superstar Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z for having a private viewing of the Louvre art collection in Paris. What made this worse, in the journalist’s view, was that the celebrities had spent their entire visit taking selfies (photos of themselves) in front of the all famous works of art. Katherine Ryan really challenged Janet Street-Porter on her attitude about this. “That might be the only way her fans will ever get to see those pictures.” she said.

There are all sorts of strands that might be pulled out of this exchange: does JSP now represent the establishment and is the young comedian challenging that? Is there a difference in attitude towards the way we ought to behave in art galleries? I once went to an exhibition where we were actively encouraged to talk and discuss the art with other visitors to the gallery. It felt odd, disrespectful, naughty even, to breaking the reverent silence I was more familiar with. For me, the key part of this exchange was the statement that Katherine Ryan made: “That might be the only way her fans will ever get to see those pictures.” There are two aspects to this. First of all, the fans that see those photos will be exposed to an aspect of culture which they might never get to see firsthand. Secondly, it might spark off an interest and curiosity in some which means that they will explore art further and may themselves travel to the Louvre to see the paintings for themselves. Having someone like Beyonce show them this world will give an endorsement and legitimacy to it that might otherwise be lacking. This is what role models can do.

Every year, we give out hundreds of postcards, badges and lovehearts at Pride and other events. We bear witness to our faith with our “God loves LGBT”      T-shirts and our friendly exchanges with those that we meet. We have a website, Facebook page and Twitter account. The vast majority who see us or visit us online will never walk through the doors of our church, or any other. What we are doing is showing them what church looks like, what God looks like. At the very least, people know that there is more to church than what they have previously heard or experienced. At best, it might start a relationship with God or re-kindle a faith. When we are the hands and feet of Christ in the queer community, we too show people something that they might not otherwise see.

God bless

Cecilia

As many of you know, Northern Lights MCC runs a joint project with MESMAC called Rainbow Home. It is a monthly lunch for LGBT people who are seeking asylum in the UK. Rainbow Home is a safe space for fun, food and conversation.  The individuals who helped us start the group chose “Rainbow” to reflect the LGBT nature of the group and “Home” because they wanted it to be a safe and comfortable place. Group members take it in turn to cook, so there is a taste of “home” each month. Those who come to the group have fled from countries where homosexuality is punishable by law; they have often experienced violence, persecution and sometimes imprisonment. Home is no longer a safe place for them to be, and they have left everything to come to the UK, in search of sanctuary. When individuals arrive in this country, they are faced with the task of proving to the Home Office that they are lesbian, bisexual or gay and that their lives are in danger if they return to their country of origin.

How do you prove you are gay? Or straight? Or bisexual? Imagine that. You are in a foreign country, perhaps speaking a language that is not your own. You have had to actively hide your sexuality in your country of origin. You have fled home with hardly any belongings. And now, in a court of law, under very intense scrutiny, you are being asked to prove that you are gay. How do you even go about doing that? If the judge believes you, you then also have to prove that you would be fear of your life if you went back to your country of origin. Being part of a worldwide denomination has been helpful in this regard. We have been able to get statements from MCCers and allies who work or who live in some of the countries where Rainbow Home folk come from and submit them as part of the documentation that goes to court. These statements show clearly what life is like for LGBT people in a particular country and have been instrumental in helping individuals get their “leave to remain” status.

Matthew 25:34 – 36 gives a list of how we are meant to behave as Christians: offer food and drink to the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick or in prison. It often feels as though my life is a world away from these basic yet vital instructions. I send emails, sort out rotas, discuss budgets and write reports. I give a monthly donation to Oxfam, but I don’t notice it going out of the bank – it just happens. I love Rainbow Home because, for me, it gives an opportunity to really do what Jesus asked of us. That is blessing enough for me.

God bless

Cecilia

Today has been a day of rainbows. The combination of sunshine and showers means that I have seen several of them today. Sometimes it has been a full arc filling the sky, at other times just a short stripe of rich colour. Each time, it is a moment to stop and enjoy this natural wonder. The colours of Autumn also provide a wonderful display which fills me with delight. On Tuesday morning I awoke to the first frost of the year. Each blade of grass had on its own white crystal coat. It is a discipline sometimes to stop and take note of these tiny miracles that happen in front of our eyes. I often rush about, head full of a thousand thoughts or crazy daydreams, forgetting to look around me and let my senses bring me the joys of the day. The other week, in the midst of our busy city, there was a wren singing a most beautiful song from the tree in the corner of the church car park. I took a couple of minutes from the start of my morning to just enjoy this gift.

At the moment, I am reading ‘readings from the book of exile’ by Pádraig Ó Tuama as part of my quiet time. His writing is full of brilliant observation of tiny details, which give great power and resonance to his poetry. One of my favourites is called ‘’Tis the gift’. It is about being kind to yourself at the end of a long day, or as the poem says, ‘treat your own self as your own welcome guest’. Many of us in the congregation live alone. We sit down to eat by ourselves most days. Preparing a meal may be delight or a chore, even for those with a partner or a family.  I love this poem because it encourages me to treasure myself, as much as I would someone I have invited into my home.  I do cook for myself every day and usually sit at the dining table to eat. Sometimes I barely taste the food as my mind is so preoccupied with other things and I don’t notice what I am eating. The poem invites me to stop, to savour, to light candles, use my favourite plates or best cutlery (I am from Sheffield – of course I have best cutlery). I do not need to wait for someone else to come into my home before I use these beautiful things and cook meals that are more than just fuel for my body. When I take the time to notice the colours and smells, the flavours and textures, the meal becomes a source of joy and thanksgiving in itself, and I relish the experience, instead of rushing to finish what is on my plate.

From the surprise appearance of a rainbow to the joy of savouring the flavours in good food, there are moments of pleasure and delight to be found in each day, if we are willing to take time to notice them. What will you relish this week?

God bless

Cecilia