"Stand Up! Stand Proud! Stand Together!"

I Peter 2:2-5, 9 & 10 June 20, 2004

Yesterday was a glorious day on the banks of the Allegheny River. As I drove across the Fort Duquesne Bridge I began to see the presence of our rainbow people. An arch of rainbow colored balloons marked the place of celebration and rainbow flags were in abundance. When I arrived at our booth Gibbie presented me with a dog tag that said "Expect Miracles". As I looked around at all the people who had marched in the parade, all of the people who had gathered on the North Shore to STAND UP, STAND PROUD, AND STAND TOGETHER in celebration of Pride Month I knew again that I was witnessing a miracle. All of the different organizations from the gay volleyball league to the Renaissance City Choir to PFLAG to GLENDA to the two women next to us from Baltimore who gave us the opportunity to look at our city through rainbow colored glass gave expression to our community "Expect Miracles". I looked at all the drag queens who reminded me of those drag queens at the Stonewall bar in New York City in 1969 who opened the closet door for the modern day liberation movement. "Expect Miracles". As I looked at our people who had marched holding the church manner, the people who stood in our church booth giving witness of God's love for all people I was reminded that in October of that same year, 1969, a young man named Reverend Troy Perry would hold the first worship service, with 12 people in attendance, of what would become the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. Now with over 44,000 thousand members in 22 countries around the world, we here at MCC Pittsburgh call this denomination our church home. Expect Miracles! There were people present yesterday who have been in attendance at the pride marches that began in the 70's in Pittsburgh. And there were people present for whom this was their first Pride March. We had come from little towns and large cities. We had come from denominations who condemned us for our sexuality and those that are struggling with the issues even now. We had come from families of acceptance and from homes that had turned us out. We were parents and children, we were young and old, we were glbt and straight people. We were many colors, from different walks, and situations in life and on that day we were STANDING UP, STANDING PROUD, and STANDING TOGETHER to celebrate the gift of a God given life. Expect Miracles!

This Sunday at MCC Pittsburgh we officially celebrate our pride as a people but for us every Sunday is a pride celebration. Each week as you walk through the front we gather to STAND UP for justice, equal rights, and for the freedom of all people who are oppressed. When the rainbow flag is hung on the front porch, the altar set up~ and we gather we stand as a witness of those who have gone before and those who will come after us. We STAND UP to say that no one, no religious institution, nothing can ever again separate us from the love of God. We STAND UP to say that the closet is not our home. It takes courage to come out as a glbt person and you are a courageous people. Thank you for being willing to stand as a witness for freedom. I thank all of you also who are straight in our congregation for you have taken up the cause of justice to say that when one person is oppressed we are all oppressed.

We STAND PROUD and celebrate who we are as a glbt and straight people knowing that each person is sacred and deserves respect, dignity, and the opportunity to live life to the fullest. We must have faith in ourselves and faith in God that we are called for such a time as this. As the scripture tells us "We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people that we might declare the wonderful deeds of God who called you out of the night into God's marvelous light." (I Peter 2:9) Stand PROUD in the knowledge that you have been chosen to embrace a healthy, whole and holy walk with God. God has a specific purpose for your part in this rainbow community. You are empowered by God to bring good news to a people long held in the captivity. As we shed the clothes of shame and guilt we put on the rainbow robe of love and liberation. STAND PROUD of yourself and STAND PROUD to be God's people.

We STAND TOGETHER as a diverse community, while we proclaim the uniqueness of every person as a child of the loving Creator. Each of us is blessed and gifted by God. We each are a piece of tapestry being woven together into God's glorious creation. As we walk beside each other, pray for one another, seek the best for each other we are becoming stronger in our unity. I have told many of you "no one has to walk alone anymore", those days are gone you are a part of a community now. You each are a part of this precious community and must take the responsibility and enjoy the privilege of being united with one another. We STAND TOGETHER as we encourage one another to come out, to marry the person of her or his own choice, to walk the journey of integrating spirituality and sexuality, and to live life to the fullest. In time of joy, in times of struggle - know you are a part of God's rainbow community. STAND TOGETHER and don't let anyone or anything divide you.

So this day we celebrate as STAND UP! STAND PROUD! and STAND TOGETHER! Go into the present moment to STAND UP for justice, equal rights, and for the freedom of all people who are oppressed. By this you will change the world. STAND PROUD of yourself and STAND PROUD to be God's people for you are called and empowered by God to share the good news of liberation. And STAND TOGETHER united by God's presence that lives and moves and has being among us. "Stand Up! Stand Proud! Stand Together!