Once again this year, Northern Lights MCC organised and led the Pride Candle Lit Vigil. This really captures the dilemma I mentioned at the beginning. We are asked to do a ‘religious thing’, perform a ritual, bring people together, create a ‘sacred space’ and yet we also have to manage the pain that people feel when anything to do with God or church is mentioned. Before the vigil, a young man spoke to me about how he lost his job in a church organisation, once he came out as gay. His eyes filled up as he revisited that painful time. It must have taken courage and trust to tell me his story. Despite that pain, injustice and rejection, he was at the vigil, his longing overcoming his pain. I can’t heal that young man’s heart. I can’t bring him to a place of peace. I can’t make him believe in God again. Those are all God sized jobs. What I do know, is that our ministry as Northern Lights MCC really does make a difference and really does offer a place and a space for people to experience God’s amazing grace and love. It is a shared ministry, with each of us able to play our part. Each of us helps to hold the space, so that God can touch and change lives – one person at a time. Happy Pride!
God bless,
Cecilia