Message by AJ Fox

Moment of Perspective – Whole Worship – AJ Fox

On this, a day that we are sharing so much in this sanctuary about bodies, diversity, and inclusion, we light this chalice in honor of this coming Tuesday, May 17th, which is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

Just a few short pages after Rev. Theresa I. Soto shared their words on dandelions in the book Spilling The Light, they shared these words, under the title:

“dear trans, non-binary, genderqueer and gender-expansive friends and kin: (and those of us whose gender is survival)”

you are not hard to love and respect
your existence is a blessing, your pronouns
are not a burden or a trial;
they are part of your name, just shorter.
some of our kin use only their names, where pronouns would be,
the names they are called, remember that
someone getting them wrong is not a poor
reflection on you. it is not your fault.

your body (really and truly)
belongs to you, no one else.

the stories of your body
the names of your body’s parts
your body’s privacy
the sum of your body’s glory.

it is not okay for anyone
to press their story of you,
back to the beginning of your (of our) liberation.

we will find the people ready to be
on the freedom for the people way.
we will go on, no one can rename you
Other, it can’t stick, as you offer the gift
of being and saying who you are.

mostly, though, your stories belong to you.
your joy and complexity are beautiful,
however you may choose to tell it (or not
tell it), some folks (cis) may take their liberty
for an unholy license, you are beloved. please
keep to our shared tasks of
healing
getting free.

Tell Me a Story
Composed by Nancy Schimmel
Permission Granted
Performed by the First UU Virtual Choir

Now is the Month of Maying
Composed by Thomas Morley, Arr. John Prescott
Public Domain
Performed by the First UU Choir

The Sun That Shines
Words: Dimitri S Bortniansky and John Andrew Storey
Music: David Dawson
Permission Granted
Accompanied by Eva Riebold