Dear friends, colleagues, and chosen family, 

Marking the 4th anniversary of my ordination a few weeks ago with a queer-centric virtual liturgy and open communion table sparked a desire in me to co-create a multiple-belonging PRIDE liturgical season. The PRIDE parades, the dance parties, the pub crawls, the lectures and other cultural events are all spiritual - they are, or at least can be, sacramental and liturgical! And, I want and crave something more explicitly spiritual and sacramental, something more intimate and facilitated, something that connects our religious and spiritual streams of inheritance and practices to our queerness/LGBTQ+ness in generous, inclusive ways.

Maybe you’re craving something similar? I hope so. If so, this is for you, for us, queer spiritual and/or religious folks who love a good liturgy full of embodiment and ritual.

I’ve set up a Zoom room for the month (register here for the link) and set aside some evening times on my calendar.

(5) liturgies:

Monday, June 3
with Chaplain John Winslow-Rodriguez, Service and Silence as Sacrament
Wednesday, June 12 - The Feast of Pentecost (transferred)
with Dr. Fallon Bushee, The Fire Inside as Sacrament
Wednesday, June 19 - Juneteenth
with Mother Aries Dial, Testimony as Sacrament
Wednesday, June 26 - Remembering Our Ancestors
with Chaplain Amy Shoemaker, Art, Grief, Sabbath, and Song as Sacrament
Monday, July 1
with Dr. Laurel Braitman, Ph.D., Writing as Medicinal Sacrament, Teaching as Spiritual Care

All gatherings are 5:30-6:30 PM PST/8:30-9:30 PM EST. If the spirit moves, they may be
longer and you can come and go as you need.

I’ve invited queer friends and colleagues from various religious and spiritual traditions to join us as this liturgical season unfolds to share a bit about their journey, their pride, what’s breaking their heart, what’s keeping them going, and to lead us in a practice from their tradition(s). Come once, come every time, share the invitation, bring a friend(s). These will be queer-centric gatherings and allies are welcome to join respectfully, participate, and bear witness. 

What to expect: some silence, some singing, some creative expression, much love

- Opening and settling in
- Welcome and check-in
- Remembering why we are gathering
- Sharing from Special Guest
- Transition
- Benediction

What to bring:
-Yourself - however you are, wherever you are 
-Set up a PRIDE altar if you’d like - honoring your unique self, your queerness, your sexuality, your gender identity, your creativity, your ancestors, your lineages, your culture and traditions, your gifts, and your longings. 
-A candle 
-A journal or something to write on and with
-Art supplies in case of spontaneous or invited creating

I hope to see you soon and co-create this space for queer pride, joy, sorrow, and everything in between,

Emily+