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Last week More Light had our monthly board meeting, and we opened our time together by offering three words that best described our current state of being. As we moved around the circle of Zoom windows, echoes of “anxious” and “tired” were heard, affirming heads nodding with empathy. More than anything, though, was a resounding gratitude - for health, for recovery, for time spent with family, for monuments that had stood for over a century as bastions of terror finally coming down. It seems almost trite at this point to say it is often in the most challenging circumstances that we find the most encouragement, but it continues to be true.
After our travel schedule ground to an abrupt halt in mid-March, More Light’s Board and Staff spent time checking in on More Light members and our congregations, using the first months of COVID to live into our commitment to serve as a resource for the wider church. While we have missed seeing you all in person, the conversations we’ve had have been so rich. With each call we make we are reminded of people’s gratitude - for a conversation partner, for resources for their congregation, for finding a church home, for knowing they are not alone.
It's a message we all need to hear: we are not alone. You are not alone. I am not alone. We are in this together.
We are INCREDIBLY thankful for the generous support we received from all those who participated in Give Out Day. Thanks to your contributions, we raised over $4000 on the only national day of LGBTQIA+ giving! We cannot do this important work without your support and we thank each and every one of you for all the ways you share, shine, and support More Light!
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Thank you to everyone who participated in More Light’s Virtual Pulpit Supply last month! We had over 30 congregations from Alaska to New York take part! We are excited to offer virtual pulpit supply again for July 26th! Rev. Jess Cook is our preacher this month.
To participate, simply fill out the interest form.The sermon will be posted on More Light's Vimeo page by 5pm ET on Friday, July 24th, at which time you will get an email with a link to download the content. Jess will record a welcome, scripture reading, sermon and benediction. The sermon will draw from the lectionary texts for the week, though you are welcome to use it on another date if it works better for your congregation.
Sneak-peek of the details for this month's Virtual Pulpit Supply:
Sermon Title: The Easiest Lesson We Hate to Learn
Themes: In Paul's letter to the Romans, he asserts that there is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from God's love. Yet, a failure to accept that can be one of the biggest roadblocks to right relationship with ourselves and one another. Love and salvation are often reduced to individual experiences, devoid of community accountability or trust. This sermon will examine the ways in which claiming our belovedness is an act of resistance. Drawing from Matthew's parable of the mustard seed, we will also explore how the action of claiming ourselves as part of God's kin-dom is an act of justice.
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We are delighted to share that Part 3 of our Racial Justice Teach-In and the accompanying Discussion Guide are now available for download! This is a great resource for anyone looking to engage in conversations about ways to address and dismantle systems of white supremacy. You can also download the complete series in our shop. You also get a price break when you purchase all 3 Teach-Ins!
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We are delighted to share that Out of Order, the feature-length documentary revealing the complex and painful struggles faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer faith leaders within the Presbyterian Church, USA, is now available for streaming!
More Light is partnering with Out of Order to encourage congregations and community groups to host screenings of this important film. For individuals whose congregations may be just beginning to consider incorporating inclusive practices, this documentary helps to put names and faces to the individuals who are made to feel unwelcome by exclusionary practices. By watching and discussing the film with part of a group, you will not only learn from the individuals in the film, but also with and from one another. The participants in the film hope that by sharing their very personal, and sometimes painful, experiences others may deepen their empathy for LGBTQIA+ people in the church, and for all those who’ve been told they do not belong in church. Careful facilitation can result in an illuminating discussion
For more information on how to download and stream the film, visit the Out of Order page on our website. With the purchase of a screening, you will also have access to Out of Order promotional materials to design your screening event, discussion guides for both adults and youth, and screening guidelines to ensure you have the best screening experience possible.
In deepest gratitude and abundant hope,
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Rev. Alex Patchin McNeill
he/him/his
Executive Director
More Light Presbyterians
P.S. Looking for an easy way to stay in touch with More Light? Or receive regular messages of support and affirmation? Or make donations in a snap? You can now stay in touch with More Light via text messaging! To sign up, simply text 72572 and enter the code 1MLP to connect with the speed and ease of a text message.
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