Living Transgender In American Society Today: Thoughts about Christmas

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Thoughts about Christmas

I love the Christmas carol "O come, O Come Emmanuel" because it sums up Christmas for me. "O Come thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan's tyranny..." Many of us have felt that tyranny crushing our hopes and dreams and Christ's advent here amongst us is where we get the power to break free and live as we are created!

Maybe it's my Fundamentalist Evangelical roots showing, but I can relate to John the Baptist at this time of year far better than all the rest, especially those that spread commercial tinkling joy and lightness in Christ's name. I was reminded of all this in a very inspiring Sermon last Sunday by Rev. Jane Quandt at The First Congregational Church (UCC) in Riverside. John in his camel's hair, eating locusts and wild honey, standing up and hollering, "you generation of snakes..., make straight the paths of the Lord..., repent for the kingdom of God is at hand..." as he cleared the way for Jesus to come and shatter everyones ideas of what it would mean to have the King of the Kingdom of God here on Earth in the flesh! To me that is what Christmas is about.

If only the Evangelicals and Fundamentalists would listen to what they sing. They too could be free of the tyranny of their prejudice against those that are created different (but still in the image of God). We might discover what Christmas is really is about and become the family of God we are supposed to be.

On a more festive note, if anyone is in Southern California on the Saturday after Christmas - the 26th at 2 PM - Safe Haven Community Christian Church is hosting a traditional Christmas dinner in West Covina. You are invited, but you need to contact me directly (evagenevieve@yahoo.com) to RSVP by the 20th so I can be sure to have enough. I am cooking again and (God willing) it is going to be yummy even if I say so myself.

Hmmm... traditional...

I wonder if locusts and honey go well with stuffing... Actually It'll be apple pecan stuffing. (But just think of the texture - sort of sweet and crunchy - yum)!

I hope you do have a great Christmas - full of blessings and the Peace of God!

Hugs,

Eva-Genevieve!

1 comment:

genevieveDecember 18, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Great post, Eva. This is a time of reflection for me. I think about why Jesus came and what he has done.

Merry Christmas.
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Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body…

…was the theme at this years National Gathering of the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns this year in San Diego (July 14 –17). There were about 125 attendees from all across the US and we even had folks from other countries. Several topics were discussed including ways to make Church accessible to all – many physical and mental challenges were included in this discussion as well as LGBT concerns, Mentoring Queer youth – the emphasis being the need for all of us to be mentors as we are able and that we all have something to teach others, Advocacy & Empowerment, OnA Next Steps: Telling Our Stories, and also a panel discussion on including “transgender” and gender expression more specifically in OnA statements, and immigration issues too – far more issues and information than one person could take in or even list here.

Starting Wednesday afternoon we jumped right in with a very lively worship service with wonderful music and through the course of the gathering we heard many inspiring speakers and participated in several “breakout” workshop sessions. We broke into small discussion groups daily, heard many points of view on important topics, and made many friends in the process. On our last evening the General Minister and President of the UCC, the Revered Geoffrey Black was the keynote speaker at the banquet. My favorite speaker at the conference was Felix Carrion who often contributes to the UCC’s “Stillspeaking” on-line daily Devotional. We ended the conference Saturday morning with another lively worship service and dismissed just in time for several of us to rush over and march in San Diego’s Pride parade with the Mission Hills UCC Church and Bloom in the Desert Ministries (also UCC affiliated). I brought back lots of things to discuss in upcoming Mission Board meetings, but more than anything else it is the personal connections that made the conference very worthwhile. I feel a part of something much larger now – there was so much positive, hopeful energy shared there. I felt so very warmly welcomed by everyone and I believe that my input there was greatly valued as well. And, of course, I made an impression with my array of colorful dresses and hats too! (Would you expect anything less)? I was so blessed for being allowed to represent First Congregational Church in Riverside at this Gathering.

Follow this link to pictures from the event -the photos are in no particular order and a few shots of the fire that broke out behind the motel where I was staying.

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!