�Prayer �Service�for interfaith�and multifaith�communities�to honour�PIE DAY
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Let us begin by acknowledging the land upon which we are, and the peoples whose land this is, and our relationship with them. May we take this time to reflect upon our unique positionality within the larger sacred commitment of Truth and Reconciliation which we share…
We begin with gratitude and reflection
Religion was weaponized by colonization to mean something different than what it was intended… to understand what our faith actually demands of us, we must unlearn what we were taught in order to understand what was meant…�The Hebrew Scriptures were written without vowels and have been translated and interpreted by many people to mean many different things�Two thousand years ago, the early rabbis understood them to mean something very different �Indigenous peoples around the world understand the unique sacred Wisdom of Two-Spirit People
The Hebrew Bible says that the first human was created in the Divine Image and was both male and female�The early rabbis taught that there are eight genders… �They taught that Abraham and Sarah were transgender�The First Nations of Turtle Island taught that�there are more than two genders�and that Two-Spirit people have sacred healing powers and divine wisdom�Celebrating and affirming a welcoming and inclusive faith has ancient roots�Let us reclaim these insights and affirm them today
Abram and Sarai were called to leave their homes to go forth and become a blessing… changing their names and becoming who they were create to become… �Joseph, teased for his coat of many colours, trapped in a prison of false accusations, remained steadfast to his truth and eventually found his place in the world and came out to his family who did not appreciate him at first and did not recognize him for who he was
Discussion Question
Let us take this time to reflect upon the ways in which we have been taught to treat people who seem different from us… and let us take this time to remember what that feels like. May our time together inspire us to bring more compassion and healing, justice and understanding into our world.
May the time come soon when all humans are celebrated for their beautiful diversity, like the flowers of a garden so too does our rainbow diversity enrich us… May we commit to doing everything we can to share this hope with others…
Worship requires the opening of the heart in a world that hardens our heart and celebrates its callouses�Let us take this time to exhale and release all the ways in which we have absorbed toxic thoughts and ideas, the ways we have internalized beliefs and feelings that go against the message of love that is at the heart of all our religious teachings…�May our worship today help us to reclaim our faith and heal our hearts and spirits ��
Let us take this moment to send love and prayers to all those who have been wounded by the idolatry of our generation: hatred and prejudice against the 2SLGTBQIA+ community���We remember all those whose lives have been cut short because of queerphobia and we commit to honouring their lives with our words and actions, our voting and advocacy
We light a candle for all those whose lights were dimmed by hatred and ignorance�We commit to shining �even more brightly on their behalf
We light a candle for Love: in all its hues�We light a candle for Hope: in all its manifestations�We light a candle for Courage: �May we shine brightly in the darkness
Breathe in the Love that surrounds you�Exhale out the fear that is within�Breathe in the Love that seeks to heal you�Exhale out the judgment and shame that is flung at you�Breathe in the Love that yearns to shine through you�Exhale out the Love that flows �through you
Religious teachings assert that we are allcreated in the Divine Image: which is to say, in LOVE�Each and every one of us�In our infinite diversity and fluidity�We carry within us�the Sacred Sparks�the Breath of Life�the capacity to Love�This is the only Truth�Let us exhale out everything �That does not align with this �
Love is Sacred�Love your neighbour as you love yourself�Love yourself�Love all your neighbours�Love one another as I have loved you�Love God with all your heart and might�Love is Sacred�In all of its Infinite Manifestations�Love is always the answer
We were created in Love�We were created to Love�We create Love �with our words and actions�Let us commit to transforming �the pain of this world into a healing Love�May we radiate a new Light �May our Love shine brightly
May we go forth and shine brightly�May we lift up others with our courage �and affirm the sacredness of each person�May we be a blessing to all creation
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