God of grace and God of glory

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee Whom we adore,
Serving Thee Whom we adore.

Harry Emerson Fosdick
1878-1969

The long last night

I blame my sleepless night on the full moon
I blame my nightmares on somethingelse
But if I get up, and try to watch TV
Everything looks sad
Everything looks dark.

I walk around pretending not to think
I cruise around pretending not to know
But if I try to cruise and think
I rather go back into my world
where thre are not pills or alcohol anymore
That keep me from not wanting to know.

I seat down wanting not to long
and I walk down the street longing not to want
But if I long, I may not get what I do want
and if I want, I know that I will long for very long

So, in my misery,I will seat down
and wait until I want
and once I start longing, long enough
then I will walk down the street
Pretending not to think
and wanting not to cruise, for very long

Even if I do...

Reflection on Taize

The news if the murder of Brother Roger have many of us in state of shock or grat sadnes... probably we all have different reasons, so I will tel my own story.

I am not longer Roman Catholic, for the grace of God, but I was at some point. I was raised atheist and -believe it or not- being Christian gave me the courage to come out, to search in my soul for reconciliation between my sexuality and my faith, as well as to find the courage to "come out" as a Christina, in environments that are not always very friendly -either to sexuality or to Christians-.

Taize is a very important form of spirituality for me, because I grew up in a post second vatican world, in which mass in Latin and organ music was often subtituted by guitar music and "folk masses" and in my opinion, some of the most beautiful vernacular masses in spanish were composed in the 70's in Central America and Spain. (Misa Campesina, Misa popular Latinoamericana, etc.)

With this in mind, many of us -children of the 70's and 80's were in a constant search for a less political and more spiritual form of liturgical music, that were inovative and still spiritual enough.

That is how I became in touch with Taize, the repetitive tone, the fact that is writen in several languajes and the beautiful -and yet simple- musical compositions were the answer that our youth Christian movements were looking for, in which we try very hardly to introduce other kids our age (teenagers) to prayer and meditation, while all they know was a grandmother who literally drag them into mass.

Also, as a seminarian, the Taize movement and spirituality helped a lot of us to show a more happy face of the church, in which life was celebrated trough deep, slow and repetitive music that invited to prayer, and to seek silence for the soul in God.

I think my generation owe a great deal to Brother Roger, and I only hope that we can pay him back, by using the Taize spirituality to bring a message of joy to the sick and suffering of the world.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine;
et lux perpetua luceat eis;
Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion,
et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.
Exaudi orationem meam:
ad te omnis caro veniet.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine;
et lux perpetua luceat eis.

My hero...

I feel like a 7 year old, in a "show and tell" class, but in every opportunity I tell people about my hero. His name is Gene Robinson, and he is the Episcopal Bishop of New Hempshire. He is an openly gay man, and I had the honor to met him on GAy Pride 2005, during the homily that he delivered at the Parish of Saint Luke of the Fields in Greenwich Village, NY.

I admire him because, against all odds, he has prooven that he is a real Saint. He has endured critizism from the most conservative leaders not only in the Anglican Church, but also in other churches. Religious leaders have called him everything, and he stands firm, as a true witness of the Gospell.

He, unlike other leaders, has open doors for a fraction of the Gay community that sometimes is very misunderstood, the ones who choose to explore themselves in the light of organized religion.

He, through his example of dignity and courage, has given to us a place in the table, a place that belong to us by right of birth, as sons and daughters of God. He has brought consolation and hope, in a world in which many think that it is imposible to fight with religios fundamentalism.

He has given to us peace, and through his exemplary life, he teaches us how to live the good news, without having to worry about what Jerry Fallwel or all the other idiots tell people. He is an example of what a real Christian is, open and affirming to all creation.

For all that Bishop Robinson, God bless you... without you, we lack witness that can teach the future generations, that God love us Gay, Lesbians, Bisexual and Transgender, and that no biggot can take that gift from us.

Gay Pride and Christian Pride

One more Gay Pride weekend in New York City, and once more the doors of Saint Patrick's Cathedral are locked... this use to be a source of great sadness in my life. It is not so anymore, but I still wonder: Until when Lord?.

This used to be a source of anxiety in my life, but I am over, however, I still wonder what may be so important, so the doors of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of New York City remain closed, while all the other churches along Fifth Ave. Give an example of Christian love, offering water to the pilgrim.

I know I may dare too much to use this kind of language so freely, but I am not affraid anymore, these are my reasons;

1) If one stand up and watch the LGBT organizations and individuals marching along Fifth Ave. it is not a surprise that everyone is trying to communicate something: there is absolutly nothing wrong with me!

2) Pertaining specifically the religious LGBT organizations, there is a particular sense of pride while walking by the so called Christians (you know, the fundamentalists) that are trying to make a point about what they call "life style" and "choice". i think no a singlr one of them can look at the marchers in the face and honestly believe that we are less Christians than they are. If they do, then they have learned NOTHING about being Christian.

3) About the churches that offer hospitality to the pilgrims: Giving water to the thirst, to the one marching for social justice and visibility for all, there is a particular Christian gesture, and not only the idea to offer a glass of water;

• The ones offering water are CHURCHES, Ascencion Episcopal, Marble Collegiate, and a Lutheran on fifth and thirtheen. What is the understanding of the Roman Catholics about hospitality? Is it a act of charity reserved to heterosexuals only?
• It makes me thing about the sin of Sodom... lack of hospitality.
• And more important, gives a testimony of Christian living to the entire LGBT Community merching and watching, that the Roman Catholics dont't do. There is a contingent of Roman Catholics marching in the parade "Dignity " however, they have suffered already exclusion from the church.

At the Even Song, preached by +Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hempshire, we were asked to be Scripture for other LGBT floks, and to stand firm as Christian Soldiers, witness of the Good News.