We Shall Be Known

We had a powerful, uplifting, delightful family service at church on Sunday. It was a celebration of the gifts and strength LGBTQ folks have brought to the United States over its history. We also discussed our church’s vision and goal of “preemptive radical inclusion.” What might all sorts of people with different needs and abilities find useful if they walked in our doors? Let’s have those “things” and attitudes so that when they find us, we will be ready.

Our two bigs helped with the game show portion of the service, and all the youth did a wonderful job leading the congregation through the process.

In a service where I felt my soul filling up with so many of the parts, the music was a highlight.

We sang this song by Libby Roderick:

Here are its lyrics:

How could anyone ever tell you you were anything less than beautiful?
How could anyone ever tell you you were less than whole?
How could anyone fail to notice that your loving is a miracle?
How deeply you’re connected to my soul.

So simple yet intense..

We also watched this video, and other people were able to watch without singing along. Not sure how they did that.

Here are its lyrics, by Karisha Longaker of MaMuse:

We shall be known by the company we keep
by the ones who circle round to tend these fires

We shall be known by the ones who sow and reap
the seeds of change alive from deep within the earth

It is time now
It is time now that we thrive
It is time we lead ourselves into the well
It is time now, and what a time to be alive
In this great turning we shall learn to lead in love
In this great turning we shall learn to lead in love

In a week that brought challenges to our family and our world, this was a much needed time of peace.