Pride

It seems the world is in turmoil. For months now our news has been dominated by Covid, and now the only reason it is taking a back seat is because of the horrendous scenes unfolding in Afghanistan.

Of course, while we try to take in what is happening there, we forget about the wars and civil unrests happening across the globe, not to mention the constant onslaught of environmental tragedies.

You would be forgiven for thinking that maybe now is not the time to come together for pride weekend. Now is not the time to march and wave flags and worship and rejoice and party.

But I think we need this now more than ever. I think the world needs this now more than ever.

Pride weekends are a celebration of each of us, of who we are, who we have been called to be and our ability to express ourselves as we see fit. Pride is about saying “I will no longer hide my sexuality, my orientation, my gender expression from the world simply to fit in.”

But more than that; pride is about change.

Pride weekend is a celebration that each of us can bring about change, as individuals, as a community, as a group; we can and we do and we will bring about immense change. Pride is a celebration that as humans we can change, we can have our view of the world turned upside down and embrace and love that opportunity to question, to be shown, to grow.

Without that amazing power of change, the daily scenes that upset and trouble us are inevitable, but with our power to create and embrace change the future is ours to mould.

Lets us go to God in prayer;

Heavenly Parent we thank your for pride weekend. Pride weekend is everything You are: love, compassion, unity, community and hope. We thank you that this weekend is the perfect expression of what it means to be made in your image. Lord Jesus this weekend is everything you embodied when you walked this earth: challenge, a chance to question the status quo, an unquestioning equitable love, the love of our neighbour and the love of the stranger we are yet to understand.

We thank you Lord for all those who have come before us demanding change, inspiring change, creating change. Lord, help us to follow in their footsteps and use our gifts and skills to foster change. We celebrate who you made us, who you call us to be and we recognise that we are instruments in your mission to create a world of love and justice.

Today we step out of those shadows that cast over us, we stand brave and bold ready to synthesise change simply by refusing to deny ourselves.

We thank you Lord that we can embrace change, we can take new ideas and weave them in to our beliefs, we can discard those rhetorics which turn out to be false, unfair and unhelpful. Help us to continue being open people, willing to admit that what we thought just moments ago may turn out to be untrue.

Jesus today we celebrate by being open about the changes we have made in our lives, asking for mercy for the times we have got it wrong, judged unfairly, belittled others, made your wonderful children feel less than.

Holy Spirit, we might not solve world hunger or end a war today, but each of us has the ability to do something. Remind us that when each of us do that which we can, that which is done can be huge in your name.

This weekend we take take pride and we make it a force for change, a force for good. We do all this in your name.

Amen