Christmas
Virtual Christmas devotional hosted by Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends on December 19, 2021, featuring a sharing of the Christmas story from a queer perspective and beautiful musical numbers to celebrate the Christmas season.
We came together to celebrate Christmas, recognizing the blessings received and hope for those yet to come. We hope that this is the beginning of the work to change the lives of so many of God’s children, whose colors shine as a testimony of the love of Christ in this earthly life.
A single concert is only one step forward in a longer process of change and healing. In truth there is still a long way to go for the LGBT community can truly feel accepted and have a sense of belonging in the Church. Love is what we have in common, expressed in the voices of the chorus and reflected in the rising joy and hope in the hearts of everyone in the audience.
Every year at Christmas time, society turns into a frenzy as we get caught up in buying more stuff to add to the stuff we already have but never use. We give stuff to each other, and we buy more stuff for ourselves. We worship Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Travel Tuesday, and every other manufactured holiday, all designed to get us to buy more stuff.
Some of us may find Christmastime to be faith-affirming, while others may be struggling to define or understand their spiritual identities. As we find ourselves in the midst of Holiday celebration, it is my wish that each of us be gentle with ourselves in our processes.
Service is a hallmark of the LDS Church. For the second year, the Church is encouraging members to serve others throughout December to celebrate the birth of Christ. LGBT Mormons can, and perhaps should, #LIGHTtheWORLD too. What kinds of service might you give to help the LGBT community this Christmas season?
What seems to be a hopeless situation, an endless struggle, diminished potential, or a lost cause, the most unlikely to have a happy outcome, a series of irrelevant events, or just some confirmation that my prejudices are correct turns out to be a pretty big deal indeed. A Saviour is born, not as the Emperor of China or the spiritual leader of the Roman Empire, but as ‘just another kid’ with dubious prospects.
We will stand with the “red letter” words of Jesus himself, following his radical policies of absolute love and absolute inclusion. These are the words and the actions we will celebrate this Christmas, for these are the “tidings of great joy.”
Christmas is a season of giving. We remember Mary, who gave birth to Jesus; the Wise Men, who brought gifts to the Child; Joseph, who worked as a carpenter and,…